Hello!

I am new to the forum. I am trying to find a couple of things:

1: A good hospital with english speaking doctors.

2: Does anyone know the (approx.) cost of a Full lung volume test?

I am in Chiang Mai and broke till the first of the month so I can not afford to just go to the hospital and pay a consultation fee.

Any help in this matter will be greatly appreciated!

Sincerely

Darren

I am not sure what you want if you have no money.

If you think you have a lung problem the costs at SriPat are not insignifigent but they are reasonable. They have at least one excellent lung specialist.

If you are in more urgent need of treatment and have some money but limited go to Suan Dork (Maharaj) and you will receive good treatment but not necessarily Lung Function Scans at reasonable cost.

I am not sure what you want if you have no money.

If you think you have a lung problem the costs at SriPat are not insignifigent but they are reasonable. They have at least one excellent lung specialist.

If you are in more urgent need of treatment and have some money but limited go to Suan Dork (Maharaj) and you will receive good treatment but not necessarily Lung Function Scans at reasonable cost.

Thank you. This is not an urgent care issue. This is for obtaining evidence for my VA pension upgrade. I need a full lung volume test. Just can't afford it this month is all.

Thanks for the info!

In that case just go to Sripat..they will give you a fair idea of the costs. Might be an idea to determine first what level of spirometry is needed. Just basic or do they nead oxegen saturation surves on helium too.

Edited July 12, 201114 yr by harrry

I need a full lung volume test. Just can't afford it this month is all.

Thanks for the info!

Hello darreno65

I have no idea what a full lung volume test is, but would i be wrong to assume it's to give data on the condition of your lungs? Anyway, for what it's worth, though it's probably not what you're looking for, i had a lung x-ray about 18 months back at a local hospital and it cost just 250 Baht.

Aitch

I had a lung x ray and a pulmonary test at SriPat hospital about 6months ago cost was 350 baht.

I was very happy with the doctor. Every doctor I have seen thinks I have asthma. I don't. He is the first one to ever explain to me why I have trouble breathing.

Not sure of how to go about it. My doctor set the appointment. I think all you have to do is go to the 13th floor. Take a book and a lunch with you.

Edited July 12, 201114 yr by hellodolly

Lung Function Test : very inexpensive, it should not cost you more than 500 baht, you off course have to pay a doctor fee for result reading.

Go to Sriphat.

I am not sure what you want if you have no money.

If you think you have a lung problem the costs at SriPat are not insignifigent but they are reasonable. They have at least one excellent lung specialist.

If you are in more urgent need of treatment and have some money but limited go to Suan Dork (Maharaj) and you will receive good treatment but not necessarily Lung Function Scans at reasonable cost.

Thank you. This is not an urgent care issue. This is for obtaining evidence for my VA pension upgrade. I need a full lung volume test. Just can't afford it this month is all.

Thanks for the info!

I agree that Sripat would be a good choice, the doctors speak English and they are inexpensive compared to some places like Ram. Remember when you get the test to ask the doctor to write the evaluation in English and to state that it is caused by the illness you are filing for with the VA. The VA can be a bit particular about not approving things if the doctor's statement does not name the exact illness you are claiming you have and if that illness is listed or not as a result of your military service. In your case I would guess maybe Agent Orange or asbestos exposure.

Once you get your approval you may want to start getting your treatment at Ram as price will not matter to you because the VA will cover it. The local VFW has also set up a system with RAM and a couple of other hospitals for those who are already on VA to get your treatment without having to pay up front and for them to bill the VA directly. But to get this service this you must go through the Chiang Mai VFW service officer first. This will save you a lot of out of pocket money once you are covered by the VA.

I am not sure what you want if you have no money.

If you think you have a lung problem the costs at SriPat are not insignifigent but they are reasonable. They have at least one excellent lung specialist.

If you are in more urgent need of treatment and have some money but limited go to Suan Dork (Maharaj) and you will receive good treatment but not necessarily Lung Function Scans at reasonable cost.

Thank you. This is not an urgent care issue. This is for obtaining evidence for my VA pension upgrade. I need a full lung volume test. Just can't afford it this month is all.

Thanks for the info!

I agree that Sripat would be a good choice, the doctors speak English and they are inexpensive compared to some places like Ram. Remember when you get the test to ask the doctor to write the evaluation in English and to state that it is caused by the illness you are filing for with the VA. The VA can be a bit particular about not approving things if the doctor's statement does not name the exact illness you are claiming you have and if that illness is listed or not as a result of your military service. In your case I would guess maybe Agent Orange or asbestos exposure.

Once you get your approval you may want to start getting your treatment at Ram as price will not matter to you because the VA will cover it. The local VFW has also set up a system with RAM and a couple of other hospitals for those who are already on VA to get your treatment without having to pay up front and for them to bill the VA directly. But to get this service this you must go through the Chiang Mai VFW service officer first. This will save you a lot of out of pocket money once you are covered by the VA.

Wow, Thanks everyone for your help! @BarnicaleBill, Thanks especially for the helpful information. I am currently at 60% and applying for TDIU but the VA is being difficult. They are saying because I haven't had the correct amount of asthma attacks per year that I'm ineligible. Kind of a (Haha) moment as I don't have asthma but my lungs were burned due to inhaling harmful chemicals. So they are now requiring a full Lung volume test. The info about the VFW is extremely helpful. I am leaving Thailand in September for Montenegro. I wonder if there is something similar there. Haven't seen hide nor hair of any expat forums for there but i'm sure they exist.

Again,

Thank you all for the awesome help!

I am not sure what you want if you have no money.

If you think you have a lung problem the costs at SriPat are not insignifigent but they are reasonable. They have at least one excellent lung specialist.

If you are in more urgent need of treatment and have some money but limited go to Suan Dork (Maharaj) and you will receive good treatment but not necessarily Lung Function Scans at reasonable cost.

Thank you. This is not an urgent care issue. This is for obtaining evidence for my VA pension upgrade. I need a full lung volume test. Just can't afford it this month is all.

Thanks for the info!

I agree that Sripat would be a good choice, the doctors speak English and they are inexpensive compared to some places like Ram. Remember when you get the test to ask the doctor to write the evaluation in English and to state that it is caused by the illness you are filing for with the VA. The VA can be a bit particular about not approving things if the doctor's statement does not name the exact illness you are claiming you have and if that illness is listed or not as a result of your military service. In your case I would guess maybe Agent Orange or asbestos exposure.

Once you get your approval you may want to start getting your treatment at Ram as price will not matter to you because the VA will cover it. The local VFW has also set up a system with RAM and a couple of other hospitals for those who are already on VA to get your treatment without having to pay up front and for them to bill the VA directly. But to get this service this you must go through the Chiang Mai VFW service officer first. This will save you a lot of out of pocket money once you are covered by the VA.

Wow, Thanks everyone for your help! @BarnicaleBill, Thanks especially for the helpful information. I am currently at 60% and applying for TDIU but the VA is being difficult. They are saying because I haven't had the correct amount of asthma attacks per year that I'm ineligible. Kind of a (Haha) moment as I don't have asthma but my lungs were burned due to inhaling harmful chemicals. So they are now requiring a full Lung volume test. The info about the VFW is extremely helpful. I am leaving Thailand in September for Montenegro. I wonder if there is something similar there. Haven't seen hide nor hair of any expat forums for there but i'm sure they exist.

Again,

Thank you all for the awesome help!

You're welcome and good luck with your claim, also the closest VFW post to Montenegro would be in Italy so you will have to depend on the expat community for help there. Montenegro, interesting choice to move to let us know how it works out.

Edited July 13, 201114 yr by BarnicaleBob