Complaint In Cm

[sleepyjohn]

Hi there

Early last month I had the most comprehensive medical check of my life. All the normal and a few extras.

Three very consequential and unconnected problems showed up.

Two I'll ignore here but I'm interested in our informed posters opinions about the other one.

The radiologist did his job well and on my chest XRay just on the top edge of the screen noticed my trachea was really quite curved to the right at T1-T3, suggesting a growth in the thyroid.

Went to the endocrinologist and as soon as it was pointed out it was very noticeable and was the obvious reason for the odd constricted feeling I had had training when I reached my arms over my head. When I cough the left side truly bulges out it rather shocked my girlfriend. The endo told me the rough odds about the possibilities and said a multi needle biopsy was on the cards. I had had a body ultrasound which showed up one of my other problems, but he immediately sent me for another ultrasound specific to the thyroid. It showed a considerable growth of 4.4 x 6.8cm in the left paratracheal region. That's somewhat bigger than a golf ball. My Adam's Apple is actually somewhat shifted to the right and I'm amazed I never noticed it.

Here's my gripe:

The first thing on the menu for my medical was a physical examination.

When I look back I remember thinking it was rather cursory. I didn't realise it was so cursory that it missed a potentially deadly growth in my neck which if memory serves me right should be examined before the torso.

So I am considering complaining about something that it seems to me should have been unmissable and for which constructive feedback would seem essential.

My question is, is there actually any excuse?

Or is it the gross incompetence I'm thinking?

cheers John

Edited June 1, 2009 by sleepyjohn

[jimmym40]

I don't think it will do any good to complain. This is Thailand and all you'll get is a nice smile and probably no verbal reply. However, they are great at giving excuses.

Don't know how long you have been in Thailand, but that's the way it is. Don't cause yourself any more grief. Concentrate on any/all of your medical problems. Don't make things worse.

[rak sa_ngop]

I had an annual medical 2 weeks ago and I was quite surprised when the doc grabbed me round the neck quite aggressively to check my thyroid. Yes he found 2 small lumps about 1.3 cm diameter which I have subsequently had investigated with ultra-sound and 2 biopsies (but no results yet).

The reason I was surprised was that I do not remember other doctors doing the same. Generally they gently feel the neck at glands level only.

Maybe requesting a thyroid check is something one has to request oneself?

Hope things work out well for you.

[sleepyjohn]

I don't think it will do any good to complain. This is Thailand and all you'll get is a nice smile and probably no verbal reply. However, they are great at giving excuses.

Don't know how long you have been in Thailand, but that's the way it is. Don't cause yourself any more grief. Concentrate on any/all of your medical problems. Don't make things worse.

Systems theory says the tighter the feedback the more intelligent the system and I find feedback sadly lacking in all types of organisation here Jimmy. The very top down, rule/role culture has been instilling it for centuries.

If others had complained about this sort of "treatment" we all might not be receiving it. That's my thinking. Thanks anyway.

Still interested in informed opinion here.....

John (over 5 years here)

[Sheryl]

The physical exam part of the check-up is, in my experience, so cursory that the only things it would catch would be things that would already be quite symptomatic. I've found that to be the case here at many different hospitals and with many different docs. To a lesser extent it is also true in the West. Exception is if the patient has any specific symptoms, in which case a more thorough exam in the pertinent areas is usually done. Another reason why it is very important to tell the doctor before the exam of any problems you are having/anything that seems out of the ordinary.

Since the same check-up process did indeed catch your problem you have no grounds for any type of formal complaint with the hospital (not that that would be likely to get you anywhere anyhow!).

However your point about feedback is quite valid, so I suggest you send a nicely worded letter or email to the doctor who did the physical exam, telling him what he missed. Word it nicely and make it clear you are not making a formal complaint but want him to know for future reference, that his manual exam of the neck needs to be more thorough as he missed a lump in your case which should have been palpable. Send it directly to the doctor, not to the hospital (where it will end up in customer service or legal dept). If you do not have an email address for him/her personally send it as a letter by DHL or EMS and wark it "personal"on the envelope.

[Lost in LOS]

Hi there

Early last month I had the most comprehensive medical check of my life. All the normal and a few extras.

Three very consequential and unconnected problems showed up.

Two I'll ignore here but I'm interested in our informed posters opinions about the other one.

The radiologist did his job well and on my chest XRay just on the top edge of the screen noticed my trachea was really quite curved to the right at T1-T3, suggesting a growth in the thyroid.

Went to the endocrinologist and as soon as it was pointed out it was very noticeable and was the obvious reason for the odd constricted feeling I had had training when I reached my arms over my head. When I cough the left side truly bulges out it rather shocked my girlfriend. The endo told me the rough odds about the possibilities and said a multi needle biopsy was on the cards. I had had a body ultrasound which showed up one of my other problems, but he immediately sent me for another ultrasound specific to the thyroid. It showed a considerable growth of 4.4 x 6.8cm in the left paratracheal region. That's somewhat bigger than a golf ball. My Adam's Apple is actually somewhat shifted to the right and I'm amazed I never noticed it.

Here's my gripe:

The first thing on the menu for my medical was a physical examination.

When I look back I remember thinking it was rather cursory. I didn't realise it was so cursory that it missed a potentially deadly growth in my neck which if memory serves me right should be examined before the torso.

shine on the complaining and be really, really thankful they found the problem and you might be able to get it fixed. looking at a glass, see it as half full instead of half empty.

So I am considering complaining about something that it seems to me should have been unmissable and for which constructive feedback would seem essential.

My question is, is there actually any excuse?

Or is it the gross incompetence I'm thinking?

cheers John

Edited June 2, 2009 by Lost in LOS

[PeaceBlondie]

I paid 3,420 baht for my 6th or 5th annual physical exam today, at Sripat. Lots of tests and analyses; no palpitations. My MD in Mexico said that touching the body correctly is a main standard of diagnosis there. The doctor studied my chest x-ray carefully enough that he might have seen an enlarged thyroid. The only abnormality was the creatine level of 1.4, but it's been 1.3 for about 5 years.