Sheryl

April Thailand (a Thai company, with a Thai underwriter; comes under Thai insurance regs) will insure both Thais and expats. He means April Global, a French insurer which does their own underwriting and falls under EU regulations.

Actually ultrasound would be first resort OP - thrombosis is unlikely as you are in eliquis, but certainly let doctor know you have history of it Could be urinary infection or kidney stone among other things. Is there abdominal pain? Problem is that doctors here are so specialized. You could start with a urologist to rule out kidney stone or infection, and ask him to pass you on to GI doctor if negative findings. If you want to do this in Pattaya there has been favorable feedback on this urologist https://www.bangkokpattayahospital.com/en/doctor-profile?v_id=205&depid=28

It is comparatively new, and until recently the manufacturer was unable to keep up with demand even just within the US. That has since changed so now they are newly starting to look at foreign markets.

The issue is not the hospital -- all hospitals have the necessary equipment - but rather the skill of the doctor. What symptoms exactly make you think you have portal vein thrombosis? This is not something one can self diagnose. I need to know the presenting symptoms in order to know what type of doctor to refer you to @Lacessit I do not think Bumrungrad costs any more than BPH, in fact BPH is often higher cost wise.

Thanks for the update, Simon.I am relieved you are in good hands. Keep us posted.

There is a government pysch hospital but she is likely to just get short doctor visit and anti-depressant medication there rather than the type of counseling you have in mind (bear in mind that this is nto really a Thai "thing" and Thais do not always take well to the concept) https://www.suanprung.go.th/index2559/e_service.php This place is Christian-run (but not evangelizing and has a couple of Thai counselors on staff https://www.ccfthailand.org/staff/ This place is fairly new, I have no feedback on it but it has Thai counselors who look well qualifiedhttps://counsellingthailand.com/native-english-and-thai-speaking-therapists-in-thailand/

I think the problem is the way the "introduction" was handled. Instead of simply decriminalizing, which is what other places did, there was aggressive and excessive media hyping (for a financial reason) which led people to have unrealistic expectations and lack of understanding of basic precautions/contraindications. Leading people with existing mental illnesses and other contraindications to use it, with predictable results. In addition there may have been/be a lack of quality control on the products out there. Possible that some of the adverse effects being seen are actually due to pesticide content.

Coffee in moderation (1-2 cups a day) is fine for most people if consumed early morning. Main reason to quit altogether would be if someone had GERD. Caffeine of any sort can worsen GERD. Or if someone suffered from anxiety as caffeine in any form an worsen this. These aside, for most people there is no advantage to completely stop coffee. Coffee is often a factor in insomnia but that is usually due to taking it too late in the day. Stick to first thing after getting up and should be OK

Got it. But what difference is there in annual extensions by reason of marriage between an O-A and an O ?

You can get a 30 day extension, not 60 days, on a visa exempt entry AFAIk no difference between a Non-O and a Non-O "A" in terms of extensions based on marriage.

You have shown pictures of multiple, completely different antibiotics. All are available in Thailand under multiple different brand names. But: 1 - many (in fact, most) coughs do not require an antibiotic and taking them needlessly is unwise 2 - when antibiotic is needed, the choice of antibiotic depends on several factors, chief of which is the causative organism. By "chest scan" I assume you mean an X-ray. Indeed, if pneumonia is suspected, a chest Xray is indicated. Necessary, not just "for maximizing their profit".

Posts that were off-topic, trolling and/or homophobic - and replies to same - have been removed.

He was not talking about allergy but about documented adverse effects that are serious enough - and common enough - that the US FDA added a "black box" warning. Most patients are fine with it but more than a few suffer serious adverse effects. Especially older patients and people on the drug for prolonged periods. Most Thai doctors seem not to have gotten the memo and continue to prescribe these like candy (same is true of the COX-2 inhibitors). It is indeed sometimes necessary to use this class of drugs but should be done with special caution. "Although most patients do not have problems, the FDA told doctors to consider the benefits and risks for each patient before prescribing a fluoroquinolone" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2483892/

Rheumatologists treat disorders of the joints, including arthritis of different types and gout; they also treat a variety of automimmune disorders. on the west of the river I suggest: https://www.siphhospital.com/en/medical-services/doctor-biography?id=165 If this does not work out to your satisfaction, there is a bright comparatively young rheumatologist recently (i.e. a few years ago) returned from a fellowship in the US at Bumrungrad https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Supat-Thongpooswan

You did not have an adequate work up for gout much less to exclude anything else. You need to see a rheumatologist. The posisble differential diagnosis includes gout, rheumatoid arthritis and several other things. You need to have blood tests including uric acid, ANA, C-reactive protein, blood count with ESR to name a few. Where in Thailand are you located?

Actually you wil be out of pocket all of it if it turns out you don't need to be hospitalized even briefly. But good chance you will need to be. Suggest this doctor https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Charuspong-Dissaranan Assume you know you'll need pre-authorizatoon to be hospitalized, hospital can arrange that but allow up to week for it. You do not need pre-authorization for outpatient costs related to subsequent hospitalization though. Have to pay that first though then seek reimbursment, unlike hodputaluzation itself which hospital is paid directly.

April does not exclude any hospital.

By the way, Bangkok Samui is a tiny hospital, only 50 beds. Does not normally have much in the way of specialists present.

In someone over age 50, more than a decade passed since last colonoscopy and now a change in bowel habits, colonoscopy is definitely indicated.

Quality of the specialusts and availability of specialized scans. With this problem diagnosis is complex and tricky.

I would really urge that you come to Bangkok gor this.

The packages are not well designed (miss imporrsnt things and vontain unnecessary ones) and hospitals if asked will just recommend the package listed for your age. You need to do your own homework as to what tests are needed based on your age, family history and any known risk factors. Or if you want provide that information here and I will reply. It is often best to take a low end oacjage and add tests on as needed rather than Look for a package that has evetything as it will also likely involve things you don't need and vost more. Note that the unnecessary inclusions (e.g abdominal ultrasounds) tend to lead to additional unnecessary and costly tests and even surgeries.

Not "no longer". It was never available here. You are confusing it wth something else.

Any government hospital can do this, at much lower price than private, but you will face the same inconveniences and language issues you mention at all of them There is a government eye hospital in Nakhon pathom (about 1 hour drive from Bkk) https://www.metta.go.th/ this would be the very best government facility to use for any eye issue, and TV members have reported favorably on it They have a small branch in Sukhumvit, near Ekamai terminal in the Mediplex building I think. I haven't heard any reports on it though. Tel 02 712 2066 email [email protected]

I'm fairly certain this was not the case. The drug is nto even approved for use in Thailand. We have had erroneous reports of people supposedly getting Paxlovid before, on probing always turned out to be something different. your friend may well have been given an antiviral, but highly unlikley he received Paxlovid.