A Good, Reliable Doctor

[seonai]

As some of you know I am quite ill now. I have a bit of a phobia about doctors and being able to believe them because The Mission and my own local hospital on the island have so far not been able to cure me - and I have reluctanly consumed more antibiotics and anti hystamines this year than I have in my entire life. And I am still sick.

Please give me your honest suggestions for a good doctor. It is mainly a respiratory problem. Any idea how much a first consultaion costs? I'd really appreciate this advice. I have to get well.

Seonai

[kasi]

I share your doctor phobia. Actually it's more of a loathing for me.

Bangkok Phuket hostital is a very nice facility.

I have friends go there with good results for eye, heart and blood issues.

I've had less than adequate results with a misdiagnosed skin problem with the dermatology dept.

Whether or not the ear, nose, throat specialists are good I can't say.

Prices are reasonable. 500bht for doctor. Testing costs vary but they are in line with the prices at Bumrumgrad.

Where they nail you sometimes is with expensive medicines.

good luck.

Not really knowing what is wrong with you, dietary and or allergy issues might be in play in which case you might be able to control the condition on your own. There are numerous ways to boost the body's natural immune system.

You mentioned taking a lot of anti-biotics. They can depress your immune system significantly.

[Wolfie]

For a GP (family Doctor) - i would recomend Dr Chusak In Kata, hes an excellent GP. speaks very good english and doesnt charge silly money.

For a hospital, stear clear of the 'Internationals' as they generally cost a lot more than the government hospitals and are no better. In fact the Government hospitals (especially the Watchera - or however its spelt) are better equipped and better staffed. The only problem there is that nearly all of the signs around the hospitals are in Thai and very few of the Staff can communicate in english so getting your point across to them can be challenging if you cannot speak thai or have no means of translation.

I dont know how the Mission compairs to Watchera (i'll never learn how to spell that one) but the Watchera is a good hospital

[Boo]

Seonai,

I remember (not sure if it WAS you but still) you mentioned that there was asbestos on you roof. Please be sure to mention this to the doctor when you see them as it MAY be a contributing factor. Esp. as you have respratory & nasal/throat problems.

[tom yum goong]

Mission Hospital is not great for anything more than minor illnesses. Vatchira is a good government hospital and has the best equipment on the island, but they're permanently swamped with patients.

If I've got anything serious I would go to Phuket International Hospital, its pretty decent and is cheaper than Bangkok Phuket Hospital.

Hope you get well soon.

[Wolfie]

Vatchira - thats how you spell it, thanks tom yum goong

[Sheryl]

As some of you know I am quite ill now. I have a bit of a phobia about doctors and being able to believe them because The Mission and my own local hospital on the island have so far not been able to cure me - and I have reluctanly consumed more antibiotics and anti hystamines this year than I have in my entire life. And I am still sick.

Please give me your honest suggestions for a good doctor. It is mainly a respiratory problem. Any idea how much a first consultaion costs? I'd really appreciate this advice. I have to get well.

Seonai

Dear Seonai,

From what I recall of your problem, you need to see a pulmonary and/or infectious disease specialist.

Neither are available at Phuket International Hospital. The Bangkok Phuket Hospital does have a pulmonary specialist and I am in the process of checking out his qualifications for you (their website doesn't say). It does not have an infectious disease specialist.

The government hospital probably has both, but you need to weigh the lower cost against time considerations -- likely to take up to several days to meet the specialist (you have to register, see a GP first, get referred etc etc) and requires a lot of Thai language ability.

Outpatient consultation costs are going to be about 500 - 600 Baht. In this case I think paying a little more for a correct diagnosis will save money in the long run.

I will let you know what I find out about the pulmoinary specialist at Bangkok Phuket Hosp.

Unless he or she has very good qualifications, you really might need to consider coming to Bangkok. I'd be glad to help in any way I can, including going with you and talking to the doctor (with 30+ years experience as a nurse I am very, very good at intimidating doctors!) if you like. Unfortunately I am in Cambodia now until mid July but if your problem hasn't resolved by then maybe you could think of heading up. You can stay with me if you like.

Please see also my PM to you

Sheryl

[Boo]

just pm'd you too

[seonai]

Thanks everyone, thanks, I am going to go soon as I need to. Thanks Boo and Sheryl so much.

[judyel]

If I've got anything serious I would go to Phuket International Hospital, its pretty decent and is cheaper than Bangkok Phuket Hospital.

Hope you get well soon.

I spent 10 days at Phuket International. I saw a surgeon, not a GP, so I can't attest to doctor care. But I was really quite impressed with the hospital itself, and the facilities . . . much better than I thought it might be. Nurses may not be all that fluent in English, but you can always find someone that is (simply ask for a 'head nurse'.

Hope you can overcome this . . . be well

Judy

[seonai]

Can you tell me how much it cost please

[Sheryl]

Seonai,

Bangkok Hospital Phuket's pulmonary specialist is Dr. Thawatchai Jirathaonkul. He has valid specialty training but entirely in Thailand. As far as I can tell there are no foreign-trained pulmonary or infectious disease specialists in Phuket, you'd need to come to Bangkok for that.

Dr. Thawatchai's hours are Tuseday - Saturday 10 AM - 3 PM. If you decide to try him you can make appointment (and also verify the consultation fee) by email [email protected]

My guess would be about 500 - 600 Baht for the consultation. More if tests are required. Bring all relevant reports and past test results with you. If you've had a chest xray done in the past year be sure to bring it (if it's at the hospital you went to, you can go and request it. They have to give it to you on request).

Drugs may be more expensive at the hospital than at an outside pharmacy, so if you go see him and he wants to prescribe medication, ask him if it's available over the counter in pharmacies. Also, ask about how essential any medicines he may prescribe are. It is typical Thai practice to prescribe a large number of drugs since this is thought to be what Thai patients want (I have actually had hospital staff apologize to me for getting "only one medicine"-- in a case where none at all were indicated!). Often out of 3-5 drugs only one has any really eseential purpose and the rest are more for show. Also, I suggest not filling any prescriotions if he does not seem to have a clear idea of what may be the problem. Again, its the typical Thai medical approach -- they think it is a loss of face and will make the patient unhappy to say "we're not sure what's wrong with you and can't treat you until we find out more".

Aside from language issues and wanting assurance of ability (since getting a degree in Thailand as we all know is not all that hard...), these are the reasons why I prefer to deal with docs who have trained or done fellowships in a western country. They may still do these sort of things with their Thai patients but they usually know it is not what westerners want or expect.

Offer to accompany you to a doc in Bkk after I get back still stands so keep me informed of how things go....

Edited June 2, 2006 by Sheryl

[Stacking Zeds]

Hi there,

This thread seems pretty much resolved, but I'd like to echo some of the positive comments here about Phuket International Hospital. I dislike hospitals in general, maybe even moreso than the OP, but this place is alright.

The standard of care is great and the whole set-up as you walk in is really hospitable. They even have an English guy working at the front reception desk sometimes (what's the deal with that?).

Anyway, great place. I'd prefer it to the two hospitals in Yaowarat Rd, one of which feels more like a bank and the other makes you wait half a day before someone will talk to you.

Definitely agree with the previous poster RE: the the huge quantity of drugs. I was prescribed 5 different drops, some gel, and had to take 12 steroid tablets a day for an eye infection . My Japanese doc said throw away all of it except one bottle of drops. Might be a good idea to some research and find out if you really need to take everything they prescribe you...

Anyway, good luck!

Zed

[madmitch]

I don't think they will tell you the drugs you need and let you buy them over the counter. The dispensing of drugs is where the hospitals make most of their money and that's another reason why they always give you more than you require. This is a fact.

[Sir Burr]

Last March, I was hospitalized for six days in Bangkok-Phuket hospital with a serious lung infection.

Dr. Tawatchai was my doctor. I found him very, very good. He sent me for many x-rays, CAT scans and MRI's. He even sent me up to Bangkok to have tests done that were not available in Phuket. As I was insured by my company, I wasn't bothered about the cost. The whole lot came to 130,000 Bt.

If I wasn't insured then I'm not so sure that I would consult him. Don't forget, his job is to make money for the hospital. I would go and see a good GP in Bangkok first.

[Goldenbead]

Seonai, first of all, good luck with getting help and getting better. I will put another hand up for the Phuket Int' Hospital. I just had an experience there with my son last week and they were very good. I was impressed.

I have always used this hospital and will continue to do so. I hope you find the help you need.