Anal fistula surgery

[lovesthespicy]

Hello, I was recently diagnosed with a fistula. I was having really bad abdominal pain and some mucus for about 3 months so ended up getting a colonoscopy/gastroscopy which diagnosed me with Ulcerative colitis and a fistula. I was told the only way to fix the fistula would be surgery.  The fistula was just mucus before but after the colonscopy, it started bleeding quite a bit. I feel like whatever she did during that made it worse. 

 

So I made an appointment with  Dr. arun rojanasakul. He works one day a week at BPk9 international hospital where I've been going he normally works over at Bumrungrad. He looked at it for like 5 seconds and said fistula needs surgery. He told me he does one everyday over at Bumrungrad and he made his own technique called "lift".  It felt like he was really quick to diagnose it but I guess hes an expert.  Looking at the surgery on youtube it looks pretty awful and I'm getting a lot of anxiety about this.

 

I talked to Dr.Donna over at a medconsulant and she told me how all the doctors here want to do surgery so that made me even more nervous. I dont want some guy just messing around my butt if its not 100% necessary. My surgery is supposed to be on Wed im debating canceling it or not right now. I'm just curious if anyone has had this or has any advice for me. 

 

Thanks for reading

[bhatmasterson]

I know this doctor. He did a similar but less serious surgery on me about two years ago. I researched doctors here in Chiang Mai but came up relatively empty. Found him at Bumrungrad. After the consultation, I told him the price was very expensive and he recommended that I see him at BPk9 where he could do the surgery for a considerably cheaper cost. Seems you are going in reverse order for a more expensive cost? 

[lovesthespicy]

23 minutes ago, bhatmasterson said:

I know this doctor. He did a similar but less serious surgery on me about two years ago. I researched doctors here in Chiang Mai but came up relatively empty. Found him at Bumrungrad. After the consultation, I told him the price was very expensive and he recommended that I see him at BPk9 where he could do the surgery for a considerably cheaper cost. Seems you are going in reverse order for a more expensive cost? 

 

I never seen him at Bumrungrad. I was just saying he primarily works there. The cost is still going to be really expensive like 100k+whatever else they tack on. At Bumrungrad, it was going to cost like 130k+ whatever they tack on I believe was the quoted price. BPk9 has a foreigner upcharge on everything not sure if it did two years ago. 

 

I take it your experience was good with him? Would this be the guy you would go to if you needed a similar surgery today?

 

I'm not as much concerned with the price as I am having a good doctor. The fact he looked at it for like 5 seconds and was ready to go makes me nervous. The other thing is the idea of a spinal block freaks me out.

 

Thanks for the reply 

Edited February 16, 2019 by lovesthespicy

[Sheryl]

Anal fistulas do require surgery.

This doctor is one of the most senior exoerts in the field.

If you want a second opinion see Prof. Chucheep at Bangkok Christian Hospital this monday (1-2 pm but he stays later, and arrive early to get a hospital registration and number in the queque. Only there once a week). He is excellent and a very nice man, spends time explaining. He will likely tell you the exact same thing but it may cost less at BCH and you will surely feel more comfortable having gotten 2 separate opinions.

BTW can you tell me the cost you were quoted at both hospitals? I have a family member with related issue but having to fly in for treatment with limited time so trying to figure out where it makes the most sense to go given both cost and time constraint.

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[lovesthespicy]

3 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Anal fistulas do require surgery.

This doctor is one of the most senior exoerts in the field.

If you want a second opinion see Prof. Chucheep at Bangkok Christian Hospital this monday (1-2 pm but he stays later, and arrive early to get a hospital registration and number in the queque. Only there once a week). He is excellent and a very nice man, spends time explaining. He will likely tell you the exact same thing but it may cost less at BCH and you will surely feel more comfortable having gotten 2 separate opinions.

BTW can you tell me the cost you were quoted at both hospitals? I have a family member with related issue but having to fly in for treatment with limited time so trying to figure out where it makes the most sense to go given both cost and time constraint.

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

Just looked at my paperwork my quote was 85k-95k at BPK9. Thats with one night at the hospital. As my GF just said "normally its more".  Cost to get into the Dr. was only 700 baht and hes only there on Wed. GF said it was somewhere in between 120-150k estimate at Bumrungrad.  Remember BPk9 has the foreigner upcharge I imagine u can get it cheaper somewhere else.

 

I'll for sure consider going to get a second opinion. If I do I'll let u know my quote. I may just go and get it through Dr. Arun sounds like I'm not going to find much better.  

 

 

[bhatmasterson]

11 minutes ago, lovesthespicy said:

 

I never seen him at Bumrungrad. I was just saying he primarily works there. The cost is still going to be really expensive like 100k+whatever else they tack on. At Bumrungrad, it was going to cost like 130k+ whatever they tack on I believe was the quoted price. BPk9 has a foreigner upcharge on everything not sure if it did two years ago. 

 

I take it your experience was good with him? Would this be the guy you would go to if you needed a similar surgery today?

 

I'm not as much concerned with the price as I am having a good doctor. The fact he looked at it for like 5 seconds and was ready to go makes me nervous. The other thing is the idea of a spinal block freaks me out.

 

Thanks for the reply 

My experience was similar to what you describe. Consultation was very quick. I believe he looks at these types of problems on a daily basis so I wasn't bothered by the brevity of the examination. Yes. I would go to him again.

[Sheryl]

I'll ne interested to know the cost at BCH.

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[Puchaiyank]

This may help...

 

Fistula tracts must be treated because they will not heal on their own. There is a risk of developing cancer in the fistula tract if left untreated for a long period of time. Most fistulas are simple to treat. Either the tract or fistula can be opened or the tract and the pocket inside are completely removed.

 

I was diagnosed with a colon fissure...Dr. spent about 5 mins explaining why surgery was necessary...I chose not to go the surgery route...that was 35 years ago...

 

Not suggesting you do the same...surgery in your situation may be more compelling. 

[phkauf]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

I'll ne interested to know the cost at BCH.

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

My LIFT surgery with Dr. Chucheep at BCH was about 100K with 1 night stay this past May. 

As mentioned elsewhere, he diagnosed me in about 2 minutes. Can't recommend him enough, one of favorite doctors anywhere I have been (US and Thailand).

 

[Sheryl]

Fissure and fistula or 2 different things.

 

Fissures are simple tears and will often (though not always) heal on their own with conservative measures.

 

Fistulas are abnormal tracts and require surgery.

 

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

 

[Mellowguy]

Hi,

 

I cannot resist offering my advice.

I was also diagnosed with anal fistula. It was advised to be treated as early as possible.

I visited few hospitals and researched many. I was advised Fistulotomy surgery by all the doctors, which involves a large tear and few uncomfortable days of healing of the wound. Moreover one has to visit hospital for changing wound dressing.

To be honest, I was very scared of the surgery and being away from my country.

 

Then I consulted Dr Pornthep in Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital and he suggested LIFT procedure which involves a very small tear and less pain.
Doctor's credentials were hard to ignore, He told me he has done more than 100 surgeries, patients who did not took care of their lifestyles might have a chance of reoccurrence(2-5%). I felt confident and the option was less painful for me.

 

The hospital took fantabulous care of me. Very good english speaking nurses and doctors. The room was no less than a fancy hotel. I did not feel anything after the surgery . I stayed for 24 hours, checked out next day evening.  
Took 4 days off from work. Rested for wound to heal. I didn't experience any pain(Probably due to medicines). 
I easily went to office, was comfortable working. It took 1 month for scar to disappear. 
The stitches were self dissolving unlike Fistulotomy. I visited doctor 2 time after the surgery and I never visited the hospital for any change in dressings because there were no dressings on the wound. 

i felt very comfortable during the whole experience and I would recommend everyone the same. 
Doctor -  PORNTHEP PRATANWANICH (Surgeon)

Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital 

[Orton Rd]

Had it done 30 years ago in the UK, nothing to it but it was painful for a while after. They said it might return but never has.

[lovesthespicy]

Hey thanks for giving me an update on how yours went. Really glad to hear. Mines scheduled for tomorrow morning at 9am. Hopefully, mine goes just as good. 

[lovesthespicy]

Had the surgery yesterday currently laying in the hospital bed. Spinal as others said wasn't as bad as I thought. I guess im the only one but I had a little pain under the spinal during surgery. I complained and the Dr. said something to the anesthesiologist and the pain went completely away when she added something in there. 

 

After the numbness wore off the pain was really bad. Like a consistent throbbing 9-10 . They had to order the morphine so they gave me pills which did crap all for it. Eventually they brought in the morphine and that ended the pain. I woke up this morning and it was still bad like a 7 or 8 so called in some medicine they said "shot?" I told her just the pills don't want to go overboard on the strong stuff. The pills seem to be working well for it now but yesterday it couldn't handle it. 

 

Dr. Arun just visited me and said the "surgery was a success and its 95% that the fistula wont come back". I asked him about the pain and he said its normal and every surgery with the anus is very painful. I guess hes the endboss of anus doctors in Thailand so if you've got a problem in that area hes the man to see. 

 

The staff here has been great to me. I had a GI doctor here that's diagnosed my ulcers and first found the fistula.  She actually came up and visited me to see how I was doing and ask how the ulcers are. The nurses are really nice as well. . The food isn't half bad and the room is better then some hotels ive stayed at for sure. I'd have no problem telling a family member to come here. 

 

I'll come back and post the price when I get the ticket leaving. They gave a estimate of 85-95 but I'm expecting about 110+. I'll give a update later on that for a note for those searching with this problem. Also if the problem comes back I'll note that as well.

 

Thanks again for those who replied or pmed me about this much appreciated. Helped ease me a bit as its a really nerve wrecking experience. 

 

 

 

[brokenbone]

let me assure you its a wonderful experience dat surgery,

and the follow up arse baths isnt shabby either,

no regrets

[lovesthespicy]

Just got the ticket for this. Can't believe its actually under the estimate they gave us. 75,600 was the total. The price for this with a night in the hospital was lower than the price of my endoscopy/colonoscopy with no hospital stay last month. Really happy with that. 

[dddave]

2 hours ago, lovesthespicy said:

Just got the ticket for this. Can't believe its actually under the estimate they gave us. 75,600 was the total. The price for this with a night in the hospital was lower than the price of my endoscopy/colonoscopy with no hospital stay last month. Really happy with that. 

Props to you for getting it done and documenting the experience.  Best wishes for a speedy recovery.