Complete Health Check Up....

[ShaunEdwards9]

Hi Guys,

I am looking for a place in CM to get myself a full health check up whilst I am over here because it will be alot cheaper compared to UK prices.

Could anyone recommend a good place to get this done? both price and relibility wise.

Also any links to their website or email addresses would be great so I can contact them prior.

Cheers,

Eddie

[bamboozled]

You can try Rajevej hospital in CM, google it for website. They have package "deals" advertised online but what's really helpful is you can send an email with any questions. They have a great English speaking service rep. I've been a few times myself. Not as beautiful and sparkly as some other places in town but I have no complaints about it. And you can know what your spending before you go. Plenty of info on here about it, too.

[NancyL]

Rajavej, Chiang Mai Ram and Bangkok Hospital each offer health screening packages that are good, they have English speaking staff and are easy places for newcomers to deal with. (Sripat Hospital can be overwhelming since it's embedded in the University Hospital campus with poor signage, mystery locations for parking and the need to go to several buildings for the health screening package) Each hospital describes their health screening packages on their websites. And good for you for having a health screening done while you're here.

[uptheos]

Rajavej for sure.

Call 053 801 999 and ask for the English speaking liaison person and she will set it all up for you.

http://www.rajavejchiangmai.com/hospital/pricing/Rajavej%20Health%20Checkup%20Programs%202014.pdf

[eyecatcher]

If this is of any interest; my thread from last about my experience at Rajavej

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722850-rajavej-full-health-check-my-experience/

[jonwilly]

Yes get your health checked while in CM.

Not expensive and unlike say UK you can walk in to hospital and they will do you there and then.

I have a blood/urine check very 3 months, very good service from two of CM more respected Drs and the Ram hospital.

john

[TheFishman1]

I go to Ram ever year after the exams like a day or two later the Dr gives you a report on everything and explains all cost depends on what you get done package deals from 6500-7800 bht more or less

[Rob8891]

I used Sripath (Spelling??) last year. A modern, efficient building and quite well-priced...can't quote actual figures, but they have a menu for you to choose from. A full, detailed report at the end, both verbal and written. Highly recommended.

[arunsakda]

If this is of any interest; my thread from last about my experience at Rajavej

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722850-rajavej-full-health-check-my-experience/

These "Full Health Checks" are a subject of some controversy in medical circles.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a8f65560-c263-11dd-a350-000077b07658.html#axzz3X9CmGoXY

Are you normally resident in the UK? Do you have GP? If so I would recommend would sticking

with the NHS recommended checks and avoid unnecessary medical costs here unless you feel unwell.

[NancyL]

If this is of any interest; my thread from last about my experience at Rajavej

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722850-rajavej-full-health-check-my-experience/

These "Full Health Checks" are a subject of some controversy in medical circles.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a8f65560-c263-11dd-a350-000077b07658.html#axzz3X9CmGoXY

Are you normally resident in the UK? Do you have GP? If so I would recommend would sticking

with the NHS recommended checks and avoid unnecessary medical costs here unless you feel unwell.

Sorry, that article was from 2008 and anyone who isn't registered with the FT website isn't able to read it. If someone hasn't had a Full Health Check before then it's a good idea to have one. I'm surprised with how many British people haven't had a complete health screen ever and have had a lifetime of seeing a doctor only to have symptoms treated.

[MaeJoMTB]

I'm surprised with how many British people haven't had a complete health screen ever and have had a lifetime of seeing a doctor only to have symptoms treated.

It's Because many of us 'British' view it as a scam.

And as a previous poster said, the results seem highly questionable.

[Lizard2010]

If this is of any interest; my thread from last about my experience at Rajavej

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722850-rajavej-full-health-check-my-experience/

These "Full Health Checks" are a subject of some controversy in medical circles.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a8f65560-c263-11dd-a350-000077b07658.html#axzz3X9CmGoXY

Are you normally resident in the UK? Do you have GP? If so I would recommend would sticking

with the NHS recommended checks and avoid unnecessary medical costs here unless you feel unwell.

Sorry, that article was from 2008 and anyone who isn't registered with the FT website isn't able to read it. If someone hasn't had a Full Health Check before then it's a good idea to have one. I'm surprised with how many British people haven't had a complete health screen ever and have had a lifetime of seeing a doctor only to have symptoms treated.

In Australia they ask us to have certain check regularly.

I had a free medical check when i was about 50.

They found a problem with my Spine

I also have the regular mens Checks

As most men are too mancho to have them

Better to have them early to find any problems

Easy to correct early

If too late you have to face the ongoing problems

I will still have a yearly check. when i retire in Chiang Mai

But will have tested what i want to have checked

[arunsakda]

If this is of any interest; my thread from last about my experience at Rajavej

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722850-rajavej-full-health-check-my-experience/

These "Full Health Checks" are a subject of some controversy in medical circles.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a8f65560-c263-11dd-a350-000077b07658.html#axzz3X9CmGoXY

Are you normally resident in the UK? Do you have GP? If so I would recommend would sticking

with the NHS recommended checks and avoid unnecessary medical costs here unless you feel unwell.

Sorry, that article was from 2008 and anyone who isn't registered with the FT website isn't able to read it. If someone hasn't had a Full Health Check before then it's a good idea to have one. I'm surprised with how many British people haven't had a complete health screen ever and have had a lifetime of seeing a doctor only to have symptoms treated.

Sorry I posted the same link in the old thread eyecatcher quoted, where I also participated. 2008 was the year I got my unnecessary Executive Health Check at Bumrungrad.

The one where I was given a grave and wholly inaccurate diagnosis which led to 2 years of CT scans and thousands $USD in out-of-pocket expense, insurance hassles, and stress.

I'm not saying don't get a check-up or avoid doctors. Best thing is to develop a relationship with a GP and follow her advice.

[NancyL]

Any time you receive a grave diagnosis you should get a second opinion.

[hml367]

something to consider... http://www.informedhealthonline.org/prevention-are-regular-health-check-ups-worthwhile.2178.en.html?part=frueherkennung-ea-xhln-vlm6

I am not advocating one way or the other.... just something I came across

[NancyL]

What that article seems to be saying is that if someone is told they have a risk factor and then do nothing about it, is it really worth it to spend the money on a health screening? I'd agree -- probably not. But, if someone intends to act upon the data they're given, then it's worth it to have a heath screening.

I've seen too many situations where people don't have regular health screenings and the first that they seek treatment for a condition is when the symptoms get so bad that they can't ignore the condition any longer. Conditions that could have been treatable become fatal. Let's see -- diabetes that goes undetected until there's neurological damage to the legs and gangrene in the feet, prostate cancer that has advanced so far that the person can't pee any more, TB so bad that the person is spitting up blood. All within our Chiang Mai expat community And this is just within the past year. When asked "when was the last time you had a complete health screening" the answer is "never -- I've always been healthy" or "I don't like going to doctors" or something to that effect. These are all conditions that are treatable and could have been cured if caught early enough. These are all people who died of these conditions or the complications.

[mesquite]

If this is of any interest; my thread from last about my experience at Rajavej

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/722850-rajavej-full-health-check-my-experience/

These "Full Health Checks" are a subject of some controversy in medical circles.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a8f65560-c263-11dd-a350-000077b07658.html#axzz3X9CmGoXY

Are you normally resident in the UK? Do you have GP? If so I would recommend would sticking

with the NHS recommended checks and avoid unnecessary medical costs here unless you feel unwell.

Sorry, that article was from 2008 and anyone who isn't registered with the FT website isn't able to read it. If someone hasn't had a Full Health Check before then it's a good idea to have one. I'm surprised with how many British people haven't had a complete health screen ever and have had a lifetime of seeing a doctor only to have symptoms treated.

A lifetime of socialized medicine...

[alfieconn]

I'm surprised with how many British people haven't had a complete health screen ever and have had a lifetime of seeing a doctor only to have symptoms treated.

It's Because many of us 'British' view it as a scam.

And as a previous poster said, the results seem highly questionable.

Can you elaborate on why you think it is a scam ?

[MaeJoMTB]

I'm surprised with how many British people haven't had a complete health screen ever and have had a lifetime of seeing a doctor only to have symptoms treated.

It's Because many of us 'British' view it as a scam.

And as a previous poster said, the results seem highly questionable.

Can you elaborate on why you think it is a scam ?

When you are paying, the doctors seem a lot keener to hack and slash.

Added to the fact theory that 50% of cancers discovered early disappear on their own if untreated.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/health/27canc.html

Already had one doctor offer to remove some inner parts (a few years back) said no, and I'm still here.

Yeah, you could have all sorts of your parts whittled away in the interests of living longer, I prefer to remain unmutilated and take my chances.

I've already had my turn, no wish to extend beyond natural viability.

[NancyL]

MaeJoMTB, there is a big difference between "preferring to remain unmutilated and take my chances" vs. what's known as "watchful waiting" Your method implies you just ignore a problem and hope for the best. "Watchful waiting" is when your problem is identified, for example with a health screening, and you monitor that condition to see if the condition become worse. A good example is a high PSA reading. Prostate cancer is slow growing and many times the "cure" can be worse than doing nothing at all, especially in elderly men. But, "doing nothing" isn't he best option. "Watchful waiting" is. That would include checking to see if PSA readings increase and continuing to monitor the size of the prostate to see if it's growing.

I know two elderly men who decided to ignore the diagnosis of prostate cancer because they were elderly and they knew it was a slow-growing cancer. They "preferred to remain unmutilated and take their chances". What they didn't realize that once prostate cancer spreads, it goes into the bones, usually the hip and spine and becomes a very crippling, painful end-of-life that is a big burden to their caregivers. Better to have engaged in "watchful waiting" to have known when the prostate cancer was progressing to the point that treatment was a better option than doing nothing.

That article, incidentally doesn't bolster your argument at all. As it said "Of course, cancers do not routinely go away, and no one is suggesting that patients avoid treatment because of such occasional occurrences." If you actually read the article, it points out that sometimes cancers do disappear on their own, especially in the early stages and researchers would like to better understand that mechanism to be able to apply it to all cancers.

[searcher22]

A few must-read articles (with excerpts) for anyone considering yearly health checks (and who have no symptoms):

Some Medical Tests, Procedures Do More Harm Than Good

http://www.newsweek.com/some-medical-tests-procedures-do-more-harm-good-67291

“There are many areas of medicine where not testing, not imaging, and not treating actually result in better health outcomes”

"In fact, for many otherwise healthy people, tests often lead to more tests, which can lead to interventions based on a possible problem that may have gone away on its own or ultimately proved harmless."

" (Doctor) Nissen regularly counsels asymptomatic, low-risk patients against having cardiac CT, echocardiograms, and even treadmill stress tests; studies show they produce many false positives, leading to risky interventions."

****

Medical Checkups Fail to Reduce Death Rates

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/medical-checkups-fail-to-reduce-death-rates-1.1240350

"Dr. Gerry Brosky of the department of family medicine at Dalhousie University in Halifax said the annual

physical has fallen out of favour with most doctors."

****

Why I Won’t Get a Colonoscopy

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/2012/03/12/why-i-wont-get-a-colonoscopy/

“Screening the apparently healthy potentially saves a few lives (although the National Cancer Institute couldn’t find any evidence for this in its recent large studies of prostate and ovarian cancer screening). But it definitely drags many others into the system needlessly—into needless appointments, needless tests, needless drugs and needless operations (not to mention all the accompanying needless insurance forms). This process doesn’t promote health; it promotes disease. People suffer from more anxiety about their health, from drug side effects, from complications of surgery. A few die. And remember: these people felt fine when they entered the health care system.”

[MaeJoMTB]

^^

Good find

"Regular checkups aren't beneficial in reducing deaths overall or from cancer or heart disease, a large new review concludes. We think it's unlikely that health checks reduce mortality to a degree where it would be beneficial," said the study's lead researcher, Dr. Lasse Krogsboll of the Nordic Cochrane Centre in Copenhagen."

" men are 47 times more likely to get unnecessary, harmful treatments—biopsies, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy—as a result of receiving a positive PSA test than they are to have their lives extended, according to a major study."

“Invasive procedures may have fatal complications, while overdiagnosis—that is, the identification and treatment of tumors that otherwise would have caused no disease—may also result in death,” Penston stated. According to Penston, meta-analysis of four randomized trials involving 300,000 people found that tests for bowel cancer did not reduce overall mortality rates."

[NancyL]

Sigh.

These articles talk about invasive procedures. Not the sort of benign, routine screenings one receives with a 5000 baht health screening at one of the local hospitals. Can you really argue that someone shouldn't be checked for high blood pressure and diabetes on a regular basis? That they shouldn't be weighed and have their BMI calculated and told if they should lose some weight? Told if there is blood in their urine and an elevated white blood cell count? That they have an abnormal heart rhymn as evidenced by an EKG? I'll admit, they'll screen for cholesterol in a routine health screening and the interpretation of those results can be controversial, but still it's good to know where one stands.

No one is going to install a stent, or do a colonoscopy as part of a 5000 baht health screening at a Chiang Mai hospital.

The articles cited in no way serve as evidence that one should avoid a routine health screening. In fact, one pointed out the importance of having an on-going relationship with a doctor with an annual "check-in" with the doctor. In the absence of that, then one of the package health screenings can be a substitute.

Incidentally, my father did have an on-going relationship with a doctor who was monitoring his blood pressure and prescribing medication that kept it under control. Incredibly that same doctor never screened for much of anything else. Not until my father developed stabbing pains in his feet. Then he finally did a blood test for diabetes. Oops, turns out Dad had Type II diabetes. Like his blood pressure, the doctor was able to keep it under control with meds, diet and regular follow-up appointments. But by then the damage had already been done. Within 10 years my father lost his sight and developed dementia due to diabetes. He'd been seeing that doctor for 10 years as his "family physician" and never once had that doctor had done a routine blood test, EKG, chest X-ray or any of the tests that are part of 5000 baht health screening here in Chiang Mai.

[MaeJoMTB]

Sigh.

These articles talk about invasive procedures. Not the sort of benign, routine screenings one receives with a 5000 baht health screening at one of the local hospitals. Can you really argue that someone shouldn't be checked for high blood pressure and diabetes on a regular basis? That they shouldn't be weighed and have their BMI calculated and told if they should lose some weight? Told if there is blood in their urine and an elevated white blood cell count? That they have an abnormal heart rhymn as evidenced by an EKG? I'll admit, they'll screen for cholesterol in a routine health screening and the interpretation of those results can be controversial, but still it's good to know where one stands.

.............. and after the screening, comes the cutting and paying.

Not to mention,

Do you really need a doctor to weigh you to know if you need to lose some weight?

Looking in a mirror tells me enough.

[sappersrest]

Having had a health screen done here in Chiang Mai probably saved my life it was discovered I had extremely high blood pressure so high it was on the danger scale. So I

would say to every one especially those of us from the UK to get one done asap if you have not had one already.

[Loaded]

Having had a health screen done here in Chiang Mai probably saved my life it was discovered I had extremely high blood pressure so high it was on the danger scale. So I

would say to every one especially those of us from the UK to get one done asap if you have not had one already.

What were the numbers?

I have a small 2,500 baht measuring device at home. I've learned a lot about MY blood pressure. I've discovered that I have triggers that can make it shoot up for days. I've also discovered that many of the potential triggers regarded as responsible for raising blood pressure, don't affect me at all. I've discovered that a high reading in the evening is often followed by a normal reading the following morning. Exercise doesn't seem to affect it too much as I record similar readings before and after aerobic exercise.

When you visit a doctor, he takes one reading, perhaps every 12 months, and bases his/her diagnosis on this. If possible, monitor your body yourself as much as possible. A doctor has a few minutes with you and it's often difficult to explain your experience accurately. Obviously blood/urine checks need to be done at a lab, but it's not expensive/dangerous/inconvenient to get to know your own blood pressure.

[matta]

Having had a health screen done here in Chiang Mai they found cancer.