Chiang Mai Doctors And Medical Specialists

[chiang mai]

Who would you recommend I see?

I'm having weight control issues. I've been gaining weight for the past year, at the same time I was cutting back on what I ate, and adding exercise.

I've gained 18 Kilo in just over a year.

Early on I was walking briskly about 1 hour a day 5 - 6 days a week. I started having joint issues.

So I started riding a bike seriously back in December. Doing 1 to 2 hour rides 5-6 days a week. Now, I'm doing 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hour rides, even more, at nearly 16 mph (24 kph) pace. According to info on calorie burn at that rate, that amount of time, I should be burning from 2500 - 3500 calories on a typical ride.

I have not increased food intake with the increased exercise (I have cut back in fact).

But I am still gaining weight.

The one major change I did in the past year was concerning my sleeping. For 30 years or so, I went to bed about 9:30, was up at first light. No naps during the day. Due to my Thai "wife", I changed to fall asleep about 12:30-1:00 a.m. after she got home from work - up around 6:00-6:30 a.m. to get her and her boy up for school (and for her to go to the market to buy for her restaurant) and for me to ride while it is relatively cool, then about a 2 hour nap in the afternoon to get my 8 hours sleep.

So, my question, which relates to why I am in this topic:

Do I see an endocrinologist (a hormonal thing), or an internal medicine doc, or gastro-intestinal specialist? Somebody else?

My apologies that I didn't see your post until now for some reason, have you got the issues sorted or do you still need guidance?

[Aussie Paul]

I'm sorry to see that the only recommended haematoligist is at the much criticised RAM Hospital. From the tests to get my health tick for the retirement visa it appears I have Haemochromatosis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HFE_hereditary_haemochromatosis). Normal values for serum ferritin (a protein synthesized by the liver and is the primary form of iron storage within cells and tissues) in males are 12–300 ng/ml (nanograms per millilitre). I clocked in at over 800! But a genetic test for HFE on chromosone 6 came back negative. I do not eat a lot of red meat and have moderated my alcohol intake (which I should do as I have existing liver damage). After reading the list of symptoms on wiki, it explains a number of health problems I have been experiencing and some possible future life threatening conditions as opposed to the loss of enjoyment of life symptoms I am experiencing now. Any other recommendations for haemologists appreciated.

[uptheos]

I'm sorry to see that the only recommended haematoligist is at the much criticised RAM Hospital. From the tests to get my health tick for the retirement visa it appears I have Haemochromatosis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HFE_hereditary_haemochromatosis). Normal values for serum ferritin (a protein synthesized by the liver and is the primary form of iron storage within cells and tissues) in males are 12–300 ng/ml (nanograms per millilitre). I clocked in at over 800! But a genetic test for HFE on chromosone 6 came back negative. I do not eat a lot of red meat and have moderated my alcohol intake (which I should do as I have existing liver damage). After reading the list of symptoms on wiki, it explains a number of health problems I have been experiencing and some possible future life threatening conditions as opposed to the loss of enjoyment of life symptoms I am experiencing now. Any other recommendations for haemologists appreciated.

If the haematologist is good, why worry where he/she practices?

He/she will most likely have their own clinic or practice at other hospitals too. It's not unusual for a doctor to have his/her own clinic, plus a schedule for three different hospitals.

[Aussie Paul]

I'm sorry to see that the only recommended haematoligist is at the much criticised RAM Hospital. From the tests to get my health tick for the retirement visa it appears I have Haemochromatosis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HFE_hereditary_haemochromatosis). Normal values for serum ferritin (a protein synthesized by the liver and is the primary form of iron storage within cells and tissues) in males are 12–300 ng/ml (nanograms per millilitre). I clocked in at over 800! But a genetic test for HFE on chromosone 6 came back negative. I do not eat a lot of red meat and have moderated my alcohol intake (which I should do as I have existing liver damage). After reading the list of symptoms on wiki, it explains a number of health problems I have been experiencing and some possible future life threatening conditions as opposed to the loss of enjoyment of life symptoms I am experiencing now. Any other recommendations for haemologists appreciated.

If the haematologist is good, why worry where he/she practices?

He/she will most likely have their own clinic or practice at other hospitals too. It's not unusual for a doctor to have his/her own clinic, plus a schedule for three different hospitals.

Or should I be looking for a gastroenterologist? I skype my doc back in Oz in the morning. Cheers

[Ulysses G.]

I'm sorry to see that the only recommended haematoligist is at the much criticised RAM Hospital.

They ALL get criticized. Even the famous Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok gets ripped apart regularly on the internet.

[chiang mai]

I had an appointment today with Dr Rachada, the Opthamologist at RAM and I was seriously impressed, she was very thorough and went several steps beyond my expectations for an eye exam. The cost of the visit was THB 800 which included a thorough eye exam, dialated pupils, retinal exam and photographic record of the retina for comparison at a later date. I got a clean bill of health and instructions to go back in one year and to keep using the Vision Centre for my eye checks and replacement glasses, I can highly recommend both - Dr Rachada is also a very nice lady with excellent English, both of which help enormously.

[uptheos]

I had an appointment today with Dr Rachada, the Opthamologist at RAM and I was seriously impressed, she was very thorough and went several steps beyond my expectations for an eye exam. The cost of the visit was THB 800 which included a thorough eye exam, dialated pupils, retinal exam and photographic record of the retina for comparison at a later date. I got a clean bill of health and instructions to go back in one year and to keep using the Vision Centre for my eye checks and replacement glasses, I can highly recommend both - Dr Rachada is also a very nice lady with excellent English, both of which help enormously.

Yes, highly recommended.

[elektrified]

This was taken from an earlier post I made this year. Maybe Tywais could add this recommendation to the pinned list.

I can recommend an excellent eye surgeon named Choeng Jirawison, M.D. He graduated from U.C. San Francisco. He is well-published as a google search brings up 6 pages of his publications. He took very good care of me when I had an emergency from an accident late at night and was in severe pain. No eye surgeon is available at Ram, Maharaj, Sriphat, McCormick or St. Peter (went to all of them that night) after 5-6:00 P.M. His clinic is at 253/1 Thannon Chang Phueak, 053-215224. Speaks very good English and is very nice and even called to see how I was doing the following day. Went back 3 times over 10 days for follow ups. Not cheap by any means but very good.

He and his partners are the only eye surgeons available after-hours in Chiang Mai we were told by a number of hospitals. I am not 100% sure but I believe his group all practice at Nakhornping Hospital which is the only hospital in C.M. with eye surgeons on-call late at night. Dr. Jirawison saw me at his clinic around 22:00 on Loy Krathong. Even St. Peters had a sign on the door saying no new admissions or walk-ins after 5:00 P.M. Door was locked and no lights on downstairs when we went there in the taxi.

Again his fees are on the absolute high end of the scale for C.M. but if you need an eye specialist late at night who is knowledgeable, handles emergencies all the time, and has all the highest of technology available, he's the guy.

[chiang mai]

This was taken from an earlier post I made this year. Maybe Tywais could add this recommendation to the pinned list.

I can recommend an excellent eye surgeon named Choeng Jirawison, M.D. He graduated from U.C. San Francisco. He is well-published as a google search brings up 6 pages of his publications. He took very good care of me when I had an emergency from an accident late at night and was in severe pain. No eye surgeon is available at Ram, Maharaj, Sriphat, McCormick or St. Peter (went to all of them that night) after 5-6:00 P.M. His clinic is at 253/1 Thannon Chang Phueak, 053-215224. Speaks very good English and is very nice and even called to see how I was doing the following day. Went back 3 times over 10 days for follow ups. Not cheap by any means but very good.

He and his partners are the only eye surgeons available after-hours in Chiang Mai we were told by a number of hospitals. I am not 100% sure but I believe his group all practice at Nakhornping Hospital which is the only hospital in C.M. with eye surgeons on-call late at night. Dr. Jirawison saw me at his clinic around 22:00 on Loy Krathong. Even St. Peters had a sign on the door saying no new admissions or walk-ins after 5:00 P.M. Door was locked and no lights on downstairs when we went there in the taxi.

Again his fees are on the absolute high end of the scale for C.M. but if you need an eye specialist late at night who is knowledgeable, handles emergencies all the time, and has all the highest of technology available, he's the guy.

Thanks for that, I've updated my master copy of the list with the entry you supplied and I'll ask Tywais to update the list on the forum in about a months time, along with some others changes that I've accumulated.

[Dean1953]

I'll be staying in CM, at my house in July, after a 3 year absence, and decided to make an appointment with Dr. Morgan for a general check up. After reading this thread, I emailed her clinic for an appointment the week of July 15. They misunderstood me and wanted to make an appointment for April 24, in 2 days. I called and straightened out the misunderstanding and got an appointment for July 15 at 2. They daid the cost would by 506,000 baht and to fast for 24 hours. Does that sound about right for a complete physical (since it is the first one in more than 40 years)?

[chiang mai]

I'll be staying in CM, at my house in July, after a 3 year absence, and decided to make an appointment with Dr. Morgan for a general check up. After reading this thread, I emailed her clinic for an appointment the week of July 15. They misunderstood me and wanted to make an appointment for April 24, in 2 days. I called and straightened out the misunderstanding and got an appointment for July 15 at 2. They daid the cost would by 506,000 baht and to fast for 24 hours. Does that sound about right for a complete physical (since it is the first one in more than 40 years)?

No it doesn't, typically a fast for blood works is from 10pm the night before hence 24 hours seems far too long - if I were you I would call back and clarify what is required. Also, it's unclear what you mean by the cost you quoted, presumably that was a typo but I'm unclear what you intended..

[Ulysses G.]

My doctor always tells me to fast for 12 hours before a complete physical.

[uptheos]

I'll be staying in CM, at my house in July, after a 3 year absence, and decided to make an appointment with Dr. Morgan for a general check up. After reading this thread, I emailed her clinic for an appointment the week of July 15. They misunderstood me and wanted to make an appointment for April 24, in 2 days. I called and straightened out the misunderstanding and got an appointment for July 15 at 2. They daid the cost would by 506,000 baht and to fast for 24 hours. Does that sound about right for a complete physical (since it is the first one in more than 40 years)?

Call back, something's not right, as chiang mai said fasting is usually from about 10pm....get there around 9am.

Do you mean 506 Baht or 5,600 Baht?......A full medical will definitely not be 506 Baht but 5,600 Baht it could be.

[hellodolly]

I'll be staying in CM, at my house in July, after a 3 year absence, and decided to make an appointment with Dr. Morgan for a general check up. After reading this thread, I emailed her clinic for an appointment the week of July 15. They misunderstood me and wanted to make an appointment for April 24, in 2 days. I called and straightened out the misunderstanding and got an appointment for July 15 at 2. They daid the cost would by 506,000 baht and to fast for 24 hours. Does that sound about right for a complete physical (since it is the first one in more than 40 years)?

Call back, something's not right, as chiang mai said fasting is usually from about 10pm....get there around 9am.

Do you mean 506 Baht or 5,600 Baht?......A full medical will definitely not be 506 Baht but 5,600 Baht it could be.

I don't remember the exact price but 5,600 baht sounds close to what I paid her.

[Mapguy]

I'll be staying in CM, at my house in July, after a 3 year absence, and decided to make an appointment with Dr. Morgan for a general check up. After reading this thread, I emailed her clinic for an appointment the week of July 15. They misunderstood me and wanted to make an appointment for April 24, in 2 days. I called and straightened out the misunderstanding and got an appointment for July 15 at 2. They daid the cost would by 506,000 baht and to fast for 24 hours. Does that sound about right for a complete physical (since it is the first one in more than 40 years)?

Call back, something's not right, as chiang mai said fasting is usually from about 10pm....get there around 9am.

Do you mean 506 Baht or 5,600 Baht?......A full medical will definitely not be 506 Baht but 5,600 Baht it could be.

I don't remember the exact price but 5,600 baht sounds close to what I paid her.

Dean1953 may need a hearing aide, but he seems a bit too young! Morgan's assistants are okay, but also may misspeak in English. Commonsense helps!

[Dean1953]

Sorry about that. The amount of the physical was 5,000 to 6,000 baht (my typing suffers when I'm in a hurry to post and go to work). To me, going at 2 P.M., the difference in fasting from 2 A.M. and eating a 4 P.M. dinner the day before isn't that much. I'll re-check the email from the clinic to verify either 12 or 24 hours fasting. Since I never go see a Doctor, my knowledge of whats expected is very limited.

[chiang mai]

Sorry about that. The amount of the physical was 5,000 to 6,000 baht (my typing suffers when I'm in a hurry to post and go to work). To me, going at 2 P.M., the difference in fasting from 2 A.M. and eating a 4 P.M. dinner the day before isn't that much. I'll re-check the email from the clinic to verify either 12 or 24 hours fasting. Since I never go see a Doctor, my knowledge of whats expected is very limited.

12 hours and 5/6K baht sounds right.

[elektrified]

Sorry about that. The amount of the physical was 5,000 to 6,000 baht (my typing suffers when I'm in a hurry to post and go to work). To me, going at 2 P.M., the difference in fasting from 2 A.M. and eating a 4 P.M. dinner the day before isn't that much. I'll re-check the email from the clinic to verify either 12 or 24 hours fasting. Since I never go see a Doctor, my knowledge of whats expected is very limited.

12 hours and 5/6K baht sounds right.

Agree on that. Dr. Morgan almost always does complete physical exams at 9:00 A.M.; not at 2:00 P.M. so double-check the time of your appointment. SHe would not expect anyone to fast that long.

[Tywais]

chiang mai has updated the list and I have edited the pinned topic now.

Thanks again chiang mai for your efforts.

[Rimmer]

Commercial post removed from a first time poster removed also a quoted reply

[uptheos]

chiang mai has updated the list and I have edited the pinned topic now.

Thanks again chiang mai for your efforts.

PM Sent

[SantiSuk]

Many thanks for this topic and the pinned summarization. Let me payback by recommending a Pulmonology (lung/chest) specialist.

I am an Isaan dweller visiting Chiang Mai. I was diagnosed with COPD a year ago and have been under the care of private specialists in Ubon and a large regional teaching hospital in the UK. I arrived here in the North with every sign that a bronchial infection could be deteriorating into pneumonia. You know when the usual coughing and spitting comes with add-ons of temperature fluctuations, malaise and generally feeling $hitty.

Ram website lists no pulmonology interest in its departments/services website. Sriphat lists a department and 7 doctors. No need for further research into which hospital!

I selected Dr Atikun Limsukhon (my wife’s transliteration from their excellent English language website – yes its odd that his write-up only states his name in Thai) from the 7. He was on the original ThaiV listings and is shown as having US qualifications.

Good choice: he speaks fluent English with a slight US accent – must have trained there and is authoritative, communicative and happy to go as far as you like into the technicalities of what is happening with you. I liked that he could raise non-confrontational challenges to previous advice (fully backed-up) and accept challenge from me ("surely wheezing is not a conclusive indicator of pneumonia - you get that with bad bronchitis too"/"yes you're right - I was being a bit too short cut there") – very un-Thai-like!

He and his staff did all the scans, tests and analysis I had come to expect and then some. I had often wondered why my other specialists had done no sputum testing. He ran through the bloods results in much better detail than I have had before and explained why my prophylactic dose of a penicillin- based drug (most doctors use) had failed to cap my bronchitis and why I had indeed contracted pneumonia. “Anyone age 63 is highly likely to have developed an increasing immunity to penecillin-based antibiotics – I’m putting you on a fluoroquine”. No wonder I’ve lately been finding it takes a 2 week dose before they start working; my observation on this to my UK specialist had been met with a blank stare I recall.

All this was completed within his 3 hour surgery and he even made a point of coming out to the waiting area to say sorry about the delay in one of the test results. Hope that’s enough of a recomendation for you to list him.

Sriphat is by no means your usual private medical care facility. You are basically within the Government system of Suan Dok (CM University) Hospital, but getting preferential access and paying for it. So it’s a bit of a zoo. You might get uppity if you want the hushed super-clean spacious modern environment and fawning of say a Bumrumgrad Hospital. That said the place grew on me by the minute; the nurses and porters cope with the hoards in a thoroughly professional and personable way. I have not seen a hospital where the staff seemed so happy to be at work and collegiate. I’d like to find the bar where those nurses go for a drink after work Many of the nursing staff spoke some English and most others chatted with me when they knew I spoke some Thai.

Tips:

I had a helluva job setting up an appointment on the phone in English or basic Thai. I was passed from pillar to post seeking someone who knew enough English to answer the questions of which pulmonology specialists could I see that day. I suggested that I came down to the hospital to discuss and they agreed that would be good. When I arrived they understood what I wanted but told me there were no specialists on duty that day (one was listed on the website as having a clinic starting two hours later, but attempts to find out why were waved away with no explanation). Finding where to even make that enquiry had been difficult. Two days later I decided I really did need fixing, so I went in at 8:00am open and was lucky enough to walk back along Thanon Suthep from the Moat area so I saw the doorsigns for Sriphat Medical Centre Registration as I approached the hospital. Once inside I was received by an English speaking information officer in the way you normally get in Thai private hospitals so everything clicked thereafter. From a business viewpoint they need to set up/publicise an English-speaking call-in number.

Don't drive and expect to park. Take a Songthaew. I drove one time and was lucky. Second time my wife had to drop me and drive the kids back to the hotel after a 10 minute fruitless search inside and outside the hospital.

Cost was much as I would expect. Total 2,600 baht, including 600 baht doctor fees (about 20 minutes contact over an initial and results session) and 1,150 for the pharmacy; the rest was X-Ray (370) and other diagnostic tests.

Yes - I'm feeling a bit better already thanks

Pulmonary doctors Sriphat Medical Centre Chiang Mai apr14.doc

Edited April 10, 2014 by SantiSuk

[SantiSuk]

^errata^

I meant fluroquinalone not fluoroquine.

[MrKFC]

What a GREAT piece of work this is!

I'm coming to CM soon to take care of a few medical and dental issues, and wanted to thank to everyone who's contributed to this.

This is my 4th visit to Thailand, have had good luck with minor dental stuff but that was in Bangkok, a friend steered me to his clinic, but hadn't come up with a plan for finding reliable practitioners in Chiang Mai. Problem solved!

I noticed that the last update was 2011, and I bet that most of it is still relevant.

Just wondered if maybe there's an update planned in the near future.

Nice work, thanks much, what's here now is really useful!

DS

[MrKFC]

Ten seconds after I asked for updates after 2011, i saw the one from Tywais, May 2013.

WOW! Just keeps getting better!

What a great resource!

[Dancinge]

Thank you for the great work compiling this: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/513012-recommended-doctors-and-medical-specialists/

Does anyone have recommendations for a doctor or hospital that does comprehensive testing for parasites, worms and salmonella? I wanted something comprehensive to know for sure I don't have anything. If you know of one that is open on weekends in particular that would be great. Do you think it's best just to go to Bangkok for this?

Thank you!

[Laisze]

This was taken from an earlier post I made this year. Maybe Tywais could add this recommendation to the pinned list.

I can recommend an excellent eye surgeon named Choeng Jirawison, M.D. He graduated from U.C. San Francisco. He is well-published as a google search brings up 6 pages of his publications. He took very good care of me when I had an emergency from an accident late at night and was in severe pain. No eye surgeon is available at Ram, Maharaj, Sriphat, McCormick or St. Peter (went to all of them that night) after 5-6:00 P.M. His clinic is at 253/1 Thannon Chang Phueak, 053-215224. Speaks very good English and is very nice and even called to see how I was doing the following day. Went back 3 times over 10 days for follow ups. Not cheap by any means but very good.

He and his partners are the only eye surgeons available after-hours in Chiang Mai we were told by a number of hospitals. I am not 100% sure but I believe his group all practice at Nakhornping Hospital which is the only hospital in C.M. with eye surgeons on-call late at night. Dr. Jirawison saw me at his clinic around 22:00 on Loy Krathong. Even St. Peters had a sign on the door saying no new admissions or walk-ins after 5:00 P.M. Door was locked and no lights on downstairs when we went there in the taxi.

Again his fees are on the absolute high end of the scale for C.M. but if you need an eye specialist late at night who is knowledgeable, handles emergencies all the time, and has all the highest of technology available, he's the guy.

Indeed

[chiang mai]

Since I now have a little bit more time on my hands I'd like to try and update the pinned list to make it current and to add/delete entries where necessary.

The sort of information we'll be looking for is: an indication where existing data is incorrect (and what the correct data should be); information regarding doctors who no longer practice and information about new doctors, ones not mentioned in the list - the latter will require several recommendations from different posters over time before they are included.

Additionally, if anyone has positive or negative comments they wish to make about doctors on the list we will be pleased to learn of them. I would caution that libel laws in Thailand are quite strict hence negative comments need to be supportable and carefully worded. Regrettably, negative comments regarding pricing will be ignored since the purpose of this thread is about availability and quality and not cost.

Perhaps I may ask that you begin to supply this thread with any new or revised information and I'll update the master list and pass all changes on to Tywais, every two weeks or so, to post in the pinned thread.

Thanks

[chiang mai]

Since I now have a little bit more time on my hands I'd like to try and update the pinned list to make it current and to add/delete entries where necessary.

The sort of information we'll be looking for is: an indication where existing data is incorrect (and what the correct data should be); information regarding doctors who no longer practice and information about new doctors, ones not mentioned in the list - the latter will require several recommendations from different posters over time before they are included.

Additionally, if anyone has positive or negative comments they wish to make about doctors on the list we will be pleased to learn of them. I would caution that libel laws in Thailand are quite strict hence negative comments need to be supportable and carefully worded. Regrettably, negative comments regarding pricing will be ignored since the purpose of this thread is about availability and quality and not cost.

Perhaps I may ask that you begin to supply this thread with any new or revised information and I'll update the master list and pass all changes on to Tywais, every two weeks or so, to post in the pinned thread.

Thanks

I'm going to keep bringing this post to the fore for a couple of weeks to see if we can't get some updates from you good folks! It's your list and it's served many of us well over the couple of years it's been pinned, as has been pointed out the list is getting a little stale so perhaps I can ask for a concerted effort to refresh it?

Many thanks in advance.

[elektrified]

The only thing I can contribute is that Ajarn Siri, Chiang Mai's most popular and well-known Dermatologist, has cut back his practice considerably due to personal reasons and commitments at CMU. He no longer holds clinics at Sriphat or Suan Dok, or does surgery. He does still see patients at his Moon Muang clinic and runs his mail order business for hair loss and acne treatments. For anything more serious, some members have recommended C.M. Ram Dermatology Dept.