Rajavej full health check- my experience

[eyecatcher 3,069]

After listening to “have you been for your health check yet?” for the last 18 months, I finally decided to get it over with.

After seeing the thread on TV towards the end of last year about the Rajavej full health check programmes, it was always “ok tomorrow”

5 months later, I sauntered into the Rajavej hospital; nervous and apprehensive, thinking if I get bad news today this will ruin my life and potentially many others. or I could continue in blissful ignorance of some nightmare developing inside me..

The question or excuse we all face is “am I brave enough now to face bad news?”

I went to the reception desk, asked for a check up; filled in a registration form; they copied my passport and asked me to wait in the check up waiting area.

I was the only farang there, all the other people were Thais, mostly ladies and about 6 in front of me.

After 15 minutes my name was called; as with most places you become Mr (forename). “which check up programme do you want?”. I asked for the premium package, everything, cost is irrelevant…..and I was then asked to step on the scales. The nurse asked how tall I was….hmm….as a diy(er) I always carry a tape, so out it came, up it went, hand on top of my head and that was it 175cm. by this time the 3 nursing staff were creased up laughing. Next the blood pressure arm wrap.

Then off to room 20 for my blood “donation” ok just a syringe full.

5 minutes later I was being taken to the x-ray department for a chest x-ray.

I had to take of my shirt, necklace, phone off, watch and stand up against a large photographic plate. The nurse pushed me onto it and I had to hug it and at the same time just take a deep breath…click..finished

Back on with the shirt….”solly sir can we do again?”

At this point you don’t know whether its incompetence or a potential problem.

I had to repeat the process, everything off…hug…click ….finished…get dressed and was then asked to wait outside.

A minute later “so solly can we do again please” ok now I am worried; this time they are sticking cellotape on my nips but we manage to find some humour in this though mine wasn’t genuine.

I was at worry stress level 8 already. Job done, finally and was taken to the ultrasound room.

Shirt off again, on the bed and my chest blathered with cold contact gel. The radiologist came in and proceeded to scan my internal organs. All very interesting stuff which I could watch on the tv screen. A series of photos were taken and several measurements.

I was verbally told everything is normal, nothing to be concerned about and the nipple encounter earlier, they were checking and double checking a shadow on the x ray. No problem all clear.I was happy for that thoroughness where there may have been doubt.

She couldn’t check the rectum properly as apparently I was full of gas… …that was no surprise, just thankful I managed to control it….as she probably was also.

Finally before I was lead from the radiology unit I was asked to “please correct urine”. For once in my life the pot given was big enough to pee in!

My final test was the ECG; So off into another room, shirt off again, on the bed and the nurse placed 4 suckered electrodes onto my hear area, two clamps on my wrists and two on my ankles. Then maybe just a 30 second tracer printout.

Finished at 11.45am only 90 minutes after first arriving and was asked to come back anytime after 2pm for the results.

Ok so at this point I had been through the tests, not paid anything yet and could still walk away and be a coward.

I returned about 5pm with confidence supplied courtesy of chang beer, back to the check up desk. The nurse remembered the handsome man, or was it me measuring myself she remembered and immediately took me to see the doctor who was going to tell me how long I had left.

Doctor Nantawat Lindkittipot went through every reading on the blood tests, urine tests, organs all meticulously.. What you want to hear is liver normal; kidneys normal; lungs normal, prostate normal, pancreas normal; colon normal, no cancer, no diabetes, low cholesterol.

CHECK-CHECK-CHECK

What a ….ing relief.

The best 4900bt I have spent since I came to Thailand.

As I was in tip top condition healthwise the doctor recommended a return visit every 12-18 month just to follow up the early onset on anything.

I left with a full report of all my results not before paying and literally dozens of tests that are concluded with just the blood and urine. (that don’t actually mean a thing to me)

I have to say with regard to the Rajajev I was looked after every step of the way feeling somewhat zombiefied for the 90 minutes at what was going on. I was never alone, never wondering where to go next, it was so well organised, each department was expecting me and welcomed me by name. compared to the UK; my experience in Thai hospitals wins hands down.

You know there is a massive difference between ignorant bliss and having a health report that confirms it. A bit of “arrogance” and “I told you so” and the feeling of immortality when I got home, that was the high it gave me.

Unfortunaltely you cannot check for death my misadventure…be careful..

If you haven’t checked up yet, then fast from 9pm tonight and go and do it tomorrow.

No appointment necessary, you can check the full programme options at www.rajavejchiangmai.com.

All asleep now?

[slojamm 4]

Brave man, I can relate to your feelings of anxiety. Well done.

[Tywais 12,109]

Nice write up eyecatcher, thanks for the info.

[amexpat 1,688]

Thanks, OP

I'm glad you didn't fail to mention the necessity of fasting, even if you did put it at the end of the post where people are already asleep.

I, too, was very pleased with the checkup there. After the tests, Dr. can't-remember-his-name actually put me on the table and poked and tapped and listened and asked questions just like western doctors do. I mention this because I've had checkups at other local hospitals where the doctor barely glanced at me while he read the reports and said normal, ok, normal, etc.

Congratulations on finding the courage to go through with it. Now it's time for your colonoscopy.

[uptheos 11,122]

Good write up eyecatcher

"this time they are sticking cellotape on my nips"

I knew those nipple piercings would bother you some day.

[narkeddiver 492]

Good write up eyecatcher

"this time they are sticking cellotape on my nips"

I knew those nipple piercings would bother you some day.

Hope said nips are not hirsute otherwise the cello tape removal process may have been painful

[uptheos 11,122]

Good write up eyecatcher

"this time they are sticking cellotape on my nips"

I knew those nipple piercings would bother you some day.

Hope said nips are not hirsute otherwise the cello tape removal process may have been painful

Need to trust EC's word on this.

[lexilis 138]

Thanks for this. I have been fretting about doing exactly the same thing for ... waaay too long. Hope I get exactly the same results! Question: can basically the same be done at CM Ram for at least not too many more Baht? My experiences with CM Ram have been very good (for very minor events) and it is a lot more conveniently located for me. Anybody with check-up experiences there?

[Chicog 14,497]

Doesn't sound much of a 'premium' health check.

What bloods did they do?

[Chicog 14,497]

Mind you, the Premium does cost; here's Bumbrungrad's which costs Bt16,900.

Package Name: Comprehensive Male 50+*

Vital Signs and Physical Examination Complete Blood Count (CBC) Fasting Blood Sugar Lipid (Fats) Profile - Cholesterol, HDL and Triglyceride, Cholesterol/HDL Ratio, LDL Cholesterol Gout (Uric Acid) Kidney Function Panel Creatinine BUN Liver Function Panel SGOT (AST) and SGPT (ALT) Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) Total Bilirubin, Albumin, Globulin Gamma GT (GGT) Thyroid Panel * TSH and Free T4 Hepatitis Screening HBsAg and HBsAb, Anti-HCV Tumor Markers CEA for GI Cancer AFP for Liver Cancer PSA for Prostate Cancer Urine Examination Stool Examination with Occult Blood Electrocardiogram (EKG) Chest X-ray Ultrasound Whole Abdomen Eye Exam (Acuity and Tonometry) Exercise Stress Test (EST)

[arunsakda 1,421]

My experience with the executive check-up (Bunrumgrad) at age 41 was as follows. I wish I had never done it. After not having a chest xray since a childhood pneumonia I was told that I had to see a specialist in pulmonology and CT scans of my lungs were ordered. I was told by the "board certified US trained expert" that I had lung cancer or TB. Realize that I have never as much as coughed and run 10k's with no training. Tests were ordered and I came in a month later for more scans. They told me some conflicting information such as "we dont think you have cancer but the lesions are progressing ( they weren't) we want to do a needle biopsy. I could have told you I don't have TB. At that point I put the brakes on and, freaking out, went to Cedar Sinai in Los Angeles. The doctor there told me clearly upon reviewing my scan CD's that I did not have lung Cancer, but he ordered extra tests for some other stuff like fungal infection/valley fever. He said that the needle biopsy was potentially dangerous and absolutely contraindicated.

All tests were negative. They did set me up for more CT scans every 6 months for two years. 2 years and thousands of dollars later I was sent off with no clear diagnosis of what caused the lesions/scarring on my lung, which were not growing. It was all more hassle and stress than what it was worth.

The lesson here is One has to be a very informed consumer of medical services, you almost gave to be your own doctor. i wanted to take care of myself and decided on a thorough checkup. These full check programmes give you tests that are not necessary, and may give results that lead to more tests. If you get full body scans and tests, there are lumps and bumps, they will find something. Xxrays are ionising radiation, to which there is no safe limit of exposure. For that reason in the States they are not given unless indicated. Upon consulting in the States though now the Doc had to order more scans, if only to cover himself from potential lawsuits.

Think about the fasting blood sugar tests which are all the rage and given to people with no symptoms of diabetes at all. What's the point? Is ignorance bliss?

Edited May 1, 2014 by arunsakda

[GBHK 56]

While it certainly may happen that someone has a bad experience, it is far better to know about problems ahead of time that to stick your head in the sand and hope everything will be right. For one bad experience, there are probable dozens of people who can either be cured or control the problems that are developing before it is too late.

I also had the full check and something was found on the ultrasound that is apparently nothing to worry about after looking at a CT scan. The was also something else that was there in the first scan but not detected in the subsequent ones. Even though, I eat reasonable well and exercise a lot, my cholesterol and blood pressure are slightly elevated. It's good to have a heads up to maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep on checking things that are developing.

Personally, I'm not only hoping to live into my 90s but also be very active. It's like an old car, if you want to keep it running, it will need more and more care as it gets old.

[arunsakda 1,421]

While it certainly may happen that someone has a bad experience, it is far better to know about problems ahead of time that to stick your head in the sand and hope everything will be right. For one bad experience, there are probable dozens of people who can either be cured or control the problems that are developing before it is too late.

I also had the full check and something was found on the ultrasound that is apparently nothing to worry about after looking at a CT scan. The was also something else that was there in the first scan but not detected in the subsequent ones. Even though, I eat reasonable well and exercise a lot, my cholesterol and blood pressure are slightly elevated. It's good to have a heads up to maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep on checking things that are developing.

Personally, I'm not only hoping to live into my 90s but also be very active. It's like an old car, if you want to keep it running, it will need more and more care as it gets old.

Can't argue with anything you said here. Sometimes people wake up, cough up blood, and go to a surgery to be told they have stage 4 lung cancer and will be dead in a month. Others go to a checkup every 6 months and get an Xray that gives them lung cancer after 20 years. As for me I am going to stick with my Doc's reccomendations.

[northernjohn 3,334]

Thanks for this. I have been fretting about doing exactly the same thing for ... waaay too long. Hope I get exactly the same results! Question: can basically the same be done at CM Ram for at least not too many more Baht? My experiences with CM Ram have been very good (for very minor events) and it is a lot more conveniently located for me. Anybody with check-up experiences there?

Never again. Just to take the ultra scan they made me drink about 4 liters of water and I had to really take a leak but they said they could not do it unless I drank all that water. You sit down and need to take a leak not to bad but they force you to drink 4 more liters of water before they can do the scan. Never again. I will not go into the poop test. That was a genuine shit-y affair.

Also had an extraa X ray taken and the doctor wanted to throw me on the table right away. some thing my two specialists in Canada had advised against and later when I saw Dr. Suthee at the Ram he explained why not to do it. The man has only seen it done once in 40 years and it is a pain that is just another part of me now.

The one thing I was wondering on the OP was about having an OK prostate test with out the rectum method. Is the ultra scan good enough.

Edited May 1, 2014 by northernjohn

[Thailand 14,366]

Wife and I did the health check in December at a Raj.

Nothing but praise from the whole process and excellent value. Don't let the internet doctors put you you off.

A couple of years ago with our 2 year check the wife was diagnosed with the very early stages of TB which could have been very serious if left any longer still a few months of treatment followed.

Go and do it.