Ct Scan

[james24]

Hi guys Basically I have had some abdomen problems for the last month and still feeling no better. Ive been to 2 hospitals, one private doctor and a clinic and to be honest I have come to the conclusion, after 2 years of livng in Thailand that Thai doctors are possibly the most incompetant in the world. I would like to get a ct scan and will be sending it back to the Uk for a friend (doctor) to discuss and examine. The thing is a ct scan at Lanna hospital is 14,000 baht plus!!!! What a rip off Can anyone recommend somewhere in Chiang Mai that offers a ct scan of the abdomen cheaper...? If not Chiang Mai how about Bangkok Its so strange as the surrounding countries like China and Malaysia and India have some of the best doctors in the world. Anyway guys any help would be appreciated.

[PMNL]

If they can not find anything on you by physical exam then imaging study will do.

Why dont discuss with the doctor. You may only need just an ultrasound not the CT scan.Good Luck.

[ChouDoufu]

when i was told i needed to have my head examined... was looking into getting deviated septum and sinuses worked over. sripat offered a ct-scan for 8,000 baht. or are you wanting an mri, which is supposed to provide better results with soft tissue.

[james24]

ah that is interesting. Ive had xrays and pills, loads of pills but nothing is working, an imaging study was never mentioned, perhaps I should look into that.

I think alot of the doctors must be on a commision based scheme because ct scan was mentioned before I was even on the bed with one doctor (Lanna)

If not an imaging any cheaper ct scans outthere...? Perhaps private...?

[james24]

when i was told i needed to have my head examined... was looking into getting deviated septum and sinuses worked over. sripat offered a ct-scan for 8,000 baht. or are you wanting an mri, which is supposed to provide better results with soft tissue.

mmm just tried sriphat they are now upto 12,000, think because abdomen is quite large, i am guessing here though. An Mri mmm, another option, so funny how Ive learnt more here in half an hour than a month with different doctors.

Are mr;s cheaper... why would they suggest a ct scan if mri,s are better for insides (softer tissue perhaps..)?

[hagler]

Hi guys Basically I have had some abdomen problems for the last month and still feeling no better. Ive been to 2 hospitals, one private doctor and a clinic and to be honest I have come to the conclusion, after 2 years of livng in Thailand that Thai doctors are possibly the most incompetant in the world. I would like to get a ct scan and will be sending it back to the Uk for a friend (doctor) to discuss and examine. The thing is a ct scan at Lanna hospital is 14,000 baht plus!!!! What a rip off Can anyone recommend somewhere in Chiang Mai that offers a ct scan of the abdomen cheaper...? If not Chiang Mai how about Bangkok Its so strange as the surrounding countries like China and Malaysia and India have some of the best doctors in the world. Anyway guys any help would be appreciated.

Hmmmm a CT machine costs between 5600000 baht for the cheapest( Phillips) and 8000000 baht for the most expensive(Siemens) so I figure a paltry 14000 baht is really good value. Of course if you want bargain basement prices then head over to Yangon General Hospital in Myanmar. I hear they have a 1960's ex chinese xray machine and you can get scans done for about 1000 baht. You might glow in the dark for a while afterwards hey at least it was cheap.

[maesai]

Four years ago, at Chulalongkorn, I regularly paid 10,000 for CT scans from the groin to the chin. 60,000 for a PET scan

14,000 sounds about right for a private hospital.

[james24]

paltry...?

14,000 might be cheap to but for a 26 year old uk citizen, at the moment that is a hel_l of a lot

[PennyFarthing123]

A CT Scan at Bumrungrad was quoted at 9620Baht for the scan and 2470Baht for the Radiologists Fee. My husband was scheduled to have a scan for a suspected ruptured appendix, but because the the lab results came back that his kidneys were compromised, they canceled the scan and scheduled the operation instead<br><br>He had already had an ultra sound and Xrays.. <br>;<br>His appendix had ruptured and he is still in hospital after one week. Was supposed to go home today but the infection is still quite bad so he has to wait for a few more days. Hopefully things will improve by then<br>PF<br>

[PMNL]

Get decent consultant and discuss, you may only need some blood work and ultrasound.

I do believe you do not need MRI eventhough i do not know what was the problem.

[maesai]

Check this out. 60,000 for this photo shoot!

[james24]

I hope your husband gets better soon, thanks for the info on the price aswell

60,000? wow that is... well wow

[Mario2008]

Check with Chiang Mai ram hospital and the Chiang Mai university hospital. There is also a private firm performing scans: http://www.mrithailand.com/e_index.html

That will give you an indication of the price.

[orang37]

Hi guys Basically I have had some abdomen problems for the last month and still feeling no better. ... snip ...

Sawasdee Khrup, Khun James24,

We encourage you to get to see an internal medicine specialist at the Sriphat Center within Maharaj Hospital. None of us here are competent to give medical advice, but do note that a CT scan puts a large amount of radiation through you (the equivalent, so we read, of 100 medical x-rays).

Whether you need an ultrasound, a ct-scan, an mri, or (the most expensive of all), the pet scan, should be determined by your doctor, but it makes sense to start with the lowest priced scan (ultrasound) first: if your doctor feels that it may clearly identify the problem. And "abdominal problems" can cover a lot of ground from gastro-intestinal to bowels, to stomach ulcers, and on, and on.

Recently a friend of ours, a forty year old woman in New York, had abdominal pain and tenderness in the appendix area; she thought she might have appendicitis: a scan revealed she had a tumor, and, unfortunately, it turned out to be the rare and highly malignant signet-cell carcinoma. She's alive after major surgery, and surviving very brutal chemotherapy.

It may take you some time to "work up your way up" at Sriphat to get to see the top-level specialists (who will also be Professors in the Medical School). Sriphat has Thailand's number one oncologist, Dr. Loavicharn, at the radiation clinic.

If you don't speak Thai well, try and take a Thai friend with you.

Breathe deeply, don't panic, beg or borrow the money, and get some good medical help. It IS available here in Chiang Mai.

best, ~o:37;

[james24]

I really didnt need to hear that tumor story but as youve mentioned do tumors show up on ct's....?

[Dr. G]

You provide very little information concerning your problem.

I would suggest you go to Suan Dok for advice.

You could also try McCormick Hospital and Bumrungrad in Bangkok

I would urge caution with respect to a CT scan as in some cases the radiation level can be quite high and they are often not recommended for people under 50 years of age.

g

[Greenside]

Just to add a price: my wife was quoted 10,000 for an MRI scan to find out why her knee is not responding to treatment. I'm resigned to paying it.

[hmficc]

Do not trust any Hosp. in a Provincial Cap. in a 3rd world Hosp. The money we spent was for a fairy tale. Get out of town!

[F4UCorsair]

Money may be important, but nearly as important as your health.

If I was you I'd be emailing Bumrungrad in BKK and getting a price as a guide If their price + return air fare is more than in CM, I'd be on the hospital's doorstep tomorrow morning. If it's chaper in BKK, I'd be on a flight tomorrow morning.

My daughter hesitated with a lump in her stomach ten years ago. She finally went to a doctor 4 months after noticing it; 13 weeks later she died.

You only get one life so don't **** with health issues regardless of cost, or whether you think it's serious, that is if you want to remain alive.

Edited July 2, 2010 by F4UCorsair

[DavidOxon]

I paid 9000 bht for an MRI on my lower back at Sripat.

You go, see the doc, get the scan, get the result, pay your money....

all done in a day! What price peace of mind?

David

[hagler]

paltry...?

14,000 might be cheap to but for a 26 year old uk citizen, at the moment that is a hel_l of a lot

I am sure you have medical insurance don't you?

If not. Well.....

[PMNL]

James24,

What is the actual problem, we are talking on here with very little information.

You may not need the CAT scan, who knows.

Get a decent advise and get yourself fixed.

Good luck

[DavidOxon]

paltry...?

14,000 might be cheap to but for a 26 year old uk citizen, at the moment that is a hel_l of a lot

I am sure you have medical insurance don't you?

If not. Well.....

I have health insurance....doesn't cover out patient treatment though!