our favorite topic. as this may also effect some of you old farts ok, had them for as long as i care to remember, never a major problem that wasn't self induced by diet, whether that cheese sandwich or few too many beers. started acting up a bit after living here, again diet, now spicy added to the previous mentioned diet issues, as before arriving here, i was just getting used to mexican spicy, now taken to a whole new level. but no major problems, as this was discussed an previous thread, the herbalist at the ex fountain roundabout sells a jar of stuff that once calmed down, you can take once a week to keep things comfortable.

ok, now the purpose of post, all fine until about 6 weeks ago, then i seemed to lose total control of maintaining comfort level, one of the 3 i have decided to go crazy on me and i opted for surgery, ouch. actually was inquiring about colonscopy at udon hosp (30 baht hosp) as the doc that does this proceedure works there and does proceedure there (video or butt and large intestines for those not sure). while there, complain of hems and 1st doc says, hey, you have hems and if you want, i'll take out for you. as he looked as though he just graduated, i passed and made my appt with the doc i originally went to see. who scheduled then cancelled colonscopy as machine is under the weather.

so, as hems were acting up, extremely painful, went to paolo, my hosp of choice and inquired about removal. 2 options, old, slice and dice, longer more painful recovery, and always the possibility of return of hems, or option 2, new and improved, with use of high tech instrument, resembling something the gals would order discreetly from the internet. i admit to not doing my usual intense investigation of information, how new and blah blah blah. sounded good, just a 2 night stay, ok, i'm sold, yes, they were hurting alot, how is tomorrow, yikes, let us check the schedule, no problem. great, arrive, couple hours before schedule surgery, hmm, why, now know why, couple IV's, couple enamas, and of course a visit from anastesologist, who i at first thought was just another doc trying to pump up the bill the american way and see at check out some smuck as consulting fee. but no, real doc, as i made sure why she was there, asking which i preferred, nerve block or general/complete snooze. she was pushing for block, big time, as i was considering it, then remembered they sometimes has complications, but mainly, as i remembered, duh, i have bad back, degenerative discs that she will have to push needle thru to administer block. even after explaining this, she still wanted to do block, are you nuts, general, end of conversation.

ok, guessing most have had surgery, the rest was uneventful, on gurney to recovery area, switch gurney to operation theater, as called here, finally arrive an surgery gurney, much talking and laughter amongst staff, having a nice day, i'm prepped and say good night. actually administered slowly, thank you, so nice buzz on the way to dream land. in states it's count back from 100 and never make it to 98. ok, awake, on way out of recovery, to room, private, not bad, plenty of room, usual hosp bed and sofa with cable, useless, no movies. off gurney as doc walks in and surprised to see my walking about, asked if any problems, impressed i'm walking right out of recovery, or just kiss my butt. no problems except i'm not big on rice soup for breakfast so i opt for sticky rice and mango, thanks Ree. doc arrives and surprised at my breakfast choice, any problems or pain, no, if so, here is some parametasol/tylenol, no thanks, have my own valiums, to his amusement, checked internet and no conflict with meds i've been given. free internet on floor for patients, nice touch and fast. for lunch and dinner, Ree, please bring me some cerial, All Bran, w/50 % dietary fiber, thank you. 2 bowls for lunch and dinner, and next day's diet, i'm no fool. from proir victims of hem surgery, they said first use would not be fun. next day, new doc making rounds and informed of no bowel movements, hmm, ok maybe tomorrow. next day nurse comes in and i make sure i'm checking out, confirmed, doc arrives, surgeon, no probs, ok, next doc arrives, inquires again, no movement, hmm, stay until you do, don't thinks, i'm out today, but, but nothing, i'm out today. gives me laxative, nothing, see you later, at home i take super laxative, and the faucet turns on, what little i had eaten flows out as easy and painless as a funny joke when you have the flu and are now embarrassed, oops. yes, i finally start eating some things, but at a slow pace and high fiber choices, giving things a chance to heal, and so far all is good, it's been 3 weeks now, and still some discomfort at times, again, depending on diet. but back on a regular basis, which used to be, drop kid at school, return home, eat cereal or light breakfast, large coffee, then to the morning thinking throne to ponder. seem to be back on schedule, except for little one is on school break.

ok, the bad/good news. 58,000 baht plus, outrageous for udon thanin surgery, as at 30 baht hospital, brain surgery to releas pressure after motorbike accident is only 50k. villager had it done twice, 100k, was ding dong for a month, but seems fine now. reality/relativity check, a hosp room in the states would of cost that for one or 2 nights, depending on hospital.

guess on break down as bill was slightly itemized. (sorry, from memory)

high tech instrument fee 18000 +
surgeon fee .................11000 -
anastesiologist fee...........7000 -
room fee..............500?....1000
surgery meds ??????........5000
out pat meds..(a waist).....1900
something like that, will update if way off on any of them, but that seems about right. the rest, not sure from memory, will update if anything outstanding.

all in all, satisfied, except for price and my lack of pre investigationa and price comparison. but if not done the next day, had to wait almost a week for open spot at paolo. i liked the doc, had 10 yrs on other who offered to remove and not sure 'high tech option' would of been available. but from friends who have had it done in the states, my experience seemed much better than theirs.

Sorry about the hem problem. Was almost in your position one time - but they finally cleared up on their own. No problems since then - no matter how much Guiness I drink.

Actually - 58,000 +/- is not really all that outrageous. At today's terrible exchange rate, that is only $1,812. One must remember that over the last 2 years, medical costs here in Udon have gone up. Personally, I would rather pay the higher costs of Paolo, AEK Udon or Wattana than going to the Government hospital. Know of one person that just got out of there after a week and his bill was 21,000. He was in a ward, no TV - and had to rely on other people to take care of him since they have a very severe shortage of nurses to patient ratio.

When I broke my wrist the initial cost was 82,000 Baht - for 4 days in the hospital, plus steel plate and 5 screws. Other costs for check ups and removal of one of the screws were additional. Of course, insurance picked up the entire tab.

Your story does emphasize that health insurance is really something folks should have. That way, they don't have to go and shop around for better prices.

agree, prices have risen and no real complaint on price, especially compared to just the room rate in the states, but thought high for udon. service was excellent, staff great and always available. i seemed to be the only on strolling around the floor and always couple staff at service area. just myself and another took advantage of internet and floor was full, appox 10 rooms.

health insurance for that issue was mute, as already on record as having along with bad back, so insurance wouldn't of helped, sadly.

the gov't, udon hosp wasn't really an option i was considering, not for this proceedure.

laphanphon wrote:the gov't, udon hosp wasn't really an option i was considering, not for this proceedure.

True - you might have ended up as a transexual...

That has to be the most in-depth report in the history of Udonmap Forum.
The visions encountered during the reading of your experiences are those I never want to remember again.
It was like reading a book where your mind visualises the story - and I will forever think of your 'story' when I see you.

So you are constantly carrying round a rubber ring are you ? LOL

and i thought i was trying to leave the details vague

did i mention they saved them for me, and the one, the terrorist i suspect was almost the size of my thumb

ok, no more, you've been scarred enough, singing, my handsomeness, and now visions of my internals.

see me in 10-20 yrs when you ask me where you should have it done, ouch.

1st read or the day for me....Good review, i was'nt going to read it at first when i saw the heading,.... "Butt" La writes a great write up on Food and other stuff so i thought "what the hell" and it was worth the read, and great info for anyone in the same position.

What with the recent Feet problems,and Gout complaints,, this is certainly not " Bottom of the pile "of health issues, more at the top all thanks to the in-depth review.

Now i need to concentrate on something else to get the image from my head.

La,
good to hear everything went smooth.
1) How many kilo did you loose?
2) Are you drinking Baileys again?

kilos? don't know how, but before surgery, i was 99, when i had my full exam in oct at camillian hosp in bkk, i feel comfortable to recommend, service and price very good, with a little patience, but no negatives. then, without much or very little to no effort, i weighed in at 91 before surgery. may have lost a couple since then, but also probably put them back on, so guessing i'm hanging at 90, as i am being conservative on my diet habits but also, not denying mysellf of those 39 baht banana splits at mae ya or burning up those calories or getting that metabolism to excited, well, with that exception, but the ac is on and no sweat worked up (sorry, more scarring Paul). was told no coffee or alcohol after surgery, then at discharge told go back to my normal diet with no worries, yea right. gave coffee a week then beer almost 3 weeks. Ree was kind enough to do a bailey's run for me while in nakhon phanon, which, with little energy will report on before noon tomorrow, not much, did a short NE loop, kalasin/maha sarakham/mukdahan/nakhon phanon loop. nice to be restocked, was down to my last full bottle, so felt comfortable polishing off that just opened one. got 3 to hold me over till 90 day check in, no, not at aek udon

hem note/advise, at our age, if you have them, don't let that give you a false sense of security when a bit of blood in stools, (sorry Paul) or at doc for inspection for prostate or whatever. don't blow it off as, no problem, probably the hems. get the barium enama, at least, or the colonscopy, especially if cancers, especially butt cancer runs in family. one of the top killers for men, don't let our egos take our smiles away, it's reassuring to know all is good afterwards. 45 and over, get them check ups, life savers. care as much about yourself as your loved ones, who you make get their lovely inspections every year or so often.