what sort of Dr to see?

[proton]

Almost three weeks had a headache at the right side towards the back, not quite a headache more a pressure or tension. Noticeable more when coughing or sneezing. Had my eyes tested last week, nothing to do with it and blood pressure is normal. Optician said if it does not go away to see a Dr but am wondering where to go to get it checked out, in Bangkok.

[PPMMUU]

Your symptoms can be caused by several kinds of diseases, so I suggest you see a general practitioner (GP) first. Some hospitals have internal medicine specialists in general practice exam rooms, so don’t be surprised if you’re told to see one.

[KhunLA]

"Noticeable more when coughing or sneezing"

 

Ms Google tells me that's actually a thing, 'primary or secondary coughing headaches'.

 

Will pass (primary) to caused (secondary) by minor things, simple dehydration to major things, brain tumors.  Pretty wide range of causes.  Obviously if continues, especially if worsening, back to a GP to get referred to a specialist, or even a head CT scan, and take a peek at things, I'd think.  Somewhere in between to sort it out.

 

Good luck, hopefully it will just pass.

[Sheryl]

A neurologist soecisluzingbin headaches.

 

I am away ftom my vomputer until evening, will podt suggestions later.

 

Any specific hospital preference? 

[save the frogs]

15 hours ago, proton said:

Almost three weeks had a headache at the right side towards the back, not quite a headache more a pressure or tension.

 

pulled a neck muscle?

i'm thinking neck muscles spasms might cause that sort of headache.

maybe an osteopath or chiropractor can work the neck a bit? 

that just came off the top of my head.

if you think it's bs, sorry. 

 

[proton]

5 hours ago, Sheryl said:

A neurologist soecisluzingbin headaches.

 

I am away ftom my vomputer until evening, will podt suggestions later.

 

Any specific hospital preference? 

 

Not Bunrungrad

[Sheryl]

https://www.samitivejhospitals.com/doctor/detail/thaninjitra-poonpedpun

 

https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/bangkok-bone-brain/doctor/prof-dr-kongkiat-kulkantrakorn

 

https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/bangkok-bone-brain/doctor/dr-kiratikorn-vongvaivanich

 

Before seeing a specialist, might it be due to tense muscles in neck and/or shoulders? Often caused by prolonged computer use, or poor posture/sleep position, or stress. If it might be this, you might like to try gentle neck & shoulder massage and exercises to relax these muscles first. Like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew3t1XiXLAk

 

Also consider possible change of pillow to one that better supports the neck.

[proton]

13 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

https://www.samitivejhospitals.com/doctor/detail/thaninjitra-poonpedpun

 

https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/bangkok-bone-brain/doctor/prof-dr-kongkiat-kulkantrakorn

 

https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/bangkok-bone-brain/doctor/dr-kiratikorn-vongvaivanich

 

Before seeing a specialist, might it be due to tense muscles in neck and/or shoulders? Often caused by prolonged computer use, or poor posture/sleep position, or stress. If it might be this, you might like to try gentle neck & shoulder massage and exercises to relax these muscles first. Like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew3t1XiXLAk

 

Also consider possible change of pillow to one that better supports the neck.

 

Excellent advice as always, many thanks Sheryl

[newbee2022]

On 5/18/2025 at 7:42 AM, proton said:

Almost three weeks had a headache at the right side towards the back, not quite a headache more a pressure or tension. Noticeable more when coughing or sneezing. Had my eyes tested last week, nothing to do with it and blood pressure is normal. Optician said if it does not go away to see a Dr but am wondering where to go to get it checked out, in Bangkok.

Any doctor/hospital.

First an extended blood test. Then the next step

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Any doctor/hospital.

First an extended blood test. Then the next step

Are you a doctor?

[newbee2022]

15 hours ago, scorecard said:

Are you a doctor?

Yes

[radiochaser]

On 5/18/2025 at 7:04 AM, proton said:

 

Not Bunrungrad

Bumrungrad International Hospital?   If it is this hospital, why not?   

 

I have started to go there because it is one of the few that will accept my American health insurance.   

Is the reason due to cost of care?

 

[proton]

12 minutes ago, radiochaser said:

Bumrungrad International Hospital?   If it is this hospital, why not?   

 

I have started to go there because it is one of the few that will accept my American health insurance.   

Is the reason due to cost of care?

 

 

Its very overpriced, you can see the same drs at other hospitals far cheaper

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, proton said:

 

Its very overpriced, you can see the same drs at other hospitals far cheaper

If you keep using your international based health insurance at Bumrumgrad the insurance company will increase your premiums. 

[Presnock]

1 hour ago, radiochaser said:

Bumrungrad International Hospital?   If it is this hospital, why not?   

 

I have started to go there because it is one of the few that will accept my American health insurance.   

Is the reason due to cost of care?

 

what health insurance company in the US.  I too have a US health insurer and they even send a letter to the hospitals to guarantee coverage of everything.  They list about 25 hospitals in Bangkok as preferred but will accept any in an emergency

 

[Presnock]

9 minutes ago, scorecard said:

If you keep using your international based health insurance at Bumrumgrad the insurance company will increase your premiums. 

with US health insurers, whether you have claims or not they are increasing the costs super high (double digit now a year) and that is why the number cause of people losing everything is health costs are too high now a days!  Even the govt associated health insurers have got Congress looking at cutting the benefits (health insurance costs) for US civil servants.  That was the claim of the guy that shot the CEO of a health insurer - on trial in NYC.

[Sheryl]

53 minutes ago, scorecard said:

If you keep using your international based health insurance at Bumrumgrad the insurance company will increase your premiums. 

Thai based insurers can and do raise premiums based on claim history  but this is not allowed in most western countries.

 

International insurance premiums may go up for other reasons but not due to claims.

 

Insurers may  however  reject Bumrungrad cost estimates as sometimes higher than the norm  compared to other hospitals.  This generally shakes out during the hospitslization  pre-approval process. 

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, proton said:

 

Its very overpriced, you can see the same drs at other hospitals far cheaper

Often, but not always. There are a few top doctors who are nowhere else. 

[scorecard]

19 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Thai based insurers can and do raise premiums based on claim history  but this is not allowed in most western countries.

 

International insurance premiums may go up for other reasons but not due to claims.

 

Insurers may  however  reject Bumrungrad cost estimates as sometimes higher than the norm  compared to other hospitals.  This generally shakes out during the hospitslization  pre-approval process. 

Hi Sheryl,

 

Thanks for clarifying this. I have no doubt you have much more knowledge on this than I do.

 

I'm aware of one western AseanNow member who had comprehensive health insurance with Manuxxxx (in fact he was a senior employee of Manuxxxx for 40 years (across 5 different countries, mostly in Asia) and continued his health cover (he paid) when he retired in Pattaya. Last 4 years in and out of hospital many times in Pattaya. Manuxxxx increased his premium annually and several time during each year but always after very long periods of hospitalization in ICU.

 

And another westerner (from EU but lived in Pattaya for several decades), very very wealthy.    His very long-term health insurer (famous big EU insurance company) renewed his policy when he turned 76 but advised him no further renewals, even at higher premiums.

 

Early in the final year of his police he was hospitalized for 2 weeks. The company sent a bill for an additional 15% premium for the remainder of that year. As said above he had been with this health insurer for decades with a very small number of claims for small amounts, when they asked for 15% more he was very pissed off and said no and asked for a refund for the balance of the premium already paid for that final year. Ins. company refused.

 

As said he's a very wealthy man, he employs full time: a maid, a cook, a driver, and an accountant. He asked his accountant to search around for a Thai hospital with a good reputation and charges not too expensive.

 

A gov't. hospital at Sri Racha was selected, both the foreigner and his acct. went to the hospital and talked to a senior person and got a list of typical charges which weren't too bad, they asked if i was possible to pay an annual premium. Answer was no.

 

But the hospital acct said 'I can join you as a member and make a note that any charges will not be at a cost any higher than Thai people. He joined. 

 

Now 81 years old, he's never been ill since the visit to the Sri Racha hospital. 

[radiochaser]

On 5/20/2025 at 4:46 AM, Presnock said:

what health insurance company in the US.  I too have a US health insurer and they even send a letter to the hospitals to guarantee coverage of everything.  They list about 25 hospitals in Bangkok as preferred but will accept any in an emergency

 

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employees Plan.   I kept it when I retired as it covers my wife who is not yet on medicare. 

There in in network doctors and hospitals in almost every country.  I have a co-pay that is lower than out of network doctors and hospitals.     

 

I can also use out of network doctors, pay the costs and submit receipts to BCBS and they reimburse at 40%.

 

 

[radiochaser]

On 5/20/2025 at 3:20 AM, proton said:

 

Its very overpriced, you can see the same drs at other hospitals far cheaper

I have Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employees Plan.   I kept it when I retired as it covers my wife who is not yet on Medicare.   Bumrungrad is an in network hospital. 

 

There in in network doctors and hospitals in almost every country.  I have a co-pay that is lower than out of network doctors and hospitals.     

 

I can also use out of network doctors, pay the costs and submit receipts to BCBS and they reimburse at 40%.

[Presnock]

4 hours ago, radiochaser said:

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employees Plan.   I kept it when I retired as it covers my wife who is not yet on medicare. 

There in in network doctors and hospitals in almost every country.  I have a co-pay that is lower than out of network doctors and hospitals.     

 

I can also use out of network doctors, pay the costs and submit receipts to BCBS and they reimburse at 40%.

 

 

They will provide you with a list of all the preferred providers (sent it to within a day of asking for it) it is quite long.  If you call the number on the card they will send it to you or you check your fepblue acct for the list.  I filed my daughter's 21 treatments a few months ago (covered an 18 month series of treatments), the Bangkok Nursing Home is a preferred provider but for some reason the previous overseas office that covers Thailand didn't have the right contact so I footed the bills and then got reimbursed.  I notice that cost of plan increasing rapidly while cutting some benefits.  I have the family plan but daughter will soon be reaching the cutoff age.  I myself have never had a claim but keep it for my family.  Wife is Thai so can get local insurance cheaply at better benefits but we just keep it for us for now.  Read that govt worries about the 72% of coverage and talking about vouchers instead.  If you know what hospital you are going to, I can check the list that they gave me but believe it is really pretty inclusive for BKK.  Good luck,  take care stay safe

[radiochaser]

17 minutes ago, Presnock said:

They will provide you with a list of all the preferred providers (sent it to within a day of asking for it) it is quite long.  If you call the number on the card they will send it to you or you check your fepblue acct for the list.  I filed my daughter's 21 treatments a few months ago (covered an 18 month series of treatments), the Bangkok Nursing Home is a preferred provider but for some reason the previous overseas office that covers Thailand didn't have the right contact so I footed the bills and then got reimbursed.  I notice that cost of plan increasing rapidly while cutting some benefits.  I have the family plan but daughter will soon be reaching the cutoff age.  I myself have never had a claim but keep it for my family.  Wife is Thai so can get local insurance cheaply at better benefits but we just keep it for us for now.  Read that govt worries about the 72% of coverage and talking about vouchers instead.  If you know what hospital you are going to, I can check the list that they gave me but believe it is really pretty inclusive for BKK.  Good luck,  take care stay safe

BCBS, if I recall correctly, told me to go to Bumrungrad International, or I found it on the website. That was last year. I can't remember (damn this old age).   I might have just called Bumrungrad and  them and asked if they accepted BCBS.   This year, in March, my knee had a problem and I went there without looking for any other hospital.  The nice thing was they saw me faster than I would have been seen here in the U.S. of A., for a walk in patient.   Doc wanted to schedule me for an MRI, but the earliest appointment was after I would have returned to the U.S.  of A.   MRI showed I have a torn meniscus of my left knee. 

 

As to the list of providers, is that from BCBS Federal Employees Health insurance?   I don't recall seeing any listing for Nonthaburi area, where my condo is.     If you have any links I would appreciate it.  

 

As for Bumrungrad Hospital, there are two of them.  One is in Nonthaburi district and is a government hospital.   When I asked the driver of the firs taxi if he knew where Bumrungrad hospital was, he said he did.   When I was dropped of there a nurse confirmed that it was name that.   The next taxi driver that came through there and was asked if he knew where Bumrungrad in Bangkok was, responded in English, yes, Bumrungrad International Hospital, I know.