Hello all, have the onset of appendicitus for a while now and have gone to the hospital to see a doctor but the waiting time is 5 hours and I just dont have the time to waste.. Id also like to know peoples opinion on the best government hospital to visit. I have a BUPA card that covers some one the cost but obviously going to a government hospital will stretch it that bit further as I dont have that much money right now if I need to be operated on. I want a reliable government hospital that wont tell me I need an op unless I really do and one thats affordible???? HELP! I have a fear of been knocked our and a massive fear of scars which is putting me off completely going. Thanks guys.

I went to Sirikit in Sattahip. Mine burst while at the hospital. 10 days in the hospital. 2 or 3 days if it does not burst.

All depends on the urgency. You could have the operation done laparoscopically ie through keyhole surgery which would mean only a night's stay in hospital. If the situation is more urgent have an open op at a large government place is your best option. A private hospital should have a fixed price for this though I would have thought.

Scarring is much reduced with keyhole surgery however its not too bad even with the open procedure.

Appendicitis is not something you can self-diagnose, and that you have had whatever these symptoms are for "a while" makes it unlikely that this is what you have. So you may be jumping way ahead of yourself in worrying about surgery.

If you are in Bangkok, the best government hospitals would be Siriraj or Chulalonghorn. And they will invilve long waits and red tape, especially for the initial consultation.

Since waiting is an issue for you, and again assuming you are in or near Bangkok, I suggest you go to Saint Louis Hospital on Sathorn. It is a non-profit and costs are only slightly above those of a government hospital. Some good GI docs there, try either Dr, Somrsak or Thanakorn

http://www.saintlouis.or.th/clinic/listdr.php?dept_id=18

If you do require surgery, it is quite possible that BUPA would cover the costs of it at St Louis. Be sure to insist on the cheapest bed (either a bed in a ward, which is the very cheapest, or in a 4 bed room). The admitting office will initially try to sell you the most expensive one and when you say it's too much, show you the next most expensive and so on, it can take a full 20 minutes of firm repetition that you want the least expensive bed of all before they own up to it. (This, alas, seems to be true of all admitting depts these days).

If in fact you need something that you can't afford at St Louis, then Chula or Siriraj as above.

No government hospital will intentionally try to advise unnecessary surgery and neither will the docs at St. Louis. (And indeed, it is not that common a practice even at the more upscale private hosps..occasionally occurs but the exception, hardly the rule).

But here's hoping you don't need to be admitted.