Pls advice a cheap bt good hospital

[Preciousgrave]

Hi,

Hope u all r fine!

 

I want to have a full checkup for my mom. She is a patient of diabetic & migraine for 20 years. Recently she is suffering form skin dise, knee joint pain & we'v seen somthing in her stomach by ultrasound(not sure what's that). Can anybody suggest where i will get a proper

treatment (but cheap & affordable) for her?one of my colleauge suggestes me st.louies hospital! I want to visit bkk aftr a week.

 

Can anyone give an idea about estimated cost!

 

I will be so greatful and badly seeking your advice.

 

Thanks & Regards,

Jewel

[Oxx]

Why are you considering Bangkok if you're from Bangladesh? Local doctors are going to be more familiar with things such as local skin diseases than those in Thailand.

 

I suspect that doctors in India will also be cheaper than Thailand if you don't trust your local doctors.

 

Thailand is really not that cheap for medical treatment any more.

[NickJ]

St. Louis is a very good hospital. Most ex pats in the know prefer it as its Catholic thus Christian and they don't have to put up with all the Arabic Muslims. It is fair in its costing. But not cheap. It's not a mythical white tower of healing. Rather cold and non chalant.  Before you send your mom on a last ditch effort. I would try and do whatever you can in your country before crossing your fingers and sending her here.

You stand to lose alot of money being uninformed. 

[sabaijai]

Camillian Hospital

 

http://www.camillianhospital.org/

[bbi1]

44 minutes ago, sabaijai said:

Camillian Hospital

 

http://www.camillianhospital.org/

A Thai person I know said after using them said they are expensive & are no good at all. Put me off ever even considering them after hearing what they said.

[lopburi3]

Actually Bangladesh is a Muslim country but medical facilities are very limited and St Louis is a good lower moderately priced facility if a Catholic setting is acceptable.  Vejthani Hospital is a moderately priced higher level hospital in Bangkok with representative presence in Dhaka and Chittagong and a lot of Muslim customers.

 

Vejthani Office in Bangladesh.

Dhaka Office:   Level-4 (Lift # 3), House # 40,Road # 25 Gulshan-1, Dhaka-1212,Bangladesh Dhaka Hotline: +88 01766949494 (24 Hours) Contact Persons: Dhaka Office     Mr. Kabir (Mobile : +88 01766949494)                           Email: [email protected]               [email protected]                  Chittagong Office:    6,Sanmar Spring Garden,Level # 1,14 Jamal Khan Road Chittagong-4000,Bangladesh Chittagong Hotline: +8801733563563 (24 Hours) Contact Persons: Chittagong Office  Country Manager:  Mr.Iqbal (Mobile: 01819344110)                                                  (Mobile : 01726046502)                       Website: www.vejthani.com

[Sheryl]

Having lived and worked in Bangladesh for 4 years in the past I completely understand your desire to bring your mother here.

 

I would not suggest Camillian Hospital, not because there is anything wrong with it as a hospital, but because it is rather small and has limited range of specialists. St Louis is similiar in cost (both are non-profit Catholic hospitals) but is larger and located close to a major medical school so they have several top professors with private hours there, a big advantage. St Louis is a good choice for general check up and I can also recommend a dermatologist and orthopedic doctor there but afraid i cannot recommend a GI  specialist  there, though from what you say I am not sure if you need a GI specialist or a general surgeon. Can you clarify what you mean when you say something was seen on ultrasound "in the stomach"? Do you mean literally inside the stomach organ or do you mean in the abdomen somewhere? (medically speaking stomach is one specific organ in the abdomen but lay people will often say "stomach" to refer to the whole abdomen). And when you say  "something", do you mean there was a  mass? This all makes a lot of difference in terms of what type of doctor to consult.

 

Anyhow, pending those answers, for general check-up at St Louis no appointment is needed, can go anytime in the morning but be sure she did not eat or drink anything from midnight the night before. The check-up packages range in cost from 2,800 - 15,400 baht. You can see description here  http://www.saintlouis.or.th/index.php/checkup-program2016

It is in Thai but the test names are shown in English. The first column of every plan (color) is women.

From what you have said of her medical history I would suggest plan 3 if she is willing to have a mammogram, if she is not then plan 2 but request to add-on the  Exercise Stress Test (as a diabetic for 20 years she is high risk for heart disease). Whatever check-up package you get, you must tell them she is diabetic and ask that they add an Hb1ac test (will cost extra, couple hundred baht probably)

 

For skin problem I suggest Dr. Parichart Chalidapongse who is there  Sunday mornings, all day Monday, afternoons (1-7PM) Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and for just 2 hours on Friday mornings.  No appointment needed but it is first come first serve so get there early.

 

For the knee,  I suggest if possible Prof. Dr. Aree Tanavalee - he is only there on Saturdays 4-8 PM and unlike the above it is necessary to make advance appointment with him so call or email the hospital for that. If not possible to see him then try Assoc. Prof. Pongsak Yuktanandana who is there Thursday and Sunday evenings .

 

Consultations with these doctors will cost usually under 1,000 baht (not including medicine), if xrays or other studies of the knee are needed that will be extra. If she has recent Xrays or other scans of the knee, should bring them with her to avoid unnecessary expense.

 

For the stomach issue I await further details from you to clarify what was seen on ultrasound and where exactly it is located. If she needs exploratory surgery that will run into a lot more money (i.e. couple hundred thousand baht probably). If she just needs consult with a GI specialist and an endoscopy, that will run  to about 20-25,000 and i would suggest a different hospital for it.

 

If medications are prescribed, it will save money to buy them a an outside pharmacy rather than in the hospital . There are several pharmacies in the area, on Rama IV road and also over on Silom.

 

 

[Preciousgrave]

On 19/08/2016 at 9:00 PM, Sheryl said:

Having lived and worked in Bangladesh for 4 years in the past I completely understand your desire to bring your mother here.

 

I would not suggest Camillian Hospital, not because there is anything wrong with it as a hospital, but because it is rather small and has limited range of specialists. St Louis is similiar in cost (both are non-profit Catholic hospitals) but is larger and located close to a major medical school so they have several top professors with private hours there, a big advantage. St Louis is a good choice for general check up and I can also recommend a dermatologist and orthopedic doctor there but afraid i cannot recommend a GI  specialist  there, though from what you say I am not sure if you need a GI specialist or a general surgeon. Can you clarify what you mean when you say something was seen on ultrasound "in the stomach"? Do you mean literally inside the stomach organ or do you mean in the abdomen somewhere? (medically speaking stomach is one specific organ in the abdomen but lay people will often say "stomach" to refer to the whole abdomen). And when you say  "something", do you mean there was a  mass? This all makes a lot of difference in terms of what type of doctor to consult.

 

Anyhow, pending those answers, for general check-up at St Louis no appointment is needed, can go anytime in the morning but be sure she did not eat or drink anything from midnight the night before. The check-up packages range in cost from 2,800 - 15,400 baht. You can see description here  http://www.saintlouis.or.th/index.php/checkup-program2016

It is in Thai but the test names are shown in English. The first column of every plan (color) is women.

From what you have said of her medical history I would suggest plan 3 if she is willing to have a mammogram, if she is not then plan 2 but request to add-on the  Exercise Stress Test (as a diabetic for 20 years she is high risk for heart disease). Whatever check-up package you get, you must tell them she is diabetic and ask that they add an Hb1ac test (will cost extra, couple hundred baht probably)

 

For skin problem I suggest Dr. Parichart Chalidapongse who is there  Sunday mornings, all day Monday, afternoons (1-7PM) Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and for just 2 hours on Friday mornings.  No appointment needed but it is first come first serve so get there early.

 

For the knee,  I suggest if possible Prof. Dr. Aree Tanavalee - he is only there on Saturdays 4-8 PM and unlike the above it is necessary to make advance appointment with him so call or email the hospital for that. If not possible to see him then try Assoc. Prof. Pongsak Yuktanandana who is there Thursday and Sunday evenings .

 

Consultations with these doctors will cost usually under 1,000 baht (not including medicine), if xrays or other studies of the knee are needed that will be extra. If she has recent Xrays or other scans of the knee, should bring them with her to avoid unnecessary expense.

 

For the stomach issue I await further details from you to clarify what was seen on ultrasound and where exactly it is located. If she needs exploratory surgery that will run into a lot more money (i.e. couple hundred thousand baht probably). If she just needs consult with a GI specialist and an endoscopy, that will run  to about 20-25,000 and i would suggest a different hospital for it.

 

If medications are prescribed, it will save money to buy them a an outside pharmacy rather than in the hospital . There are several pharmacies in the area, on Rama IV road and also over on Silom.

 

 

>>Thank u so much Sheryl!it is so helpful..i am attaching the ultrasound report. It might help u to guide me accurately.is there any doctor for migraine dieseas?

 

[Sheryl]

This does not show any problem in the stomach. It shows some calcification of the gallbladder (a condition also called "porcelain gallbladder"). Normally for this it is recommended to remove the gallbladder because about 1/5 of people with this condition will develop cancer of the gall bladder later, but of course one has to also consider the patient's age and other medical conditions (her diabetes does put her at higher than average rick for surgery, especially if her blood sugar is not well controlled). Removal of the gall bladder if done in Thailand by open procedure at a nonprofit hospital like St Louis will cost I think about 125-150,000 baht; almost double that if done laparoscopically.

 

In this case there is no indication for doing an endoscopy.After you have done that and if the repeat ultrasound also confirms calcification of the gall bladder I suggest you consult Dr.  Narongsak Jongsiri, who is a good general surgeon, and ask him whether he thinks an elective removal of the gall bladder is a good idea for her taking into account her age and overall health. He can also give you more precise cost estimate for the procedure as my estimate is just an educated guess.

[Preciousgrave]

Sheryl :

 

So many thanks for your kind guidance. can I ask for your contact? If there is no problem pls drop it in my mail; [email protected].

 

I am planning the trip according to your advice. For her skin, joint & diabetic problem I will see the referred doctors. For the gall bladder problem as per my study local facility here will cost 1/3 if operation is required.

 

Two issues more, 1. Can u suggest any doctor for migraine. My mom is suffering for these disease for last 25 years. And seems like it is genetic as my aunt, grandmother is suffering the .same.

2. The time when I am planning to visit Bangkok it is in the eve of Eid. Is there any holiday on this eve? Will the doctors be available?

 

Thanking with Regards,

Jewel

[lopburi3]

There are no scheduled holidays mid September here and even during holidays most doctors work normal schedule.

[Preciousgrave]

Lopburi3: Thank you for the info.

[Sheryl]

7 hours ago, Preciousgrave said:

Sheryl :

 

So many thanks for your kind guidance. can I ask for your contact? If there is no problem pls drop it in my mail; [email protected].

 

I am planning the trip according to your advice. For her skin, joint & diabetic problem I will see the referred doctors. For the gall bladder problem as per my study local facility here will cost 1/3 if operation is required.

 

Two issues more, 1. Can u suggest any doctor for migraine. My mom is suffering for these disease for last 25 years. And seems like it is genetic as my aunt, grandmother is suffering the .same.

2. The time when I am planning to visit Bangkok it is in the eve of Eid. Is there any holiday on this eve? Will the doctors be available?

 

Thanking with Regards,

Jewel

 

Dear Jewel,

 

For migraine there is a doctor specializing in it but not at Saint Louis, Dr. Anan  is at BNH Hospital which is close by St Louis.  https://www.bnhhospital.com/en/find_doctor/detail/155

He is only there once a week because he is a Professor at a medical university so busy there most of the time.  BNH Hospital is fancier and more expensive than St Louis but for just one consultation I think it is all right (might cost as much as 1500 - 2000 baht) However, do not buy medicine at their pharmacy! Tell the doctor you will buy the medicine back home and get him to tell you the name and dosage. If you need to buy it in Thailand, get it at a pharmacy outside the hospital.  There are some  good pharmacies on Rama IV road  between Silom and Suriwong Roads.  The same holds true for Saint Louis Hospital, there too, get any medications outside although the mark-up at St Louis is not so high as at BNH. (Medicines will of course be cheaper in Bangladersh but as you know there can be problems with counterfeits, also some might not be available there).

 

After your mother has had the physical check-up, when the doctor discusses the results with you, ask him or her if your mother is healthy enough to have elective surgery for her gallbladder (assuming the repeat ultrasound confirms the diagnosis of calcification). You might also still like to have a consultation with the surgeon I mentioned, even though you will not have the procedure done by him, just to get his opinion also as to whether she is a good surgical candidate. This is an elective procedure being done as a precautionary measure, because of the risk of gall bladder cancer later on. So  if she is unusually high risk due to other medical conditions, it might be wiser not to do.  You have to weigh an increased risk of cancer (a risk, not a certainty) against the risks of the surgery. For a healthy and fairly young person a gallbladder removal carries very low risk but it can be different for someone who is elderly or has a lot of other medical problems.  So take the opportunity while in Thailand to get several doctors opinions on this.

[sabaijai]

My recent inquiry as to checkup prices at both Camillian and St Louis found the latter to be roughly twice as expensive. I like St Louis and see the point that it's bigger and may have more specialists.