Posted 2012-04-05 19:54:20
 Sheryl, on 2012-04-05 13:52:28, said:
I have no idea why the long stay for the angiogram. But it may have to do with the general slowness of things in government hospitals i.e. they may not be able to book you for an exact time or even an exact day.
I will have to wait and see I guess.
My GF confirms that the doc said I would be anaesthetised for 6 hours, and that seems an awful long time, so maybe they are doing something else, in addition to the angiogram.
The procedure for admission seems to be very well organised - I have a sheaf of forms to bring with me and I have been told where and when report early on the Wednesday morning. All the processes so far have been very prompt and efficient, so lets see what happens.
Posted 2012-04-05 20:00:29
smokie36, on 2012-04-05 14:00:45, said:
Mobi...if you do decide to have this done in London I recommend a surgeon who works at the London Bridge hospital. His name is Chris Young. Best I've worked with by a long way.
Thanks smokie, but it looks like I'm going with Rajawithi.
Posted 2012-04-05 21:23:14
Mobi, on 2012-04-05 19:54:20, said:
Sheryl, on 2012-04-05 13:52:28, said:
I have no idea why the long stay for the angiogram. But it may have to do with the general slowness of things in government hospitals i.e. they may not be able to book you for an exact time or even an exact day.
I will have to wait and see I guess.
My GF confirms that the doc said I would be anaesthetised for 6 hours, and that seems an awful long time, so maybe they are doing something else, in addition to the angiogram.
Is she sure that was the angiogram and not the actual open heart surgery? 6 hrs for the latter sounds correct, but not for the angio, not even if they end up putting in a stent while they are at it. I think thety must have been referring to the actual surgery.
Posted 2012-04-06 10:23:55
The 6h after an angio may actually be just the time required to stay under observation in hospital to watch for bleeding from the artery where the catheter was inserted.
This is done just under local anaesthetic. Six hours under general anaesthetic is more than enough for a valve replacement which usually takes about 4h at most.
Posted 2012-04-06 14:45:29
FBN, on 2012-04-06 10:23:55, said:
The 6h after an angio may actually be just the time required to stay under observation in hospital to watch for bleeding from the artery where the catheter was inserted.
This is done just under local anaesthetic. Six hours under general anaesthetic is more than enough for a valve replacement which usually takes about 4h at most.
Your suggested scenario sounds about right. I guess it will be a 'local' rather than a 'general' - these things tend to get a bit confused in translation.
The 3 day stay later this month is definitely not for any kind of surgery or stent procedure. I will be admitted to the 'angiography ' unit, and the surgery will be carried out later in a different building and the cost for my forthcoming tests is a standard 15K.
All my discussions with the doctor and medical people were in connection with my forthcoming 3 day stay. they told me that the surgeon would discuss the operation with me once the angiogram had been done.
I do have one further question. I asked if I should stop any of my medication prior to having the angiogram and they said no. But I have since read that it would be advisable to stop my daily aspirin, as it thins the blood and will be more difficult to stop bleeding. They don't even know what my medication is except for a perfunctory glance by the junior doctor several months ago.
Any thoughts?
Edited by Mobi, 2012-04-06 14:46:38.
Posted 2012-04-06 17:09:52
It may be advisable to stop Aspirin about 72h prior to the angio but protocols differ and a call to the radiologist would probably be good if that's achievable..
Posted 2012-04-07 11:10:38
Off topic post and reply removed.
Poster "vegasphl" please open a new topic or search the forum on your particular request; this has been discussed before.
Posted 2012-05-01 17:38:32
I have written a very detailed account of my 3 days stay in Rajavithi hospital last week in my latest blog post, so those who are interested in chapter and verse can find it all there – in all it’s glory.
In summary - the first day is taken up with a series of checks- blood, x-ray, EKG etc and then settling into bed in late afternoon, where yet more personal information is gleaned and many forms are filled.
Then a nurse comes along and checked all my vital signs, before relieving me of my pubic hair in advance of the angiogram procedure, the next day. (They have to open an artery in my groin and inject dye, followed by a little camera which runs up the artery and around my heart.)
Finally the doc came by, after all my test results were in, (including, incidentally an HIV check) and checked me over and went through my list of meds, which I had provided earlier.
To cut a long story short, I had managed to get myself a private room which made my stay immeasurably more pleasant.
The next morning I was wheeled down to the O.R, and was subjected to a very a very long wait before finally undergoing the procedure - during which I remained conscious throughout, which took about 90 minutes. The equipment all looked state of the art and I detected the year 2011 imprinted on a large device on a dolly over my head.
It took the doc about an hour to stop the bleeding in my groin wound after the procedure was finished and I wasn’t allowed to move my leg for 8 hours. (This is where the ‘6 hour sleep’ came from; after the op – not during it.)
I was fussed over like a baby and the doc came twice that day and once the following morning to check on my condition, before discharging me. He told me that I did not require any bi-pass procedures, which was a relief.
I have to go back for the final all clear this Friday and then wait my turn to have the valve replaced – it could be anything from 1 – 3 months.
I have never experienced so much wonderful care from a hospital – ever in my life – and it more than compensated for the long queues and waiting around and the incredible bureaucracy that I had to wade my way through.
The doc has even called me since I have been home to ask if I am Ok and to make sure I go to see him on Friday.
But Sheryl was quite correct - even with my fairly decent knowledge of Thai, I would have been ‘dead in the water’ without having a Thai to help me through all the bureaucracy. It wasn’t easy, but well worth it in the end.
Posted 2012-05-23 14:56:56
My symptoms have got much worse of late. Even a gentle stroll of more than a couple of minutes is enough to bring on chest and arm pains and feelings of exhaustion.
I also seem to have a permanent 'ache' in the area of my heart which gets worse upon physical exertion - like standing up! I am wondering if this pain is coming from my defective aortic valve, and if so, is it a sign that it is about to give up the ghost?
My BP is also getting worse - not that it was ever much cop, but the morning and evening readings are higher than ever and even in the middle of the day when my mountain of BP meds should have the maximum effect, the systolic is still over 150, whereas before it was always in the low 130's, only rising as the meds wore off.
This morning my GF called the hospital to tell them my condition had worsened and they told her they would put my name further up the waiting list, but I still have no idea how long I will have to wait. It has already been a month.
I'm not sure what to do now... should I keep my fingers crossed and wait it out, or try somewhere else and pay through the nose? But even if I do that I will probably have to go through the normal processes which will no doubt take a few weeks.
Any thoughts or suggestions, anyone?
Posted 2012-05-23 16:58:32
Just had a call from the hospital. I have to go and see another cardiologist next Wednesday,obviously in response to the call we made this morning.
Not sure how much closer this will take me to an operation, but I can live in hope.
Posted 2012-05-24 07:48:25
you are experiencing the same symptoms that i had,getting worse by the day you have to take it very slowly every day till you have the op.dont try to do anything after food this is when it was worse for me,i couldnt get up the stairs and trying to get my socks off well at least you shouldnt have that problem.the last year before my valve replacement was bad but i never had to call out the dr.have you decided what valve to have,the one made from animal flesh only lasts 10-15yrs.so as i was 62 the surgeon advised a mechanical one so not have to go through another op later in life.if you have the latter you will have to take warfarin for life and have regular blood tests[inr] once your blood clotting leval is achieved.have you any info living with your new valve if not get someone in the uk to send for the booklets from the british heart foundation,if you cant get any from the hospice that does thr op.i live in korat pm me with your address and i will send you what i have. the valve is made by st.jude medical who produce all the info you should be able to get a book on line free of charge.good luck mobi i can tell you you will feel like a new man after its done.
Posted 2012-05-24 10:58:08
Thanks for the info meatboy.
I will see how it goes and may contact you for more info later. Unfortunately I am kept pretty much in the dark and still haven't met the surgeon, or had the chance to discuss what kind of valve they will give me and how much it will all cost. I am hoping I might find out all this next week, but I'm not holding my breath.
The Thai medical establishment is as secretive as the Brish establishment probably were about 50 years ago. They are reluctant to tell the patient anything and have a 'We know best' attitude.
I am quite concerned about the permanent pain I have over my heart, which gets worse upon exertion - not sure if it relates to my condition or whether it some kind of chest/rib pain. Can you tell me if you had anything similar to this prior to your op?
Thanks
Posted 2012-05-24 11:58:08
hi mobi i never rearly had what you call pain it was more like servere ache,arms would feel very heavy mostly my left i used to sit or when i went to bed holing my left arm to suport it,i also had a double by pass this and the leaking valve rendered me with not much in the way of mobility.i had contact with a family friend in the uk.who was a prof.surgeon and he always told me if i was in so much pain i would be admitted more quickly.i actually saw the surgeon in may 2007 and op was scedualed for sept that year but after being sent home twice the op was done oct.i would push em a bit harder and ask who the surgeon will be and when will i see him.
Posted 2012-05-24 19:53:26
Mobi,
The safest course of action would be to present yourself at the ER of Rajawithi. Tell them about the chest pain, and that you are on the waiting list for cardiac surgery. This will get you seen by a cardiologist then and there. Depending on what your physical exam, lab work and EKG show, they might admit you, so bring toothbrush et al just in case.
Posted 2012-05-25 14:11:07
Mobi, on 2012-05-23 14:56:56, said:
I'm not sure what to do now... should I keep my fingers crossed and wait it out, or try somewhere else and pay through the nose? But even if I do that I will probably have to go through the normal processes which will no doubt take a few weeks.
Any thoughts or suggestions, anyone?
Your paying through the nose for any type of surgery/medical procedure in Thailand regardless.Have you given it any thought that they do not want to proceed with you? just waiting you out and let nature take its course.
i did suggest some time ago my own experiences of Thailand,and to me its all a busted flush. Not too late to go back to the UK NHS/Bupa way,Skype hospitals/surgeons in Malaysia or India (acquaintance I bump into from time to time badly injured his hand windsurfing in Phuket,horrified at estimates of hospitals there,took a drive down to Penang,was xrayed,bones re-set ,strapped up ,medications for 1 Ringet (20 pence) OK he was English and was treated like royalty because of colonial past,as he stated),but there are other options than Thailand,told you mine,worked out on later estimates at 1/49 of the cost here in Thailand. Up to you
Posted 2012-05-25 15:58:31
As always your input is much appreciated, and I understand you have had some bad experiences in Thailand which have soured your views of Thai hospitals. Others, including myself have had some very good experiences - medical care is always a bit of a lottery, wherever you are, no matter how good or expensive the hospital.
I have already posted that in spite of the incredible bureaucracy and waiting around, i was probably treated with more care at the government hospital than I was at private hospitals, both here and in the UK and certainly better than state hospitals in the UK.
AFAIAC, your suggestion that "they do not want to proceed with you? just waiting you out and let nature take its course" is totally unconscionable. I was warned from the start there was a long waiting list - maybe 3 months - and every time I contact them, they have my name and details to hand and I am not just a 'forgotten farang' in their system. My problems lie with the lack of information on what's going on, but that is due to an old fashioned culture and the fact that the health system is bursting at the seams, rather than any lack of care on their behalf.
They would hardly take the trouble to call me back and make an appointment for me to see a specialist next Wednesday if they were hoping that i would just go away and peg out....
Anyway, I appreciate your opinion.
Posted 2012-05-26 05:53:42
i went through the same waiting[5years] from visiting gp to the op,my gp was great but everything else was wait,wait,and suffer.in the end i demanded my gp find out what was happening as my surgery cost was in the region of 60-80k gbp.it seemed like lets hope he pops his clogs.but in the end i did get the best of care,the op,phyiso and my gp took personal interest in my well being.
Posted 2012-05-26 10:18:47
Note that the OP is paying the full cost of this procedure out of pocket. For a government hospital, which normally has to subsist on the low levels of government budget allocation, it's a real boon. Even if you assume that financial motives are at work (unlikely in my experience with Thai govt hospitals) they have every reason to want to do the procedure.
This isn't an NHS situation.
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