Strange experience at a well known Chiang Mai hospital

[NancyL]

Note that the question asked if you're in the throws of what you think is a heart attack or stroke -- where to go, esp in the wee hours. Suan Dok E/R.

Where do I personally go for most of my medical care? CM Ram, but not always. Sometimes Bangkok Hospital if they're running a nice special offer for something like a colonscopy or have a doc on staff that I want to see that is over age 60 and been pushed off the staff of CMU or CM Ram. Sometimes to a CMU professor at one of those storefront after hours clinics or even down to Bangkok to see someone at Bumrungrad if s/he is world renown and I want to do some shopping at a Bangkok mall and take in a movie that isn't coming to CM.

The message is that it you should do your research.

Frankly Julie, if I were having chest pains at 1 am, I'd be grabbing the first tuk-tuk to the Suan Dok E/R.

If it was a urinary tract infection.... well, that could wait til morning until the docs got into CM Ram.

Edited September 24, 2015 by NancyL

[uptoyoumyfriend]

had an emergency similarly scary(tia)went to suan dok at 2;30 am to find a responsive and well prepared team to deal with the situation,after being transferred to icu,watched all night, tested ,mri, catscan etc. and observed for a day went home with all clear for about 30 000.well worth the trouble.

[enufsaid]

Rapid heart beat is very dangerous, it causes the blood to pool & when it goes back to normal rhythm a clot can be caused. Been there done that. You need an ablation or something similar, I'd be heading to your country of origin for it, ASAP .

[balo]

I would actually prefer a government hospital over an expensive private one , often the same doctors work at both hospitals.

Yes the facilities does not look the same and I dont mind sharing a room with another patient , I do not need VIP treatment.

[Mapguy]

There are more hospitals in town than Chiang Mai Ram and Maharaj. It would be good to get reports on emergency care, especially late at night, for all of them. It is almost always best to follow the physician not the hospital for non-emergency care, but emergency care is an urgent matter.

[jko]

Julie - there are always good and bad reports about Chiang Mai Ram. Mostly good I would say, but there are some very questionable doctors working there - as many of us have experienced over the years.

This however is very serious. An emergency room at a major heart hospital in a big city with no cardiologist on duty is unpardonable. Being told to go to another hospital is unforgiveable.

Essential in my view that you send a written report to the hospital Directors giving full details, date, time etc. Make sure you also copy Dr Pattarapong Keelapang, who I believe heads up the Cardio section. They should be very keen to investigate this.

Ask for an explanation. Let us know if you receive one, together with an apology.

If there is silence, then something is very wrong, and your report should then go to the HQ of the Ramkhamhaeng Hospital Group in BKK.

Be well, Julie.

[SantiSuk]

You mean it won't be your first fulfilled encounter?

I didn't choose Arsenal as my team randomly Ups.

Just kidding ... or am I?

I don't diss anyone on their sexual prefs and don't care what anyone thinks mine might be *

Back to the football eh

*within the sphere of adult consensual

[sappersrest]

Lanna hospital on the super highway is fantastic, if you arrive with chest pains they pull out all the stops , went in as an emergency got the full works 4500 baht only to find out I had pulled a muscle not funny at the time, great service and patient care.

Saw a skin specialist and had a biopsy done results etc 4400 baht.All ok .

Does any one have a list of emergency nos to call fire police ambulance etc. I live in the Sanameng district of Sansi.

Many thanks

[northernjohn]

The only way you would get me back into Ram was if I had a life threatening accident on their front steps. 4 year ago I was struck by a car and suffered a broken clavicle. Wife took me to Ram. They did x-rays, then told me they would have to insert a screw, which they did. Except after they did that, I couldn't raise my right arm more than halfway. Went to Chiang Mai Orthopedic Hospital. They took x-rays, then asked: "Why did they put a screw in. It wasn't needed." They couldn't figure that out. Decided to go for 2nd opinion. Off to McCormic. Same scenario. Same question. "Why did they put a screw in. It wasn't needed." McCormic took the screw out that afternoon, and low and behold, I had full range of motion in my arm again.

On top of that, the morning after Ram put the screw in, I suffered a pinched sciatic nerve in my right leg. Absolutely one of the most painful things I've ever experienced in my life. The doctors there had NO CLUE, and said I was suffering from "muscle cramps". Again, it took a neurologist from McCormic to figure out what was wrong, and how to treat it.

Ram? They can ram it up their backsides as far as I'm concerned.

I had an X ray taken at the Ram the second time I was here while I was getting a regular physical. Just wanted to check and see how the bone was holding up. The doctor wanted to operate right away even though I explained that the two doctors back home had told me as long as I could take the pain let it go. about 3 years ago I had occasion to see Dr. Sudhee for several other minor things I asked him about the one bone I had checked earlier. It had a screw in it. He also said leave it alone if I can get along with it. The point is both were in the Ram. It is not the hospital it is the doctor.

I have a hard time understanding why they do not have a doctor in the ER 24 hours a day. A heart specialist I have no problem with them NOT having one on duty 24 hours a day.

A friend of mine just completed a whole pile of tests at the Bangkok hospital He went in for a few hours three days in a row. He said every thing was wonderful brand new and shiny but the floor was not moped all that good.

I will be seeing my doctor next week I am going to make it a point to ask her opinion on where or who to see or go to. She has no problem recommending specialists when needed. Just be good information to have at are age.

Just reading through this with no other information I would go to suan dok in an emergency.

Edited September 24, 2015 by northernjohn

[uptheos]

Lanna hospital on the super highway is fantastic, if you arrive with chest pains they pull out all the stops , went in as an emergency got the full works 4500 baht only to find out I had pulled a muscle not funny at the time, great service and patient care.

Saw a skin specialist and had a biopsy done results etc 4400 baht.All ok .

Does any one have a list of emergency nos to call fire police ambulance etc. I live in the Sanameng district of Sansi.

Many thanks

Just curious why you had a biopsy done by a skin specialist for a pulled muscle?

What did they biopsy??

[Tywais]

Lanna hospital on the super highway is fantastic, if you arrive with chest pains they pull out all the stops , went in as an emergency got the full works 4500 baht only to find out I had pulled a muscle not funny at the time, great service and patient care.

Saw a skin specialist and had a biopsy done results etc 4400 baht.All ok .

Does any one have a list of emergency nos to call fire police ambulance etc. I live in the Sanameng district of Sansi.

Many thanks

Just curious why you had a biopsy done by a skin specialist for a pulled muscle?

What did they biopsy??

Perhaps a re-read of the post is in order. He was giving costs at Lanna for two different medical issues. At least that is how I read it.

[sappersrest]

The biopsy was for a suspect BCC on my leg , sorry should have made it clearer , it was a subsequent visit 6 months later .

[uptheos]

Lanna hospital on the super highway is fantastic, if you arrive with chest pains they pull out all the stops , went in as an emergency got the full works 4500 baht only to find out I had pulled a muscle not funny at the time, great service and patient care.

Saw a skin specialist and had a biopsy done results etc 4400 baht.All ok .

Does any one have a list of emergency nos to call fire police ambulance etc. I live in the Sanameng district of Sansi.

Many thanks

Just curious why you had a biopsy done by a skin specialist for a pulled muscle?

What did they biopsy??

Perhaps a re-read of the post is in order. He was giving costs at Lanna for two different medical issues. At least that is how I read it.

Yes I can see that now Tywais.

I suppose I would have got it, if it said "on another occasion I saw a skin specialist"

Anyway all's well that ends well

[circusman]

Cannot offer advice, but best wishes for your health.

Well that certainly adds to the subject.

[elgenon]

I found RAM excellent in case of an emergency. An operation was performed that night - midnight?

Not cheap - DAMN EXPENSIVE. But necessary.

The orthopedic surgeon was employed at a government hospital during the day.

What is the name of THAT hospital. can falangs go?

[elgenon]

Glad you're OK Julie

Just out of curiosity for all readers.

If you thought you were suffering a Heart Attack or Stroke, where would you want to be taken immediately and why?

If you think you're suffering a heart attack or stroke and it's at all convenient, the best place to go would be the emergency room at University Hospital on Suthep Rd -- known as Suan Dok Hospital or Maharaj Hospital. They have doctors in the E/R 24/7 -- at least resident doctors and they are very good at responding to life-threatening emergencies. They can get higher level doctors in quickly and they have the appropriate equipment at the ready.

Once you're stabilized, you can be admitted to Sripat Hospital, the private hospital that is part of the University Hospital complex or to Suan Dok hospital, the economically priced government hospital. The same emergency room serves both hospitals.

Other hospitals in the area may not have the appropriate equipment, personnel or drugs at hand to help you and minutes count when you're having a Heart Attack or Stroke.

Nancy

What emergency room and hospital would you recommend in BKK?

[fang37]

I found RAM excellent in case of an emergency. An operation was performed that night - midnight?

Not cheap - DAMN EXPENSIVE. But necessary.

The orthopedic surgeon was employed at a government hospital during the day.

What is the name of THAT hospital. can falangs go?

Firstly, 3 character references required. Bad references preferred.

Bring TOO much $$$. The more the better - the more you bring, the more they bill you.

Complimentary bed pans!

An added bonus - ol' farts get a discount.

[fredge45]

Oh my Buddha,

and I have an op booked at RAM on 27th.

Mind you they have done 4 others well, for me in the past.

Trust Dr Benikt and his steady knife, he's only chopping my parts most private.

john

Best of luck with him - you will be needing the luck or more surgeries after this one!

[slapout]

As has been mentioned the hospitals and doctors treating you can almost seem like a crap shoot here in CM. I have used personally or have paid for / expierenced the birth of 2 children as well as treatment of childhood illness at most of the hospital mentioned over the past 25 years.

I was told i had lung cancer and needed surgery post hast by a doctor at one private mentioned and 2 other hospitals refuted this correctly/ 15 year later and still functioning as expected. You go in the hospital feeling poorly, your sent to first avaliable doctor who is avaliable, little matching of your symtons vs doctor expertise come into play. If things work you have rolled a 7 or 11, if not you crap out, just hope they find a doctor who recongizes what ails you and starts effective treatment before your bank roll runs out.

There are several very good GP''s and speciality doctors in CM but I do not feel any of the many hospitals are ready to become hubs or even be mentioneded for medical treatment for the population of Thailand , much less the rest of the world.

[uptheos]

Glad you're OK Julie

Just out of curiosity for all readers.

If you thought you were suffering a Heart Attack or Stroke, where would you want to be taken immediately and why?

If you think you're suffering a heart attack or stroke and it's at all convenient, the best place to go would be the emergency room at University Hospital on Suthep Rd -- known as Suan Dok Hospital or Maharaj Hospital. They have doctors in the E/R 24/7 -- at least resident doctors and they are very good at responding to life-threatening emergencies. They can get higher level doctors in quickly and they have the appropriate equipment at the ready.

Once you're stabilized, you can be admitted to Sripat Hospital, the private hospital that is part of the University Hospital complex or to Suan Dok hospital, the economically priced government hospital. The same emergency room serves both hospitals.

Other hospitals in the area may not have the appropriate equipment, personnel or drugs at hand to help you and minutes count when you're having a Heart Attack or Stroke.

Nancy

What emergency room and hospital would you recommend in BKK?

Nancy might well know somewhere or have a preference.

For Bangkok ask moderator Sheryl, she's a wealth of information about Bangkok.

[LarryBird]

I think what a lot of people need to realize is that (to my understanding, is) that a lot of these doctors rotate around. So, there was might have been a cardiologist on shift, he just might not have been at your hospital. So, the play might to be to find out where the cardiologist is at that moment.

Glad you are ok.

[uptheos]

Be nice if the emergency ambulance crew, knew if there is a cardiologist where they are taking a person to.

[balo]

A lot of foreigners think about Thailand as one of the best countries in the world when it comes to find the best hospitals and doctors , but really after a few years here I find that just not to be true.

Not that I had a lot of problems myself (exept testis cancer ) but I know about others who spent a fortune on doctors in private hospitals and did not get cured here but had to go back to their home country to get a proper diagnosis.

Unless the doctors have been trained in Europe or the US you can't really trust them . The hospital may look nice , the nurses are smiling to you all the time because you're in a fancy hospital.

My story about testis cancer is well known, some years ago , one of the best private hospitals in Bangkok could not help me , just gave me some pills and suggested that I had some sort of infection in my left testicle. I took the painkillers and antibiotics and I should be fine in a copule of weeks according to the famous doctor.

But I was not , fortunately I had to travel back to my home country for some family business a few weeks later and went to the urologist. The first thing he did was to use ultrasound and within a minute he discovered a lump there that looked suspicious.

Within 1 week I was admitted to the cancer hospital and they removed my testicle . It was only stage 1 for me so still lucky they catched it early.

If I had chosen to stay in Bangkok I hate to think about the outcome for me. So no, I do not trust Thai doctors.

Edited September 25, 2015 by balo

[Awk]

A lot of foreigners think about Thailand as one of the best countries in the world when it comes to find the best hospitals and doctors , but really after a few years here I find that just not to be true.

Not that I had a lot of problems myself (exept testis cancer ) but I know about others who spent a fortune on doctors in private hospitals and did not get cured here but had to go back to their home country to get a proper diagnosis.

Unless the doctors have been trained in Europe or the US you can't really trust them . The hospital may look nice , the nurses are smiling to you all the time because you're in a fancy hospital.

My story about testis cancer is well known, some years ago , one of the best private hospitals in Bangkok could not help me , just gave me some pills and suggested that I had some sort of infection in my left testicle. I took the painkillers and antibiotics and I should be fine in a copule of weeks according to the famous doctor.

But I was not , fortunately I had to travel back to my home country for some family business a few weeks later and went to the urologist. The first thing he did was to use ultrasound and within a minute he discovered a lump there that looked suspicious.

Within 1 week I was admitted to the cancer hospital and they removed my testicle . It was only stage 1 for me so still lucky they catched it early.

If I had chosen to stay in Bangkok I hate to think about the outcome for me. So no, I do not trust Thai doctors.

I had a similar experience, though fortunately not with anything as serious as cancer. In my case, two doctors in my western country told me that my problem, caused by an accident at gym, was minor and would heal up by itself, though that type of accident could take up to a year to heal fully.

One and a half years later, diagnosed quite different by a specialist here in Chiang Mai, with subsequent necessary surgery performed. Diagnosis was also confirmed at my western country later, where I due to a combination of practical and economical reasons had the surgery done.

So, I do not trust doctors. I think one must always get at least a second opinion (and third or fourth, depending on how serious it is), as well as read up on what one can find/understand about the subject one self. Unfortunately, I think any country has it's share of doctors who should have flunked, but for whatever reason, got to graduate.

[oli123]

Had good experience at MCormick (non emergency, never been there in a real emergency) - I guess for everywhere depends on which doctors are working/on duty though

In an emergency though I was taken to a govt hospital near (I think) south gate (the nearest hospital at the time)

They were supprisingly good and quick in the emergency situatio. n, and v cheap although on follow up (non emergency) visits long waits

Edited September 25, 2015 by oli123

[WinnieTheKhwai]

This would not be a situation of name and shame, but could be a life threatening instance. I think you should mention the name of the hospital. It just may save someones life. If your facts are all as stated, then name the hospital. i wouldn't want to go to an emergency room that was not staffed.

Chiang Mai Ram.

Honestly.

[northernjohn]

This would not be a situation of name and shame, but could be a life threatening instance. I think you should mention the name of the hospital. It just may save someones life. If your facts are all as stated, then name the hospital. i wouldn't want to go to an emergency room that was not staffed.

Chiang Mai Ram.

Honestly.

Why do so many foreigners assume that if a hospital is expensive it is the best. They are no better than the attending physicians.

[oli123]

the hospital I assume op is talking about (I think its clear to most expats in Chiang mai) I have had a couple of times it was fine and then a time where I did not had a good experience with, and felt very overcharged, although never been there in an emergency

Edited September 25, 2015 by oli123

[SantiSuk]

I had a similar experience, though fortunately not with anything as serious as cancer. In my case, two doctors in my western country told me that my problem, caused by an accident at gym, was minor and would heal up by itself, though that type of accident could take up to a year to heal fully.

One and a half years later, diagnosed quite different by a specialist here in Chiang Mai, with subsequent necessary surgery performed. Diagnosis was also confirmed at my western country later, where I due to a combination of practical and economical reasons had the surgery done.

So, I do not trust doctors. I think one must always get at least a second opinion (and third or fourth, depending on how serious it is), as well as read up on what one can find/understand about the subject one self. Unfortunately, I think any country has it's share of doctors who should have flunked, but for whatever reason, got to graduate.

Ditto: UK pulmonologist told me I had early stage lung cancer and wanted to take out half a lung. He repeated that diagnosis after CT scan and then after PET scan. 'Yes, you can have a biopsy, but I am confident in my diagnosis' 10 days later post-biopsy. 'I admit I was wrong. Actually he said "I'm a c**t - I was wrong" and looked ashen-faced and added that his colleague surgeon had told him that he would never have done the surgery without ordering a biopsy first.

Have had first rate and dangerous pulmonologists in both Thailand and England.

[chiang mai]

There's typically only a single doctor on duty overnight at RAM and that for the emergency dept AND the in patients, specialists are however on call although typically the Provincial Hospital (right around the corner) is the first escalation point - it's likely that the ER doctor that night was called elsewhere in the hospital. I don't know of any hospital in Chiang Mai that has a cardiologist on duty, 24 hours a day.