Colorectal Medicine in Taipei

Colorectal medicine is a field of medicine that focuses on the disorders of the colon, rectum, and anus. Physicians specializing in this field of medicine are called colorectal doctor or colon and rectal doctor. They are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage a wide range of diseases, including Hemorrhoids, Anal itching, Fistulas, Anal fissures, Anal cancer, Colon cancer, Rectal cancer, Chron’s disease, Diverticulitis, Ulcerative colitis, Pilonidal cysts, Rectal prolapse, Fecal incontinence, Anal condyloma, Chronic constipation, Problems with bowel movements and urination.

Colorectal doctors are highly experienced and qualified to use numerous medical procedures to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the colon, rectum, and anus. These procedures include, but are not limited to Physical exams, including evaluation of vital signs and blood pressure, Colonoscopy, Barium enema, Digital rectal examination, Capsule Endoscopy, Proctoscopy, Sigmoidoscopy, Defecating proctography, Bowel surveillance.

Some colorectal doctors are also trained to perform surgery, such as bowel obstruction repair, pelvic laparoscopy, colectomy, colostomy, hemorrhoidectomy, polypectomy, strictureplasty, and more depending on the patient’s particular condition. They can also prescribe medications, such as antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.

How Long Should I Stay in Taipei?

The length of stay depends on the type of procedure you underwent. For most diagnostic procedures, you should be able to leave Taipei within 2 to 3 days or until the results are ready. Once the result is ready, you will have to see your colorectal doctor. They will explain the results and discuss the treatment plan with you, if necessary. For surgical procedures, it is wise to stay for 3 to 7 days to let your body recover. You may also need to attend a follow-up checkup where your doctor removes the surgical stitches and monitor your healing progress.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

For many procedures, such as colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, you should be able to resume normal activities within 24 hours or after the sedation wears off. With surgical procedures, it may take around six to twelve weeks until you can go back to your normal activity, with the exception of strenuous activities. Your doctor will give you a recovery timeline, which includes when you can return to work and your full daily activities.

What Aftercare is Required?

Your medical team will give you aftercare instructions. It may include recommended diet, exercises, activity restrictions, and wound care (if any incision were made). For cancer patients, you may need to attend regular checkups. You do have the option to have the checkups with your local doctor at home if you cannot travel to Taipei multiple times. For non-cancer patients, your doctor will decide whether you need a follow-up checkup or not.

What's the Success Rate?

Thanks to the continuous advancement of colorectal medicine, the diagnostic procedures are now more accurate and the treatments are more successful than they were previously. More and more procedures are performed using new techniques and technology as well. For example, your doctor can now explore the entire colon without creating any incision or causing significant discomfort to you by using colon capsule endoscopy. However, this does not mean that there are no risks to colorectal procedures. Although uncommon, you still need to be aware of the risks, such as bleeding and infection.

Are there Alternatives?

In some cases, your general physician may be able to diagnose and treat your condition. However, if they think you need specialist treatment, they will still refer you to a colorectal doctor. 

Colorectal Medicine in and around Taipei

About Taipei

Taipei City is the capital and one of the special municipalities of Taiwan. It is located in the northern part of the island in a basin between the Central Mountains and the Yangming Mountains. Characterized by friendly people and safe streets, this city is one of the most fascinating places to visit. It has an amazing history, delicious food, and a blend of Chinese culture with a fusion of Japanese, American, and Southeast Asian influences. While most visitors normally visit the city to indulge in its culture and go sightseeing, more and more people are traveling here to have medical treatment, due to the high-quality medical standards, professional teams, high-tech medical equipment, and reasonable prices. 

Popular Parts of Taipei

Zhongshan and Datong are two of the most popular parts of Taipei. Zhongshan was once the financial and international business center of the city, and today, it still has plenty of hotels and eateries. Visitors can also find numerous excellent museums, Taipei Expo Park, and Taipei’s version of the London Eye called Miramar. Datong is one of the oldest parts of the city. It is known to be home to Taipei’s finest temples, such as the Confucius Temple, Bao’an Temple, and Xiahai City God Temple. Those who love shopping should go to Da’an, an important commercial and residential area in the city. It houses some of the city’s classiest shopping areas, as well as the most sophisticated bars and a beautiful park. Another popular area is Shilin, which is where the National Palace Museum is located.

Transport in Taipei

The primary international airport in Taipei is the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. It connects the city with various major cities around the globe, such as New York, Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Paris. Some budget airlines are operating from this airport, including AirAsia and Eastar Jet. To journey around, Taipei there is a very efficient, safe, and clean Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, which is called Metro Taipei. It has an extensive network and will get you to numerous areas around the city. Buses and taxis are also available. Buses are efficient and affordable, while taxis are the most flexible mode of transport.    

Visas in Taipei

Citizens of 66 countries, including all EU countries, Australia, and the US, do not need a visa to visit Taipei for up to 90 days. Visa on arrival is available for nationals of Turkey. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also provides an eVisa program for several countries, including the UAE and India.

Weather in Taipei

Summer (June to August) can be extremely hot and humid, with an average temperature of 27°C to 30°C. It is also the wet season and typhoons are a real possibility, rain decreases, and the temperature drops during autumn. Winter (December to February) is cold and dry, while spring is pleasant.  

Additional Info

1. Local Currency: The New Taiwanese Dollar (TWD) is the local currency and 1 USD is worth about 30 TWD.
2. Money & Payments: ATMs are available in many parts of the city. Credit cards are accepted in hotels and upscale restaurants. It would be wise to always carry some cash. Tipping is not mandatory.
3. Local Language: Mandarin Chinese is the official language and many people can speak English well. 
4. Local Culture and Religion: Buddhism and Taoism are the biggest religions, followed by Christianity, Yiguandao, and Tiandism. 
5. Public Holidays: Chinese New Year is the most important public holiday, which is celebrated for a week during February.