Good hospitals

[blasteen]

Hi,

 

I will be coming to bangkok for some investigation for ongoing GI issues and prostatitis, the investigation might need a colonscopy or endoscopy. Can you recommend a good hospital which I can depend on.

 

is Bumrungrad the best out there or there are other good ones available too ?

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Bumrungrad tends to be expensive, but good.

 

I've been going to Vibhavadi Hospital for 10+ years, found them also very good, and less expensive.  Had both procedures done there.

 

Depends to some extent where you are living/staying.

 

Mac

[lopburi3]

Believe many doctors and facility at Bangkok Hospital to be as good as any (but also expensive).  Wife had colonoscopy there a few weeks ago and package price was 19,000 baht but she also had full anesthesiologist fee of 4,000 and various costs making total about 26,500 baht.  They have a very large and active GI department.

[Cook my sock]

Bangpakok 9 in Rama 2 is very good. A modern building, great staff and doctors and not that expensive. Def cheaper than Bangkok hospital and better service imo.
Also the best dentist I have ever been to, on the 6th floor. Took a tooth out last week, didn't feel a thing

[Sheryl]

There are no "good hospitals" , it depends on the doctor. All hospitals have some doctors who are mediocre or worse. Most also have some good ones.

 

There isn't a hospital in the world where it is not possible to receive bad care/have a bad experience should you choose the wrong doctor

 

The best specialists are all not found at any one hospital.

 

For prostatitis, I can recommend

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Viroj-Chodchoy

 

For the GI issues, need a little more information as to type of problem.

[Cook my sock]

Much of my wife's family are doctors in Bangkok. They seem to be at least as competent as British doctors.
What is shocking are the ambulances!

[rodknock]

there not an ambulance, but a transport for a body dead or alive.

[blasteen]

12 hours ago, Sheryl said:

There are no "good hospitals" , it depends on the doctor. All hospitals have some doctors who are mediocre or worse. Most also have some good ones.

 

There isn't a hospital in the world where it is not possible to receive bad care/have a bad experience should you choose the wrong doctor

 

The best specialists are all not found at any one hospital.

 

For prostatitis, I can recommend

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Viroj-Chodchoy

 

For the GI issues, need a little more information as to type of problem.

 

Thanks for the recommendation. For GI, I think its IBS related 

[Ace of Pop]

Believe many doctors and facility at Bangkok Hospital to be as good as any (but also expensive).  Wife had colonoscopy there a few weeks ago and package price was 19,000 baht but she also had full anesthesiologist fee of 4,000 and various costs making total about 26,500 baht.  They have a very large and active GI department.

I went there last year,left eye bit blurry,nice Lady Lazered it 7K Bht total.Seems cheap to me listening to other Ferangs I know who never stop bleating about Thailand [emoji3]


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[Cook my sock]

there not an ambulance, but a transport for a body dead or alive.

There are both.
Call 1669 for an ambulance..

[Sheryl]

On 11/5/2016 at 6:34 AM, blasteen said:

 

Thanks for the recommendation. For GI, I think its IBS related 

 

Frankly, I have not had very good feedback on any doctor in Thailand for IBS. As you may know, it is a diagnosis of exclusion and actually not a disease but rather a group of symptoms that a significant number of people have in common for which cause has not been identified....a fancy way of saying that they don't know what is wrong with you.

 

If you have not yet had a colonoscopy to exclude things like diverticulitis then I suggest this doctor who is a colorectal specialist and very good:

https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Chucheep-Sahakitrungruang

 

If you have already had colonoscopy with no evidence of disease and been left with a functional "diagnosis" of IBS I am frankly not sure you will get much from consulting doctors here, but can try Prof.Varocha Mahac at Bangkok Hospital :

http://www.bangkokhospital.com/index.php/en/find-a-doctor

 

In my experience, people with IBS-type symptoms often prove top be lactose intolerant so if you haven't already, should try an elimination diet starting with dairy products.

 

Some people also find probiotics helpful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[siam2007]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

 

Frankly, I have not had very good feedback on any doctor in Thailand for IBS. As you may know, it is a diagnosis of exclusion and actually not a disease but rather a group of symptoms that a significant number of people have in common for which cause has not been identified....a fancy way of saying that they don't know what is wrong with you.

 

If you have not yet had a colonoscopy to exclude things like diverticulitis then I suggest this doctor who is a colorectal specialist and very good:

https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Chucheep-Sahakitrungruang

 

If you have already had colonoscopy with no evidence of disease and been left with a functional "diagnosis" of IBS I am frankly not sure you will get much from consulting doctors here, but can try Prof.Varocha Mahac at Bangkok Hospital :

http://www.bangkokhospital.com/index.php/en/find-a-doctor

 

In my experience, people with IBS-type symptoms often prove top be lactose intolerant so if you haven't already, should try an elimination diet starting with dairy products.

 

Some people also find probiotics helpful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

another good one at Bumrungrad is Dr. Thirdchai Suppasiti. Experienced, older resident physician there, very analytical in his approach, willing to listen, I would recommend him particularly for "diagnosis of excluding". Will not sell you useless things and very moderate in his fees, compared to some young clueless Doctors who work there. He did colonoscopy for me very recently after several "diagnosis of exclusions" steps and it proved to be the way to go. I have not yet made bad experiences with any resident physician there, only with those who r more or less "freelance" at Bumrungrad (which is the majority)

I would not have chosen him by myself, as he does not have a degree from a Western university or fellowships, but the Doc I usually saw was not available for a longer period, so I decided to give it  go and was pleasantly surprised. His English is fluent.

[blasteen]

13 hours ago, Sheryl said:

is a

13 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

Frankly, I have not had very good feedback on any doctor in Thailand for IBS. As you may know, it is a diagnosis of exclusion and actually not a disease but rather a group of symptoms that a significant number of people have in common for which cause has not been identified....a fancy way of saying that they don't know what is wrong with you.

 

If you have not yet had a colonoscopy to exclude things like diverticulitis then I suggest this doctor who is a colorectal specialist and very good:

https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Chucheep-Sahakitrungruang

 

If you have already had colonoscopy with no evidence of disease and been left with a functional "diagnosis" of IBS I am frankly not sure you will get much from consulting doctors here, but can try Prof.Varocha Mahac at Bangkok Hospital :

http://www.bangkokhospital.com/index.php/en/find-a-doctor

 

In my experience, people with IBS-type symptoms often prove top be lactose intolerant so if you haven't already, should try an elimination diet starting with dairy products.

 

Some people also find probiotics helpful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I never had a colonoscopy. since last year I have gotten rid of nearly 70% of foods I normally used to eat and it seems to help. 

I think it all mostly started after being on long-term course of antibiotics for another condition, however, the dilemma here is that I should go back on antibiotics thus, need to find a way to  improve my gut and find a way which would effect where antibiotics can affect my GI less. Bumrungrad is quitting me 26-30 k baht for a colonoscopy, do you think this is included with sedation and other stuff, and what other hospitals can be relied upon such operations ? Thanks

 

 

13 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

 

 

 

 

[Sheryl]

The Bumrungrad quote includes sedation.

You can get it done elsewhere for a little less but some of the least expensive options take some time to arrange and aren't easy for non-thai speakers. I have the impression you will just be visiting Thailand and do not live here?

Check the website for Bangkok Hospital, a while ago they had a promtion price but I don't know if they still do. My internet is down so using my phone and difficult for me to browse.

Other options would be (1) Bangkok Christian Hospital, Dr. Chucheep whom I mentioned above also has hours there but only briefly, I think once a week on Monday or Tuesday, google for their website.
Seeing Prof. Chucheep makes sense only if your symptoms are potentially indicative of a problem in the colon as he is a colorectal surgeon. As you haven't specified what they are, I can't say. Changes in bowel pattern (constipation, diarrhea) would quality, bloating discomfort alone or with nausea, not. If the latter then need a GI specialist such as Prof. Varocha.

(2) There is a place called RSU Health clinic where I think Prof. Varocha may be available by appointment and colonoscopy would be much less expensive...google it. . Be aware though that in rare event of complication during the procedure, you would not already be in a hospital and would have to be transferred to one through Bangkok traffic.

If your difficulties began after a course of antibiotic then disturbance of bowel flora and possibly overgrowth of some organism may be responsible. For that, probiotics and stool cultures to see what may be growing would be usual.

[al007]

On 11/4/2016 at 6:18 PM, Sheryl said:

There are no "good hospitals" , it depends on the doctor. All hospitals have some doctors who are mediocre or worse. Most also have some good ones.

 

There isn't a hospital in the world where it is not possible to receive bad care/have a bad experience should you choose the wrong doctor

 

The best specialists are all not found at any one hospital.

 

For prostatitis, I can recommend

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Viroj-Chodchoy

 

For the GI issues, need a little more information as to type of problem.

 

I would add I saw Dr Viroj for a second opinion, I called the hospital (never been a patient before)had an appointment three days later, half hour consultation, fee less than 1200Batt, I also requested and got a copy of his notes, I thought impressive

 

You are not committed to being treated there, but at least you have a first class opinion

[al007]

On 11/4/2016 at 7:44 AM, lopburi3 said:

Believe many doctors and facility at Bangkok Hospital to be as good as any (but also expensive).  Wife had colonoscopy there a few weeks ago and package price was 19,000 baht but she also had full anesthesiologist fee of 4,000 and various costs making total about 26,500 baht.  They have a very large and active GI department.

 

A couple of months ago Bangkok Hospital KhonKaen quoted me 60,000 for the same thing with general anaesthetic

 

Remember in thailand all prices are negotiable, and if not insured important to say so as that in itself normally reduces prices

At 60,000 I chose not to go there

 

I had a colonoscopy in india five weeks ago 1300 batt an experience I would wish on no one, the butcher had me on the stone slab screaming, but he did confirm the cancer!

 

Then another time, a year ago, I had a colonoscopy, at what I thought reasonable cost, but they forgot the biopsy and missed cancer  !  !   !     ! pointers

 

The safeguard after the colonoscopy is maybe a second opinion of the results

 

 

[lopburi3]

That is a good point - Bangkok Hospital in Bangkok in not the same as other hospitals under that name - they are all members of a group but independent facilities with there own doctors and pricing.  I suspect that 60k price included at least one biopsy?

[al007]

5 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

That is a good point - Bangkok Hospital in Bangkok in not the same as other hospitals under that name - they are all members of a group but independent facilities with there own doctors and pricing.  I suspect that 60k price included at least one biopsy?

 

CORECT, included biopsy

 

Interesting point you make on ownership and pricing, one time I went to the KK one and they quoted more than the one located in bangkok, but soon matched the price!!

[Sheryl]

I must say that 60K is more than I have ever, ever heard quoted for a colonoscopy in Thailand....by far.

 

In fact it is about double the most expensive places.

 

 

[lopburi3]

With biopsy?  As I recall if required removal/biopsy was quite a large additional cost at Bangkok Hospital in Bangkok also - this quite of 60k evidently included at least one removal/biopsy.

[blasteen]

21 hours ago, Sheryl said:

The Bumrungrad quote includes sedation.

You can get it done elsewhere for a little less but some of the least expensive options take some time to arrange and aren't easy for non-thai speakers. I have the impression you will just be visiting Thailand and do not live here?

Check the website for Bangkok Hospital, a while ago they had a promtion price but I don't know if they still do. My internet is down so using my phone and difficult for me to browse.

Other options would be (1) Bangkok Christian Hospital, Dr. Chucheep whom I mentioned above also has hours there but only briefly, I think once a week on Monday or Tuesday, google for their website.
Seeing Prof. Chucheep makes sense only if your symptoms are potentially indicative of a problem in the colon as he is a colorectal surgeon. As you haven't specified what they are, I can't say. Changes in bowel pattern (constipation, diarrhea) would quality, bloating discomfort alone or with nausea, not. If the latter then need a GI specialist such as Prof. Varocha.

(2) There is a place called RSU Health clinic where I think Prof. Varocha may be available by appointment and colonoscopy would be much less expensive...google it. . Be aware though that in rare event of complication during the procedure, you would not already be in a hospital and would have to be transferred to one through Bangkok traffic.

If your difficulties began after a course of antibiotic then disturbance of bowel flora and possibly overgrowth of some organism may be responsible. For that, probiotics and stool cultures to see what may be growing would be usual.

 

Appreciate the replies, they are very informative.

Yes, I'll be coming to Bangkok for a visit, I don't live there. I couldn't find the promotion on Bangkok Hospital.

 

My issues tend to come as flare ups, which come along with symptoms such as change of bowl habits, bloating and nausea, etc...  I had tried some probiotics, however they seem to alter my mood and make me very nervous and tired.

 

Would also appericate any recommendations for an apartment with a kitchen close to Bumrungrad or that general area close to a metro or skytrain station

[blasteen]

On 07/11/2016 at 8:08 AM, al007 said:

 

A couple of months ago Bangkok Hospital KhonKaen quoted me 60,000 for the same thing with general anaesthetic

 

Remember in thailand all prices are negotiable, and if not insured important to say so as that in itself normally reduces prices

At 60,000 I chose not to go there

 

I had a colonoscopy in india five weeks ago 1300 batt an experience I would wish on no one, the butcher had me on the stone slab screaming, but he did confirm the cancer!

 

Then another time, a year ago, I had a colonoscopy, at what I thought reasonable cost, but they forgot the biopsy and missed cancer  !  !   !     ! pointers

 

The safeguard after the colonoscopy is maybe a second opinion of the results

 

 

 

I just got another qoute from bumrungrad for a colonsocpy with polyoctomy and it came to 60 k

[Sheryl]

Removal of polyps is standard part of colonoscopy and the removal per se does not add to the cost.But biopsy of the specimens does, and how much will depend on the number of polyps removed. You might ask them to specify the breakdown of this cost as it may reflect a large number of biopsies.

 

 

[blasteen]

On 09/11/2016 at 3:49 AM, Sheryl said:

Removal of polyps is standard part of colonoscopy and the removal per se does not add to the cost.But biopsy of the specimens does, and how much will depend on the number of polyps removed. You might ask them to specify the breakdown of this cost as it may reflect a large number of biopsies.

 

 

I asked them but they didn't provide me with a pric breakdown.

[ClutchClark]

On November 6, 2016 at 2:18 PM, siam2007 said:

 

 

another good one at Bumrungrad is Dr. Thirdchai Suppasiti. Experienced, older resident physician there, very analytical in his approach, willing to listen, I would recommend him particularly for "diagnosis of excluding". Will not sell you useless things and very moderate in his fees, compared to some young clueless Doctors who work there. He did colonoscopy for me very recently after several "diagnosis of exclusions" steps and it proved to be the way to go. I have not yet made bad experiences with any resident physician there, only with those who r more or less "freelance" at Bumrungrad (which is the majority)

I would not have chosen him by myself, as he does not have a degree from a Western university or fellowships, but the Doc I usually saw was not available for a longer period, so I decided to give it  go and was pleasantly surprised. His English is fluent.

 

What was the total out-the-door price?

 

Thanks

[siam2007]

10 hours ago, ClutchClark said:

 

What was the total out-the-door price?

 

Thanks

 

 

I have seen him several times in the past and of course it depends what kind of examination is needed. But for example, last week I went there just to discuss a blood test for a few minutes and he did not charge anything at all, just referring me to an urologist for further investigation

[CarlBkk]

For a colonoscopy with polyp removal, without anaesthetic, how painful is this? Is general anaes. the way to go?

[Sheryl]

Very, very uncomfortable, can't imagine why you would go that route. It is normally done under IV sedation in Thailand. In which case not uncomfortable at all, you don't feel or remember a thing.

[al007]

22 hours ago, CarlBkk said:

For a colonoscopy with polyp removal, without anaesthetic, how painful is this? Is general anaes. the way to go?

 

Insanity total insanity to even consider it

 

I have had a three in the last three months and another a year ago

 

I had one in India, recommended by a top hospital

 

They had me screaming with pain and it took a month to recover, and I could not walk after it, I was in a wheel chair for about a month

 

I had another In India mild sedation still very painful

 

Yet another in KhonKaen where again the pain was horrendous

 

None of these involved any polyp removal

 

Around a year ago I had another one in KhonKaen under General anaesthetic and no pain, unfortunately they forgot to do the biopsy and further forgot to identify signs of cancer

 

If you are a pain nut have it without anaesthetic, I promise I will never have another without full anaesthetic and I have no insurance

 

From my experience make sure they are also going to do full biopsies, and get it all in writing

 

Good Luck