Barretts Esophagus

[w94005m]

Unfortunately, I've had Barretts Esophagus for quite some time and I'm due for a 5 year check via endoscopy.

 

I am in the Pattaya area and am looking for a reasonable compromise between competence and cost. 

 

As a pre-existing condition, I will have to pay for it, but don't want to replicate the experience I had with the NHS where an incompetent 'specialist' in Ayr failed to even see it. I then needed to have it done privately by a genuine expert.

 

I do prefer to be out for the count when done, so any experiences or recommendations, greatly appreciated.

 

I have no interest in a colonoscopy or other procedure being done at the same time.

 

Many thanks for your consideration. 

 

 

[Crazy Noobie]

Sorry to hear that you have Barretts Esophagus. I do not know of a good place in your area to recommend. I would think that a hospital like maybe Bangkok Hospital would have an expert in this area. You say you are getting your 5 year check-up. I would recommend that you have it checked on a yearly bases and not wait so long in between check-ups. I had Barretts Esophagus, but since I only checked it every 5 years it turned into cancer of the esophagus. The doctor said if I had it checked yearly they could of caught my cancer earlier. I had to have a major operation and had my entire esophagus removed. My stomach was relocated to the top of my lung area and then connected to my throat. It turned my entire life upside down. So stay on top of it and get checked out more often. Good luck.

[w94005m]

Many thanks for your thoughts and so sorry to hear about your consequential problems. I hope that you are at least now stable and in remission 🙏 My last scan had it a low ebb, so I was recommended 3 to 5 years for next scan and I'm a few months inside that window. I am certainly fully aware of potential problems and do try to stay on top of this. As you rightly say better to err on the conservative proactive side. I'll be better set moving forward for subsequent checks once I have this done for the first time in Thailand.

 

Failing any recommendations, I will probably start with Bangkok Pattaya next week and see what they quote.

 

Very best wishes with your progress moving forward 🙏

[Will B Good]

On 9/20/2024 at 12:18 PM, w94005m said:

Unfortunately, I've had Barretts Esophagus for quite some time and I'm due for a 5 year check via endoscopy.

 

I am in the Pattaya area and am looking for a reasonable compromise between competence and cost. 

 

As a pre-existing condition, I will have to pay for it, but don't want to replicate the experience I had with the NHS where an incompetent 'specialist' in Ayr failed to even see it. I then needed to have it done privately by a genuine expert.

 

I do prefer to be out for the count when done, so any experiences or recommendations, greatly appreciated.

 

I have no interest in a colonoscopy or other procedure being done at the same time.

 

Many thanks for your consideration. 

 

 

 

 

Can I ask a few questions? .......the reason being I was headed your way re: Barrett's.......Just ignore me if you wish.

 

I have a hiatal hernia/open LOS valve. I was put on PPIs and told not to have an operation as the risks were to great.

 

Were you offered an operation? What medication were/are you on?

 

Have you heard about the new operation that inserts some plastic device into the oesophagus if PPIs don't work?

 

Hope you get sorted regardless.

[Letseng]

1 hour ago, w94005m said:

Many thanks for your thoughts and so sorry to hear about your consequential problems. I hope that you are at least now stable and in remission 🙏 My last scan had it a low ebb, so I was recommended 3 to 5 years for next scan and I'm a few months inside that window. I am certainly fully aware of potential problems and do try to stay on top of this. As you rightly say better to err on the conservative proactive side. I'll be better set moving forward for subsequent checks once I have this done for the first time in Thailand.

 

Failing any recommendations, I will probably start with Bangkok Pattaya next week and see what they quote.

 

Very best wishes with your progress moving forward 🙏

Have a bit of patience. Perhaps Sheryl will pick up your question, and she can point you to a specialist.

[Sheryl]

I am not able to recommend a doctor in Pattaya area for this and it is too important to leave to an average doctor

 

You should come to Bangkok.

 

In doing that, you'll need to choose between paying more and being able to get what you need pretty much at once, or paying less but having to either make 2 trips or stay a while in Bangkok.

 

I suggest you consult Prof. Parit Mekaroonkamol. He can be seen at any of 3 private hospitals or (more time-consuming, but cheaper) through Chulalongkorn Hospital.

 

Private hospitals:

 

https://www.medparkhospital.com/en-US/doctors/asst-prof-dr-parit-mekaroonkamol

 

https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/doctor/assoc-prof-dr-parit-mekaroonkamol

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Parit -Mekaroonkamol

 

He is US trained (Emory Univ) and very thorough.

 

If you want to try through Chula, contact is  https://chulalongkornhospital.go.th/kcmh/en/ec/ศูนย์ความเป็นเลิศทางกา/

I have no experience or feedback on people trying to directly access that center so can't say how easy it will be.

 

Personally, I'd try to have it done by him at MedPark, they have a promotional price through end of the year of 16,500  https://www.medparkhospital.com/en-US/packages/gastroscopy-colonoscopy-package

Need to confirm if this price includes IV sedation or not. Even if that is extra, still a good price for Thailand.

[w94005m]

4 hours ago, Sheryl said:

I am not able to recommend a doctor in Pattaya area for this and it is too important to leave to an average doctor

 

You should come to Bangkok.

 

In doing that, you'll need to choose between paying more and being able to get what you need pretty much at once, or paying less but having to either make 2 trips or stay a while in Bangkok.

 

I suggest you consult Prof. Parit Mekaroonkamol. He can be seen at any of 3 private hospitals or (more time-consuming, but cheaper) through Chulalongkorn Hospital.

 

Private hospitals:

 

https://www.medparkhospital.com/en-US/doctors/asst-prof-dr-parit-mekaroonkamol

 

https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/doctor/assoc-prof-dr-parit-mekaroonkamol

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Parit -Mekaroonkamol

 

He is US trained (Emory Univ) and very thorough.

 

If you want to try through Chula, contact is  https://chulalongkornhospital.go.th/kcmh/en/ec/ศูนย์ความเป็นเลิศทางกา/

I have no experience or feedback on people trying to directly access that center so can't say how easy it will be.

 

Personally, I'd try to have it done by him at MedPark, they have a promotional price through end of the year of 16,500  https://www.medparkhospital.com/en-US/packages/gastroscopy-colonoscopy-package

Need to confirm if this price includes IV sedation or not. Even if that is extra, still a good price for Thailand.

Many thanks Sheryl. I greatly appreciate your informed, expansive and detailed answer.

 

I am certainly a little gun shy after my experience at Ayr with an incompetent specialist, who i should have reported to BMA.

 

It is surprising, as I believe you have noted before about the costs, which are surprisingly greater than I experienced with a top specialist in the UK seen privately.

 

I will contact the specialists that you've suggested.

 

I will certainly post my experiences once I have had this done.

 

Many thanks

 

[Celsius]

5 hours ago, Sheryl said:

I 

Personally, I'd try to have it done by him at MedPark, they have a promotional price through end of the year of 16,500  https://www.medparkhospital.com/en-US/packages/gastroscopy-colonoscopy-package

Need to confirm if this price includes IV sedation or not. Even if that is extra, still a good price for Thailand.

 

I took this promo at medpark about 18 months ago. The price did include consultation and sedation. The procedure was very very gentle as they use modern equipment.

 

Of course, any other issues that may be found during procedure will not be covered as with any other hospital. 

 

I am surprised that someone with Barrets is only doing endoscopy every 5 years. I have small hiatal hernia and annoying reflux and endoscopy is recommended every 3 years.

[w94005m]

48 minutes ago, Celsius said:

 

I took this promo at medpark about 18 months ago. The price did include consultation and sedation. The procedure was very very gentle as they use modern equipment.

 

Of course, any other issues that may be found during procedure will not be covered as with any other hospital. 

 

I am surprised that someone with Barrets is only doing endoscopy every 5 years. I have small hiatal hernia and annoying reflux and endoscopy is recommended every 3 years.

That's great to know. Thanks!

 I have not had any dysplasia and it is a small section, so 3 to 5 years was suggested range. With covid, I'd just let it run to the longer end.

 

Hopefully, that doesn't come back to bite me.