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Would you trust a Thai hospital for a serious diagnosis?

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6 minutes ago, atpeace said:

You're healthy and exercise so you can get away with things that the general unhealthy population can't. How many times have you heard that I was healthy and then one day the doctor told me I had diabetes? I've read post on this forum stating this. If they would have checked their blood sugar a couple times a month the previous decade, they would have seen what was coming. Sure, most would do little about it but it wouldn't be a surprise!

If they'd exercised every day, not over eaten, and avoided vaccinations, they probably wouldn't have got diabetes.

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1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

If they'd exercised every day, not over eaten, and avoided vaccinations, they probably wouldn't have got diabetes.

Regarding exercise and food I do agree. But vaccinations are far fetched.

7 minutes ago, MoneyPenny said:

Agreed. And you don't even need an expensive hospital. You can just go to a diagnostic lab once a year in Thailand and, for a couple of thousand baht, get comprehensive blood work and a urinalysis to check red and white blood cells, liver function, kidney function, lipid levels, triglycerides, blood sugar, HbA1c, and a number of other basic markers. It is also worth checking blood pressure regularly, as hypertension can remain completely symptom-free for years while increasing the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney disease. A urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio can also help detect early kidney damage that may not show up on a routine urinalysis.

These labs often offer chest X-rays as well, although a routine chest X-ray isn't considered an effective general screening test for lung cancer, but it will show signs of any growths on the lungs and signs of tuberculosis. It is also worth considering PSA testing for prostate cancer based on your age and individual risk factors.

There are also some important infections that can remain silent for years, particularly hepatitis B and C, which can eventually cause cirrhosis and liver cancer. Getting screened at least once, and periodically if you have risk factors, is worth considering.

I get all of this done once a year, and it costs me under 5,000 baht in total.

Men over 40 should consider having blood work, blood pressure checks, and a urinalysis once a year, along with regular diabetes screening and an annual eye exam to check for glaucoma and other age-related eye problems. Colorectal cancer screening should also begin around age 45 for average-risk adults, with the frequency depending on whether you choose a colonoscopy, stool testing, or another screening method. If you have a family history or other risk factors, screening may need to start earlier or be done more frequently.

There are a number of diseases that don't show symptoms until they are advanced, but if detected early can often be treated or managed before they become serious. Some of the important "silent travelers" that these screening can help detect early include high blood pressure, diabetes and pre-diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, glaucoma, hepatitis B and C, and, in higher-risk individuals, lung cancer and abdominal aortic aneurysms.

The basic idea is simple: don't wait until you feel sick. A relatively inexpensive annual checkup can identify a surprising number of problems while they are still manageable.

A simple blood glucose monitor IMO is a tool that will accurately predict your future health. Lab work and scans are great but a simple glucose monitor is much more powerful. If your metabolic health (insulin flexibility ) is good then the odds of living a satisfying healthy life are dramatically increased. Today's population is a metabolic MESS and diabetes is now one of the top killers and just 50 years ago was a minor concern. Prior to 1950, getting killed by lightning was more probable than death by diabetes complications.

6 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

If they'd exercised every day, not over eaten, and avoided vaccinations, they probably wouldn't have got diabetes.

No, they would have been living in an iron lung, or with severe liver damage instead.

6 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

If they'd exercised every day, not over eaten, and avoided vaccinations, they probably wouldn't have got diabetes.

Duh :) They are never going to exercise or eat right. At least they would know what is coming. No real opinion on the vaccines because the data is a mess.

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

No, they would have been living in an iron lung, or with severe liver damage instead.

Another confusing post by you. I think the anti vaccine comment triggered you :)

We get it vaccine are perfect in your world. Hey I like them myself but there are much more important health concerns. Still wearing a mask?

17 minutes ago, atpeace said:

You're healthy and exercise so you can get away with things that the general unhealthy population can't. How many times have you heard that I was healthy and then one day the doctor told me I had diabetes? I've read post on this forum stating this. If they would have checked their blood sugar a couple times a month the previous decade, they would have seen what was coming. Sure, most would do little about it but it wouldn't be a surprise!

I am pre-diabetic. I can adjust my hBA1c simply on the amount of sugar I am consuming.

The problem with Thailand is - sugar is in everything. MitrPol even bought up Australia's entire sugar crop to satisfy demand

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

I am pre-diabetic. I can adjust my hBA1c simply on the amount of sugar I am consuming.

The problem with Thailand is - sugar is in everything. MitrPol even bought up Australia's entire sugar crop to satisfy demand

Agreed but we can choose to learn what is in the food and adjust our diets. I personally love sugar and can get away with it because of my lifestyle. I do measure it at least a few times a months ( every few months I test often for a day or two to get better data) though because I consume loads of simple carbs.

Edited by atpeace

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1 minute ago, atpeace said:

Another confusing post by you. I think the anti vaccine comment triggered you :)

We get it vaccine are perfect in your world. Hey I like them myself but there are much more important health concerns. Still wearing a mask?

What's confusing about it? Polio and hepatitis are almost completely preventable with vaccination.

Polio would not exist anymore, like smallpox, if it were not for ignorant mullahs in Afghanistan and Pakistan who oppose vaccination.

Just now, Lacessit said:

What's confusing about it? Polio and hepatitis are almost completely preventable with vaccination.

Polio would not exist anymore, like smallpox, if it were not for ignorant mullahs in Afghanistan and Pakistan who oppose vaccination.

Did you read my post? I get it vaccines are wonderful. Now back on topic unless you feel vaccines are the answer to poor health.

4 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Agreed but we can choose to learn what is in the food and adjust our diets. I personally love sugar and can get away with it because of my lifestyle. I do measure it at least a few times a months ( every few months I test often for a day or two to get better data) though because I consume loads of simple carbs.

There are good carbs, and bad carbs. Broccoli, cabbage, lettuce and cauliflower are good carbs. Potatoes, rice and pasta are bad carbs.

At my age, protein consumption becomes a lot more important,in terms of maintaining muscle mass.

59 minutes ago, atpeace said:

I don't know about England but this happens in America also. It isn't a Thai thing but a doctor thing. Doctors are great in an emergency when usually the issue is much more apparent but I've found then to be almost useless for non-emergencies. So nice to have when you really need them! The crud that comes out of their mouths during routine examinations is laughable at times. Just smile and get out of their office ASAP.

last year, woke with severe abdominal pain.

Rushed my self to hospital in to ER and within 30 mins incarcerated bowel was the diagnosis. Under the knife an hour later.

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

There are good carbs, and bad carbs. Broccoli, cabbage, lettuce and cauliflower are good carbs. Potatoes, rice and pasta are bad carbs.

At my age, protein consumption becomes a lot more important,in terms of maintaining muscle mass.

You seem to have a good understanding of your challenges and I assume making the right choices. I enjoy numbers and can look at my health stats for hours :) Weird and I know but it is what excites me and is harmless. Almost any thread in regards to health is interesting and I enjoy the discussions. THe vaccine angles don't and are pointless. I wish I would have realized this during Covid but I do now :)

Just now, Ralf001 said:

last year, woke with severe abdominal pain.

Rushed my self to hospital in to ER and within 30 mins incarcerated bowel was the diagnosis. Under the knife an hour later.

I remember your story and a scary one at that! Been in your place a couple times here in Thailand and barely survived. Hospitals and physicians are wonderful.

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54 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I'm 70, no need to live any longer, no need to waste money on trying to live longer.

I'd prefer a quick way out option, than a 10 extra years of slow death option.

Death is coming ..... and you can't buy your way out of it!

You really hit a nerve with me here. I turn 70 next year and, while I still enjoy a very sparse teaching schedule (3 days per week, 2 classes per day with my favorite age Grade 2, 7 to 8 years old), I'm just getting plain tired. I've spent stretches of time in Jomtien where I had nothing to do but ride my bicycle in the mornings. That got boring, but it's starting to call me back. I'm done traveling, having been everywhere I've wanted to go. If I want to visit my family back in the US, we can Zoom. I have some dear friends I miss in Jomtien/Pattaya. I think I have one more good year being Santa Claus at my school then it may be time to get back to a Jomtien beach condo and enjoy some sunsets. I still exercise and take diabetes meds, but to spend 30k baht or more for a physical? Yeah . . . no.

5 hours ago, Beat666 said:

In 1999, i had a difficult and complex back surgery at Phramongkutklao Hospital in Bangkok.

In 2012, i was diagnosed with a very rare disease called Adhesive Arachnoiditis. These findings were made at Prasat Neurological Institute in Bangkok.

Both are governmental hospitals, and I would go back there at any time.

A private Hospital is not always a better choice. Because at the end of the Day, most doctors working at governmental hospitals also work at private Hospitals.

The challenge is not government versus private. It is the hospital itself.

Most public hospitals, when you walk in the door, are getting a lower-grade GP.

There are, however, as stated, government hospitals that look after the senior government staff.

My GF works at a government hospital in the Victory area, and it is the last place I would go.

As to whether I would trust a public hospital over a private one, you need to realize that there are 2 tiers of private. There are private hospitals such as Sao Paolo, and then there are the Bangkok Group private hospitals.

One of the tricks I have learned is to find out where the doctors work and then how to get to them at said hospitals.

For me, it is simple: if I think something is serious, I will go to BNH and pay a little more to see a specialist directly. If not, then I will go to PATRANGSIT and see someone there.

We also have to remember one other thing: don't forget about the doctors, and realize that the technicians and support staff are better at the private hospitals. You would never see someone who just barely passed as a lab tech at a Bangkok Group hospital.

My first real introduction to a Thai hospital was a local gov't hospital where my now ex wife's brother was. Left outside on a gurney with the mosquitoes while awaiting surgery for hours. I was told several times by ex to zip mouth. I go to a private hospital every month for cancer and kidney failure check. Recently had a basil cell carcinoma removed by my ear. Well done. Back in '23 I went in, much too late, with a repeated problem of swallowing and gasping for breath, hoarseness, etc. The diagnosis was throat cancer. I had been sprayed with Agent Orange in VN way back when and most of my close friends had already died from AO. I booked flight to Minneapolis and the VA Hospital there. Arrived more dead than alive, Covid (?), pneumonia, blood clot in lung, stage 4a cancer of the larynx. It was several weeks before I was well enough to be operated on. I had said for many years, cancer diagnosis and I am head to the VA in the states. Correct decision. The Minneapolis VA is/was on par with Mayo for cancer. Why it no longer is is subject for an entire different discussion but I will say it has changed since the 2024 election. I am crippled, I can't speak, part of my right leg was used to rebuild a throat which has since decided to quit working. My right kidney has shrunk so that I can no longer endure MRI and when the cancer returns, it always does, I will not know except by symptoms. Thai hospital got it right on cancer but I opted for VA for the operation. I had a much better chance of one year survival than Thai people do according to a Thai throat cancer specialist, still less that 40%. Each must make his own decision as to what one does with health options. I am perfectly satisfied that I get very good treatment at the private hospital I go to monthly. And no matter what I will never return to the US dictatorship.

Alex Priddy was one of my ICU nurses, RIP

BTW please don't be stupid like me and wait too damn long!

Edited by sgtsabai
grammer

7 minutes ago, sgtsabai said:

BTW please don't be stupid like me and wait too damn long!

Sorry about the major health issues. Is life still good even with the challenges and why do you let politics cause you so much anxiety? I don't understand your last sentence. Too long to do what?

15 minutes ago, atpeace said:

I remember your story and a scary one at that! Been in your place a couple times here in Thailand and barely survived. Hospitals and physicians are wonderful.

Yeah 2023 was an ordinary year health wise, spent bout 5 months in hospital !

100% agree, Hospitals and physicians are wonderful.

Every month I have to see my doc at the hospital, I always set the appointment for 11.00am, After I see the Doc I take two nurses that took care of me in ICU in 2023 out for coffee.

36 minutes ago, atpeace said:

You seem to have a good understanding of your challenges and I assume making the right choices. I enjoy numbers and can look at my health stats for hours :) Weird and I know but it is what excites me and is harmless. Almost any thread in regards to health is interesting and I enjoy the discussions. THe vaccine angles don't and are pointless. I wish I would have realized this during Covid but I do now :)

It depends what age cohort you are in. COVID vaccines may not have been all that useful to younger people. The statistics say they were definitely needed for someone my age.

I do have to wonder why my stance on the topic triggers some people. It's 0.5 mL of something in my arm once a year. OTOH, people daily imbibe significant quantities of a Class 1 carcinogen responsible for increased levels of esophageal cancer and liver cirrhosis, which can be lethal if taken with the common anti-inflammatory paracetamol. Quite apart from alcohol;s role in removing inhibitions, and as a CNS depressant .

8 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

It depends what age cohort you are in. COVID vaccines may not have been all that useful to younger people. The statistics say they were definitely needed for someone my age.

I do have to wonder why my stance on the topic triggers some people. It's 0.5 mL of something in my arm once a year. OTOH, people daily imbibe significant quantities of a Class 1 carcinogen responsible for increased levels of esophageal cancer and liver cirrhosis, which can be lethal if taken with the common anti-inflammatory paracetamol. Quite apart from alcohol;s role in removing inhibitions, and as a CNS depressant .

I agree that vaccines were beneficial for the older people. I just don't get bent if someone disagrees. Up to them.

Vaccines aren't going to resolve any of the major causes of death. They are something that plays a minor role in our public health and things like metabolic health are exponentially more important. Covid wreaked havoc on society because of how pathetically unhealthy we are!

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5 minutes ago, atpeace said:

I agree that vaccines were beneficial for the older people. I just don't get bent if someone disagrees. Up to them.

Vaccines aren't going to resolve any of the major causes of death. They are something that plays a minor role in our public health and things like metabolic health are exponentially more important. Covid wreaked havoc on society because of how pathetically unhealthy we are!

Vaccines have dramatically improved average life expectancy by reducing mortality in children and infants. Without them, we would still be having millions of deaths from polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, and measles in that age group.

The evidence is already in that COVID was killing people with pre-existing conditions disproportionately.

I am already past the average life expectancy of an Australian male. I credit that to my focus on maintaining physical and mental health, although the latter sometimes gets tested on ASEAN by irrational posters.

6 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Vaccines have dramatically improved average life expectancy by reducing mortality in children and infants. Without them, we would still be having millions of deaths from polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, and measles in that age group.

The evidence is already in that COVID was killing people with pre-existing conditions disproportionately.

I am already past the average life expectancy of an Australian male. I credit that to my focus on maintaining physical and mental health, although the latter sometimes gets tested on ASEAN by irrational posters.

Nothing to do with vaccines.

All to do with sufficient food and clean water.

@atpeace, sorry for being unclear, the symptoms were there long before I went to hospital for check. I am an American patriot, not MAGA, Marine SGT-Vietnam jailed by the Nixon regime for speaking truth to the power and I will continue to do so until my death. I swore an oath the the Constitution and politics is for another subject. Please no more politics on this subject while I do believe politics has badly effected our VA.

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Yes I would. 6 months ago I had the feeling that my left leg and arm were going numb, I mentioned it to my wife who immediately called an ambulance (at 5 in the morning). the ambulance arrived after 10 minutes and I was taken to our local government hospital. Despite the early hours two stroke stations were manned. I was given a blood thinning pill and various strength tests were made before I was sent for a brain scan all within 15 minutes. The scans were negative but I was wheeled into a ward and was attached to a drip. I spent one day and one night in the ward then I discharged myself as everything had returned to normal. I was surprised that follow up tests had been arranged, after two weeks I saw a doctor at the hospital who examined me and made a few tests before he let me go. I was impressed.

6 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

Yes I would. 6 months ago I had the feeling that my left leg and arm were going numb, I mentioned it to my wife who immediately called an ambulance (at 5 in the morning). the ambulance arrived after 10 minutes and I was taken to our local government hospital. Despite the early hours two stroke stations were manned. I was given a blood thinning pill and various strength tests were made before I was sent for a brain scan all within 15 minutes. The scans were negative but I was wheeled into a ward and was attached to a drip. I spent one day and one night in the ward then I discharged myself as everything had returned to normal. I was surprised that follow up tests had been arranged, after two weeks I saw a doctor at the hospital who examined me and made a few tests before he let me go. I was impressed.

That was fast, was it a stroke? my experience of govt hospitals is they are good but very busy which causes some lack of service

Edited by scubascuba3

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I'm 70, no need to live any longer, no need to waste money on trying to live longer.

I'd prefer a quick way out option, than a 10 extra years of slow death option.

Death is coming ..... and you can't buy your way out of it!

That's a depressing attitude. I'm 75 and have no plans to stop living anytime soon. When I die, I die, but until that day, I waste no time worrying about it.

In any event, left to my own devices, I have a history of imagining all sorts of nonsense. Getting checked out can put your mind at ease. At one time or another, I was positive I had one or more of the following:

-Cirrhosis.

-Stroke

-Heart attack

-Coronary artery disease

-Diabetes

-Parkinson's

-Cancer

My mind runs amok. And yet every time I get things checked out, everything is fine. Perfect blood work. Ideal blood pressure. Cardiac Calcification Score of 0. Abdominal ultrasound all normal. I take no meds, although the last time I was at a dermatologist, she gave me some ointments for mosquito bites.

I once had cataracts removed and twice I subsequently needed surgery on my right eye. That's the extent of my surgical history.

13 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Nothing to do with vaccines.

All to do with sufficient food and clean water.

Flu, measles, tuberculosis, pertussis, diphtheria and mumps have nothing to do with food and clean water. They are airborne.

18 hours ago, CharlieH said:

That afternoon, Panupong Meesuk collapsed and died at home, and an autopsy found two blocked coronary arteries

Skimming the the article, I couldn't see any mention of his age, maybe for reason.

The four year old in the story has an age.

I'm sure if any man, middle aged, elderly visited the hospital with chest pain we'd receive proper care.

If the guy was in his 20's, poor genes with heart disease, it'd quite easily been over looked

Edited by SAFETY FIRST

14 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

That was fast, was it a stroke? my experience of govt hospitals is they are good but very busy which causes some lack of service

No, it was the beginning of a mini-stroke which didn't have time to transform into one. I was able to walk and move my arm, they just felt oddly numb, I would have ignored the symptoms, being me, but my wife insisted I seek treatment.

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