Doctors in Chiang Mai

[cdmarshm]

Hello everyone. I had a minor non-open heart, heart surgery about 6 years ago and haven't had it checked since then. However, today I had chest pains and shortness of breath for a few hours. I am only 30 years old and in relatively good health, so I can only assume that it is related to the surgery I had 6 years ago. This surgery fixed a whole in between the atrium wall. I would like to get it checked even though it may be nothing. I don't have a lot of money but I would like to get it checked out, could anyone suggest a reasonably priced Doctor who could do a cardiac check up.

[Diplomatico]

There's a thread at the top of the Chiang Mai forum that lists recommended doctors and medical specialists.

[harrry]

Go to Suan DOrk hospital. Do not go to the Sri Pat part. If you have any heat pain just go to the SuanDork emergency and say that you want to be treated in SuanDoc not Sripat if needed. Emergency is the same for both.

[masuk]

The heart specialist at Sripat (University hospital) gave me the same pre-op test as I had in Australia, and the cost was very low, compared to $100s in Oz.

My anaesthetic was controlled accordingly, and I was wide awake and alert a few hours later. Best 'general' I've ever had.

[northernjohn]

I copied these from the list.

CARDIOLOGY (Heart)

Dr Patarapong

Chiang Mai RAM Hospital

053 920300

Dr Tanawat Benjanuwatthra

Rajavej Hospital, and Sriphat

053-801999

CARDIAC SURGEONS

Dr Surin & Dr Weerachai

Sriphat Hospital

053 5394 6900/1

The only thing that could be wrong is the list is 3 years old and there might be more or the ones on the list are no longer practicing.

Also with the new Bangkok hospital there may be more Doctors available.

Best of luck with what ever choice you make.

[SantiSuk]

Sripat has a good website with doctors CVs in English by specialist department (or at least it did when I was searching in April}.

[chiang mai]

Dr Patarapong at CM RAM Hospital is one the very best cardiologists in the North and his consultancy fees are quite low, he speaks perfect English and is also a really nice guy. As a first step, he would be the man to see.

[naboo]

My daughter has a small issue with blood flow from left atrium to left ventricle. We go for scans at Maharaj regularly, can see the blood flow, would identify any leakage in your's. Approx 2000B/time.

[Dante99]

My daughter has a small issue with blood flow from left atrium to left ventricle. We go for scans at Maharaj regularly, can see the blood flow, would identify any leakage in your's. Approx 2000B/time.

What is the medical name for the kind of scan they do?

Thanks very much.

[naboo]

Echocardiography, based on ultrasound.

http://www.ntnu.edu/isb/ultrasound/bloodflow

[NancyL]

I little explanation for the OP -- you're very fortunate to be here. Chiang Mai University's medical school is a major teaching hospital and a regional medical center. However, the hospital has several names and it can be very confusing to access for the first time. I've seen all three names mentioned in this thread.

The official name of the "university" hospital is Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. That's the name used in post #8. The public, government hospital portion of this hospital is known as "Suan Dok" Hospital because it's close to Wat Suan Dok. That's the name mentioned in post #3. The "private" portion of University hospital is known as "Sripat" hospital and is mentioned in post # 4,5 and 6. Both Suan Dok and Sripat use the same Emergency Room facilities, operating rooms, doctors, and equipment, but they have different facilities for outpatient visits and in-patient rooms.

What this means for the OP is that if he comes to Suan Dok/Sripat and wants to have his cardiac issue checked out (which is seems he probably should) he could either ask to enter thru the Suan Dok (gov't hospital) system or the Sripat (private hospital) system. Based on personal experience, I'd recommend Sripat. The Suan Dok cardiac clinics are stretched W-A-Y beyond capacity, with the longest wait times of any of the Suan Dok outpatient clinics. Too bad the OP doesn't have AIDS or a psychiatric problem -- he'd get into see a doctor at Suan Dok much more quickly than he would to see a cardiologist. Usually, the Suan Dok cardiac outpatient clinic just sees a resident, not a professor -- unless his case is "interesting" or stumps the resident. But, if he schedules the appointment directly at Sripat he'll see a professor, not a resident. Many of the resident doctors at Suan Dok don't speak English well, but the professors do. Also many of the residents are "just putting in their time" (i.e. they don't plan to specialize in cardiology, but the professors certainly are cardiac specialists).

I think the problem the OP had is what's called a patent foramen ovale (PFO), in which case the cost of diagnostic tests to check out if he's having future problems is fairly small compared with the wait time if he elects for care in the Suan Dok clinics. Actually, I think, given his age, the residents at Suan Dok may dismiss him with a chest x-ray, EKG and a wait-and-see stance while the professors at Sripat would be more willing to prescribe the extra echo-cardiogram which will be more likely to put the OP's mind at rest.

Also, the OP would be more likely to encounter a doctor able to speak English and explain what's happening if he goes thru the Sripat system.

For the ultimate in explanations, I'd suggest CM Ram. Again, I don't think the OP has a serious problem that will involve expensive diagnostics. Yes, CM Ram is an expensive hospital, but they have a good cardiac dept and the OP would be seen immediately and have access to good equipment and doctors. If they recommend that the OP needs an expensive procedures, he should get a second opinion at Sripat.

An echo-cardiogram is not an expensive test and I don't think a second opinion is needed. Anything more invasive would be a good idea to seek a second opinion.