Sheryl

Not having been party to the discussion with the doctor there is no way I can comment on his recommendation. Where I can help is the medication cost. Levitiracetam (Keppra) can be bought over the counter at a pharmacy (much cheaper than hospital) and there are also less coslty locally made brands of the same thing as follows: Kelep 500 Lacetam 250/500 Letta Levacore

Has to be his decision. Did he specifically ask the doctor about a "wait and see" approach? Did the doctor give a reason against it?

This is true of Thai issued policirs which ard in any event There are international expst policies which will insure at older ages though the range of choice decreases after 65-70. More common issue is that most people in their 70's and above already have underlying hesmalth conditions that may make them uninsurable.

Good expat insurance is about half that, and that would be for the oldest age brackets. Still a fair amount, though.

Doesn't the METV give 60 day stay on each entry? That has always been my understanding. In which case, if he got it effective late September could enter in October, stay 60 days and then re-enter in February and stay another 60.

It is, which is what the article (in garbled manner) is saying and why it contains no information about his diagnosis etc.

If you go with O-X you are limited in which insurance companies you can use (see online list). You will have to show full year policy. Frankly these policies are of little use other than to meet visa requirement. You should still get travel or other expat insurance with at least 3 million baht in medical cover. If you get O-A visa you can use a foreign insurance policy (such as one issued in France e.g. April) provided the insurer will sign the required certification. Note that it is posdible to get 2 years out of a single O-A visa by re-entering just before the visa expires (you are stamped in for a full year at each entry). There is no limit on how many times in a row you can apply for O-A visa. However there is no need to do this at all given your stated plan to make 2 2 month trips a year. A simple tourist visa, or visa exempt entry extended another 30 days (or mix of both) would work. Multiple entry Tourist visa (valid for entries over a 6 month period) would also be an option and cover both planned entries if applued for in say September. I am not aware of any rule requiring you to wait 3 months after leaving Thailand before applying for another Tourist Visa. Back to back entries are frowned on but what you propose, with a 2 month interval back home, should be fine. By the way it is nor a 3 month visa in terms of stay -- it is valid for use for entry for 3 months after issue. On entry you get 60 day permission to stay which you can apply to extend for another 30 days if necessary at local immigration office. Assuming you are a French citizen you can also simply enter visa exempt, you'll be given 30 day permission of stay and can apply to extend that for another 30 days at local immigration office.

Not likely. Thais wanting alternative medicine usually turn to Traditional Thai medicine which has a huge numver of formulations. You might try online e.g. iherb or other.

As above.

@HaleyPage47Clonazepam is indeed a controlled drug but topiramate is not, can get without prescription at any large pharmacy and there are inexpensive locally made brands as follows: Macromate Pitomate Pradox Clonazepam does have to be obtained from a hospital but contrary to what you seem to have been told, can be gotten at a government hospital and that would be less expensive than a private one. Except for a few very new drugs, all medications registered for use in Thailand are available at government hospitals. Note that there are locally made brands of clonazepam which should not be at all expensive. While the private insurance you have through your job may exclude your condition, unless you are employed by a private school, you should also be covered under Thai Social Security and that has no exclusions and would cover your meds (have to get from nominated SS hospital).

Relpax will be harder to source (and very expensive) but Sumatriptan, in locally made brands Siagran and Sumigran, should be available at anyl arge pharmacy (by which I mean a real Thai pharmacy, not a Boots or Watsons etc). You can also easily order it online form either https://medtide.com/ (have to create an account first to do a search) https://medisafepharma.com/ (use the Messenger function to ask, online search& order does not work) https://bangkokdrugstore.com

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)