Mister Fixit

Have you tried the Thai herbal laxative, Radompon?  Thais swear by it and so do I.  I have been on a keto way of eating for 4 years now and do occasionally get blocked up and this stuff works every time

Tastes awful  but within an hour, you're on the move!  ???? 

19 hours ago, connda said:

Cheaper to buy a box of B12 ampules (฿100 for 10 ampules) a syringe and a 25 or 24 gauge needle (higher number is smaller and hurts less).  Search online regarding how to give yourself a B12 shot safely. 

I don't think I'd want to be doing that without a full test first.

And I buy the box of 10 you mentioned for the price you mentioned and then go to my local clinic where the nice lady doctor charges me a whole 80 baht to give me a shot, including cost of syringe .  

I think the weird sensations the OP has could be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency, especially if he has a sore tongue.

Might be worth a blood test.  

On 4/14/2021 at 9:50 AM, Pilotman said:

and watch prostate cancer kill you instead. 

Hasn't killed me yet and I've been on it 16 years.  You sound like my rubbish GP in the UK who said the same thing to me and refused the shots, but only gave me 2 years if I had them elsewhere. 

He was a complete pillock at the best of times and about as useful as a chocolate teapot.   Glad to be rid of him.

5 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

I certainly was not criticizing you or anyone else who has a legitimate medical need for TRT.  I was only making a point that many people unrealistically see it as a magic "fountain of youth" or an easy fix for a poor lifestyle.  Even for those with such unrealistic expectations, it's not solely their fault since the big pharma companies and many doctors make a lot of money off promoting such unrealistic expectations. 

Sorry, I think I misconstrued your post.  Apologies.

BTW, you mentioned a male hormone blood test panel in a post way back.  Could you refresh my memory?

I am going to the Army hospital on Monday for a knee checkup and intend to ask the prof to refer me to the endocrinology department for these tests.

Can you refresh my memory as to what I should be asking for?  

I think it was both free and total testosterone,  oestrogen, oestradiol, LH, FSH and something else.  Can't remember what they all were now though.

On 4/12/2021 at 12:26 PM, WaveHunter said:

I'm not saying there is not a legitimate use for TRT or sildenafil for sexual dysfunction but too many turn to prescriptions before even addressing poor lifestyle choices related to nutrition and exercise.

 

Too many doctors would rather take the easy way out by reaching for their Rx pad instead of counseling their patients on adopting healthier lifestyles.

 

“Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food.”  This famous quote, often attributed to Hippocrates, is a good adage to live by IMHO.

 

My rant for the day ????

 

In my case, as I pointed out upthread, my need for TRT is because I had a pituitary adenoma and not for sexual enhancement although I am sure it helped.  ????

And in my post above, you'll see I said that I lost 50 kgs body weight over a couple of years and have kept it off.  I have a pretty healthy lifestyle but my exercising has been cramped by 1) having 2 arthritic knees so can't run or even walk too far any more and 2) since Covid my local gym (part of the heart hospital) closed for a long time and now has a tedious system of booking which makes it very dificult to get a slot.

However, I am sure there are those who go for TRT just to be able to perform better and for longer.  I just want to be able to perform consistently!  ????

On 4/12/2021 at 9:20 AM, polpott said:

The opinion I voiced came from one of the UK's foremost prostate cancer specialists. No need for Sheryl.

I remember my useless idiot of a UK GP refusing to prescribe testosterone injections for me in 2004.  He suggested that I read the biography of FloJo Joyner, the runner who he told me died of cancer due to using hormonal drugs to enhance her performance.  I later discovered she did no such thing - she died in her sleep after a massive epileptic seizure - why would he lie to me?

He said I'd get prostate cancer and die within two years if I had the shots.  Utter rubbish - I have shots every 3 weeks and here I am 17 years later in hale and hearty health aged 72, went on keto 4 years ago, lost around 50 kgs (110 lbs) over a few years and have kept it off.   Blood pressure is around 110-115 over 70/75 and my bloods were excellent a month ago.  

In fact, I shocked my practice nurse in the UK when I went back for a few weeks for my mother's 99th birthday in 2017.  I'd been on keto for 2 months, had lost 12 kgs and my blood pressure was down from 145/95 to 100/60!  She changed the batteries in her machine - same.  She did it the old fashioned way with a sphygmomanometer - same.  She was astonished and so was I.

I wonder whether  your 'UK foremost prostate cancer specialist' would agree with my GP?  In my experience, much UK medicine is extremely conservative at GP level, and not just my local idiot.  

3 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

 

Oh what a wicked web we weave....

 

 

Would you please mind not responding any any more of my posts?  Thank you.

On 4/7/2021 at 5:59 AM, Yellowtail said:

 

Or yours....

My posts were solely in response to your off-topic posts, but you still didn't get the message ...

Train from Thonburi to Kanchanaburi.  Almost clean.

10 hours ago, Neeranam said:

I taught English here for 25 years and have found the opposite. Thais copy most British things rather than the US. The complete legal system and government for example. Well-to-do Thais want their kids to study in the UK, not the US. 

Not my experience at all in 17 years.  Tell that to all the kids I have taught who have gone to the US to study - although to be fair, it's probably about 50-50 with the UK and a bit of Australia too.

The legal system is far more US-centric too, with it's codified laws.  

The only reason the governmental system is similar to the UK is because they have a monarchy here.

Anyway, what's your post to do with varifocal lenses?

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

it is private. Theo nly private all psych hospital in Thailand. Very good quality.

Yes, as I saw too late in the 'About' link.  At least there's somewhere else.

However, it's highly unlikely they will be able to prescribe anything other than Concerta (3,630 baht at a Government hospital for 30 tablets, so probably a lot more there), Ritalin or Strattera.  Not exactly a large armoury of meds available in Thailand compared to Western countries, especially the US.

Psychological interventions just aren't going to work effectively without decent meds to straighten out the brain chemistry first.  

48 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Manarom Hospital   https://www.manarom.com/service_eng.html

Interesting link.  I was unaware of this place.  Is it private or Government?  Looks private though.  

EDIT - I saw the 'About' link *after I posted that!  ????

49 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Generally I would agree with you but a lot depends on where you live and the tutors involved.

In this area there are very few native speakers and it then reflects on where the tutor was taught. My niece was taught by a Filipino who spoke American English, have to keep explaining the differences.

 

Good job there are only single letters on the eyesight cards.

Agreed.  In Bangkok, there's quite a mix of teachers and many more NES teachers, but up country tends to be where you get the Filipinos, Ghanaians, Croatians etc, because they will accept less pay.

And yes, although I am British, I always explain the difference between the two to my students because a lot of them watch American films.  

But do you mean sight cards in an opticians?  With every eye test I have ever had in Thailand, they have  numbers on the big thing on the wall and also some small cards.  Never seen letters on one here.

1 hour ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Thats the spirit! its better to burn out than fade away!  Atta Boy! ????

Absolutely.  

People who make value judgements on others without knowing them always make me smile, as though what they think is even remotely relevant to another person's life.  

My mother lived to 101 (and one day) before she gave up and I intend to try to do the same.  I have inherited her stubbornness and her excellent heart and I ain't going to waste them.

Let others more faint of heart give up on themselves and fade away into irrelevant nothingness when they reach a certain age - not me though.  

I'm not desperate to be bonking every night, but once a week is a reasonable goal. I had elderly and very sprightly opposite neighbours in the UK many years ago, he was 91, she was 88 and his wife told my ex that they still managed it from time to time.  Game on!  ????

I'm not 100% sure what you mean here.  Borderline personality disorder is a serious mental health problem - did you mean that, or did you mean that someone has 'borderline Attention Deficit Disorder' ie, mild AD/HD?

There's not a lot of help available for AD/HD in Thailand, but I go to Sritanya Hospital in Nonthaburi for meds for my own AD/HD.  I have known I have it since 1992 so I don't need diagnosing. 

Sritanya is a Government mental health hospital and is therefore cheap, but not many staff speak English, although the doctors do.  If you went, it would be best to take a Thai with you to get you registered and explain what you want.  They are quite helpful but the system can be overwhelming and they don't explain things too well.

However, the doctor was fine and prescribed meds for me and then we had a follow up 2 weeks ago and she changed my meds.  First I was on 36 mgs Concerta but due to cost she prescribed 40 mgs Ritalin daily, but I have found 50 mgs works better.

At first I went to Ramathibodi (a big hospital not far from Victory Monument), in February but the nearest appointment they could give me was 14th May!  

There is a private clinic in Nonthaburi, (Dr Wichian clinic, tucked down a small soi near the market and only part time) run by one of the Sritanya doctors but he only prescribes Ritalin. 

And be aware that there are only 3 meds available for AD/HD in Thailand - Concerta (extended release methylphenidate and a whopping 3,600 baht for 30 tablets!), Ritalin at a more manageable 900 baht a month and Strattera (atomoxetine) but I don't know the cost of that.  I hope to combine that with Ritalin at my next visit. 

  
There are absolutely NO amphetamine-based medications allowed in Thailand, not even in hospitals, so there's no Dexedrine, Adderall or Vyvanse available whatsoever.  That's a shame because the most effective for me was Dexedrine.

You can try other hospitals., and probably private ones are best, but be prepared to spend big money.  I have seen a couple of private clinics advertised, but they seem to be run by psychologists and I would advise you see a proper medical doctor first, because unless you have been diagnosed already you will need a full examination, history taken etc etc.

A couple of questions - have you already been diagnosed with AD/HD?  If so, what type - predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive, or combined type?  If so, where were you diagnosed - what country, in a hospital or clinic etc?

Also, your nationality and age, command of Thai and English, experience of AD/HD?

If you prefer, direct message me.  I am pretty knowledgeable - I discovered I had AD/HD in January 1992, and was the first diagnosed adult in the UK in October 1992 although I had to go to the US for the testing and diagnosis. 

I started the first UK registered charity for AD/HD in January 1993 and we quickly grew to over 2,000 members in the first year.

Good luck.  If I find out more, I will post here again.

I did do a quick Google search which you can see here  https://tinyurl.com/cvncfz42

9 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

 

Coincidentally, my son has been learning English here for 17 years (18 years in June), he visits the US most every year and I think he would side with me. He just took the IELTS which is administered my the British Council, which makes little sense if it is the intent of Thailand's educational system to teach American English.  

 

I can't hear the signs, so I can't speak to he English signage, but there certainly does not seem to be any real constancy from one area to the next as to how things are spelled or whether Prachinburi is one word or two...

 

 

Your son should have been taught TOEFL and not IELTS if he expects to eventually stay in the US and anyway, he has been exposed to US English through you and his regular visits there, so I'd say he was wrongly placed by not being placed on a TOEFL course.

TOEFL is the US equivalent of IELTS, although most Thais prefer to do TOEIC because it's supposedly easier.  I've taught them all an to my mind, TOEFL and TOEIC are both utterly boring, mechanistic systems, but there you go.

But somehow you have managed to misunderstand my post, as you evidenced in your second sentence and which I have highlighted to assist you.

Somehow you have conflated my assertion that most English in Thailand uses American spelling and somehow came to the conclusion that it was Thai education policy to teach American English.  It isn't and never has been and I can't see how you managed to come to that conclusion.

English in Thailand is allowed to be taught by anyone who has even a semblance of knowledge of the language, and the education department have no idea of a teacher's skill level or pronunciation ability or anything else, because their own level is so low that they don't have the ability to do that.  They obviously know that NES (Native English Speakers) will have some semblance of ability in the language,  (but may not be good teachers) but they also allow Russians, Azerbaijanis, Iraqis, Filipinos, Kenyans, Nigerians and Uncle Tom Cobley to teach and there is little discrimination as to ability.  

The plain fact is that if you go to any shopping mall, department store or TV advert or look a any road sign, 90% of the spelling is in US English. 'Center' immediately springs to mind.  And I think that is due to the presence of many US troops in Thailand during the Vietnam War 50-ish years ago, when Thailand was a less than third world country and was dragged into modernity by the influx of foreigners and had to adopt and adapt and as they were then only exposed to US English, they adopted that as they knew no other way.

But you have taken the thread way off topic so let's get back to varifocal glasses, shall we?

1 hour ago, Yellowtail said:

 

That has not been my experience...

 

 

It has mine, and I've been teaching English here for almost 17 years.  

I'd say getting on for 90% of English signage here is American English.

3 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

 

Called progressive in the US as well...

I thought as much.  Thailand tends to copy American English.

38 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Exactly. The term is short for variable focal length where the focal length changes progressively, rather than a distinct step between focal length as you would see in bi-focals.

And whilst they are known as varifocals in the UK (and possibly elsewhere) here in Thailand, they are known as 'progressives'.

I remember getting blanks all round when I first enquired about getting varifocals here.

4 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

ooooooo!!! sorry!! just saw this.....I have only taken HALF OR ONE whole..there was a debate about why i had tablets vs others with capsules(half dose)

I would get the usual flush--heated and the worst part is the heartburn......so to conclude ive only taken 1 whole or less.....Go get em cowboy! Report back! ????

Hubba Hubba..

It's OK, I sorted it.  I just took the usual Kamagra gel and half a tablet 30 minutes later for insurance.   Let's just say that all went well. 

It was a little off-putting because although the niece had gone back home, the wife's bl@@dy daughter turned up to stay the night!  ????  Thai families, eh?

The wife didn't care though and was pretty helpful and enthusiastic so all ended well.

I'm not sure I like the sound of the side effects though, but I'll try one of those Grakcu things next time. 

Thanks for the tip or I'd have taken two.  I might keep some Gaviscon by the bed though!  ????

2 hours ago, Henryford said:

At 72 maybe you have to accept that your sex days are over.. Certainly if you were married to a 72 year old UK woman it would have finished long ago. You can still have fun without full sex.

Yes, that had sort of occurred to me, like I hadn't thought of that before - I do think I know my own age  ...  ????

But I'm not married to a 72 year old UK woman, I am married to a 51 year old Thai woman, so your analogy doesn't really work.

But don't be so prescriptive - please don't tell me I HAVE accept anything until a qualified medical medical practitioner tells me and not some random poster on an internet forum.

And of course, I know I am not going to be at it morning noon and night at my age, but there's nothing wrong with still trying until it becomes impossible.

I will know more in a few weeks when I get the full hormonal workup which has already been mentioned waaaay upthread, if you have read that far back.

And if you had, you'd know that I no longer make my own testosterone due to a pituitary cyst years ago and need injections. 
There's been quite a discussion about whether the current dosage needs titrating.  Perhaps that will do the trick, who knows?

And thanks for the 'advice' about how to 'do' sex,  but I have been 'doing sex' for 57 years so I do know how to have fun without full sex and often it's more fun.

On 3/22/2021 at 7:44 AM, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Sounds like a plan---time to send the niece to the movies!...guessing the gel magic gets right into the gums and bloodstream--much like snuff tabacco

The niece is going back to the family home tonight, so time for some fun!

I was going to try the Grakcu stuff this time to see how it goes, but I have binned the packaging.

What's the usual dose?  I think I saw that you took two - is that the normal dosage?

Let me know as soon as you can, the wife will be back at about 8.30 pm and I have a date with a bed at 9 pm!  ????