Annual check up - Bangkok hospital , Khonkaen- A worrying experience!

[Scouse123]

I went for annual check package and chose the executive package at just over 13,000 baht.

 

All went well and results were fine and no major concerns........................ at first.

 

The doctor who does the summary at the end and hands you the printed report said they were unsure and had a slight problem.

 

They were not sure whether or not I had a small gallstone or a tumor. On closer investigation and with me looking at the screen, we pointed out, by the date shown, that what we were looking at was from last years medical report, not this years!.............!!

 

It turned out another nurse had mistakenly removed my whole abdomen check from the list of procedures to be carried out that day and it had not been done at all on this hospital visit

 

By this time, I had dressed and already eaten and drank as they told me everything was done and finished, and so it was impossible that day to then have the abdomen checked.

 

They asked me to return on Tuesday July 25th, at which point I pointed out, it was a 4 hour round trip from our house in Kalasin and I was best pleased and neither did  a  'we apologize ' cut it.

 

After profuse apologies, I must now return on Tuesday to get the whole abdomen checked and find out whether or not this is a gallstone tumor or not. Another 4 hour trip.

 

All my blood tests were either within range or normal except for one slightly ' elevated ' cholesterol level. The accepted range being up to 200 and I was 205. So nothing untoward was flashing up during the blood tests.

 

She stated if further investigation was needed regards gallstone or tumor, then a CT scan would be required and if it was an operation, it would be a two day stay in the hospital. I'll be honest, when she gave me some symptoms I told her I had experienced nothing of what she was talking about and nothing unusual such as bloating that she mentioned.

 

I said it was early days to be saying such things so prematurely without even having the abdomen checked and speaking about a load of options that were not as yet known or on the table.

 

This is not the first time this doctor has quickly tried to recommend procedures and possible operations, she did the same last year and had me fretting over nonsense.

 

Last year she was talking about my carotid arteries and that it was partially blocked by 23% and 30%

 

When I checked in the UK with my ENT nurses they said these arteries were massive and that the doctor was talking nonsense with these levels for a 60 year old man that it was nothing out of the ordinary.

 

My other half was convinced she was just trying to generate revenue for the hospital.

[The Fugitive]

14 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

I went for annual check package and chose the executive package at just over 13,000 baht.

 

All went well and results were fine and no major concerns........................ at first.

 

The doctor who does the summary at the end and hands you the printed report said they were unsure and had a slight problem.

 

They were not sure whether or not I had a small gallstone or a tumor. On closer investigation and with me looking at the screen, we pointed out, by the date shown, that what we were looking at was from last years medical report, not this years!.............!!

 

It turned out another nurse had mistakenly removed my whole abdomen check from the list of procedures to be carried out that day and it had not been done at all on this hospital visit

 

By this time, I had dressed and already eaten and drank as they told me everything was done and finished, and so it was impossible that day to then have the abdomen checked.

 

They asked me to return on Tuesday July 25th, at which point I pointed out, it was a 4 hour round trip from our house in Kalasin and I was best pleased and neither did  a  'we apologize ' cut it.

 

After profuse apologies, I must now return on Tuesday to get the whole abdomen checked and find out whether or not this is a gallstone tumor or not. Another 4 hour trip.

 

All my blood tests were either within range or normal except for one slightly ' elevated ' cholesterol level. The accepted range being up to 200 and I was 205. So nothing untoward was flashing up during the blood tests.

 

She stated if further investigation was needed regards gallstone or tumor, then a CT scan would be required and if it was an operation, it would be a two day stay in the hospital. I'll be honest, when she gave me some symptoms I told her I had experienced nothing of what she was talking about and nothing unusual such as bloating that she mentioned.

 

I said it was early days to be saying such things so prematurely without even having the abdomen checked and speaking about a load of options that were not as yet known or on the table.

 

This is not the first time this doctor has quickly tried to recommend procedures and possible operations, she did the same last year and had me fretting over nonsense.

 

Last year she was talking about my carotid arteries and that it was partially blocked by 23% and 30%

 

When I checked in the UK with my ENT nurses they said these arteries were massive and that the doctor was talking nonsense with these levels for a 60 year old man that it was nothing out of the ordinary.

 

My other half was convinced she was just trying to generate revenue for the hospital.

First time I went to a dentist in Thailand I was asked if everything was OK at my last annual medical? At the age of 66 I'd never had one. I answered "yes". I assumed it was an American thing and my dentist believed all falangs had them. I suppose it depends upon your age, medical history, whether you need to take regular medication etc. From reading your most informative report it does sound as though it's a money making racket. No doubt there is (eventual) benefit for some in an annual 'MOT' but I don't consider myself at the stage where it's warranted. Maybe better safe than sorry though. Are there any suitable high street clinics locally that offer thorough health checks (vitals, full blood count analysis and physical examination?). 

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, Scouse123 said:

I went for annual check package and chose the executive package at just over 13,000 baht.

It seems in some hospitals the most important reason for these packages is to sell medical procedures.

If you make 100 tests, it's almost impossible that there is not something which is not perfect.

Let's sell him xyz.

And like you wrote, it's not that they present it as a possible issue which could be a problem maybe in years. It's like: We found something, anything, let's commit now! 

[Scouse123]

33 minutes ago, The Fugitive said:

First time I went to a dentist in Thailand I was asked if everything was OK at my last annual medical? At the age of 66 I'd never had one. I answered "yes". I assumed it was an American thing and my dentist believed all falangs had them. I suppose it depends upon your age, medical history, whether you need to take regular medication etc. From reading your most informative report it does sound as though it's a money making racket. No doubt there is (eventual) benefit for some in an annual 'MOT' but I don't consider myself at the stage where it's warranted. Maybe better safe than sorry though. Are there any suitable high street clinics locally that offer thorough health checks (vitals, full blood count analysis and physical examination?). 

I think I will be checking that option out that you have just mentioned.

[mstevens]

That's a worry about the hospital forgetting the abdomen scan. Hmmm....

 

While one does not want to get ahead of themselves, if it turns out you have gallstone(s), there are options other than surgery. Take your time to research gallstones and don't feel pressured in to surgery, In fact, I'd urge you to strongly consider those other options before surgery to remove the gallbladder which in many cases is unnecessary.

 

Good luck on Tuesday!

[Furioso]

The first thing I'd do is NEVER go back to that doctor or hospital ever again. The 2nd thing is realize you're generally healthy for your age,  you're not experiencing any significant health problems. 

 

3rd. You're fine for this year. All you have to do is find a better hospital for next summer. 

 

4th. Don't trust doctors unless your symptoms line up with their discovery. and then, don't be afraid to get a 2nd or 3rd opinion. 

 

5th. Live long, and prosper. 

 

EDIT: Also, I forgot to mention. You mean to tell me they apologize profusely..SCREW THAT! They should have done way more than that! They should have given your money back or a free re-examination. THE HE_L WITH THEM!! Playing around with your health is no freaking joke!!!

Edited July 22, 2023 by Furioso

[scubascuba3]

There is an argument for not having those yearly full range of tests, just a way to sell expensive medical procedures. Getting yearly blood test of the usual important indicators only a few hundred baht.

 

As for stones again argument for not operating unless causing a problem.

 

Doctors here at private hospitals are basically sales people

Edited July 22, 2023 by scubascuba3

[flyingtlger]

5 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

she was just trying to generate revenue for the hospital.

Good intuition, me thinks you're spot on....

[Ralf001]

3 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

There is an argument for not having those yearly full range of tests, just a way to sell expensive medical procedures. Getting yearly blood test of the usual important indicators only a few hundred baht.

 

As for stones again argument for not operating unless causing a problem.

 

Doctors here at private hospitals are basically sales people

I have a yearly.

Last one June 2022.

All boxes ticked as OK except chest x-ray revealed a tiny tiny black dot right in the bottom of each lung.

I was like meh.... Iam a smoker.

Doc wanted to do further x-ray's so booked an appointment 1 month later... I arrive at hospital and reception decide I cannot enter hospital without proof of a negative PCR test..... could not explain why I could a month earlier.

I left in disgust and thought no more of those tiny black dots.

Roll on to January 04 2023 I present to a different hospital feeling really really ordinary.

I then spent January and February in ICU with severe pneumonia in both lungs.

March 10 I left hospital to go home to rebuild muscles so I could walk again.

 

 

[Pumpuynarak]

5 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

I went for annual check package and chose the executive package at just over 13,000 baht.

 

All went well and results were fine and no major concerns........................ at first.

 

The doctor who does the summary at the end and hands you the printed report said they were unsure and had a slight problem.

 

They were not sure whether or not I had a small gallstone or a tumor. On closer investigation and with me looking at the screen, we pointed out, by the date shown, that what we were looking at was from last years medical report, not this years!.............!!

 

It turned out another nurse had mistakenly removed my whole abdomen check from the list of procedures to be carried out that day and it had not been done at all on this hospital visit

 

By this time, I had dressed and already eaten and drank as they told me everything was done and finished, and so it was impossible that day to then have the abdomen checked.

 

They asked me to return on Tuesday July 25th, at which point I pointed out, it was a 4 hour round trip from our house in Kalasin and I was best pleased and neither did  a  'we apologize ' cut it.

 

After profuse apologies, I must now return on Tuesday to get the whole abdomen checked and find out whether or not this is a gallstone tumor or not. Another 4 hour trip.

 

All my blood tests were either within range or normal except for one slightly ' elevated ' cholesterol level. The accepted range being up to 200 and I was 205. So nothing untoward was flashing up during the blood tests.

 

She stated if further investigation was needed regards gallstone or tumor, then a CT scan would be required and if it was an operation, it would be a two day stay in the hospital. I'll be honest, when she gave me some symptoms I told her I had experienced nothing of what she was talking about and nothing unusual such as bloating that she mentioned.

 

I said it was early days to be saying such things so prematurely without even having the abdomen checked and speaking about a load of options that were not as yet known or on the table.

 

This is not the first time this doctor has quickly tried to recommend procedures and possible operations, she did the same last year and had me fretting over nonsense.

 

Last year she was talking about my carotid arteries and that it was partially blocked by 23% and 30%

 

When I checked in the UK with my ENT nurses they said these arteries were massive and that the doctor was talking nonsense with these levels for a 60 year old man that it was nothing out of the ordinary.

 

My other half was convinced she was just trying to generate revenue for the hospital.

Bingo, i am very distrustful of the private hospital network here in Thailand, we are customers not patients. I will question the docs respectfully on every issue that they recommend treatment for after all said and done TIT where imo ''its all about the money''

[Pumpuynarak]

16 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

There is an argument for not having those yearly full range of tests, just a way to sell expensive medical procedures. Getting yearly blood test of the usual important indicators only a few hundred baht.

 

As for stones again argument for not operating unless causing a problem.

 

Doctors here at private hospitals are basically sales people

Bingo

[Pumpuynarak]

19 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

There is an argument for not having those yearly full range of tests, just a way to sell expensive medical procedures. Getting yearly blood test of the usual important indicators only a few hundred baht.

 

As for stones again argument for not operating unless causing a problem.

 

Doctors here at private hospitals are basically sales people

You only have to look at the costs for prescribed meds which they will prescribe in abundance and compare them against the costs from your local pharmacy.

Once i realised their ''game'' i now buy ALL my meds from Siam pharmacy and i inform the docs accordingly and surprise surprise the honest docs agree with me.

[scubascuba3]

48 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

I have a yearly.

Last one June 2022.

All boxes ticked as OK except chest x-ray revealed a tiny tiny black dot right in the bottom of each lung.

I was like meh.... Iam a smoker.

Doc wanted to do further x-ray's so booked an appointment 1 month later... I arrive at hospital and reception decide I cannot enter hospital without proof of a negative PCR test..... could not explain why I could a month earlier.

I left in disgust and thought no more of those tiny black dots.

Roll on to January 04 2023 I present to a different hospital feeling really really ordinary.

I then spent January and February in ICU with severe pneumonia in both lungs.

March 10 I left hospital to go home to rebuild muscles so I could walk again.

 

 

Yeah but aren't you quite overweight, poor diet etc? smoke? drink? depends on the risks. Isn't there a pneumonia jab? hopefully you had the flu jab

[Ralf001]

3 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Yeah but aren't you quite overweight, poor diet etc? smoke? drink? depends on the risks. Isn't there a pneumonia jab? hopefully you had the flu jab

60kg in January (72kg now).

Smoke - yep I mentioned that in my post.

Drink - yep, a few on the weekends, I box of san mig lasts me a month.

No jabs.

[pomchop]

I had full package annual check ups in bkk at bumrungrad for years then more in Chiang Rai at overbrook hospital for more years...probably 15 or so all total before i got medicare and started getting them in USA.

 

Never one time had either hospital try to sell me any surgery or anything like that..they went over the results pointed out a few things that were slightly off and that was it.

 

As for OP....i would go somewhere else, spend more time and $$ and get a second opinion.  Your health is not something to fool around with and the mistake of forgetting a test then looking at last years does not generate a lot of confidence in them.

[bamboozled]

I went for a routine check-up and what turned out to be a cancerous tumor in my bladder was discovered during the ultrasound. A procedure not done in the US for standard health check-up. I think the check-ups are a smart move. Up to us to parse the results and recommendations, I would say.

[actonion]

9 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

I went for annual check package and chose the executive package at just over 13,000 baht.

 

All went well and results were fine and no major concerns........................ at first.

 

The doctor who does the summary at the end and hands you the printed report said they were unsure and had a slight problem.

 

They were not sure whether or not I had a small gallstone or a tumor. On closer investigation and with me looking at the screen, we pointed out, by the date shown, that what we were looking at was from last years medical report, not this years!.............!!

 

It turned out another nurse had mistakenly removed my whole abdomen check from the list of procedures to be carried out that day and it had not been done at all on this hospital visit

 

By this time, I had dressed and already eaten and drank as they told me everything was done and finished, and so it was impossible that day to then have the abdomen checked.

 

They asked me to return on Tuesday July 25th, at which point I pointed out, it was a 4 hour round trip from our house in Kalasin and I was best pleased and neither did  a  'we apologize ' cut it.

 

After profuse apologies, I must now return on Tuesday to get the whole abdomen checked and find out whether or not this is a gallstone tumor or not. Another 4 hour trip.

 

All my blood tests were either within range or normal except for one slightly ' elevated ' cholesterol level. The accepted range being up to 200 and I was 205. So nothing untoward was flashing up during the blood tests.

 

She stated if further investigation was needed regards gallstone or tumor, then a CT scan would be required and if it was an operation, it would be a two day stay in the hospital. I'll be honest, when she gave me some symptoms I told her I had experienced nothing of what she was talking about and nothing unusual such as bloating that she mentioned.

 

I said it was early days to be saying such things so prematurely without even having the abdomen checked and speaking about a load of options that were not as yet known or on the table.

 

This is not the first time this doctor has quickly tried to recommend procedures and possible operations, she did the same last year and had me fretting over nonsense.

 

Last year she was talking about my carotid arteries and that it was partially blocked by 23% and 30%

 

When I checked in the UK with my ENT nurses they said these arteries were massive and that the doctor was talking nonsense with these levels for a 60 year old man that it was nothing out of the ordinary.

 

My other half was convinced she was just trying to generate revenue for the hospital.

Re; Your Cartoid arteries   i recently had a Stent into my right artery  because as the Neurologist said  my right artery is 71% blocked,  and needed a Stent, the left artery  was 30% blocked and nothing to worry about ...yet

[Scouse123]

3 hours ago, Pumpuynarak said:

You only have to look at the costs for prescribed meds which they will prescribe in abundance and compare them against the costs from your local pharmacy.

Once i realised their ''game'' i now buy ALL my meds from Siam pharmacy and i inform the docs accordingly and surprise surprise the honest docs agree with me.

They same hospital said I had ' dry eyes ' during my eye test and charged 450 for eye drops!

[scubascuba3]

21 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

They same hospital said I had ' dry eyes ' during my eye test and charged 450 for eye drops!

shouldn't have paid for the eye drops, get elsewhere if necessary 

[pomchop]

I think a pretty safe bet is to never buy meds at a hospital's pharmacy but go to a local reputable pharmacy and save a significant amount of $$.

[Pumpuynarak]

42 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

They same hospital said I had ' dry eyes ' during my eye test and charged 450 for eye drops!

 

20 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

shouldn't have paid for the eye drops, get elsewhere if necessary 

I've learned from experience that they will prescribe meds without actually telling you that they have and you only find out when you go to the cashiers/hospital pharmacy which is always ime next door to each other and you present the docs you're given and they liase and present you the bill and the meds with instructions of how to take. I now ASK the doc if he's prescribing meds if he does'nt indicate to me when face to face.

 

Beggars belief but its true !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited July 23, 2023 by Pumpuynarak

[Scouse123]

1 hour ago, bamboozled said:

I went for a routine check-up and what turned out to be a cancerous tumor in my bladder was discovered during the ultrasound. A procedure not done in the US for standard health check-up. I think the check-ups are a smart move. Up to us to parse the results and recommendations, I would say.

Yes,

 

That is definitely the ' flip side ' of the argument for annual check ups.

[Scouse123]

21 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

shouldn't have paid for the eye drops, get elsewhere if necessary 

Too late once at the cashier, I was too shy to give them back.

 

Mind you, they weren't shy in charging 450 baht for eye drops!

[Pumpuynarak]

Just now, Scouse123 said:

Too late once at the cashier, I was too shy to give them back.

 

Mind you, they weren't shy in charging 450 baht for eye drops!

I was'nt lol

[Scouse123]

3 minutes ago, Pumpuynarak said:

 

I've learned from experience that they will prescribe meds without actually telling you that they have and you only find out when you go to the cashiers/hospital pharmacy which is always ime next door to each other and you present the docs you're given and they liase and present you the bill and the meds with instructions of how to take.

 

Beggars belief but its true !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it's just small in the scale of things but that's what they did to me. She did say I had ' dry eyes ' and she would give me eye drops, she didn't say they would charge 450 baht for drops you can buy outside for 50 baht and yes, pharmacy and cashier adjacent to each other.

[Pumpuynarak]

1 minute ago, Scouse123 said:

it's just small in the scale of things but that's what they did to me. She did say I had ' dry eyes ' and she would give me eye drops, she didn't say they would charge 450 baht for drops you can buy outside for 50 baht and yes, pharmacy and cashier adjacent to each other.

IME the doc will not know the cost of any meds he's prescribing but for sure he'll know that they will be charging you a rip off price compared to a local pharmacy, the docs must be receiving some payment from the meds they prescribe imo

[Pumpuynarak]

I think i should say that after living here for getting on 17 years with my lovely Thai wifey i've learned not to become a regular Thai basher, its not fair on them BUT every now and again an issue arises that i must deliver some bashing cos its bloody well deserved and this is one such issue imo ????

Edited July 23, 2023 by Pumpuynarak

[LS24]

If you had a problem gallstone, you would know it for sure. One way to test is to eat some fried food and then wait.

[Scouse123]

3 minutes ago, Pumpuynarak said:

I think i should say that after living here for getting on 17 years with my lovely Thai wifey i've learned not to become a regular Thai basher, its not fair on them BUT every now and again an issue arises that i must deliver some bashing cos its bloody well deserved and this is one such issue imo ????

These hospitals rely on the reluctance of people to complain and Thais, as you know, would sooner speak their back behind than face a problem head on as they do not like confrontation.

 

My other half of 26 years plus is a bit more westernized and well traveled and will face them off.

 

Back on track, if she had pointed some things out as ' areas of concern ' I would have listened more, but when she was basically trying to get the hospital bed booked and the CT scan, I found it a turn off.

 

I reported recently on the board I had a colonoscopy at my local government hospital. I am privately insured but with a deductible of 40,000 baht. I really only want health insurance for inpatient and any major issues, Dental, Eyes, OPD, I will pay as I go.

 

They did the entire procedure with overnight private room and including removal of a polyp and biopsy for 10,000 baht. Bangkok hospital was in the range of 40-50K plus extras they charge at every opportunity, but that is all private hospitals..

[Scouse123]

1 minute ago, LS24 said:

If you had a problem gallstone, you would know it for sure. One way to test is to eat some fried food and then wait.

Honestly, I don't feel any bloating ( she said it was a symptom) no problem with fried foods.

 

Whenever I challenged her, she moved subjects and started talking about something else.