Neurology: Any Experience With A Reputable Hospital In Bkk Or Maybe Pattaya ?

[AsiaWolfie]

Does anybody have experience with a neurology department of a reputable hospital in Bangkok or Pattaya. Where they have modern equipment and excellent doctors ?

I am registered with Bumrungrad, but as I have learned from some messageboards, their different departments differ a lot in quality....

any other hint or advice would be helpful, thanks

[Phil Conners]

Following the many hospital threads here it would appear Bumrungrad is unconditionally the best hospital in Thailand.

Bangkok Pattaya is ok but is turning into an american-style money-machine. Everything is done to make sure you are taken for every possible satang.

My daughter had a small accident at her school two weeks ago and was brought to the ICU of BP. It was merely a scratch on her hand and while the first aid rendered was perfect, she got a bag with a strip of paracetamol and a bag of "prophylatic" antibiotics (penecilllin) - billed at several times the price you'd pay for the same meds in any pharmacy. She had no infection, why do they need to stuff her with that? Don't they know it cause resistance? Needless to say they went into the drawer with all the other unnecessary stuff they give you.

This was all covered by the school's insurance so it wasn't even a case of trying to get the farang.

Edited July 29, 2006 by Phil Conners

[Nawtilus]

Pattaya brain surgery capital of the world.

I dont think many people go to Pattaya for brain surgery, but if you do, can you let us know how it goes, if your capable afterwards ?

[Nawtilus]

or maybe MrU could join you down there and get his sense of humour removed out of his arse and put back where it belongs.

[camerata]

I saw a neurologist at Bumrungrad a few years ago. He was able to diagnose my trigeminal neuralgia but didn't bother to tell me what it was until I asked. He was pretty casual about it, considering how serious it can be. On my way out of the door he said, "Vitamins might help."

[AsiaWolfie]

Camerata, can you still remember the name of that particular "pretty causal" doctor ? on their website there are around 10 doctors listed for neurology....

I already applied there for an appointment with an older female doctor, but as I have learned from some other threads here, they usually seem to refuse to reply to such emails....

maybe I should try my luck at Samitvej, but I dont know if they are good in neurology and if they do computer-tomography....

[AmeriThai]

The neurologist I saw at Bumrungrad was quite good. He quickly confirmed what the docs in the US had diagnosed. I was pleased by the professionalism he showed.

[AsiaWolfie]

The neurologist I saw at Bumrungrad was quite good. He quickly confirmed what the docs in the US had diagnosed. I was pleased by the professionalism he showed.

AmeriThai, do you remember his name ? or do you know if that doctor is still working for them and listed on Bumrungrad's website ? They even show pictures of their faces there.

Thank you

Edited July 30, 2006 by AsiaWolfie

[Jockstar]

I have no idea about hsopitals here. But i'm concerned about the neurology factor. Whats is wrong? I myself. Years ago. In 1999 i had surgery on my brain. I had been having headaches for over a year. Turned out i had a cyst on the brain. Right between the 2 halves of the brain. Wasnt good having these headaches i can tell you. But had 2 ops and no more headaches.

[skippybangkok]

Dont go to Bangrumrad........ I had Bells Palsy last year, ( real fun stuff ), most of the Dr's were crap, and I knew more about the treatment from the web that most of the Dr's. I hear that Dr. Errawadee at the hospital is ok, if you are willing to wait for a 3 months waiting list.

If you a from the Middle East, you get priority que tickets these days.

Edited July 30, 2006 by skippybangkok

[camerata]

Camerata, can you still remember the name of that particular "pretty causal" doctor ? on their website there are around 10 doctors listed for neurology....

None of the names or photos on the web site ring a bell. He was an older guy and this was 4-5 years ago. I'll be there tomorrow so I'll ask (if I remember to).

In fairness to this doctor I should say that there isn't a lot that can be done with neuralgia until it gets bad enough that anti-epilepsy drugs or surgery have to be prescribed. But he could have told me more about it. In fact, the symptoms subsided after taking Vitamin B-complex three times a day for 2-3 years, but that was thanks to the Internet rather than him.

[Jockstar]

Have PM'd the op with my experience. Hopfully he will be ok.

[Sheryl]

What type of neurological problem is it? Because the best docs vary. The best specialist for movement disorders like Parkinsons is at Bangkok Int. For other problems, it varies. The president of the neurology assoc of thailand has private practice at Bumrungrad, name begins with a p and he's an older guy. but as I said, it really depends on the type of problem, check out the websites of Samitivej, Bumrungrad & Bkk Int and look at the sub-specialties of the neurologists they have, look for one with board certification in the west and a special interest in your type of problem.

All 3 of these hospitals have state of the art equipment.

[guyham]

About a year ago I went to see a neurologist at Bumrungrad - name was Roekchai Tulyapronchate. I saw him about my peripheral neuropathy. I considered him excellent - spoke perfect English and was like an Amenrican doctor in that he was willing to explain everything about my problem with no holds barred. He had spent a lot of time in the states so probably was highly qualified.

[AmeriThai]

The neurologist I saw at Bumrungrad was quite good. He quickly confirmed what the docs in the US had diagnosed. I was pleased by the professionalism he showed.

AmeriThai, do you remember his name ? or do you know if that doctor is still working for them and listed on Bumrungrad's website ? They even show pictures of their faces there.

Thank you

AsiaWolfie, the neurologist I saw at Bumrungrad is Dr. Paisan Vachatimanont. I was very impressed with his professionalism, and he seemed very personable and friendly. Please keep in mind that he is a neurologist, not a neurosurgeon. I was also impressed with the way the entire staff at Bumrungrad treated me like a VIP.

Edited July 31, 2006 by AmeriThai

[AmeriThai]

Dont go to Bangrumrad........ I had Bells Palsy last year, ( real fun stuff ), most of the Dr's were crap, and I knew more about the treatment from the web that most of the Dr's. I hear that Dr. Errawadee at the hospital is ok, if you are willing to wait for a 3 months waiting list.

If you a from the Middle East, you get priority que tickets these days.

Bangrumrad? I'm not familiar with where that facility located.

If you mean Bumrungrad, telling people that most of the doctors there are crap is a very impressive statement. How many different doctors have you actually seen there to make such a claim?

Again, that you indicate you know more from the web than most the doctors is also a pretty wild statement. Sorry, but I'm a bit skeptical about that.

I certainly saw quite a few people who appeared to be Middle Eastern. I can only speak for myself, but no one I saw seemed to get any que tickets. I'm not from the Middle East, but I had no delay in being processed and sent off to the doctor. In fact, there was quite a line of people at the admission desk. I was spotted and attended to ahead to within a matter of moments, which I was a bit embarrassed about since there were others who were ahead of me at the desk.

[camerata]

AsiaWolfie, the neurologist I saw at Bumrungrad is Dr. Paisan Vachatimanont. I was very impressed with his professionalism, and he seemed very personable and friendly. Please keep in mind that he is a neurologist, not a neurosurgeon. I was also impressed with the way the entire staff at Bumrungrad treated me like a VIP.

Dr Paisan is the one I saw too.

Like AmeriThai, I haven't seen any preference given to patients from the Middle East, but the hospital is pretty busy these days. At the Skin centre today I had to pay a "deposit" of the full amount in advance. Presumably this is because some patients argue about the cost and refuse to pay. I find things a bit more laid back at Samitivej.

[AsiaWolfie]

I checked websites of other hospitals in BKK but when it comes to neurology: very poor results.

anyway, got a short-listed appointment with an older female doc confirmed by Bumrungrad. I heard they dont reply to such appointment-requests but in my case they did.... though I dont even know if I need to see a neurologist or a neurology surgeon, dont know what is the difference and I am not an english native speaker anyway..... but for an initial consultation should be okay.....

thanks a lot for all the replies.... sometimes good to have the huge Thaivisa-family

Edited July 31, 2006 by AsiaWolfie

[AmeriThai]

I checked websites of other hospitals in BKK but when it comes to neurology: very poor results.

anyway, got a short-listed appointment with an older female doc confirmed by Bumrungrad. I heard they dont reply to such appointment-requests but in my case they did.... though I dont even know if I need to see a neurologist or a neurology surgeon, dont know what is the difference and I am not an english native speaker anyway..... but for an initial consultation should be okay.....

thanks a lot for all the replies.... sometimes good to have the huge Thaivisa-family

I preregistered from their website and had no problem getting a quick reply also. I think you've done the best thing to see a neurologist first. The neurologist will do the diagnosis. If surgery is needed in your case, the neurologist will make the arrangements with a neurosurgeon to do the actual surgery. If surgery is not needed in your case, then the neurologist may give you a prescription or recommend some kind of procedure or therapy to help you.

Edited August 1, 2006 by AmeriThai