Sheryl

Hardly 85% or anything of near that high a percentage. But yes, in most courses there are people who can't handle it and ask to leave, and in some there are people who become so anxious/disruptive that they are asked to leave for the sake of the other students. People with serious psychiatric problems should certainly not take a Vipassana course unless they have been stable for a long time and their psychiatrist concurs - and the course managers will insist on a letter from their doctor to that effect and perhaps a pre-interview. Generally, it is not a wise idea. Lots of people with "garden variety" neurosis (depression and/or anxiety) do OK in retreats but it does depend on the severity, especially in the case of anxiety, and also how motivated they are. I have no way of gauging the severity of OP's anxiety which is why I did not mention meditation as an option.

More likley either drugs or psychosis. Much more severe than anxiety.

Most vegetables are fine. In terms of fruits, berries of all types, cherries and apples are relatively low in potassium. Bananas as you know are quite high. So are oranges, papaya and mangoes -- as your doctor told you, the yellow and orange items. Even these you can probably get away with in small quantity and on occasional basis. But never again 3 bananas in a day! Maybe 1//2 a banana once or twice a week max. (Be guided by your blood test results of course).

Office of the Insurance Commission

Yes. And OIC allows individually based increases based on claim history by as much as 25% a year ?(on top of age related jncreases).

All locally issued policies state within the policy documents that rates can be raised based on claims, even though a few companies to date don't do that - they can at any time decide to. Other issue is lack of recourse to the sort of arbitration/ombudsman arrangements possible in the West. And lastly to be very frank, Thai insurers have a less than sterling reputation for paying out on claims and a tendency to decide something is a pre-existing condition after (i,.e,. having issuing the policy despite full and accurate disclosures on intake form). Some of the conclusions about pre-existing conditions and their relationship to a new disease are far fetched to say the least and show lack of medical knowledge - some clerk is just reading off charts. Some companies are worse in this respect than others.

If you felt well after recovering from COVID a year ago and just now feel unwell, this is not long COVID. Long COVID is defined as “the continuation or development of new symptoms 3 months after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, with these symptoms lasting for at least 2 months with no other explanation." https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/fact-sheets/item/post-covid-19-condition

I mean a expatriate insurance policies which will cover you in Thailand, issued by non-Thai companies, specifically, by companies based in UK, EU, US or Australia. The April policy offered by AA is April Thailand. Separate company from April France and the actual iinsurer (underwriter) is LMG Thailand. LMG Thailand is completely separate from LMG USA. The terms of policies issued by April Thailand and LMG Thailand et al differ significantly from those of their namesakes abroad. This in turn reflects the very different regulatory climate for health insurance in Thailand. AA never sold policies issued from other than Thailand (not allowed to by OIC regulations) but used to work around that for clients who desired an internationally issued policy by having the client purchase direct from the insurer. They no longer do this.

You should have led with that (that you have kidney failure). Puts an entirely different spin on things. Of the meds you are on, only the Azilsartan is apt to increase the potassium and, with an aortic aneurysm and hypertension, you should not tamper with your BP meds unless advised to do so by your nephrologist. Please ignore what people said about sodium (salt), with your specific multiple conditions sodium needs to be restricted not increased. In someone with normal kidney function eating 3 bananas in a day would not much matter but definitely not a good idea for someone with kidney failure. Follow your doctor's advice, assuming he is nephrologist. If he is not then consult your nephrologist. And repeat the potassium level in a month.

In addition to dehumififying be sure to clean the rooms thotouhhly with a bleach solution to kill any mold

Food intake will not be the culprit. What medications are you on? What was your creatnine and BUN?

With a degree from a DO program I do not think one can take the Thai medical exam.

Maybe 10 over the years. Not just for hernias, also for laparoscopic choleycystectomy etc. He is a good surgron and sldo s nuce perdon. St. Louis is a no-frills hospital without the luxury hotel trappings of Bumrungrad etc. Nursing care IMO is better.

I have been dealing with Olivier Le Faouder so far but not sure who will handle everyday matters after this as he is the company director.

Yes Health insurance does not in any case cover "issues" with a doctor just (where applicable) treatment costs. If you mean malpractice insurance indeed they will not have it but then neither do many MDs in Thailand. Malpractice suits sre uncommon here.

Yes. And I have referred others to him, all with good results.

If practicing medecine then yes. I would also take claims of a D.O. degree from abroad (there are no schools of it in Thailand) with some caution. Check with the osteopathic association of that person's country. Some are genuine but there are a lot of self proclaimed foreign osteopaths, chiropractors etc here who are not formally trained. Reverting to your original question --- no, osteopathy is not a recognized profession in Thailand. Therefore no registration or regulation of it.

No one in their right mind goes to court without first exploring these free options.

If you only want to meet visa requirement and won't use it then doesn't matter what policy you get. Just make sure you can easily and quickly handle hospital bills of 3 million plus baht anytime while here in Thsiland as that is what something major can cost. Being healthy now is no guarantee and certsinly doesn't render you immune to accidents which are common here due to terrible and reckless driving. Even as a pedestrian, you can get mowed down even in a crosswalk (as I was).

Exactly what I mean. They drop you after 74.

Foreign issued policies include clearly laid out appeals processes including recourse to what is usually an independent ombudsman.No need to go to court. For that matter a complaint can be filed with the OIC in Thailand online, no need to go to court for that either. Though I think one will get a more reasoned and medically sophisticated approach from an Ombudsman in "farangland".

Generally speaking Thai-issued policies are individually rated (can and will raise your premiums after a claim) and internationally issued expat policies are ocmmunity rated. The thread only mentions Thai brokers who cannot help with international policies. AA used to but no longer, so I just switched to this broker who seems very knowledgeable and specializes in expat policies https://www.aoc-insurancebroker.com/

AND the policies stop at a certain age

It is a bit more complicated than that, if you read the US-Thailand DTA for example, since all US citizens resident ibn Thailand 180 days or more are dual citizens =for tax purposes other criteria then come into play to decide which income can be taxed where. People with a "permanent home available to them" in the US and none in Thailand (e.g. renters etc) can be considered, under the terater, as residents oif the US nto Thailand. Though that will not necessarily reduce their taxes. Had they paid/if they pay any tax in Thailand that then becomes a tax credit on the US return.

Absolutely nothing in the new regulation says this, quite the opposite.