Sheryl

A post with inaccurate statement has been removed. the efficacy of flu vaccines varies depending on how well suited the vaccine proves to be to the dominant viral strains that year (which of necessity has to be predicted in advance, an imprecise science). In years where there is a good match between the strains used for the vaccines and the strains that are circulating, the vaccination er=reduces infection by about 50%. Not ideal, but certainly still worthwhile. Perhaps more important, the vaccination helpsreduce severity in those who do get the flu. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/vaccineeffect.htm

The pneumoccoccal vaccine is a one time thing not annually. Prevnar 13 then at least 1 year after that, Penumovax 23. If you already received 13 then you need only 23 and then finished. There is a newer pneumococcal vaccine out called PCV20 (Prevnar 20) but not yet available in Thailand. For flu vaccine, it is every year and the preparations change according to the prevalent flu viruses. You want (for Thailand) the "Southern Hemisphere" newest strain, and should get it in May or early June as that is when the flu season starts in Thailand. If you plan on returning to North America or Europe farangland in what will be flu season there then may need a separate "Northern Hemiosphere" flu shot before departure. And yes there is only 1 type of shingles vaccine here currently, brand names SKYZoster or Zostavax and just one dose. If at a later date you ever have the opportunity to get Shingrix, do so.

Triquilar is off market but another brand is still available, called Trigestrel. May be hard to find though

E visa is accepted at only some land crossings. When you get an ER visa, it is an altogether new visa and allows multiple entries, can be used anywhere.

in order to make an insurance claim you must authorize release of all medical records by the hospital. Apparently her medical records indicated intoxication. true everywhere.

Impossible to tell what these are. Never take a medication the name and type of which you do nto know.

There are palliative care centers in many government hospitals that will ensure adequate pain control. Have to request to see the palliative care doctors. the nursing care remains family responsibility though.

Sominar is helpful for some people but you need to make sure no adverse interactions with her other medication.

Nowadays most higher level government hospitals do. Note that this is not a residential hospice. It is a team of doctors, nurses etc who provide outpatient care and consultations for inpatients. .

A post has been removed

One of these doctors. Be sure she has all records with her. that means the surgical path report, records of her medications, all scans etc, and most recent blood test results https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Harit-Suwanrusme https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Suthida-Suwanvecho

⁰w Where is she currently being treated? As it would be ideal to see an oncologist also affillated with that hospital.

Unfortunately as I am about to leave for 3 months in the US, I had stocked up heavily so that the pet sitter would have plenty of everything on hand. It's way too much to just toss.....

That was my thought as well. Putting doctors on the spot and demanding an assurrance there is no cancer will make any doctor uneasy and often lead to unnecessary tests. Noneo f which will be 100% conclusive and many of which carry risks. Annual low dose CTs are the best that can be done in terms of screening

The "remedy" would be to stop taking the Femara but that might have prognostic implications (i.e. increase risk of cancer recurrence) She needs to have a detailed discussion with an oncologist, explaining the severity of her side effects and asking for the pros and cons of discontinuing Femara at this time. Could consider seeing one privately so as to have ample time for discussion. If so should bring complete records with her.

My CKD cat just died leaving me with a closet full of IV fluids (for SC administration), antinausea meds and other supplies. I would like to donate to someone else caring for a cat or other pet needing SC fluid administration. PM me if you can use.

Usually don't need to search very far. It is often right in the history of thd current claim.

Seemingly so. And as I have repeatefly said - do not even considwr doing this. As many on this board have learned the hard wsy these things have a way of coming out and can leave you in a bad situation when they do.

With many Thai insurers, yes International insurers do a quite detailed review of medical history. With panels of doctors to help. It is a much more thorough inital process and, assuming you told the truth and withheld nothing, you know where you stand in terms of coverage after that.

Never let reception decide this for you They will send you to whomever is least busy which is not a good sign (if they even send you to the right type of specialist, not unusual for them to confuse things like urology and neurology) One might think international relations dept would do better but they do not.

For those set in Bravecto, I just found it here http://www.vet-petclub.com/ Site is only in Thai but works well in Chrome translate

Exactly. I have on occasion brought Thais to meet the same senior doctor that oversees their care at the public hospital, at a private hospital, just for the sake of having a longer consultation and discussion. It is simply not possible in the public system. Not something to do often, but every once in a while, can be well worth the 1000- 2,000 baht that a simple consultation costs privately. I was however responding to a poster's report of doctors trying to "push" chemo on him. It does indeed sometimes happen (and not just for chemo). Even in private hospitals. I have recently been involved in trying to help someone in ICU of an expensive private hospital with poor prognosis being pressured to have unwanted surgery by doctors who would just show up and announce "the plan" with no room for patient input despite doctor acknowldging that odds were the surgery would leave the patient permanently on a ventilator which patient had made clear he did not want to risk. (ICUs are particularly bad places to be in such circumstance). It is slowly improving but many Thai doctors still do not grasp the idea of collaborative decision-making with patients ... and even if they do, the crowded and rushed conditions of public facilities is not conducive to it.

I would get another opinion on the bronchoscopy given the negative CT Other than arguably PSA, none of the "tumor marker" tests you had are advised for mass screening purposes. They have neither the specificity nor sensitivity needed to be suitable for that purpose. The only screening tool for lung cancer currently approved by any public health agency is low dose CT for people with hisotry of smoking like yourself. NSE can be elevated in many conditions, not specific to lung cancer and is not advised as a screening measure. A level of 27.3 ng/ml is considered "indeterminate" not elevated. Additional screenings are usually recommended only for levels of >30 in people at risk, and the CT you had would qualify. If you stopped smoking less than 15 years ago, should repeat the low dose CT screening annually. (do not repeat these "tumor markers") While there is nothing at all to suggest cancer your CT does indicate collapse of small air sacs at the base of the lung (which would also be visibleo n a simple chest Xray). This can occur in bronchitis , due to mucous blocking small airways. It can also occur in lower respiratory infection. So while you do not need a bronchoscopy for cancer reasons you might be advised to have one if the atelectasis worsens or does not respond to conventional treatments. (Its progress can usually be monitored by regular chest Xray and physical exam). What doctor has been managing your bronchitis?

Or failed to carefully research and choose your doctor. There are good and bad doctors at all hospitals. P.S. It was necessary to edit your post in keeping with Forum rules and Thai law on defamation.

Opening at 5:30 is the semi-private ("after hours") channel. Public channel is open daytime...but have to arrive at break of dawn for it.