Patient Testimonial
Former Brain Tumor Patient
"I must say, after only two TMS sessions over just two days, my life changed instantly. It truly brought my quality of life back to normal in just two days."
Ms. Thidarat Teetong (daughter) shares information
My mother, who has high blood pressure, developed a condition where she couldn't eat or drink, not even milk, without choking and vomiting. We admitted her to a hospital, but after only two weeks at home, her dizziness returned.
"...We felt her quality of life was terrible. The doctor said she needed constant care, so we hired someone. She'd often get phlegm when sitting, requiring assistance to get up. Someone had to watch her all night. Sometimes there was a gurgling sound in her throat, and after days of tube feeding, she developed bedsores from lying down. Every time she hiccupped, both she and we felt, 'Oh no, not again!' Each hiccup lasted hours, completely demoralizing us both. We realized that if medication couldn't stop the hiccups, the only solution was sedatives to make her sleep. This couldn't be right; 10 days in the hospital with no improvement was torture for both of us. We talked to a doctor we knew who recommended seeing a neurologist. We researched and found TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) as a treatment option. We decided to bring her to Ramkhamhaeng Hospital and spoke with Dr. Ariya, who felt it was a good treatment approach and very convenient as no admission was needed. We just needed to come for TMS the next day as scheduled.
After two TMS sessions, we saw results; my mother started to swallow. In fact, after the very first session, the doctor tested her with water, and she could swallow, something she couldn't do before without choking. However, after the first session, she still had a sore throat and phlegm due to a long-term infection from the feeding tube, so the doctor gave her antibiotics. Two days later, she had her second TMS session. While waiting for the second session, we fed her liquid hospital food through the tube. But after the second session, the feeding tube could be removed because she could swallow again and started eating soft rice. The doctor advised her to look down when swallowing, but she hasn't choked since. Both she and we were incredibly happy. After the third session, she could sit up in bed, though still needed support and a walker to walk. Now, her voice has improved; it used to be hoarse and barely audible, but now she can talk on the phone and call her friends."
Dr. Ariya Thima, a brain and neurological specialist at Ramkhamhaeng Hospital, explains:
"Cerebral infarction in the brainstem caused her inability to eat, drink water or milk without choking. This resulted from a non-functioning neurotransmitter in the brain that controls the vocal cords, preventing the vocal cords from closing. The cause was a blood clot affecting the nervous system. Choking during swallowing can be dangerous, risking fatal lung infection, so doctors inserted a feeding tube through her nostril to her stomach to prevent aspiration. Furthermore, the patient had no voice, stiff tongue, slurred speech, and difficulty balancing because the brainstem area with the clot directly controls swallowing, choking, hiccups, speech, and balance. After the first TMS stimulation, her voice immediately returned; the response was excellent. Mr. Prasert's children wanted TMS to help with his swallowing, but after just one TMS session, he could speak and showed signs of being able to eat from the first session, making it a fortunate case."
After two days, the pain subsided, but I rested my arm, gradually moving it little by little.
Mr. Ittisak experienced increasing pain when lifting his arm, eventually making it impossible to lift anything due to sudden sharp pain. An MRI scan revealed a clear bone spur shaped like a canine tooth.
The doctor initially suggested an injection to see if it would resolve the issue, with surgery as a last resort. However, it didn't improve, so he sought out Dr. Sirisak, who found both a torn tendon and a bone pressing on it. This required arthroscopic surgery to repair the torn shoulder tendon and shave down the protruding bone. Two days later, the surgery was performed. The surgical pain only lasted two days while in the hospital. After those two days, the pain was gone, but he rested his arm, gradually moving it. Now, eight months later, he's recovering well, able to lift both arms equally and rotate them freely.
Cardiac Rehabilitation for Heart Patients
"Engaging in this exercise regimen has significantly boosted my confidence, helping me avoid fainting spells and mitigating various potential risks."
A patient with a 20-year history of high blood pressure, managed with medication, discovered three coronary arteries were 75-80% blocked. They underwent balloon angioplasty for one vessel. Due to the tortuous nature of the other two arteries and the patient's age, a Ramkhamhaeng Hospital consultation led to successful angioplasty on the remaining two.
About half a month later, the patient enrolled in a rehabilitation course at the Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Department. This post-treatment step aims to restore normal daily activities, enhance self-care, safely control the condition, and reduce recurrence risk.
"Each session, Dr. Sittha tailors my exercises to be appropriate and manageable, avoiding overexertion. Besides walking, I cycle to strengthen my legs and use a treadmill at a faster pace than at home to improve my stride. Arm exercises involve resistance bands to strengthen arm and shoulder muscles. Each activity lasts 15-20 minutes. I didn't exercise much before, but now I'm confident I can avoid fainting and other risks. My blood pressure is stable, ensuring my heart isn't overworked. I plan to continue for another course after this one, which consists of six 50-minute sessions; it has been truly effective."
Assistant Professor Dr. Sittha Pongpibul, a specialist in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, exercise for disease treatment, and sports science at Ramkhamhaeng Hospital, states that rehabilitation typically lasts 2-3 months. Regular assessments ensure patients can safely exercise at appropriate intensity, and that heart and lung function improve, building confidence for normal activity.
"Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation exercises must be jointly designed by the treating physician and a specialist. They consider each patient's pathology to determine the appropriate exercise type, equipment, and duration per session. Close monitoring of heart rate, blood pressure, and body response is crucial, as some conditions, like myocardial ischemia or a history of heart failure, can lead to abnormalities during exercise. For instance, heart failure patients might experience a drop in blood pressure due to inadequate pumping, requiring exercise adjustments. The heart rate graph and blood pressure must gradually rise without becoming too high or showing signs of myocardial ischemia. Crucially, equipment must be readily available for immediate patient assistance."
