Sheryl

The main cost driver is the cost of the crown itself.

Have you had ultrasound yet? This will show if if is a cyst vs solid mass

Agree. As a general rule, top tier private hospitals in India cost about what government hospitals do in Thailand but exceptions are things that involve expensive equipment or consumables: CTs, MRIs, PET scans, ortho surgery with instrumentation (screws, plates, rods etc) and endoscopic procedures. These may cost less in India than even at a government hospital in Thailand. And might include laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Though for that I don't think difference will be huge, especially when travel and hotel etc factored in.

Did the epidural bring any relief and if so for how long? I take it you still have pain? No improvement? Does the pain radiate down your thigh or leg? What does the MRI report say, and what did the doctor tell you?

Depends on the crown material. Better material, in Bangkok, around 20k. That is assuming no need to replace the post.

L-5 S-1 is not a disease. it refers to 2 vertebra in the lower back, a location where degenerative disk disease is common (but other problems can happen as well). There is no one "best treatment" for all issues in the location of the back. . It depends on the nature and severity of the problem, as well as your overall health. Depending on the cause (e.g. muscle strain? Spinal stenosis? Disk protrusion or herniation? etc etc) and severity of the problem, treatments can include: anti-inflammatories, sometimes also muscles relaxants and stronger pain killers application of ice or heat (depends on the nature of the problem and if there is a recent injury) avoiding movements which exacerbate the pain, and avoiding sitting for prolonged periods stretches and targeted exercises (physical therapy) epidural injections of steroid surgery (several types -- again, depends entirely on the type and extent of the problem) If the problem is relatively new and there is no weakness in the legs or pain radiating down them, then one can start with the first 4 things above. Often thios and time are all it takes. If the pain has persisted for some time, or if the pain is radiating down the thing or leg, or the leg is weak then: get an MRI and consult a good spinal specialist.

Nothing can shrink a gall stone in a matter of days. Nor in a matter of weeks or few months. It is common practice in Thailand to keep people overnight for procedures that in the West are day procedures. In part because the room cost is so small relative to other costs. The 3-4 days quote from government hospitak was just an estimate and they would discharge you as soon as ready (which as previously explained, in Thailand means no longer needing narcotic pain killer so does vary by the individual). People I have known who had this done in government hospitals spent only 2 days/1 night (including day of admission and discharge). This would only reduce the price a little, though, as most of that 60K is the surgery itself. Hospitals often estimate high to avoid issues later. I suspect actual cost, if you went home next day, would be in the 40-49K range. I very much hope you are not really going to have this done in a "clinic" in India but rather a proper hospital (of which there are many in India). If anything goes wrong and you are not in a hospital results could be catastrophic.

He went to India and was first, incorrectly, told he colon cancer which led to travel and consultations in Thailand he turned out not to need. How on earth stomach cancer got diagnosed as colon cancer is beyond me.

I trust NHS is repeating the endoscopies or doing other scans? Since the reports you have had on the endoscopy results from India seem sketchy and contradictory. No idea what "PIP" is???

Not to mention the garbled results he got which sent him on a wild goose chase consulting with a colorectal specialist when it turned out he did nto have colon cancer at all, but apparently now stomach cancer. The aggregate cost of all the unnecessary trips/consults may exceed what it would have cost to have had these done in Thailand to begin with. People but too much emphasis on the tests themselves and their cost, too little on the reliability of results and interpretation.

All insurances increase premium cost with age. Some do it annually and some do it in 5 year The age related increases are knowable in advance. Just ask for a table of rates by age when you enroll. The absolute amount may change over time due to inflation but you"ll have a good idea of the % increase as you age. I did thus before enrolling in Aoril. It indicated a 15% increase which is exactly what occurred. Of the insurers I compared at that time *(2018) April was at the low end for % increase for age 70-75. The highest was Pacigic Cross (Maxima Plan) at 49%. Followed by Cigna Global at 39% (I did not check Vumi).

For your gf I suggest https://www.allianz.co.th/en/travel-insurance But they will not insure you as their age cut off is 79. Do you have health insurance in Thailand? If so have you checked your policy? many will cover emergency care on short trips abroad. If not this one appears to indure up to age 80 https://www.aig.co.th/en/personal/travel-guard-insurance/travel-guard-international-extra#accordion-b6f254a409-item-214904aa9e

I think your info is a bit confused. April increases for age on 5 year increments and while that percentsge varies by age group it is never as low as 2-3%. The only premium increase which might occur at that level would be an adjustment for inflation. I just got my premium, age 70 so have jumped an age bracket (increases on past 4 years were minimal). The increase was about 15% which is pretty standard when going from age group 64-69 to age group 70- 74. Having read your post I was expecting much, much more so relieved. I think the 15% increase you refer to was for age and will not occur again until 5 years from now (will be more significant rise then though). In between, only inflationary increases will ocvur and these can be anywhere from nil to a couple of percentage points.

Please see https://aseannow.com/topic/90910-mental-health-resource-list/

Are you living in Thailsnd or the US? and how old ard you? Both make a difference.

These are nto the best places to get low sodium snacks. Plain yogurt and (if available) unsalted nuts are about it.

He is overweight, and ultrasound showed fatty liver. However his enzymes were previously normal and are now also normal. This very mild elevation was a one-off result from a private stand-alone lab. Lab error (not uncommon) or transient effect of a medication or alcohol are my guesses.

No. This might be a lymph node or a hernia. Best just start with an internistif it persists.

Extremely. And they know nothing about the practice of medecine.

Impossible for anyone to know what the doctor mumbled. It is normal to have Hep B antibodies if you have been vaccinated. According to your original thread on this matter your elevated AST was 57 (normal range is usually 8-48 ) and ALT was 68 (normal range is usually 7-55 ). These are very, very mild elevations. Could have been lab error. Could have been due to medications taken in the days prior to the blood test. Either way the levels now are normal.

Glad to hear you finally got a proper diagnosis and treatment. Hopefully your shortness of breath will improve.

What brand of protein powder drink? I am considering trying one - not for pain (stretches and periodic massage keep that pretty much at bay) but for muscle stiffness that develops overnight and whenever stationary for an hour or more (car ride, etc).

Massage does stimulate (temporay) release of endorphins which is calming.

If I follow your story correctly you had a kidney stone, not gallstones. Your pain stopped because you had passed the stone. No way that olive oil + orange juice would help with a kidney stone except if it meant taking in more fluid. (more fluid aids in passing the stone).

Are you doing regular stretches? As you get older, stretching becomes very important. A good stretching regimen along with brisk walking or swimming may be better at your age than bench presses and the like. If after doing regular stretches this persists and if the pain is in more than one joint, might be wise to see a rheumatologist.