help, Colonscopy in Udon Thani

Post by **amazonboy** » April 17, 2015, 1:28 pm

I am thinking of doing a colonscopy in Udon Thani. Not all hospitals do them in Udon Thani. Went to Wattana Hopistal but they do not have this facility. Checked AEK, the price for colonscopy exclude everything is almost 20000, Bangkok hospital quote me about 45000 include all exams and labs test, both sound extremely expensive, can anyone recommend any more reasonable place?

Post by **jackspratt** » April 17, 2015, 3:13 pm

http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/s ... olonoscopy

Post by **noosard** » April 17, 2015, 5:17 pm

For those prices i would fly to Farangland and have it done
and I thought people came to thailand for cheap medicals

Post by **bumper** » April 17, 2015, 5:59 pm

I like Bangkok Hospital. But, they are expensive not a big deal if your insurance is paying. Me I have to be admitted to get insurance coverage. Don't think that will happen for that procedure.

Have you contacted the Army Hospital?

Try Bumregaurd in Bangkok, I would shop around

Khon Kean teaching hospital?

Let us know how it goes please.

Post by **papaguido** » April 17, 2015, 9:11 pm

Bumrungrad Hospital, start to finish...30,000bt

Post by **amazonboy** » April 17, 2015, 10:23 pm

Thank you for the help. I have never done any invasive procedures in Laos or in Thailand. There are some very new hospitals in Laos but many people work in Laos still come to Udon for more complicated tests. I guess they still do not have confidence with these more complicated procedures in Laos. And I thought the cost of these tests would be reasonable according to the level of income in Thailand, but turned out these private hospitals are only for very rich Thais and Laos.

Some Thai friend referred Udon hospital, a public hospital. But he told me to give it up, because he said it takes a whole day to see a general practitioner, then he refer you to make an appointment to see a specialist which may be another 10-15 days waiting, then one more day to see a specialist then he determines if the procedure is needed, then schedule another appointment for the procedure which may take another 1-2 weeks, he told me it's very stressful. I think Military hospital is another public hospital, maybe the stressful process is the same as Udon Hospital. Does any one has any recent experience with Udon's public hospitals with any kind of procedure, and does it really take that long to have a procedure done?

The best would be to do it in my home country in July, but unfortunately may have to do the test sooner, the Udon public hospital sounds reasonably priced but I probably do not have time and patience to go through all the hassles to get a test done. Then AEK probably the only one remaining. BKK hospital sounds too expensive. Hope some one share his experience at Udon public Hospital with any kind of procedure in regard of waiting time for appointment and between appointment.

Post by **Tracechain** » April 18, 2015, 2:43 am

This post doesn't help with your question, but I had one done a few years ago at Bangkok hospital. All in all, it was my fourth one total. The three previous ones were in a US Army hospital where you just go in, get a mild sedative, lay on your side, and bang it happens. You could watch on a TV screen while the doc routed around your insides talking you through it the whole time. Some discomfort from air being blown inflating intestines and you farting all over the place, but no real pain. When I was talking to the doc here at Bangkok hospital and telling him of my three previous outpatient experiences, he looked mortified. Told me it is a one night inpatient procedure where they have to monitor you drinking the laxative etc., then they put you to sleep to perform the procedure. Too much drama and not once did anyone monitor me drinking the prep crap to clean you out. Which by the way is the worse part of the whole procedure. So, true to their word, they put me to sleep and as far as I can determine, did the procedure. Was given some nice pictures and a bill of 42,000 baht!

Post by **bumper** » April 18, 2015, 11:35 am

Overnight my insurance would pay for that, so that might be my answer.

Post by **rickfarang** » April 19, 2015, 12:58 am

As I recall, one person posted his experience having a colonoscopy at Udon (government) Hospital. It was a positive review and inexpensive compared to all of the other hospitals that he had checked, and much less than I had been quoted by AEK and Bumrungrad.

Unless there are complications, colonoscopies are out-patient procedures but if needed, VIP rooms are available at Udon Hospital for a reasonable price. You might have to book the room in advance.

Post by **wazza** » April 19, 2015, 4:29 am

Colonoscopy in developed countries etc, is a day surgery procedure, done under a local anaesthetic using Midazolam to sedate the patient, but the patient remains awake and able to cooperate with movements / positioning etc. Patient doesn't need any supportive airway management, its the same drug used for an Endoscopy, ( other end of the body )

Midazalam has a hypnotic effect, and the patient is normally unable to recall the majority of the procedure etc

Providing all the pre assessments are all n order this should be the case in Udon to be honest.

I would challenge the Surgeon in BKK Hospital on this. AEK might be a day procedure, thus a reduced rate. Be careful that both estimates are covering the same procedure and time in hospital. Apples and Apples

The hospital will have a pre procedure check list for you, which includes your fasting times and make available the fluids you need to take orally hours before the colonoscopy etc

The other private hospital worth considering in Issan is Khon Kaen Raam in Khon Kaen, email them.

Having said that, if they are going in for a specific removal of multiple large polyps or find a mass that needs debriding , then an overnight might be called for.

A good comparison would be , does the Udon Public and Kiprajak ( Military ) do this procedure as day patient ?

If So, then BKK Udon are taking advantage of you ...

Post by **fdimike** » April 19, 2015, 9:07 pm

A close friend of mine is having this procedure done at the Udon General Hospital. He told me that they will be using general anaesthesia (at least 1 overnight stay). I told him that when I had my last colonoscopy it was done just as described by Wazza (above). I was awake during the procedure and other than the air being pumped into me there really was no discomfort during or afterwards. I can't understand why anyone would subject themselves to general anaesthesia (and its side effects and dangers)when this is a simple out patient procedure in the US and I gather in other developed countries. I would certainly check with some of the more advance hospitals in BKK before I let any of these questionable medicos lay a hand on me. I would check with Vejthani hospital in BKK or any of the other well known hospitals regarding how they handle this procedure before having it done here in UT by any of these local pill pushers.

Post by **Tracechain** » April 20, 2015, 4:28 am

Yep, the whole procedure at Bangkok hospital was a rip, but they did do a good rip off. The whole selling point of a one night inpatient stay was so they could monitor the consumption of the gunk you have to drink to clean out the bowels. This was a complete joke. After they gave me the stuff to start drinking every 5 minutes or so around 2200, not once did anyone come into the room to monitor me until around 0400 when a little cutie asked me if I had poo-pooed and pee-peed. I told her no, neither. Why, was I supposed to? Poor gal looked horrified. She runs out and then an older 'Nurse' comes in and I told her how stupid to ask me well after the fact. She just looked at me like I had a dick growing out of my forehead. Other than that, it was OK but a rip off.

Post by **wazza** » April 20, 2015, 4:38 am

Oh dear as we suspected .

Its in the best interest of the Patient to ensure the consumption of the various medications are conducted.

Easily conducted at home. So you ARE discharged from day surgery, its the pre admission night , here we were all thinking they are keeping you in AFTER the surgery.

Wonder how the Udon public hospital deal with the premed stuff ??

Post by **fdimike** » April 20, 2015, 6:03 am

I'm told the same way as described by Tracechain. My friend was told by his doctor that most Thais handle the procedure without any anaesthesia but that she was afraid it would be too uncomfortabl for a farang. This is just such an antiquated way of doing things in my book especially when it comes to the use of general anaesthesia for a simple procedure.

Post by **semperfiguy** » April 20, 2015, 8:51 am

Tracechain wrote:Yep, the whole procedure at Bangkok hospital was a rip, but they did do a good rip off. The whole selling point of a one night inpatient stay was so they could monitor the consumption of the gunk you have to drink to clean out the bowels. This was a complete joke. After they gave me the stuff to start drinking every 5 minutes or so around 2200, not once did anyone come into the room to monitor me until around 0400 when a little cutie asked me if I had poo-pooed and pee-peed. I told her no, neither. Why, was I supposed to? Poor gal looked horrified. She runs out and then an older 'Nurse' comes in and I told her how stupid to ask me well after the fact. She just looked at me like I had a dick growing out of my forehead. Other than that, it was OK but a rip off.

Post by **thrilled** » April 21, 2015, 12:54 am

When hospitals want you to spend the night it's only about the money.I have always drank the liquid at home.
Went to bed at night,woke up the next morning and went to the hospital.60-90 minutes was finished.Went on home.

Post by **bumper** » April 22, 2015, 5:49 pm

Well been out patient in the states. They usually ask the patient to arrange transportation so they don't drive immediately after.

However with my medical insurance if they will pay for an overnight won't cost me thing beyond the 160 K I pay annually for inpatient health care.

If not it would be on my dime.

I;m way overdue for a physical say 20 years or so.

What does this procedure do for you?

Post by **FrazeeDK** » April 22, 2015, 8:05 pm

it ensures that you don't have colorectal cancer, pre-cancerous polyps or any other issues up your hoo-dak...

Post by **wazza** » April 22, 2015, 8:52 pm

Its done with a sterile piece of black tubing with a fibre optic light and a few little attachments at the end to grab what FrazerD described.

Same sort of tube for an Endoscopy that goes in your mouth and into your stomach.

Surgeon can see the internal anatomy on the large screen in front of them.

Post by **Barney** » April 22, 2015, 9:28 pm

I need to have this procedure done ( for a first time

) and so far haven't seen to much talk on the quality of after sales service available, ie: what if they find something a little more serious then a polyp?
Lots of talk on how much and how to go about it but when it may turn serious who is the best back passage specialist in town. For me that will over ride any hospital specials on at the time?