Doctor Recommendations?

by **Andrew-Udon** » July 14, 2011, 8:49 am

I'm looking for a good reliable family doctor who is more concerned about his patients welfare than the amount of money he makes dispensing drugs.

My wife has had a persistent cough for a couple of months now. She has taken cough suppressants but these offer only temporary relief. A couple of weeks ago she visited a clinic near the Charoen hotel and came back with 7 bags of tablets, neither of the bags had a name on them so I was reluctant for her to take them. In the past I've been given drugs before that I don't really need so I usually like to check them first.

It seems the doctors over here dish out drugs willy nilly whether you need them or not.

If anyone knows of a good doctor please let me know.

by **parrot** » July 14, 2011, 9:18 am

I know this is a long-shot.....but:
My wife came up positive with a TB test 30 years ago.....the doctors said it wasn't TB, but just that she had been exposed to it (or something like that). She took 6 months of horse pills and was proclaimed free of any potential problems.
About 5 years ago, my wife started hacking/coughing, especially at night....deep throaty coughs. I was worried about some possible TB connection. She went to Paolo Hospital and the doctor took a head xray and proclaimed the problem sinus related. I was skeptical. But she started taking Zyrtec (especially before going to bed at night)......and problem was solved. Zyrtec is available over the counter for about 100 baht per 10 tablets.
I'd suggest a visit to one of the private hospitals to nail down the problem.

by **Chriss** » July 14, 2011, 10:26 am

Andrew,

My recommendation would be Dr Aran at AEK, I've been registered with him for some 8 years and he's never over prescribed meds or pushed me to take any tests other than my usual annual MOT, he even told me I could buy ventolin (for my asthma) over the counter at most chemists, in the UK you need a Dr's prescription for the same, I thought I would need to buy it at the hospital where its a lot more expensive.

My wife has used the local clinics many times in the past and the same went for her, go in with a cough/cold and come out owning a mini dispensary. And to follow up on the post above, my Sister-in-Law had a consant cough and the local hospital told her it was due to exposure to TB, the Mother-in-Law had TB. A couple of months of one pill a day (if I remember correctly) set her straight.

by **Prenders88** » July 14, 2011, 12:09 pm

Dr Pongsiri is my GP.
Also at AEK, very good.

by **Andrew-Udon** » July 14, 2011, 12:53 pm

parrot wrote: she started taking Zyrtec (especially before going to bed at night)......and problem was solved. Zyrtec is available over the counter for about 100 baht per 10 tablets.

That's interesting parrot, I never considered allergies. It wouldn't hurt to try this one night to see if her condition improved.

And thanks for the advice re. doctors, I'll get her to check-in at Aek if the allergy tabs don't work.

by **wazza** » July 14, 2011, 1:26 pm

Andrew

Significant numbers of locals are hypochondriacs, they love pills, creams, and any form of medication for the slighest hint of any clinical symptoms.....

Local small GP clinics love this, they dish out MM's all colours , mostly placebos and never have any clinical name , doseage , times to be taken etc... From a medico-legal perspective, not ethical at all.

The private hospitals, any medications prescribed are issued from the Pharmacy department, come labelled and the Pharmacist explains the regime for the medication.

Have you even wondered what the "Injection shot "that these small clinics all give to patients who complain of .........?? Well not suprising its NaCl ( Normal Saline ! or Vitamin K ! ) but it pleases the patients and pleases the bank. If any clinic is offereing you a "shot " or MM's for some basic ailment, ask what is it and whats it for .

Another favourite is antihistamine for common cold, flu etc, Antibiotics for a common virus ( influenza ) which wont work and ultimately leads to drug resistance in the wider health community .

Doctor Recommendations?