Sheryl

In that case maybe skin was from an unrelated rat snake. But as shown in picture from last night then there is also a python about. Two of the cats are pretty small. They all like to catch snakes though I can't say what they'd do confronted with a really big one. This python is almost the length of a 2 lane (rural) road. So at least 5 meters which is definitely a large python.

As the snake was most recently (last night) seen slipping into nearby dense forest, no one is going to find and remove it from there. Of course if I find it in my yard I'll call then for removal. Another board member apparently posted pic of the skin and was told rat snake but seemed way to large in circumference for that to me. It seems unlikely (though of course not impossible) that the skin and then python sighting nearby are unrelated. And if they are (unrelated) that just means 2 large snakes that eat small mammals is about rather than 1. ????

Does anyone happen to know what has happened with visa exempt entries from neighboring ASEAN countries under bilateral agreement? Is ti back to just 14 days?

Laos is what I would do. Removes all uncertainty. The "flak" on visa exempt entry sometimes extends to refusal. Not usually, but it can. And questioning can go on for hours. Personally I would not want to go through that or risk it. In Vientiane believe may need an appointment, check prior threads on applying for non-O based on marriage in Laos. And make sure to have all required documents with you.

His EKG was done at a huge tertiary level government hospital with full cardiology service. Quite a far cry from small local government hospitals. But, correspondingly crowded and can be very confusing to navigate especially if without a Thai speaker along. First we were told he could not take it any further because whatever was recommended as next step was unaffordable but now we hear he left without seeing cardiologist so there cannot have been any such next steps outlined to him, as next step after EKG would certainly be to see cardiologist. OP's friend (it is not OP) does indeed need to take more responsibility and this includes understanding that you don't get rock bottom public hospital prices without attendant difficulties and inconveniences. (Some of them pretty rough e.g. long waits in extreme heat, often no free seats etc...though for those unable to tolerate standing wheelchair or stretcher can be obtained. Need a friend or companion to push it though) . Lots of people on this board with limited means who rely on government hospitals. Sounds like OP's friend simply walked out (or opted not to return for next appointment - this part unclear) after deciding the difficulties were too great. But if as stated he has no money for private care, these difficulties simply have to be faced. Plenty of other old, weak farangs manage to do this.

From pictures I have seen of python skin, looks exactly like what I found in my garden.

Reticulated pythons can eat quite a range of small mammals. Even sometimes deer.

Nakhon Nayok is 1 1/2 hours ftom Bangkok. No slash and burn agriculture here and fires not very common. This particular one seems to have been due to l8ghtening strike in steep unpopulated, unculyivated mountainous area. Nothing at all to do with fire issues in the north.

Ok. So visa on arrival is not applcable. You would (if successful) on border bounce get a visa exempt entry. Since COVID extensions stopped some time ago I assume when you say extensions since then, that at least the last of these was a one year extension? And that this is what ends April 7? As suggested above discuss with immigration and see if can change to extendion on basis of children. Worst case is you have to leave and come in either visa exempt or on new visa and restart the process. With your stay history might get some flak (extendive questionning) coming in visa exempt since obvious you live here and are not tourist. Might be better to get a new non-O visa in Laos then extend for 1 year based on that.

To my understanding cannot newly enrol if aged over 60

Obviously broker has no say or influence over premium structure (though a good broker will inform of these and what to expect). Someone whose premiums have never risen likely has a policy with 5 year age bands and is in for a sizable rise in future when they enter the next 5 year band. Either that, or what he meant was not no increase so far, but no claims based increase. Broker also obviously does not control insurance company's claims decisions but can sometimes help trouble shoot problems after the fact if any arisr. (Contrary to what this thread might suggest disallowed claims are the exception, not the norm. People seldom bother to post about claims paid. And people with disallowed claims in my experience are often less than truthful about the full circumstances).

Agree. Someone did take him there but not sure if they did more than give a ride. What is reported to be the outcome (recommended treatment or further investigations unaffordable...yet never saw cardioligist) makes no sense. OP please probe and find out why he did not see cardiologist and where this "next steps unaffordable" comes from given that he did not. I am suspecting immediate problem was not money but difficulty navigating/tolerating large crowded government hospital.(Though depending on his condition money may indeed be a barrier once he is actually given diagnosis and treatment plan). Also if you can please post the EKG report with his name blacked out.

OP please clarify: 1. Your nationality (only a few nationalities get visa in arrival. More get visa exempt entry. Very different things). 2. When did you originally enter Thailand and on what type of visa? 3. How many extensions have you done since then? And on what grounds, marriage or retirement? From your reference to "new extension" it sounds like you have been here on annual extensions of stay and from the reference to 400k sounds like these were on grounds of marriage to a Thai, is that correct? In which case what expires 7 April is not a visa but an extension of stay? Please verify, it makes a difference. Also please clarify what you mean when you say you have used up your 60 day extendion. Is your current perrmission to stay, ending 7 April, the result if a prior 60 day extension?

Bickering posts removed

Why on earth did he leave without seeing cardiologist? And how does he know next steps are unaffordable if he did not see cardiologist? Not making any sense. An EKG cannot show "low heart function". It CAN show a low heart rate, which is different. To assess cardiac output would need an echo. But if EKG showed low heart rate due to heart block (electrical conduction defect) then pacemaker would be next step. Posdible meds would cost less at govt hospital. But still very unclear if Entredto would be appropriate in his case. Jomtien is private. Less expensive than other private but still more than govt.

Update: the snake was sighted last night. Python as originally suspected. It was moving quite slowly and belly seems to have a bulge so I am wondering if this suggests it's had a recent meal? All cats currently accounted for....

The Embassy will not release your body until next of kin are notified. If you are married to your partner then this is fairly easy. If you are not (and not willing to marry her now) then someone else will have to be fund, informed, and agree to the release of the body so give this some thought...and consider who that would be and make sure your partner has those contact details. Many Embassies have specific forms for next of kin to fill out, and some also have registration systems where you can list such information so check your Embassy website.

He has already been to a public hospital and seen a cardiologist and seemingly this medication was not advised. But without more details it is hard to know, we are not even sure what the nature of his cardiac issue is, might be hart block (which Entresto will not address) or angina/CAD. From the report indicating next steps were advised that he could not afford I am guessing either pacemaker or angioplasty/stent. But OP would need to confirm.

An unhelpful/flaming/bickering post has been removed.

Yes free for Thais but that is neither here nor there. If that price was for just one eye then certainly it reflects dual pricing. Your problem is that government hospitals without dual pricing will be located far from where you live. Do you have friends or family in any upcountry rural areas you could stay with for a week or so?

It can be\. however usually causes ulcerations not the abscess type lesion OP describes.

Suggest you go to either St Louis Hospital (Sathorn) or Bangkok Christian (Silom). No reason to need meds afterwards unless simple ear drops. Always buy meds at a pharmacy never at the hospital (refuse them when you get to cashier).

Even in the hosputsls with dual pricing it is usually still much less than private. Majority of hospitals do not have dual pricing. Only those in areas with mamy foreigners. Which are a small minority of all the hospitsls in the country.

It started high up a steep mountain. Not impossible for someone to have been there but unlikely. There was a lot of dry lightening in the mountains the night the fire began. Lightning strike is plausible.

Generalk guideline is <80 so size wise you would be a fit.