Sheryl

Not that I know if. Not exoensive to get a proper urine culture (preferrable to the rapid "UTI test") done at a lab.

There is usually an after hours option where you pay a bit more but avoid the extreme crowds & waits of the public channel. In addition the work will be done by more senior dentists. 12k is pretty good price for RCT. Though exact will depend on numver if sessions needed. And crown, if needed, would be additional to that. Crown prices vary with quality 8f the material. Private clinic/hospital costs will be a bit more than PSU. More of an issue is quality. I don't know anything about dental clinics in that area.

Most Cambodian banks require either a long term visa or work contract to open an account.

Prince of Songkhla University Hospital in Hat Yai dental dept would be best facility in that area.

Despite the name, this company does not handle only -- or even mostly -- repatriations. They can arrange whatever is desired including completely no frills simple local cremation. I know several people for whom that was done. Their fees are reasonable (possibly less all in than your friends/family might be able to obtain negotiating with a temple on their own) and most importantly they will handle matters with the relevant Embassy (body cannot be released for cremation or burial without Embassy pre- approval) and if needed, obtain necessary documentation of death in applicable language (will be necessary if there are any assets or government death benefiis in/from home country). I have also known them to run intererence with police at times (e.g. attempts to take body for autopsy at family's expense even though cause of death was known and patient under doctors care for terminal illness). But suit yourself. OP specifically asked for a way to pre-pay/ pre-arrange and this company offers that.

Where in the south exactly? RCT often involves multiple sessions and then you need to return to have crown fitted.

That is quite high. In fact higher than I have ever heard of here. As noted Bangkok Hospital (also a top tier international hospital(m) is offering a 262k package. https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/package/surgery-package

In any Cambodian bank, you have a choice of an account in USD or in Cambodial riel.

Gout is due to formation of uric acid crystals in the tissue and will not be in any way helped by exercise, in fact it may worsen the inflammation. Osteoarthritis on the other hand benefits from targeted exercises to strengthen the relevant muscle groups and thus reduce strain on the joint. Very important to distinguish between these conditions hence my (unanswered) question to the OP.

Choice of hospital is not important, it is all down to the specific doctor. A major decision point is open vs laparoscopic approach. The latter has quicker recovery time but requires more skill and specialized equipment and thus costs more. If you opt for laparoscopuc ask the surgeon how many such procedures he has done. Laparoscopic approach is not always possible especially if patient is obese. Public hospitals are certainly less expensive but as you note, red tape involved and also likely long wait. Best to have a Thai speaker accompany you. I don't know what price Bumrungrad gave you but Bangkok Hospital has a package price of 262k for laparoscopic. At St. Louis Hospital laoaroscopic will be around 200k and I highly recommend Dr. Narongsak Jongsiri. Open approach there would be around 125k approximately.

You mean laparoscopic. Arthroscopic is something else entirely and refers to joint surgey (knee, shoulder etc).

Not easily arranged and wouldn't really tell you much even if tested negative as quality can vary batch to batch and even within a batch.. For sure they usually use pesticides growing this stuff as thry do with all produce grown outdoors unless specifically organic (and even then pssticide gets in from rain run off). He would do best go stop the cannabis but if he won't then at least stick to higher end brands, organic or hydroponic grown. Mighg be able to get more specific recommendations in our Cannabis sub-forum. The doctor is not going to test the stuff but may know if this has been happening to others so he should bd sure to mention that he had been using this and cheap brand. Also your son should specifically ask the doctor if he can safely take a "wait and see" approach rather than start meds now. Thai doctors often assume patients want medication and will be dissatisfied if not given hhem (because indeed milost Thais feel that way). He should clearly explain ftom the start that he is seeking a second opinion and prefers not to go on long term medication unless really necessary. Indeed if this was due to pesticide or other toxic ingestion it may not recur. For that matter even if not, might not recur. At least half the time with idiopathic(not due to other disease or identifiable cause) seizures they go not. And if they do it will usually be within 2 years.

Per OP, he is uninsured

You can prepay for whatever you want done (very simple no problem if desired) , including paperwork with your Embassy, with these folk https://www.amarinternational.com/index.html However if you have any Thai family etc what you want/think necessary may be overridden by Thai customs. bets to talk with them (if applicable)

This is a chemical additive with very bitter taste to discourage ingestion of toxic substances. I have never heard if it taken by itself and indeed, it would be unsafe. Can you please clarify what you need this for.

He might like to hold off on medication until he has seen recommended doctor in Bangkok. (Assuming he has not had any further seizures and feels OK). They are saying his EEG is consistent with having had a recent seizure and does not show any current signs of seizure activity or hyperexcitability (which is factor in epilepsy). In fact brain electrical activity is somewhat depressed, which can happen post seizure and also in conjunction with some drug use/medication -- not cannabis but sleep meds, anxiety meds etc. Less often this can be associated with onset of other neurological diseases. When he goes to Bangkok he should bring full EEG report and actual print out. Also very important he be completely frank with the doctor about all drug use whether recreational or medicinal.

Have you been diagnosed by a doctor as having gout, based on elevated uric acid levels and physical exam? As this is first step . Otherwise may be confused with arthritis and other conditions. Gout attacks seldom last much more than 2 weeks even without treatment.

That is not how SS works here. SS members must select a single hospital and all care including medications has to be obtained at nominated hospital. (Exception being if SS hospital refers patient elsewhere for care thry cannot provide).

With a few exceptions (very new drugs not on MoPH list) SS will fully cover medications. They have to be ordered by a doctor at your nominated SS hospital and obtained from that hospital pharmacy. Not difficult to arrange but will involve time/waits. Up to you if the savings are worth it. In few parts of the country (I think parts of Bangkok) govt is experimenting with system to let outside pharmacies provide refills to ease hospital congestion but this is a long way from full implementation.

OP, trouble sleeping related to time zone change is directly related to melatonin levels. Suggest you take a reliable brand of melatonin (I prefer Puritan Pride, usually available on Lazada or Shoppee). Try 3-5: mg taken about 2 hours before you want to go to sleep, repeat one time after that if needed (but not too close to when you need to get up). The other things that are very important are: 1. Get as much sun exposure during the day as possible. Doesn't have to be direct on your skin, you can sit/walk in the shade, but be outside so your body gets the message that it is day time. 2. Resist the urge to nap during the day. 3. No caffeine except when you first get up. 4. Avoid using computer for a few hours before sleep. If all this is not enough the drug Sominzr sold OTC at pharmdmacies often works but may cause drowsiness next day. Try without it first as outlined above.

This

"Buddhists typically favor cremation because they believe it is an important way to release the soul from the physical form" is incorrect. That is a Hindu, not Buddhist, belief. Buddhism does not believe in the existence of an immortal soul, period. In fact that is a central tenet.

The proboem with all these types of devices if self-used is that you can end up pushing the wax further in. Doctors can better visualize the inside of the ear and extract wax than one can by oneself, and it really does nto cost that much.

There is a Chinese Medicine Clinic at St Louis Hospital (on Sathorn). Not mentioned on their website, but it is there, ground floor. Though I am doubtful it will help, no harm in trying and should not be too costly. However I am not at all sure you have been adequately diagnosed as to cause of your loss of smell and taste. There is no feasible mechanism by which a CT -- even a double CT -- could cause this AFAIK, and despite the timing if its occurrence. it is is more likely related to either your head injury or a viral infection like COVID (sometimes loss of taste and smell are the only symptom, and can take many months to return). The other things you report the doctors as having said (e.g. reference to a "tumor") lead me to think communication was poor and to also be unsure of the quality of the care you received. I suggest you take all your records to the following for a consultation: https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Prayuth-Tunsuriyawong

OP do not, under any circumstances, let your son self treat like this. Can do considerable harm. BTW epilepsy by definition is misfiring in the brain not secondary to a known structural or metabolic cause. Amyone who has had multiple (let alone 26) seizures in the absence of such causes, by definition has epilepsy.