Very disappointed with the Thai "specialists"

[grumpyoldman]

I've been very happy with medical in Thailand. Compared to the mess that is the U.S., here is a nice fresh breeze.

I have a couple of local doctors for the small stuff, one guy Dr. Chusak in Kata Beach actually for a local doctor is really fantastic. Skin specialist at the local International hospital great, hernia surgery a few years back at another big international hospital a snap, glad I had it done. Modern procedure too, laparoscopic. Kidney stones, they were right on it when I thought I was having some kind of inner bursting of an organ

Did have one bad diagnosis in all the good. Dr. seemed a little "surgery aggressive". Had some nerves getting pinched in C3-C4 of my neck causing numbness (really bad actually) in my arm. two fingers numb for about half a year, really had to force my arm when swinging during sports. Dr. did MRI, says "we need to operate soon, through the front of your neck fuse the disks. make appointment today urgent".

I passed on that for physical rehabilitation and traction, it went away. Created space that took the pinch off the nerves, strengthened muscles around.

Other than that one circumstance I'd say I'm 99% completely happy with health care in Thailand.

[CaptHaddock]

" Costs are easily comparable as is the health of the population. " - and there your argument falls down....

i'm talking about the prmise that if there are problems tyhat look similar in other healthcare systems then people argue that the problems in Thailand are in common with the rest of the wworld - when in reality they are quite individual for the reasons I've cited.

"but I have never encountered actual data" - precisely one of the problems I've referred to...there is no real monitoring of healthcare in Thailand

..and why oh why do you keep referring to the US system as if it is either a yardstick or some mitigation for the Thai system?

as for "cost & efficiency - well quite apart from actually defining criteria like these, they are just a couple from a multiple of criteria you could choose to justify a healthcare system, but why pick those as if they are the be-all and end-all? I'd go for quality, equitability and primary care myself....

So, your claim is what exactly? That the Thai healthcare system is sui generis with problems that cannot be compared to other countries and which can only be due to the unique and uniquely deplorable aspects of the Thai social system? If so, what are these unique problems? Misdiagnosis like the OP compains of? Not unique, wrong diagnoses abound in the US as I pointed out. The fee-for-services model instead of pay-for-performance? Not unique either, the US has the same system resulting in the same preponderance of specialists. The hierarchical nature of society and its presumed inhibition on the supervision of doctors leading to substandard treatment? There is no evidence that treatment in Thailand is below standards of OECD countries. Even if that were true, it would be hard to believe that social hierarchy would explain it since other hierarchical societies like Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore have among the best healthcare in the world.

So, you have not made the case at all that Thai healthcare has unique problems that require explanation. You haven't even bothered to try as far as I can see since to you it's all self-evident But you are nevertheless certain that the cause of these nebulous "problems" lie in that old catch-all, the unconscionable Thai national character.

Am I being unfair? If so, please state succinctly what your claim is and what your evidence for it is in preference to unsubstantiated opinion.

[impulse]

I have both received and witnessed excellent health care being delivered here. It does need some effort put into selection of a doctor, though. Just taking "pot luck" on whomever a hospital sends you to (likely to be the least busy person of that specialty...which is often not a good sign!) is never a good idea.

The really good doctors I have observed here practice medicine exactly as a really good doctor in any country would. There is nothing in the "system" that prevents them from doing so.

So, ratcheting down the rhetoric a little, what doctor/hospital would you recommend for the OP's situation (that sounds a lot like my own journey and frustrations trying to get a diagnosis while being passed from specialist to specialist in a famous BKK hospital).

MRI, Xrays, passed off to a 1) cardiologist, 2) neurologist, 3) GP ("family doctor?"), 4) internist, 5) ENT, then I drew the line at being passed off yet again to an allergist when I ran out of patience and time. And not a one of them took blood, sputum, stool or urine samples.

My heart goes out the the OP because I've experienced the same thing.

Edited December 26, 2015 by impulse

[Sheryl]

Time to ratchet this down. Please keep it civil.

[Sheryl]

I have both received and witnessed excellent health care being delivered here. It does need some effort put into selection of a doctor, though. Just taking "pot luck" on whomever a hospital sends you to (likely to be the least busy person of that specialty...which is often not a good sign!) is never a good idea.

The really good doctors I have observed here practice medicine exactly as a really good doctor in any country would. There is nothing in the "system" that prevents them from doing so.

So, ratcheting down the rhetoric a little, what doctor/hospital would you recommend for the OP's situation (that sounds a lot like my own journey and frustrations trying to get a diagnosis while being passed from specialist to specialist in a famous BKK hospital).

MRI, Xrays, passed off to a 1) cardiologist, 2) neurologist, 3) GP ("family doctor?"), 4) internist, 5) ENT, then I drew the line at being passed off yet again to an allergist when I ran out of patience and time. And not a one of them took blood, sputum, stool or urine samples.

My heart goes out the the OP because I've experienced the same thing.

I am unable to determine what the OP's medical situation is, I am not even sure if the post is describing events in the same illness episode or in several different ones. The post does not seem framed to seek medical advice, I think he just wanted to vent a bit.

As for you, if you want advice then please post the pertinent details.

[impulse]

I have both received and witnessed excellent health care being delivered here. It does need some effort put into selection of a doctor, though. Just taking "pot luck" on whomever a hospital sends you to (likely to be the least busy person of that specialty...which is often not a good sign!) is never a good idea.

The really good doctors I have observed here practice medicine exactly as a really good doctor in any country would. There is nothing in the "system" that prevents them from doing so.

So, ratcheting down the rhetoric a little, what doctor/hospital would you recommend for the OP's situation (that sounds a lot like my own journey and frustrations trying to get a diagnosis while being passed from specialist to specialist in a famous BKK hospital).

MRI, Xrays, passed off to a 1) cardiologist, 2) neurologist, 3) GP ("family doctor?"), 4) internist, 5) ENT, then I drew the line at being passed off yet again to an allergist when I ran out of patience and time. And not a one of them took blood, sputum, stool or urine samples.

My heart goes out the the OP because I've experienced the same thing.

I am unable to determine what the OP's medical situation is, I am not even sure if the post is describing events in the same illness episode or in several different ones. The post does not seem framed to seek medical advice, I think he just wanted to vent a bit.

As for you, if you want advice then please post the pertinent details.

That's my issue with what happens here on TVF health forum.

I'm not looking for any kind of diagnosis over the interweb based on my perception of the details. I'm looking for a recommendation of a good doctor to guide the process, starting out with "I started suffering of dizziness" as in the OP.

Beyond that quoted statement, I'd prefer to let the recommended doctor handle (or at least guide me through) the rest.

I don't want to make decisions based on anecdotes, or what happened to a guy 30 years my senior or 50 pounds heavier or a lifelong smoker, or anyone else really. I just want to get pointed to a competent doctor to go to when "I start suffering of dizziness", instead of taking my chances with random luck of the draw. That random luck thing hasn't worked out so well.

[Sheryl]

I can't suggest a doctor without knowing what the problem is. The request for details is for that purpose. And suggest you put it in a sperate thread to avoid confusion.

[Sheryl]

I have not made an "argument" about the OP's condition. I responded to a poster asking me -- specifically, me -- what doctor or hospital I would recommend.

And I think it is quite clear that doing this was not Moderation.

[derator01]

Please stick to the topic and abide by forum rules:

Posting Content & General Conduct

7) You will respect fellow members and post in a civil manner. No personal attacks, hateful or insulting towards other members, (flaming) Stalking of members on either the forum or via PM will not be allowed.

8) You will not post disruptive or inflammatory messages, vulgarities, obscenities or profanities.

[impulse]

..and who or what set of criteria do you think you will find on TV that will be well informed enough to recommend a "good" doctor?

Fair question and IMO a big issue with TVF health forums. I'd hope to hear about personal experiences with doctors, realizing that I may not get to hear about the bad ones due to Thai defamation laws. Other than morbid curiosity, I don't really think an interweb diagnosis is very helpful, nor a de-facto prescription to rush on down to the Drug Store and buy some OTC pill for what some poster is convinced I'm afflicted by. And though I'm an admitted wingnut conspiracy theory fan when it comes to Big Pharma and the medical machine, I don't think the time and place to discuss them is a thread where someone comes earnestly looking for help.

There's a huge difference between 1) commenting about a favorable experience with a doctor or a hospital, and 2) suggesting someone take (for example) Prozac "because that's what worked for me" when I felt the same way.

The former is good and actionable information. The latter is irresponsible and borders on dangerous.

I see a tiny smidgen of the good information wedged in between all the irresponsible and the dangerous here on TVF health forums. I wish there was more information instead about the doctors that people have come to trust- based on their personal experiences. Then I'll let the doctor suggest what course to take.

Sadly, its seems like I need to present the diagnosis to get a recommendation for a doctor to do the diagnosis.

[Sheryl]

..and who or what set of criteria do you think you will find on TV that will be well informed enough to recommend a "good" doctor?

Fair question and IMO a big issue with TVF health forums. I'd hope to hear about personal experiences with doctors, realizing that I may not get to hear about the bad ones due to Thai defamation laws. Other than morbid curiosity, I don't really think an interweb diagnosis is very helpful, nor a de-facto prescription to rush on down to the Drug Store and buy some OTC pill for what some poster is convinced I'm afflicted by. And though I'm an admitted wingnut conspiracy theory fan when it comes to Big Pharma and the medical machine, I don't think the time and place to discuss them is a thread where someone comes earnestly looking for help.

There's a huge difference between 1) commenting about a favorable experience with a doctor or a hospital, and 2) suggesting someone take (for example) Prozac "because that's what worked for me" when I felt the same way.

The former is good and actionable information. The latter is irresponsible and borders on dangerous.

I see a tiny smidgen of the good information wedged in between all the irresponsible and the dangerous here on TVF health forums. I wish there was more information instead about the doctors that people have come to trust- based on their personal experiences. Then I'll let the doctor suggest what course to take.

Sadly, its seems like I need to present the diagnosis to get a recommendation for a doctor to do the diagnosis.

No, but you do need to provide enough information about the problem to allow an understanding of the type of specialist needed and skill set/clinical focus that would be most likely to meet your needs.

There is, by the way, only one Health Forum on TV. And recommendations for specific doctors is a lot of what it contains.

[canthai55]

Don't let the - what's word - obstreperous posters get you down Sheryl. Your advice on this Forum is appreciated by All - or should I say 'Most' ! Thank you !

[grumpyoldman]

OP, I have recently been dealing with some inner ear issues which I have now decided has been a virus in my ear causing some vestibular problems thus leading to a bit of dizziness.

How old are you and do you have other problems, because according to this site:

http://vestibular.org/labyrinthitis-and-vestibular-neuritis

http://vestibular.org/node/10

Age related matters can combine to cause what you describe.

Look how complex, from the site:

"the combined effects may be enough to cause a serious problem with balance. For example, an elderly individual with arthritis in the ankle joints and a mild degeneration in vestibular function may not be able to balance adequately until under-going an operation to remove cataracts.

Check the info at site, some good stuff there.

Edited December 27, 2015 by grumpyoldman

[Issangeorge]

THaidunkankk - No your assessment is incorrect and gives a misleading image. Doctors in Thailand after training are only obliged to work in government hospitals for a couple of years or so. Most then end up being "specialists" and have their own private clinics which take up most of their time. They seldom ever work in residency at a hospital they travel about from one to another depending on fees offered. They also frequently transfer patients who can pay to their private practices.

None of this constitutes a serious contribution to government healthcare.

I live in the north east, so don't know what it is like in Bangkok, but in the North East to see a specialist at a private hospital, you have to go in the evenings or weekends. The reason is because during regular hours they are at the government hospital. It was pretty much the same when I lived on Samui. Also have you ever stoped to think, that perhaps the best doctors, the ones that entered the profession to really help people and not because of the all mighty dollar, might prefer to work in government hospitals?

[Issangeorge]

I've been very happy with medical in Thailand. Compared to the mess that is the U.S., here is a nice fresh breeze.

I have a couple of local doctors for the small stuff, one guy Dr. Chusak in Kata Beach actually for a local doctor is really fantastic. Skin specialist at the local International hospital great, hernia surgery a few years back at another big international hospital a snap, glad I had it done. Modern procedure too, laparoscopic. Kidney stones, they were right on it when I thought I was having some kind of inner bursting of an organ

Did have one bad diagnosis in all the good. Dr. seemed a little "surgery aggressive". Had some nerves getting pinched in C3-C4 of my neck causing numbness (really bad actually) in my arm. two fingers numb for about half a year, really had to force my arm when swinging during sports. Dr. did MRI, says "we need to operate soon, through the front of your neck fuse the disks. make appointment today urgent".

I passed on that for physical rehabilitation and traction, it went away. Created space that took the pinch off the nerves, strengthened muscles around.

Other than that one circumstance I'd say I'm 99% completely happy with health care in Thailand.

Back problems are the same the world over, the first thing they want to do is operate. I don't think I would call that a misdiagnosed, just a treatment type the doctor is mist comfortable with. In this day and age it is up to us to examine all treatment types and pick what we are most comfortable with.

[thaiduncankk]

THaidunkankk - No your assessment is incorrect and gives a misleading image. Doctors in Thailand after training are only obliged to work in government hospitals for a couple of years or so. Most then end up being "specialists" and have their own private clinics which take up most of their time. They seldom ever work in residency at a hospital they travel about from one to another depending on fees offered. They also frequently transfer patients who can pay to their private practices.

None of this constitutes a serious contribution to government healthcare.

I live in the north east, so don't know what it is like in Bangkok, but in the North East to see a specialist at a private hospital, you have to go in the evenings or weekends. The reason is because during regular hours they are at the government hospital. It was pretty much the same when I lived on Samui. Also have you ever stoped to think, that perhaps the best doctors, the ones that entered the profession to really help people and not because of the all mighty dollar, might prefer to work in government hospitals?

Not been to a private hospital for years, but in the Government hospital the same goes for the nurses.

Nothing is ever a problem for them, genuine, nice caring people, dedicated to their profession.

[cumgranosalum]

THaidunkankk - No your assessment is incorrect and gives a misleading image. Doctors in Thailand after training are only obliged to work in government hospitals for a couple of years or so. Most then end up being "specialists" and have their own private clinics which take up most of their time. They seldom ever work in residency at a hospital they travel about from one to another depending on fees offered. They also frequently transfer patients who can pay to their private practices.

None of this constitutes a serious contribution to government healthcare.

I live in the north east, so don't know what it is like in Bangkok, but in the North East to see a specialist at a private hospital, you have to go in the evenings or weekends. The reason is because during regular hours they are at the government hospital. It was pretty much the same when I lived on Samui. Also have you ever stoped to think, that perhaps the best doctors, the ones that entered the profession to really help people and not because of the all mighty dollar, might prefer to work in government hospitals?

As I said your perception of the situation is incorrect, furthermore the plural of anecdote is not data.

[Sheryl]

Actually his perception is completely cprrect and backed by data.

In 2010:

26,244 doctors total

21,550 doctors employed in the public sector (82.1% - of course many of these also have an after hours private practice)

Dentists on the other hand are only 47.4% employed in public sector

http://www.searo.who.int/entity/human_resources/data/tha_profile.pdf

[cumgranosalum]

I’m very surprised that Sheryl feels the single table she posted adds any weight to her stance in the discussion

She has already dismissed the concept of “system” as having any significance in healthcare - which to my mind is quite absurd and now we see figures that if taken in context contradict her own argument......her interpretation of “data” appears highly subjective and ignores most of the actual reality of the situation as presented in the data which seems to to have been an attempt at “cherry picking”.....

The article she chose to quote is addressing a central aspect, or rather symptom, of the very problem I’m referring; i.e. the massive imbalance of doctor/people ratios in the provinces compared to centres like Bangkok...and the reasons for this....

The 2 main reasons being...

1 - the insufficient numbers of practitioners training and entering the system and ...

2 - “INTERNAL BRAIN DRAIN” - the constant stream of doctors (and other health workers) lost to the more profitable and better paid private sector.

The very figures Sheryl supplies show that an alarming 20% of the already insufficient total of doctors in Thailand have nothing to do with public healthcare.

Dr Wibulpolprasert is a leading healthcare advisor for both WHO and Thai government. He is referenced in the article cited by Sheryl: K. Wibulpolprasert points out that after medical school, most doctors have to work in a provincial hospital for at least a couple of years but once that's done, they tend to head for the private sector.......

"And this is the so-called river of no return," he says. "They never go back."

It also seems that Sheryl seriously misjudges how much the remaining practitioners contribute to public healthcare in relation to their own private practices. Public sector doctors are allowed to conduct private practice outside office hours to earn extra-income either through (solo or multiple) private clinics or part time work in private hospitals. In reality, most doctors in Thailand that work in hospitals do not actually do so full-time as Thai surgeons and physicians have different working schedules at different hospitals. (This is not not made clear in those figures)

In fact their private work often takes priority over their government work.

Doctors in Thailand tend to be "itinerant". They do NOT work in just one hospital but several - BTW, this leads to inconsistencies in treatment (often over a phone or by another doctor). I think many expat patients see a doctor a couple of times and just assume he works only at that hospital, whereas they are just making appointments to coincide with his/her visits.

Since the 1990s, there has been a significant shift of qualified trained doctors from the public to private sector, as a result of the private hospital industry boom which stimulated great demand for specialists, nurses, pharmacists and others. This has accelerated exponentially with the contemporaneous burgeoning of the health tourism industry. E.g. Doctors are attracted by the high earnings and less stressful working conditions.

Doctors in private hospitals earn from professional fees for services rendered to patients, who are mostly in the higher socio-economic band; these are for example outpatient consultations, inpatient visits and surgical fees. Hospitals deduct part of the physicians’ fees (10-20%). Doctors in public hospitals, however, are salary paid. This salary depends totally on years of employment, and never reflects real workload assigned.

It also seems that most posters are unaware of the massive regional variations in practitioner patient ratios around the country with some rural regions having less than 1/10th representation than Bangkok. The discrepancies between the regions and Bangkok further reflect the effects of private healthcare.. doctors and other healthcare practitioners simply don’t want to work for a government salary when they can work in Bangkok and earn 5 or 10 times that in privates care institutions...most opportunities for which are mostly concentrated in Bangkok.

Private hospitals offer salaries and packages that are way beyond government salaries and thus attract the best doctors to leave government work for good after their obligatory 3 years stints.

“In Bangkok there is one doctor for every 850 people, while in the country’s rural northeast provinces there is just one doctor for every 5,308 people.” - Rajata Rajatanavin, Minister of Public Health,

In general Thailand lacks doctors in all areas, but this is exacerbated by the incentives to work in private practice.

In the last 20 years the percentage of doctors f/t in private care has doubled to 20%. Of doctors left working in government hospitals between 70 and 80% have private work, which in turn can account for up to 50% of their work (and most of their income).

In short the SYSTEM does not have a satisfactory primary healthcare service, it lacks Doctors and other staff, has huge discrepancies in Doctor/people ratios and in ALL areas lacks sufficient numbers of trained staff....so the result is that your chances of meeting a suitable “specialist” are in fact a lottery with unacceptably low odds.

Edited January 9, 2016 by cumgranosalum

[FWIW]

Read this thread a couple of times, and I seem to be missing something. OP has a doc at mission hospital that is apparently up to speed.

Why is that Dr not providing referrals to colleagues that he can vouch for or is confident in?

Has that Dr provided copies of the medical records for OP to pass to other docs?

At the moment OP seems to be just hospital jumping with little direction.

[cumgranosalum]

Read this thread a couple of times, and I seem to be missing something. OP has a doc at mission hospital that is apparently up to speed.

Why is that Dr not providing referrals to colleagues that he can vouch for or is confident in?

Has that Dr provided copies of the medical records for OP to pass to other docs?

At the moment OP seems to be just hospital jumping with little direction.

One of the nice things about being treated "at home" is that your medical records can follow you around...for a lifetime. Just getting one hospital here to pass on information to another is a majorly hit and miss affair. Even if the description of your "current" treatment follows you, there is no guarantee that the first hospital got it right or the second will even read or understand it.

Humans are not like machines with universal functions, it is difficult to overstate the importance of your personal medical history and how it can help in getting an effective treatment for anything.....a few questions about congenital disorders or allergies is no substitute.

Edited January 9, 2016 by cumgranosalum

[antoniuni]

They have good doctors here, it sounds that you have already made up your problem, then it can be difficult for doctors to diagnose you. It's probably safer to let the professional diagnose your problem.

Myran and Michael8511: I have photos, CD-s and a paper written on it "mild mucoperiosteal thickening of the bilateral and right frontal sinuses is detected", written by the Prachachuen MRI Center! NOBODY was seeing the photos and few were reading the findings of the MRI Center!

[antoniuni]

I had surgery 30 years ago, which left me with bone ridges blocking proper drainage of my sinuses. I now develop sinus infections frequently....the kind that never drain. This is further complicated by allergic reactions to dust, pollen and certain fauna. I love flower gardens, and blooming mountainside resorts....but the past two trips left me totally disabled. Side effects (besides the obvious congestion, coughing, sneezing...etc) are lethargy, joint pain, disorientation (not quite dizziness), fever and chills. Add to this, sleep apnea. I feel like I am suffocating when I lay down...and must sleep in a reclining chair during these episodes.

Bottom line.....sinus infection brings many of the symptoms you have concerns about...for myself. I am not sure about your case.

A couple of weeks I found part of this in Internet:

"Duncavage says the researchers concluded that if patients had symptoms of fatigue, sleep disturbance, nasal discharge, nasal blockage, or a decreased sense of smell, they would likely have a sinus infection.

An isolated headache and facial pain or pressure were less reliable predictors of a sinus infection.

Tradition has been that the diagnosis of rhino-sinusitis or sinus infection has been based on the patient’s history and a physical exam. Toothaches and a poor response to decongestants also have been considered predictors of a sinus infection.

This new study changes that.

“This is the first prospective analysis that demonstrates a correlation between the severity of CT scan evidence for rhino-sinusitis and the severity of patient reports of fatigue, sleep disturbance, nasal discharge or post nasal drip, nasal blockage and decreased sense of smell,” Duncavage said.

“I hope our study shows physicians that they must realize that the severity of selected sinus symptoms does correlate with the severity of CT imaging evidence for rhino-sinusitis. The high symptom scores can improve the physician’s confidence in the diagnosis and support treatment without further imaging studies.

Duncavage says he would treat these patients first with antibiotics. Then, if necessary, he would do a CT scan.

“The study should also help physicians realize that in patients with an isolated headache and/or facial pain or pressure, even if severe, sinus CT scans should be considered before sinus treatment, early on in their evaluation phase. It is very likely the headache and pain is caused by some other problem, not a sinus infection.”

Duncavage says that in chronic sinus disease, the most common symptom he has observed is that patients have fatigue.

“I have asked them, ‘Do you feel tired?’ and some of the patients will actually break into tears. They will say, ‘I have been so tired. There has got to be something wrong and nobody has been able to figure out what it is.

“After I have treated them successfully for their sinus infection, they report that they have had a major improvement in their energy level.”

Duncavage says the most common diagnosis for patients with a headache and pain or pressure is either a jaw disorder, migraine or vascular headaches or allergy-related problems.

“Many of the patients who present are fairly desperate and are seeking help, but in order to be helped they have to have the correct diagnosis. The reason they continue with the problem is that they haven’t had the correct diagnosis. It usually is not sinusitis.

“The bottom line is the sicker the patients feel as far as their pain and pressure, the less likely they are to have sinusitis. The ones that just feel blah or don’t have any energy and don’t have any pain over the involved sinuses, are more likely to have sinusitis.”

Duncavage says regardless of the diagnosis, all the patients can be helped."

It is exactly my problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ammagic]

Go to see Dr Songklot at Bangkok Hospital on Sat mornings. There is another great sinus specialist at Bumrungrad but would have to look up his name. The problem you (&I ) face is that Thais do not have sinus problems to anywhere near the same degree / thus lack if experience in dealing with this issue. You absolutely must see a doctor who has trained overseas & who understands sinus issues. The normal E NT doctors here don't have a clue. Been there done that. Good luck !

[antoniuni]

OP, I have recently been dealing with some inner ear issues which I have now decided has been a virus in my ear causing some vestibular problems thus leading to a bit of dizziness.

How old are you and do you have other problems, because according to this site:

http://vestibular.org/labyrinthitis-and-vestibular-neuritis

http://vestibular.org/node/10

Age related matters can combine to cause what you describe.

Look how complex, from the site:

"the combined effects may be enough to cause a serious problem with balance. For example, an elderly individual with arthritis in the ankle joints and a mild degeneration in vestibular function may not be able to balance adequately until under-going an operation to remove cataracts.

Check the info at site, some good stuff there.

My "age" is another "problem": in spite of I was very healthy around a year ago they started looking now in "imbalance" etc., because I'm "old"! Of course there's imbalance happening but that isn't the (main)-reason! It's very easy for them to shift everything to the age! I am by the way 74, yes! But no doctor looked into sinusitis! They look in your ears, another "specialist" looks in your nose, another one in your throat and that's it. They are finally sending you home with bags of medicines from the kind the "specialist" thinks its good! I can remember by the way that once, I didn't had the problems I have now, a "specialist" in Symphaet said: "oh, then you have to go to BKK-hospital" after I said that I wanted to be now more or less clear from my problems! They have their own opinion, not a lot of connection to each other: "ENT" is a nose specialist, a throat specialist and an ear specialist, and they don't expect you (may) have your own opinion, even when that opinion makes sense!

[antoniuni]

Read this thread a couple of times, and I seem to be missing something. OP has a doc at mission hospital that is apparently up to speed.

Why is that Dr not providing referrals to colleagues that he can vouch for or is confident in?

Has that Dr provided copies of the medical records for OP to pass to other docs?

At the moment OP seems to be just hospital jumping with little direction.

Indeed, because of no doctor is saying you have to go there or you have to go there and even then there are big differences in the way of the treatment of various specialists. Furthermore, I have the photos, the discs and the paper the MRI Center gave to me, I am tired of roaming around with them and, at the end, NObody is looking at them!

[Sheryl]

You are not happy with the doctors you have seen. Another doctor, specializing in sinus problems, has been suggested, and I second that suggestion as I have found that doctor to be quite thorough.

[antoniuni]

You are not happy with the doctors you have seen. Another doctor, specializing in sinus problems, has been suggested, and I second that suggestion as I have found that doctor to be quite thorough.

I'll do so Sheryl, I'll do so! I'll go Saturday to BKK-hospital. Thanks!

[johnatong]

You are not happy with the doctors you have seen. Another doctor, specializing in sinus problems, has been suggested, and I second that suggestion as I have found that doctor to be quite thorough.

I'll do so Sheryl, I'll do so! I'll go Saturday to BKK-hospital. Thanks!

If you are unhappy with Thai doctors the answer is very simple-------------- Go Home and consult doctors there!

[cumgranosalum]

You are not happy with the doctors you have seen. Another doctor, specializing in sinus problems, has been suggested, and I second that suggestion as I have found that doctor to be quite thorough.

I'll do so Sheryl, I'll do so! I'll go Saturday to BKK-hospital. Thanks!

If you are unhappy with Thai doctors the answer is very simple-------------- Go Home and consult doctors there!

A very cliched response. ....... "if you don't like it goo home" is really so facile it's a wonder that people are still posting it

Thailand spends a lot of time selling itself as a destination for medical tourism. Furthermore some people living here may need medical services to and the option of flying home may not be readily open to them.

However I think it is important that people realise what a rag-tag lottery of a business the health industry is in Thailand and the more people report their problems the more potential customers and the gullible become aware that it isn't as rosy as put forward by either the industry or the authorities.

In the end though - I think it is important for many people - especially those living here that they keep a "nest-egg" in reserve for the day that they realise in order to get proper treatment they will have to travel home. Remember this may be considerably more than a single air-ticket as airlines will refuse to carry people who they deem are too ill to fly or may put other passengers at risk.