Best Place For Hernia Repair?

[Six]

Hi

I have abdominal and inguinal hernias requiring repair. I've been quoted just over B60,000.00 at Samitivej, Sri Racha for both repairs all inclusive (two night stay, medication, follow-ups, etc.) which seems reasonable.

Has anyone had anything similar done at this hospital? Anyone have any other recommendations for this type of procedure? I've read past hernia related posts but some are quite old and so any up to date information would be appreciated.

Thanks very much.

[coventry]

Hi

I have abdominal and inguinal hernias requiring repair. I've been quoted just over B60,000.00 at Samitivej, Sri Racha for both repairs all inclusive (two night stay, medication, follow-ups, etc.) which seems reasonable.

Has anyone had anything similar done at this hospital? Anyone have any other recommendations for this type of procedure? I've read past hernia related posts but some are quite old and so any up to date information would be appreciated.

Thanks very much.

I had mine in a government hospital 2 years ago, 10,000 Baht. I would recommend them. No aenesthetic. Operation done with after spinal tap. The same inclusives as a private hospital. Edited March 27, 2009 by coventry

[Six]

Hi

I have abdominal and inguinal hernias requiring repair. I've been quoted just over B60,000.00 at Samitivej, Sri Racha for both repairs all inclusive (two night stay, medication, follow-ups, etc.) which seems reasonable.

Has anyone had anything similar done at this hospital? Anyone have any other recommendations for this type of procedure? I've read past hernia related posts but some are quite old and so any up to date information would be appreciated.

Thanks very much.

I had mine in a government hospital 2 years ago, 10,000 Baht. I would recommend them. No aenesthetic. Operation done with after spinal tap. The same inclusives as a private hospital.

Thank you for your reply, appreciated. I like the price, sounds very good indeed. Did you need the double operation? Which hospital did you use? How did you get on with the local anaesthetic?

Thanks.

Edited March 27, 2009 by Six

[coventry]

Thank you for your reply, appreciated. I like the price, sounds very good indeed. Did you need the double operation? Which hospital did you use?

Thanks.

I had the one operation. I was awake the whole time and felt nothing. Government hospitals prices are basically fixed, but I expect BKK one would be slightly higher priced to a rural one. Just go along to any government hospital where you live and ask to see the surgeon. They usually have alloted operation days and times. Pick the day that suits you. The hospital I used was the one in Nang Rong, SE of Korat, on route 24. Good luck

Edit:-Sorry I forgot to mention. When they shaved me they shaved me from my Navel down to my knees. It took 3 nurses, one to do, and 2 to watch. I assumed they were on their dinner break ?

Edited March 27, 2009 by coventry

[Valjean]

I had my at Bumrungrad and was very happy with the whole process. And now 3 years later workout, swim and do everything more than before with no problem. I had insurance but I recall the total was closer to 30,000.

In pre-opt I had the expected cute Thai nurses and lying there I worked on impressing them with my chitchat Thai. Then to the operating room where like coventry same cute nurses pull down my pants and start shaving. Good the anesthesia kicked in and I went to sleep...

Edited March 29, 2009 by Valjean

[Six]

Thank you for the replies, informative, much appreciated.

[LazyCat]

hmm I also have a ventral hernia, do you know if the scar is big after the op? and how much it costs to do this op? I have a smaaaaal hernia that I can see in my belly button really spoils the look of my tummy but I am worrying thу scar might spoil the looks of the tummy even more ( the hernia came after the 2 pregnancies and I guess I also have abdominal separation, at least I can feel it on the upper abdomen from the navel up ) which doctor I should go to for this? thanks!

[Six]

hmm I also have a ventral hernia, do you know if the scar is big after the op? and how much it costs to do this op? I have a smaaaaal hernia that I can see in my belly button really spoils the look of my tummy but I am worrying thу scar might spoil the looks of the tummy even more ( the hernia came after the 2 pregnancies and I guess I also have abdominal separation, at least I can feel it on the upper abdomen from the navel up ) which doctor I should go to for this? thanks!

Hi

Mine started small and over the years has increased in size! Probably better to take care of it before it gets bigger (although I'm no expert). The doctor told me to expect a small scar as keyhole surgery is not an option in my case, you may be different.

I'm looking around now and expect to have surgery in the next couple of weeks. I'll report back with the results. The cost seems to vary quite dramtically from hospital to hospital. Check here for the Bumrungrad average cost of a herniorrhaphy: http://www.bumrungrad.com/realcost/final-b....aspx?ProcId=17

You can search for a doctor who specialises in hernia repair (and anything else) on their Web site. Most hospitals have a General Surgeon who can tackle hernia repair but as yet I don't have any particular recommendations.

[LazyCat]

I was hoping it will go away!!!

no such thing huh?

well let me know about your ordeal with it and I'll think about mine... so far I am really reluctant to do the op.... one of my friends reccomended me to go to Phillipines to a healer who as she said removed her hemorrhiods and stones in her gallbladder... thats without any operation... usually I don't believe things like that....but there she is as a witness andevidence that it worked for her....I really hate to cut myself.....even when I had to do the c-section i was cryyyying for 2 hours refusing to do it......hate scars as well...

[bhakta]

I need to have a hernia taken care of as well. My finances are not good and will appreciate recommendations on where to go in Bangkok that will be most reasonable and do a good job of course.

[coventry]

I need to have a hernia taken care of as well. My finances are not good and will appreciate recommendations on where to go in Bangkok that will be most reasonable and do a good job of course.

Any government hospital that carries out surgery. That is your cheapest bet and I'd recommend their use. 2 night private room including operation, I'd be surprised if it would be over 15,000 Baht.

[yanabill1]

I need to have a hernia taken care of as well. My finances are not good and will appreciate recommendations on where to go in Bangkok that will be most reasonable and do a good job of course.

Any government hospital that carries out surgery. That is your cheapest bet and I'd recommend their use. 2 night private room including operation, I'd be surprised if it would be over 15,000 Baht.

About 25,000 including everything,a great price for profess care I,ve had this surg twice with great results and satisfaction

[Jeff1]

Thanks all for the posted information. As someone that is in need of this operation as well, it seems pretty much like a coin toss.

I hear great prices and results on one side and I hear of other people that say (not here) those places are not clean.

Looking at the real cost at Bumrungard the average price is B106,000 but is considered the best place to go.

Of course I would like to go to the cheaper place(s) and live but I have my doubts. I was wanting to do it in Korat for convenience and price but everyone (almost) says that's not a good idea.

Where can I get the magic pill that I could take and make it go away?.....and live.

Edited May 17, 2009 by Jeff1

[wayfarer108]

How long is it safe to wait, generally speaking between diagnosis for a typical inguinal hernia and surgery?

[rexall]

How long is it safe to wait, generally speaking between diagnosis for a typical inguinal hernia and surgery?

Thu 22 Oct 09, 2:21 pm

Replying to this old thread. I have inguinal and umbilical hernias and the surgeon at Khon Kaen RAM seemed unenthusiastic about proceeding, even though I was ready to get things moving once the diagnosis was confirmed. Now I have seen everything; surgeon who is not eager to cut !!! Said I could wait for "months". Since then read a report of someone who waited 8 years without any problems.

Anyway, I would have pushed harder to get it done except that Khon Kaen RAM, surprisingly, does not offer laparoscopic "key hole" surgery, which seems superior in terms of reduced pain, recuperation and down time. Having a Thai friend call several hospitals in KKC, they all reacted like she was trying to steal some state secret! I hate to spend a whole day a a gov hospital just to find out they don't offer the procedure I want.

Anyone know of a Khon Kaen (or thereabouts) hospital that does it?

If I had it done in Bangkok, how soon could I return home to Khon Kaen, do you think?

Any info appreciated.

Thanks, lah!

Aloha,

Rex

[bobjenssen]

Hi

I have abdominal and inguinal hernias requiring repair. I've been quoted just over B60,000.00 at Samitivej, Sri Racha for both repairs all inclusive (two night stay, medication, follow-ups, etc.) which seems reasonable.

Has anyone had anything similar done at this hospital? Anyone have any other recommendations for this type of procedure? I've read past hernia related posts but some are quite old and so any up to date information would be appreciated.

Thanks very much.

That place treated me very well but was expensive and my insurance refused to cover it citing a nonsensical reason.

[wayfarer108]

I ended up waiting for a month, spending the time to visit several hospitals in Bangkok to compare prices, procedures and surgeons. In the end I chosed Dr Apichai Chaiyaroj at BNH because he seemed to be the most experienced in laprascopic hernia repair. In fact the week before my surgery he lectured on the subject at an international conference.

I was really impressed with his work and demeanour, and with BNH in general. He and his staff even spoke with my local insurer (BUPA) before scheduling surgery to make sure the surgery would be covered. I was quoted 100,000 baht all inclusive, including one night in a very comfortable private room with 24-hour nursing service. He told me in advance that if the other side of my abdominal wall had a hernia that was not visible on the outside that he would repair it, too, with my permission. During the surgery he found that my other side was weak enough that he decided to repair both sides so in the end it was a dual inguinal hernia repair. To add the second repair brought the price to 160,000 baht. BUPA covered the whole thing.

The entire procedure was captured on video, by a camera inside the abdominal wall, and given to me on DVD after it was over. You could clearly see a small hernia starting on the other side so I didn't question his judgement at all.

Follow-up service was excellent.

Painwise, the first 12 hours or so after surgery were the worst. Got a shot of morphine immediately after the general anesthesia wore off, and after that I was put on anti-inflammatories for a week. Recovering was relatively quick. By the middle of day 2 I could walk around my hospital room and on day 4 I went back to work. On day 8 I resumed my daily swimming routine.

Had it been traditional hernia surgery I probably wouldn't have been up and around till day 4 and not back at work till day 8 or so, and not swimming until two weeks after surgery. In other words keyhole surgery seems to cut recovery time in half, and you can resume sports much earlier, or so at least that's what I was told.

The lowest quote I got for lap surgery (one side only) was at St Louis Hospital, 60,000 baht. Mission Hospital wanted 130,000 baht, and Bumrungrad about the same.

[sinbin]

No wonder insurance premiums are so high. Compared to what a governent hospital charges, and a private one, you're talking x6 to x13 difference for the same op. Okay a private hospital has a little more sparkle but....... Surely to have no insurance and pay cash at the government hospital you'd be still quids in pocket for a minor op like a hernia ?

Edited October 25, 2009 by sinbin

[JSixpack]

No wonder insurance premiums are so high. Compared to what a governent hospital charges, and a private one, you're talking x6 to x13 difference for the same op. Okay a private hospital has a little more sparkle but....... Surely to have no insurance and pay cash at the government hospital you'd be still quids in pocket for a minor op like a hernia ?

Well, it wasn't really "the same op" since he got the laprascopic variety. And a doc must be very skilled and experienced to perform that. It has its own risks.

AFIAK, gov't hsps don't offer it.

I would agree with you that it's not worth the extra cost if you're paying out of pocket. Yet insurance is a good thing if you can afford it and are eligible.

Edited October 26, 2009 by JSixpack

[rexall]

No wonder insurance premiums are so high. Compared to what a government hospital charges, and a private one, you're talking x6 to x13 difference for the same op. Okay a private hospital has a little more sparkle but....... Surely to have no insurance and pay cash at the government hospital you'd be still quids in pocket for a minor op like a hernia ?

Well, it wasn't really "the same op" since he got the laparoscopic variety. And a doc must be very skilled and experienced to perform that. It has its own risks.

AFIAK, gov't hsps don't offer it.

I would agree with you that it's not worth the extra cost if you're paying out of pocket. Yet insurance is a good thing if you can afford it and are eligible.

Thanks for all the excellent info, guys. Much appreciated.

My biggest concern is "down time" and being able to return to work quickly. As I work at home by computer, that should come fairly soon no matter which type of surgery I have. Luckily, I have insurance, although I don't care to waste money, whether it is out-of-pocket or by insurance.

It is beginning to look like my options are to get the traditional procedure done here in Khon Kaen, or go to Bangers for the laparoscopic procedure, with the attendant travel and hotel expense, and the necessity of being away from home for at least one week.

Can anyone compare the recuperation, recovery and down time of the traditional compared to the laparoscopic?

Thanks, lah!

Aloha,

Rex

[Daewoo]

No wonder insurance premiums are so high. Compared to what a government hospital charges, and a private one, you're talking x6 to x13 difference for the same op. Okay a private hospital has a little more sparkle but....... Surely to have no insurance and pay cash at the government hospital you'd be still quids in pocket for a minor op like a hernia ?

Well, it wasn't really "the same op" since he got the laparoscopic variety. And a doc must be very skilled and experienced to perform that. It has its own risks.

AFIAK, gov't hsps don't offer it.

I would agree with you that it's not worth the extra cost if you're paying out of pocket. Yet insurance is a good thing if you can afford it and are eligible.

Thanks for all the excellent info, guys. Much appreciated.

My biggest concern is "down time" and being able to return to work quickly. As I work at home by computer, that should come fairly soon no matter which type of surgery I have. Luckily, I have insurance, although I don't care to waste money, whether it is out-of-pocket or by insurance.

It is beginning to look like my options are to get the traditional procedure done here in Khon Kaen, or go to Bangers for the laparoscopic procedure, with the attendant travel and hotel expense, and the necessity of being away from home for at least one week.

Can anyone compare the recuperation, recovery and down time of the traditional compared to the laparoscopic?

Thanks, lah!

Aloha,

Rex

Can't comment about Th hospitals, I had mine done in a good Australian Private Hospital under General Anaethestetic...

I had an umbilical and ingruinal laprascopic repair done at the same time...

Problem one was an large epigloitus, which my brother said is probably because once you are out cold, they are pretty slack about stopping the tubes in your throat from moving about (he is a surgeon)...

second problem was a nut the size of a cricket ball, and needing to wear two pairs of undies to stop it bashing against my knee when I walked... I now know what a bull elephant must feel like ...

As for the actual opperation.... my wife had a Caesarean Section 6 weeks before I had my opperation... she was up and mobile a week after and almost 100% a fortnight after... 3 weeks after the opperations I was still very tender....

I raised my concern that I was being a big soft sook with the surgeon on my checkup and he basically said... for a Caesar it is a straight cut, that is joined back together and heals nicely... for a laproscopic repair they cut a small hole and then ram a piece of metal through all the muscle from you belly button to your nuts... tearing through the muscle and tissue... he said I was right to still have significant pain 3 weeks later (although I was back at work)...

All good now tho... not much choice other than getting it repaired, the ingruinal one was very painful but I'd had the umbilical one for years without treatment...

Cheers,

Daewoo

[Daewoo]

p.s. don't really know if you give a shit about such things... my father had an umbilical repair done the traditional surgical way, of a big cut and a bit of flyscreen reinforcement... he had a scar 10cm long and 2cm wide above and below his belly button... I have no scaring other than my belly button being had inside...

He did have a bit of an awning over the toy shop, if you know what I mean, which isn't ideal for a vertical incision... same reason why most caesarian sections are done horizontally not vertically...

I of course am fit and healthy with not much of an awning (or toy shop some of the girls might say )...

Daewoo

[sinbin]

Government hospital will do a hernia op using spinal tap, so your awake all the time. Benefit is that you can leave hospital quicker, no anaesthetics to recover from. Out the next day as I remember.

Edited October 26, 2009 by sinbin

[MickA]

Bangkok hospital Pattaya quoted me 135k for the op and 20k a day after. My insurance will not pay as it is a new policy from 1st Sept and hernia cover does not start for 120 days Have been to Queen Sirikhit in Sattahip and they are going to do it for me next Tuesday. Will let you know how it goes

[Xangsamhua]

I've had two hernia ops at BNH - one in 2005 and one, a double, in 2007. The last one cost 117,000 baht with just one night's stay. AIA and BUPA covered 100,000 from memory.

I don't have any problems with the surgery and recovered well both times. It was the anaesthetic that caused me discomfort on both occasions. I won't go into the details other than to say it affected my waterworks.

If I were having another hernioplasty I'd look around for a cheaper option, but you are certainly well looked after at BNH, so might opt for that, especially in view of my qualms about anaesthetic.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Had it been traditional hernia surgery I probably wouldn't have been up and around till day 4 and not back at work till day 8 or so, and not swimming until two weeks after surgery. In other words keyhole surgery seems to cut recovery time in half, and you can resume sports much earlier, or so at least that's what I was told.

I had the "old style" op done at the BNH, the old wooden building (really a neat spot). Op was about 2100 hrs. Next morning the normal, at that time at BNH, the tea guy comes around with the wakey wakey. Had that then hobbled slowly down the hall to visit a friend who was also there for something or other.

Spent the next three days (four?) at the BNH but largely sitting up and learning how to do that new computer program, Word Perfect. FYI, this was 1991.

Day five back home to Suk Soi 24. Still not moving fast at all but was mobile, could walk slowly over to Washington Square for lunch at the Lonestar.

Doc had said no car driving for a month, I took about three weeks.

Anyway, not a big thing.

Mac

[Xangsamhua]

Had it been traditional hernia surgery I probably wouldn't have been up and around till day 4 and not back at work till day 8 or so, and not swimming until two weeks after surgery. In other words keyhole surgery seems to cut recovery time in half, and you can resume sports much earlier, or so at least that's what I was told.

I had the "old style" op done at the BNH, the old wooden building (really a neat spot). Op was about 2100 hrs. Next morning the normal, at that time at BNH, the tea guy comes around with the wakey wakey. Had that then hobbled slowly down the hall to visit a friend who was also there for something or other.

Spent the next three days (four?) at the BNH but largely sitting up and learning how to do that new computer program, Word Perfect. FYI, this was 1991.

Day five back home to Suk Soi 24. Still not moving fast at all but was mobile, could walk slowly over to Washington Square for lunch at the Lonestar.

Doc had said no car driving for a month, I took about three weeks.

Anyway, not a big thing.

Mac

Yes, it was a nice place, Mac - big colonial style rooms with a verandah overlooking the garden. You can still see it from the back of the new BNH. And three or four years ago I was told that the fearsome Scottish matron was still living in Bangkok and would come back every now and then to make sure everything was being done right.

Sorry, off-topic, but couldn't help reminiscing.

Edited October 27, 2009 by Xangsamhua

[MickA]

So I went into Queen Sirikhit at Sattahip on Monday had the op 10 o'clock Tuesday morning and am sat back in VT6 typing this. All went well... a little painful but the best bit was having given 100k deposit I got 70k back today...cost for everything 29330 baht a tad better than BPH wanting 135k for the 1st day and 20k a day after. Staff were excellent and the surgeons have done a good job Well happy

[Easyboy]

I've just received estimate for inguinal hernia repair from Bumrungrad: 250,000. Bhat! Are You talking about hernia repair or something else, because the difference is 8 times?

I had my at Bumrungrad and was very happy with the whole process. And now 3 years later workout, swim and do everything more than before with no problem. I had insurance but I recall the total was closer to 30,000.

In pre-opt I had the expected cute Thai nurses and lying there I worked on impressing them with my chitchat Thai. Then to the operating room where like coventry same cute nurses pull down my pants and start shaving. Good the anesthesia kicked in and I went to sleep...

[Sheryl]

Even three years ago, no operation at Bumrungrad cost 30,000 baht.

Also note that there are enormous cost differences between open and laporoscopic apprraches the latter being much more costly (although less invasive/easier on the patient0.