Hemorrhoid Laser Surgery in BKK

[bbi1]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good doctor to get laser surgery for Stage 3 hemorrhoid? I've been to one of those expensive hospitals a few weeks ago and the doctor diagnosed me with a stage 3 hemorrhoid. Gave some meds (which I bought at the local cheaper pharmacy) and said if it doesn't help then laser surgery would be the way to go. Recently contacted that hospital and was quoted a shockingly high  75k-85k baht range for an OPD outpatient procedure of this. If my IPD inpatient health insurance policy covered it, I wouldn't care about the price :)

 

Anyone has any other doctor recommendations at different hospitals in BKK or know if laser surgery can be done as an IPD inpatient procedure?

Edited April 19, 2018 by bbi1

[Sheryl]

It doesn't warrant an overnight stay  but check your policy as to whether it covers day surgery (most do) and, if so, how day surgery is defined.  And let me know which insurer you have as some of them have peculiarities in terms of defining day surgery making it important how the hospital describes it to the insurer.

 

However, while the IPD/OPD issue may be resolvable, your will still need pre-authorization many insurers are not going to cover laser surgery for grade 3 hemorrhoids unless more standard options have already been exhausted: first, conservative management (fiber, fluids, stool softeners etc) then if that fails next step is usually rubber band ligation. They may want to know why laser treatment is considered necessary in your case.

 

Bets colorectal doctors in Bkk are:

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Chucheep-Sahakitrungruang

https://www.bch.in.th/en/doctor-th-4/surgery/item/584-doc22.html

(same doctor, different hospitals. He can also be seen at Chulllogkorn after hours clinic)

 

https://www.bangkokhospital.com/index.php/en/find-a-doctor/doctor-profile/?id=1875&doctor=Dr_ART_HIRANYAKAS

 

 

 

[bbi1]

30 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

It doesn't warrant an overnight stay  but check your policy as to whether it covers day surgery (most do) and, if so, how day surgery is defined.  And let me know which insurer you have as some of them have peculiarities in terms of defining day surgery making it important how the hospital describes it to the insurer.

 

However, while the IPD/OPD issue may be resolvable, your will still need pre-authorization many insurers are not going to cover laser surgery for grade 3 hemorrhoids unless more standard options have already been exhausted: first, conservative management (fiber, fluids, stool softeners etc) then if that fails next step is usually rubber band ligation. They may want to know why laser treatment is considered necessary in your case.

 

Bets colorectal doctors in Bkk are:

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Chucheep-Sahakitrungruang

https://www.bch.in.th/en/doctor-th-4/surgery/item/584-doc22.html

(same doctor, different hospitals. He can also be seen at Chulllogkorn after hours clinic)

 

https://www.bangkokhospital.com/index.php/en/find-a-doctor/doctor-profile/?id=1875&doctor=Dr_ART_HIRANYAKAS

 

 

 

Thanks for the info. I have OPD outpatient cover from ACS Worldwide Health Insurance www.acs-ami.com, it says the plans are insured by Companies of the Allianz Group.

 

Originally the doctor suggested laser surgery as the best method, but said in the meantime I can try Daflon 500mgs and Proctosedyl Suppositories in conjunction with eating more fibre, fruit, vegetables and drinking more water. I never had any problem with constipation in my life as I always drink a lot of water every day and have enough fibre. Regarding rubber bang ligation, he never mentioned this as an option. Maybe either he thought it wouldn't help stage 3 hemorrhoids or maybe because the procedure might be a lot cheaper??

[bbi1]

23 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

https://www.bangkokhospital.com/index.php/en/find-a-doctor/doctor-profile/?id=1875&doctor=Dr_ART_HIRANYAKA

Bangkok Hospital has quoted me an absolutely mind blowing amount compared to my original high end hospital quote. Basically they said:

 

General cost for staple hemorrhoidectomy is around 150,000 - 200,000 THB, including 2 nights stay in hospital. Cost is around 150,000 - 170,000 THB for laser hemorrhoidectomy, included one night stay in hospital. However, you would need to make an appointment with our specialist for the clinical consultation and physical examinations before the surgery. Our specialist consultation fee would be 1,000-2,000 THB per visit and it would cost you around 10,000-20,000 THB for medical clearance before the surgery.

[bbi1]

On 4/19/2018 at 1:09 PM, bbi1 said:

Thanks for the info. I have OPD outpatient cover from ACS Worldwide Health Insurance www.acs-ami.com, it says the plans are insured by Companies of the Allianz Group.

Sorry, meant IPD inpatient.

 

Regarding rubber band ligation they said:

 

general price for rubber bands are starting from 10,000 -15,000 THB per band and the patient needs to stay around 1-2 nights in the hospital and needs to follow up 5-7 days after the surgery. Depending on the numbers of rubber bands, the general cost for the hemorrhoidectomy would be starting from  120,000 THB and more.

Edited April 20, 2018 by bbi1

[Sheryl]

As I mentioned, conservative treatment is normally the first approach, and rubber band ligation will often work if that fails (and can be doen for stage III hemorrhoids).

 

 Go see one of the doctors I mentioned for a consultation and see what approach they suggest. (Bangkok Christian Hospital is much less expensive, so try Dr. Chucheep there). 

 

Emailed price quotes from hospitals are always on the high side, they assume anyone emailing is  a medical tourist. Avoid emails where they give you or get your hospital number or you may get locked into a higher price than would otherwise occur.

 

Re the "1-2 nights stay", ridiculous but again you are communicating with the marketing dept, not the clinic staff and they assume you are a tourist. Quite likely doctor would agree to a days surgery or just 1 night stay.  Again, does your policy cover day surgeries? (read your policy!)

[evilebxxx]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

As I mentioned, conservative treatment is normally the first approach, and rubber band ligation will often work if that fails (and can be doen for stage III hemorrhoids).

 

 Go see one of the doctors I mentioned for a consultation and see what approach they suggest. (Bangkok Christian Hospital is much less expensive, so try Dr. Chucheep there). 

 

Emailed price quotes from hospitals are always on the high side, they assume anyone emailing is  a medical tourist. Avoid emails where they give you or get your hospital number or you may get locked into a higher price than would otherwise occur.

 

Re the "1-2 nights stay", ridiculous but again you are communicating with the marketing dept, not the clinic staff and they assume you are a tourist. Quite likely doctor would agree to a days surgery or just 1 night stay.  Again, does your policy cover day surgeries? (read your policy!)

Regarding rubber band ligation – my short sorry is surgery did not work for me…I did buy a couple of cheap rubber band did the  shut of matter on protruding flesh, a little painful and now perfectly healed, they never came back now perfectly healed, they never came back

[bbi1]

Ended up seeing Dr. Chucheep at BCH. Registered over 2 hours before he started working but ended up seeing him about 3.5 hours after he started. Was surprised that I spent the whole day at the hospital just waiting to see a doctor and this isn't a public hospital. His fees was exactly the same as what I paid at at one of the other top expensive hospitals..

 

I mentioned to him I came to him for a 2nd opinion after seeing another doc at some other hospital and mentioned the meds the other doc gave me didn't help at all. After his examination he said I had thrombosed hemorrhoids  (not sure if that's also classed as Stage 3 Hemorrhoids???). Recommended conservative treatment and said sometimes within a few months the body will absorb the hemorrhoid, otherwise if it gets very painful then can get surgery. He said rubber band liguation is only for internal hemorrhoids so not suitable for me.

 

He prescribed Arcoxia 120mgs of 7 tablets and T.A. Cream 0.1c for me to use. I said I'd prefer buying at the outside pharmacy as it's cheaper but he told he with BCH the prices are cheap so I bought it there. Arcoxia 120mgs of 7 tablets was 532 baht and T.A. Cream was 45 baht. After seeing the bill I still think an outside pharmacy would be cheaper??

 

Wonder if those meds are right for hemorrhoids as I just Googled those meds but they don't seem to be for hemorrhoids though. Arcoxia seems to be an anti-anflammatory painkiller for arthritis, musculoskeletal pain, gout, etc: https://www.drugs.com/arcoxia.html

 

T.A. Cream seems to be for skin irritations and skin rashes: https://www.drugs.com/cdi/pediaderm-ta.html

Edited April 24, 2018 by bbi1

[Sheryl]

Arcoxia is an anti-inflammatory. With a thrombosed hemorrhoid there is inflammation. Give it a try.