Patient Testimonial
Pituitary Tumor Patient
After about 3-4 days of headaches
"I saw a doctor who thought it was early-stage migraines. They gave me medication and an injection, but it didn't help. The doctor then requested a scan, and the results showed nothing. The next day, I couldn't eat or do anything, so my husband rushed me back to the hospital."
"The doctor re-examined the CT scan and immediately saw something, so I was admitted. The doctor informed me late that night that it might be a tumor, specifically on my pituitary gland. I asked about treatment, and the doctor said the easiest way was endoscopic surgery to avoid opening the brain. Once removed, that was it. I'm living a normal life now. I used to get sick easily, but I haven't been sick since the surgery."
Mr. Sommai Promsathaporn shares his story.
"I had no pre-existing conditions; I enjoyed running and exercising. My annual check-up revealed high cholesterol and triglycerides, which improved after exercise. However, I never had a heart check-up. At the 19km mark of my run, I had no warning signs – no difficulty breathing, no chest pain. I suddenly blacked out and remember nothing. I was conscious during the angiogram and surgery, but still can't recall the events. When I woke up, I was still in shock, asking my wife if I finished the race, where my shirt was, and where my medal was."
"I thought it wouldn't happen to me because I'd completed 21km many times and trained regularly. I knew there were risks in competitive running, but I was willing to run and overlooked them, believing I'd be fine. This was completely unexpected."
"I'm grateful to be alive; I still have my family, my loving wife, siblings, friends, pets, and plants. Thank you to the team who helped me recover so well. I might have lived an extreme lifestyle, but I'm not afraid to live. However, recovering has made me feel good. I want to tell those who don't get health check-ups to listen to their doctors. Exercise step by step; don't jump ahead or live too extremely. Live in moderation."
Dr. Pailin Paspitsanu, a cardiologist who treated Mr. Sommai, stated:
"His electrocardiogram showed signs of a previous myocardial infarction (heart attack). When I first saw him, he was disoriented and couldn't recall anything. A brain CT scan showed no signs of stroke or bleeding. His cardiac enzyme levels were around 1,500 (normal is under 45), indicating heart muscle damage. His heart ultrasound showed poor left ventricular contraction (around 53-54%) and a slightly enlarged left heart chamber. An angiogram revealed three severe blockages, most critically over 50% in the left main coronary artery. Treatment options were bypass surgery or angioplasty with stenting, with the best choice depending on the patient's condition. Mr. Sommai and the medical team chose angioplasty with three stents, which took about two hours. He is now feeling well."
Mr. Sommai's collapse was due to acute coronary artery occlusion, leading to myocardial ischemia. Strenuous exercise caused a rapid heart rate, increased blood pressure, and a surge in adrenaline. This made the heart pump forcefully but inefficiently, leading to chest tightness and collapse. Such events during running are often heart-related, especially in runners with undiagnosed coronary artery disease. When the heart's demand for blood increases but it's obstructed by blockages, it leads to ischemia, myocardial death, and heart failure. Prompt treatment with an angiogram was crucial to identify the blockages and determine further intervention.
Patient with Coronary Artery Disease, Valvular Stenosis, and Arrhythmia
Mr. Sakchai Doknammai shares his experience
"Using modern, less risky techniques, it looked much safer than traditional surgery from the video. Afterward, about a week of recovery in the hospital, and then he'd go home."
Before becoming fatigued, my uncle had trouble sleeping, having worked tirelessly all day without rest, leaving him drained. We took him to the hospital, unsure of the cause of his exhaustion. He had been told by a previous doctor that he had a leaky heart valve for a long time but hadn't sought treatment, only taking medication for a pinched nerve in his neck, epilepsy, and an enlarged prostate. He wasn't concerned about his heart valve because he could still perform daily activities normally. During that period, insufficient rest and overexertion led to severe shortness of breath and incomplete breathing.
We first took him to a hospital, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they couldn't immediately identify the cause of his fatigue, requiring a multi-day wait. His condition worsened, and he refused to eat, causing his health to decline. Fortunately, someone recommended Ramkhamhaeng Hospital, where they had previously received treatment and a relative had undergone heart valve replacement. We contacted Ramkhamhaeng Hospital to send an ambulance, bringing all his medical records. The doctor examined him and found that he had pulmonary edema due to heart failure, initially caused by severe heart valve stenosis.
However, coronary artery disease might also have been a contributing factor. Three days later, when his condition improved, we took him for an angiogram, which confirmed the presence of coronary artery disease. He was advised to undergo balloon angioplasty, which we decided to do that day. The procedure took about half an hour, and afterward, he was able to converse normally. The plan was to recover fully before treating the valve stenosis, but while waiting, he developed pulmonary edema again, requiring continued hospitalization until his valve replacement. If he had gone home, the same problem would have recurred.
Regarding the heart valve surgery, it wasn't a major operation. Instead, an artificial heart valve was inserted via catheter and placed over the existing valve without removing it. This modern technique, seen in videos, is less risky and safer than traditional surgery. He was expected to recover in the hospital for about a week before returning home. However, while waiting to be discharged, he experienced dizziness and almost fainted. Luckily, this occurred while he was in the CCU. It was discovered that his heart rate was very slow, so Dr. Buncha urgently recommended a pacemaker. After the pacemaker was implanted, he regained consciousness, could speak and smile, which was a huge relief for me. He then recovered in the hospital for another week before going home.
The doctor scheduled a follow-up appointment for one month later. Before that appointment, he mentioned experiencing constant lightheadedness. During the visit, Dr. Buncha examined him and had him wear a Holter monitor for two days to track his heart rate. The results showed abnormal heartbeats both while awake and asleep, which the doctor explained could lead to acute heart failure. The doctor prescribed medication, and after taking it, he no longer experienced those symptoms. He continues to take the medication without any issues.
