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

[Neeranam]

3 hours ago, KannikaP said:

What does this mean in English please?

I guess he is 75 years old. And they say Thai can't guess the meaning of things by context! 

[Neeranam]

12 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

First time I went to a dentist in Thailand he said I needed three teeth extracted. I thought not, and nearly 30 years later I still have them. They have the morals of sewer rats, interested only in money.

Do you mean all dentists or all in Thailand?

 

My experience with dentists in Thailand is better than the UK, I recently got 10 root canals, crowns, dentures, extractions, taking 20 odd consultations over a few months all for 140,000 baht. Would have cost x5 in the UK and not such good service. 

[scubascuba3]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

I found a local clinic in the smaller town I live in, which offered a full blood workup, for around 3,000 baht. It was quite comprehensive. Also get uric acid tests from him for 200 baht. Bangkok Hospital charges 2,200 for the same test.

These small clinics and labs are gold for insurers, if only they could get access to the results, maybe they do already

Edited July 24, 2023 by scubascuba3

[The Fugitive]

52 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Do you mean all dentists or all in Thailand?

 

My experience with dentists in Thailand is better than the UK, I recently got 10 root canals, crowns, dentures, extractions, taking 20 odd consultations over a few months all for 140,000 baht. Would have cost x5 in the UK and not such good service. 

UK NHS dentists have been ripping-off patients (& NHS of course) since it's creation. I personally have had many unnecessary fillings with shoddy workmanship and read of horror stories of children's jaws being premanently damaged. I too have had good experiences with my Thai dentist. Treatment has been professional, painless and most economical. 

[RocketDog]

On 7/23/2023 at 4:38 AM, scubascuba3 said:

Doctors here at private hospitals are basically sales people

As near as I can tell nearly all of the Thai population are sales people in one form or another. But that understandable when most of them are dirt poor.

[The Fugitive]

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

First time I went to a dentist in Thailand he said I needed three teeth extracted. I thought not, and nearly 30 years later I still have them. They have the morals of sewer rats, interested only in money.

In UK a child of a neighbour was told by her own dentist she needed nine fillings. Her mother took her to my dentist for a second opinion. No treatment was necessary. That is typical in my experience. My Thai dentist suggested he could replace my front tooth fillings which are many years old and discoloured. I asked him if they were still 'sound'. He admitted they are, the only benefit would be cosmetic. Of course, I declined.

[bamboozled]

On 7/23/2023 at 7:44 AM, 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.

...I should have added that I had done a check-up a year prior and that tumor wasn't there. So, because I went for regular check-ups it was caught very early and was only at a beginning stage of development, prior to when the cancer cells would have been likely to travel. The tissue surrounding the tumor was biopsied and no cancer found. I was very lucky and that luck was helped along by having the regular check-ups. Heck, you can't check for everything but for $200, the cost of the check-up, might as well.

[SunsetT]

On 7/22/2023 at 4:54 PM, 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.

So the previous year they said nothing about the gallstone which could be a tumor? I dont think I will be going there for a medical!

[Paradise Pete]

On 7/22/2023 at 10:54 AM, Scouse123 said:

 

 

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.

 

What was the breakdown of the 205? The lower your LDLs the less chance of a stroke. Forget the 205 and focus on that number. If you can get it well below 100 you've greatly decreased your chances of an adverse cardiac event. how to do that? All the boring stuff: Exercise, eating well (the so-called Mediterranean diet or the Dash diet are statistically the best), and if need be, medication.

 

[thailand49]

What you just went through is what their leaders hope

Medical hub!  

If you can walk get the hell out go home gets second opinion. 

[Sheryl]

9 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

Nanlaew

 

It has been in my head listening to you and another poster and looking at two courses of action regarding this issue.

 

I get both reports from the hospital and get a second opinion AND I get it done at Sringarind, killing two birds with one stone as I will make the reports available to the doctors at Sringarind, and take their advice!

 

 

Good plan.

 

Quite possible thst all you have -- if that -- are small asymptomatic gallstone(s) 

[NORDO]

I did several years of annual physicals at BKK hospital.  I forget the name of the package, but it generally ran me about 20k THB.   Same as other have reported, carotid restrictions, BMI 29.5, spots on liver, ect.

 

Last year the report commented on scars in my lungs with could which was indicative of PF.  Passing through Rotterdam, I spent a few days and had it checked out.  After the CT scan results, the attending Lung specialist ask me if I had ever had Pneumonia, which I had as a lad.

 

No more BKK hospital physicals for me.

 

Ran into same with Dentists in the Suk 54 area.   They made me think my chompers were about to fall out. .Finally went to a small, one chair dentist in CNX and found I had a cracked crown,  needed a root canal and new crown.  28k THB and i was done.   He did comment that the wine and coffee stains were very hard to clean and could be mistaken as decay without good xrays.

[Scouse123]

2 hours ago, Paradise Pete said:

What was the breakdown of the 205? The lower your LDLs the less chance of a stroke. Forget the 205 and focus on that number. If you can get it well below 100 you've greatly decreased your chances of an adverse cardiac event. how to do that? All the boring stuff: Exercise, eating well (the so-called Mediterranean diet or the Dash diet are statistically the best), and if need be, medication.

 

Hi,

 

Just checked the LDLs and they were at 143 and shouldn't be above 130. HDL is 47 and shouldn't be over 40.

 

There's a few dietary changes on the way, cheese and ice cream for example followed by diet to lose some weight.

 

It ain't sky high but I am prepared to help myself. Mediterranean diet will be OK as I like that kind of food anyway so it's no hardship and I'll be buying one of those air fryers for chicken, fish and potatoes.

 

I don't eat Big Macs, pizza, hotdogs, burgers, donuts, not my kind of stuff. Soft drinks only with 0 calories. I'm not massive on fried food.

 

Exercise I will increase it, especially cardio at home, a bit of aerobics etc. I am a decent walker but weather lately has not been good for that.  Oh, And I've now quit all alcohol for the last six weeks, so I wonder what my readings might have been if I hadn't done that.

 

Anyway, nothing too drastic but a wake up call.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 24, 2023 by Scouse123

[scubascuba3]

6 hours ago, NORDO said:

He did comment that the wine and coffee stains were very hard to clean and could be mistaken as decay without good xrays

Tea is the worse for staining, i use a straw now for tea, coffee not so bad. Seems to be down to the tannin 

[Pumpuynarak]

14 hours ago, The Fugitive said:

UK NHS dentists have been ripping-off patients (& NHS of course) since it's creation. I personally have had many unnecessary fillings with shoddy workmanship and read of horror stories of children's jaws being premanently damaged. I too have had good experiences with my Thai dentist. Treatment has been professional, painless and most economical. 

I went to my dentist yesterday here in Thailand at a local clinic, what a pleasant experience it was. She was totally professional and x rayed my teeth and then discussed with me any problems with them, then proceeded to clean them and did an excellent job, cost 1400bht.

[scubascuba3]

18 minutes ago, Pumpuynarak said:

I went to my dentist yesterday here in Thailand at a local clinic, what a pleasant experience it was. She was totally professional and x rayed my teeth and then discussed with me any problems with them, then proceeded to clean them and did an excellent job, cost 1400bht.

Where i go in Pattaya a very thorough clean is 600 baht

[Pumpuynarak]

6 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Where i go in Pattaya a very thorough clean is 600 baht

The total bill was made up of 800B for the clean, 500B for the x ray and 100B for sterilisation but she was a real pretty young gal when i got her to take her mask off lol, the 800B for the clean is pretty standard where i live in Korat.

 

 

Edited July 24, 2023 by Pumpuynarak

[Sheryl]

8 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

Hi,

 

Just checked the LDLs and they were at 143 and shouldn't be above 130. HDL is 47 and shouldn't be over 40.

No, HDL should be over 40, preferrably 60 or above. That is the "good" cholesterol and has a protective effect. You should try to get it up a bit -- fish oil supplements work well.

 

What were your triglycerides? 

[Scouse123]

52 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

No, HDL should be over 40, preferrably 60 or above. That is the "good" cholesterol and has a protective effect. You should try to get it up a bit -- fish oil supplements work well.

 

What were your triglycerides? 

I will check, just on my way now to Khonkaen for the whole abdomen scan.

 

Will be doing those things you and others recommended.

[Scouse123]

7 hours ago, Sheryl said:

No, HDL should be over 40, preferrably 60 or above. That is the "good" cholesterol and has a protective effect. You should try to get it up a bit -- fish oil supplements work well.

 

What were your triglycerides? 

Hi,

 

Just back from Khonkaen.

 

According to the report my triglycerides were 97 last year and 117 this year Sheryl........... I believe this is well within limits.

 

The Whole abdomen test went well.

 

No causes for concern. The Gallstone is indeed a small gallstone and not a tumor. They said they could determine this as it had moved, if it had been a tumor it would have been attached to something.

 

A slightly fatty liver I was told, slightly enlarged prostate but they said this is common for my age.

 

There were no dense areas of concern, no masses, no tumors, and no suspicious looking areas of concern.

 

So, diet to focus on now and a bit of healthy living, cut down calories food wise; as well as moderate exercise.

[The Fugitive]

12 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

Hi,

 

Just back from Khonkaen.

 

According to the report my triglycerides were 97 last year and 117 this year Sheryl........... I believe this is well within limits.

 

The Whole abdomen test went well.

 

No causes for concern. The Gallstone is indeed a small gallstone and not a tumor. They said they could determine this as it had moved, if it had been a tumor it would have been attached to something.

 

A slightly fatty liver I was told, slightly enlarged prostate but they said this is common for my age.

 

There were no dense areas of concern, no masses, no tumors, and no suspicious looking areas of concern.

 

So, diet to focus on now and a bit of healthy living, cut down calories food wise; as well as moderate exercise.

Thanks for taking the trouble to report!

[chakatee]

On 7/24/2023 at 12:55 PM, spidermike007 said:

Bangkok Hospital charges 2,200 for the same test.

Need to see that before I can believe that ... I had that test done in 2 different Bangkok Hospitals and I, when out-patient, my insurance when in-patient, never paid more than about 400-ish.

[Sheryl]

7 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

Hi,

 

Just back from Khonkaen.

 

According to the report my triglycerides were 97 last year and 117 this year Sheryl........... I believe this is well within limits.

 

The Whole abdomen test went well.

 

No causes for concern. The Gallstone is indeed a small gallstone and not a tumor. They said they could determine this as it had moved, if it had been a tumor it would have been attached to something.

 

A slightly fatty liver I was told, slightly enlarged prostate but they said this is common for my age.

 

There were no dense areas of concern, no masses, no tumors, and no suspicious looking areas of concern.

 

So, diet to focus on now and a bit of healthy living, cut down calories food wise; as well as moderate exercise.

Yes triglyceride is normal.

 

LDL is borderline high and HDL would optimally be higher. 

 

A fish oil supplement plus a few dietary tweaks and weight loss should do the trick. 

 

Re diet, oatmeal helps lower LDL and provides important fiber. 

 

Speaking of fiber don't overlook colonoscopy every 10 years. Important but not included in most check up packages. 

[Scouse123]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Yes triglyceride is normal.

 

LDL is borderline high and HDL would optimally be higher. 

 

A fish oil supplement plus a few dietary tweaks and weight loss should do the trick. 

 

Re diet, oatmeal helps lower LDL and provides important fiber. 

 

Speaking of fiber don't overlook colonoscopy every 10 years. Important but not included in most check up packages. 

I just had one a month or so ago at my local government hospital after having a screening in UK and they recommended one

 

So, everything looking fairly OK.

 

I didn't realise there was so much to growing old gracefully.????