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

[jaideedave]

9 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

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! 

Good analogy: In the west they advertise auto oil and filter change 19.99 plus free 100 point inspection.

They'll pull your wheels off looking for anything they can find.They know where to look also.Scam.

Same same but different.

[jaideedave]

37 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

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..

5 years ago at BPH the total bill for the overnight and colonoscopy was north of 80k.

[Pumpuynarak]

41 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

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..

Your post is so very true in every respect, i too flit from one of my local government hospitals and one of the private hospitals according to my needs. I have to self insure as my pre-existing conditions prevent me from having insurance so i'm conscious when it comes to the treatment/bills i'm going to be presented with.

 

I imagine because most of the customers that present themselves to private hospitals are probaly carrying insurance and could'nt care a less how much the bill is as they are not paying it tends to fuel the rip off practices. All those that are carrying insurance imo should take more interest in the makeup of their eventual bill and how its arrived at then perhaps their premium increases would not be so upsetting and eye watering.    

Edited July 23, 2023 by Pumpuynarak

[KannikaP]

4 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

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.

How, and more importantly, WHY did you put on 12 kg or 20% rise in weight in 7 months?

Saying that, 72 seems far healthier than 60kg for a 'grown man'.

Edited July 23, 2023 by KannikaP

[Pumpuynarak]

Before you even get to see the doc you are required to have your blood pressure, height and weight checked, i wonder why ?

 

I know, its good practice, its got nothing to do with money lmao. Its a shame our UK doctors surgeries don't do the same thing lmao again.........

[Pumpuynarak]

Right, i'm going to excuse myself from this topic, i've said enough.

 

Long live the rip off private hospitals.........

 

 

[scubascuba3]

11 minutes ago, Pumpuynarak said:

Before you even get to see the doc you are required to have your blood pressure, height and weight checked, i wonder why ?

 

I know, its good practice, its got nothing to do with money lmao. Its a shame our UK doctors surgeries don't do the same thing lmao again.........

Probably once you get a high blood pressure reading insurers may use to deny claim due to pre-existing condition

[KannikaP]

21 minutes ago, Pumpuynarak said:

Before you even get to see the doc you are required to have your blood pressure, height and weight checked, i wonder why ?

 

I know, its good practice, its got nothing to do with money lmao. Its a shame our UK doctors surgeries don't do the same thing lmao again.........

At my local Govt hospital, I am required TO TAKE MY OWN BLOOD PRESSURE, HEIGHT & WEIGHT, and show the results to the 'booking in' nurse.

I use the BP results I took that morning and saved in my phone, my height & weight don't change much. Saying that, I went for Yellow Book last week and they had to take my photo against a height scale. I am shown as 172 tall, even though I have been 176 for decades. Checked at home.........176!

Edited July 23, 2023 by KannikaP

[KannikaP]

11 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

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.

Did you never realise that they had not rubbed cold gel onto your naked belly, taken 10 minutes to pass a big metal detector over you, and still come up with a result?

[Scouse123]

12 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Did you never realise that they had not rubbed cold gel onto your naked belly, taken 10 minutes to pass a big metal detector over you, and still come up with a result?

I had so many tests and so quickly as the medical centre was quiet and I probably got confused as I had clips fitted to wrists and feet, then I had jelly when they checked my heart etc. then whizzed off to X ray, then dental , then eyes and then audiology.

 

You just go with the flow and leave yourself in their ' capable hands ' ....but I know now!

 

At the time, I didn't question it especially when they said get dressed, everything is done, go for lunch!

 

It was quite a bit to take in and I wasn't fully focused as I just presumed it was like ' clockwork '  when they are doing this every day.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 23, 2023 by Scouse123

[Pumpuynarak]

14 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Probably once you get a high blood pressure reading insurers may use to deny claim due to pre-existing condition

Guys i'll restrict my posting to replies, its not very nice if i don't reply.

 

Good point but i've never experienced this practice in any doctors surgery or any of the private hospitals i've attended in the UK(the doc would take if he deemed it necessary) . I would also add i don't see that could possibly be the case due to the ''white coat syndrome'', it would never stack up in a court imo

[Pumpuynarak]

22 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

At my local Govt hospital, I am required TO TAKE MY OWN BLOOD PRESSURE, HEIGHT & WEIGHT, and show the results to the 'booking in' nurse.

I use the BP results I took that morning and saved in my phone, my height & weight don't change much. Saying that, I went for Yellow Book last week and they had to take my photo against a height scale. I am shown as 172 tall, even though I have been 176 for decades. Checked at home.........176!

I do exactly the same thing due to the ''white coat syndrome'' ????

[KannikaP]

3 minutes ago, Pumpuynarak said:

I do exactly the same thing due to the ''white coat syndrome'' ????

I get the same high readings of both BP and heart rate. I put it down to 'nice-<deleted> on the nurse' syndrome. 555

 

Can I say 'ass, bum, butt, fanny, etc, but not 'a*se?'?

Edited July 23, 2023 by KannikaP

[Pumpuynarak]

Guys, I have a story to tell of an unfortunate experience i was subjected to in a private hospital that was in mine and my Thai wifey's opinion (she was in attendance with me) utterly appalling and totally unprofessional and demonstrated what a piece of s... this so called doc was.

 

Never in a million years would i have received the same treatment from a doc or anyone in the medical profession in the UK.

 

But i will refrain from doing so as i've already said enough imo, if anyone's interested i will PM you in the next few days, i've got a busy time ahead of me.

 

[jaideedave]

1 hour ago, Pumpuynarak said:

Before you even get to see the doc you are required to have your blood pressure, height and weight checked, i wonder why ?

 

I know, its good practice, its got nothing to do with money lmao. Its a shame our UK doctors surgeries don't do the same thing lmao again.........

I think its the 300 baht nurses fee tacked onto your bill. Easy money.

[Mavideol]

some time ago did the same check up at Bunrumgrad Bkk (maybe can not list the name but will try otherwise no sense posting) they provided a full report (supposedly) on me but they never conducted such tests. They mention cataracts but never examine my eyes, provided bowel/stool results but I never provided stool, I did had an ulcer but they didn't detected it..... never went back

[moogradod]

7 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

.................................

 

Doctors here at private hospitals are basically sales people

As a tendency this is very most probably correct. But problems with Thai Hospitals are manifold.

 

You may distinguish between private and government institutions. It is already hidden in the term "private" that this a more business oriented unit. But it depends on the doctor as well. I remember that a doctor at a private hospital gave me a money saving tip resulting in less money for the hospital and savings for me.

 

So far I have not seen ONE hospital bill from a government hospital that I thought was over the top. Quite the opposite.

 

Private Hospitals seem to have a directive to go for as many "control-checkups" as possible. And to take a more simple example: if you have cholesterone values about equal over a long period it does not make much sense to check again every 4 weeks - right ? In these cases I tell the doctor right away or simply call before the appointment that I am not coming or at least not in this timeframe.

 

Then its competency. Fortunately I have a Swiss Doctor as a close friend and in cases which I feel are critical I may have an alternative opinion in no time. And for a specific case you may as well educate yourself. That is not easy because of the numerous pitfalls that open information and non specific information pertaining to your special case presents - you may be lead astray. But knowing that, investing a lot of time might give you a valuable edge of knowledge and enable you at least to ask specific questions which your "specialist" would not expect from a patient, the uneducated source of his salary. Thai doctors do not like to hear any (or at least little) questions anyway, farang or not.

 

All based on own experience or of that of family members. Unfortunately there is quite a lot of experience since we are all sick somehow. No 1 is me with several dozens of ailments, some serious. No 2 is my young stepdaughter who has not much but actually rare illnesses. My wife is the healthiest of us all with only a bit of slight pre-diabetes and cholesterol problems.

 

I wish the OP all the best in the future

 

[scubascuba3]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

At my local Govt hospital, I am required TO TAKE MY OWN BLOOD PRESSURE, HEIGHT & WEIGHT, and show the results to the 'booking in' nurse.

I use the BP results I took that morning and saved in my phone, my height & weight don't change much. Saying that, I went for Yellow Book last week and they had to take my photo against a height scale. I am shown as 172 tall, even though I have been 176 for decades. Checked at home.........176!

Men often exaggerate their height, they don't take account that they shrink with age

[chickenslegs]

58 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

I get the same high readings of both BP and heart rate. I put it down to 'nice-<deleted> on the nurse' syndrome. 555

 

Can I say 'ass, bum, butt, fanny, etc, but not 'a*se?'?

You can't even say <deleted> Manchu - the famous fictional villain.

[KannikaP]

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Men often exaggerate their height, they don't take account that they shrink with age

It is not ME exaggerating my height, it the bloody Amphur using a dodgy chart on the wall and under-measuring me. Back to Amphur tomorrow to get it corrected.

[moogradod]

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Men often exaggerate their height, they don't take account that they shrink with age

???? Not so much that it would matter I suppose. I probably lost 1 cm in 68 years.

[scubascuba3]

3 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

It is not ME exaggerating my height, it the bloody Amphur using a dodgy chart on the wall and under-measuring me. Back to Amphur tomorrow to get it corrected.

If you say your height hasn't changed for decades I'd say that's incorrect 

[Mavideol]

Just now, moogradod said:

???? Not so much that it would matter I suppose. I probably lost 1 cm in 68 years.

beat u to it as it appears I lost 5 cm in 50 years, went to the army at 20 (now 70) was 1,79 last year at the local Amphur  it appears I am "only" 1,74.... maybe some shrink more then others  555

[Mavideol]

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

If you say your height hasn't changed for decades I'd say that's incorrect 

u really want me to feel bad,  don't u  555

[Mark Nothing]

Medical tests which instill fear are the bait used to lure you into the trap of expensive medical procedures. To get out of the trap of fear, an expensive procedure is required to save you.

 

I chose a different way to get out of the medical trap. I pray to the Creator of Heaven and earth for strength, vitality, and perfect health.  This changes my mental state from fear to strength. Closed mind to open mind. Combined with free alternative health practices that work fantastically well.  I will never use medical services again.

 

Sorry about your wasted 13,000 baht fee and inept, unprofessional service received.  I agree with your wife's analysis.

 

[KannikaP]

1 minute ago, Mark Nothing said:

I pray to the Creator of Heaven and earth for strength, vitality, and perfect health. 

Who is that please? Does he reply?

[Neeranam]

13 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

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

They are right.Same with me in Bkk Hospital Hua Hin. Said I had a serious heart issue and needed to see the specialist. Next day, after little sleep, I saw the specialist and he said nothing was wrong at all. 

Also suggested I might have a Pulmonary Embolism, but I said no to seeing the expert there. 

I had COPD after Covid, gave me medicine and it got better. When I recovered, he said the results were weird and I have emphysema and needed an ultrasound, only 8,000 baht. I got a second opinion and I don't have emphysema. 

It's criminal! 

In Khon Kaen, Rajapreuk gave me a good service for a check up. 

[Neeranam]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

I get the same high readings of both BP and heart rate. I put it down to 'nice-<deleted> on the nurse' syndrome. 555

 

Can I say 'ass, bum, butt, fanny, etc, but not 'a*se?'?

'fanny'?

That should be blocked! 

 

[moogradod]

17 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

beat u to it as it appears I lost 5 cm in 50 years, went to the army at 20 (now 70) was 1,79 last year at the local Amphur  it appears I am "only" 1,74.... maybe some shrink more then others  555

I would take up the challenge if I knew how. I have been 184cm as long as I can think of (documented in passports etc.) My last measurement has been 183 cm and I am doing a lot as part of the mandatory procedure at the hospital which I need to frequent quite a lot even if I keep it to a minimum.

 

2.5 to 7.5 (!!) loss of height in a lifetime as @scubascuba3puts forward must be some special case or I am really not shrinking (maybe as well a special case). A meter does not lie after all, so why should I invent something.

[gargamon]

7 hours ago, Pumpuynarak said:

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''

Why do you believe this is only a problem in Thailand?

 

Got a CPAP machine? You may not need it. But the Dr who sold it to you made thousands of dollars. Etc.