Sheryl

I did but on the basis of having been self-employed and privately insured. I was told my private plan qualified as emplohment plan since I was self-employed.

To my understanding oral endoscopic approach is not currently used for nodules that big. However endoscopic approach through the neck or uppe chest is quite possible and probably what your doctor had in mind since the head & neck surgeon he referred you, Dr. Vitchaphan (note spelling), trained in US on endoscopic approach. https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Vitchaphan-Hemrungrojn Risk of damage to the laryngal nerve is small especially when only lobectomy is performed rather than complete thyroidectomy..as seems to be the plan. There are new molecular genetic tests used in the US to help decide whether to operate when conventional biopsy results are indeterminate. But as far as I have been able to determine it is not yet available in Thailand. In addition even if a nodule is benign (as majority of "indeterminate" nodules prove to be after removal) it can still be necessary to remove them if they cause symptoms. For second opinion I highly recommend https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Jun-Srimanunthiphol US trained and US board certified. Very bright and very thorough. I think you will feel better going forward after talking to her.

I did not "speculate" I based this on current medical literature and documented approved medical practice guidelines. If your friend was offered CyberKnife he almost certainly had one of the more aggressive types of thyroid cancer such as anaplastic thyroid cancer. (Which is what I meant when I said "severe" type). ATC would also be consistent with his rapid progression to a fatal outcome. OP's situation is vastly different. She does not have documented cancer at all, FNA result was indeterminate (which in 70-80% of cases turns out to have bern benign). No doctor is going to recommend CyberKnife in this situation.

I believe Cyberknife is reserved for certain severe types of thyroid cancer and or metastatic cases and odds are OP would not be a candidate. OP. How large is the largest nodule? I ask because if under 2 cm there is a minimally invasive endoscopic approach done through the mouth you might qualify for but only few surgeons can do it. otherwise there are many good head & neck surgeons who can handle open approach. Aldo please advise if cost is a significant constraint. And: where in Thailand are you located? And lastly which doctor, where, recommended the surgery?

Not available at present in Thailand. And anywhere it is available, will restrict it to high risk groups. The disease is not spread by casual contact so no reason to vaccinate the general population at this time. I believe the Thais are considering the possibility of using smallpox vaccine as they have some stocks of it but, if they do, this too would be limited to people at high risk.

Did you get a re-entry permit before you left the country? If not your extension of stay was voided what you left. In which case either enter visa exempt snd extend it or get a single entry tourist visa.

Most of what you mention would not be bacterial infection (rather, viral or fungal) and certainly not a systemic one. Viruses, minor skin irritations etc are not a concern. Actual cellulitis would be. In order to affect the prosthesis bacteria would need to enter the blood stream. Dental procedures are a common cause of transient bacteremia hence the need for prophylaxis. Heat rashes, chaffed skin, stubbed toes, superficial skin infections etc are not. As for sore throats, usually viral but if accompanied by fever or enlarged lymph nodes may indicate bacteria. Thd 3 Gm dose is a a prophylactic before an invasive procedure which might briefly introduce bacteria in the blood stream. For simple localized bacterial infections of any sort it is usually advised yo just test promptly with usual course of treatment.

He is likely concerned about needing to isolate at home so not being able to go out to buy things. Also I can say from first hand experience that even the new strains can leave one not feeling up to going anywhere for the first few days (understatement).

Redoxan (effervescant tablets of Vit C plus zinc). Plenty of paracetemol. Plenty of tissues. And I would suggest a nasal spray containing oxymeyazoline as the current variants often cause stuffy or runny nose. Speaking from direct experience as I am currently recovering from COVID in the US. Contracted courtesy of jam packed Heathrow airport and British airways. (How appropriate that current strains are called BA x!)

This problem happens when the place that gave the injection either (1) did not enter it into the system or (2) did so using a different ID number (even one digit different will prevent the system from linking it to you). In both cases have to go back to place that did it, to get it corrected. Before doing so check what number shows on the certificate you got. Is it same as I our ID card/other vaccine certificates?

10-15% accuracy can mean a lot especially for a potentially serious condition. Older machines also expose to more radiation.

India is cheap due to volume. The cost driver for scans is the cost of the machine itself which has to be recovered within just a few years as these quickly become obsolete. India's large population means they can do a high volume of scans and this greatly lowers the price. Scans in Thailand are comparatively costly for opposite reason...small population, low volume. I suspect low prices in Ukraine etc are indeed due to usage of old, outdated equipment. Possibly even bought old and used. All those outdated scanners replaced by newer ones are going somewhere....

Sent you a PM

https://www.bangkokinternationalhospital.com/packages-promotions/hip-knee-surgery-packages Bangkok Hospital in Bkk lists anterior approach hip replacement at under 400k. This does not however include pre op. labs & tests mor follow up consultation. Just the surgery .

14k baht is 380 dollars not 500. And as I tried to explain this is not a "foreigner" price. A Thai payjng privately would pay just as much or more..since as also mentioned this is a comparatively low price. The 3 tier pricing thing you quoted refers only to government hospitals. And is not widly followed. Majority of govt hospitals charge same for Thais and foreigners. Though of course most Thais are under govt health. scheme.

Abdominal CT almost always involves use of contrast media which increases the cost. For this a price of 14k is usual even for a Thai (if paying privately).. Many private hospitals would charge considerably more. Nowhere in Thailand does a CT with contrast cost just 5k. Not even at a government hospital. At most you might be able to save about 2-3k by going to a government hospital but there would be long wait for it and you'd have to start all over with consultation etc. In fact waits are so long that many Thai patients opt to ho to private imaging centers and pay out of pocket. The prices you mention in Ukraine etc must be heavily subsidized. Or could you be confusing a CT with contrast and a simple Xray?

I second the recommendation to get second opinion. Suggest Dr. Roy at Rutnin.

First of all it will vary with the insurer and the specific policy. Not all policies cover outpatient care. And not all policies will cover you while in Thailand. Some offer direct payment and some will only reimburse afterwards. Some will do direct payment for hospitalization but not for outpatient. Some policies limit which hospital you can use. Secondly -- assuming your policy doess cover you in Thailand and for the type of service in question and does direct payment-- it will then depend on whether the hospital in question has direct payment arrangement with that insurer. The larger private hospitals here have arrangements with most insurers. Very very few government hospitals do. You will usually have to pay yourself at a government hospital and then seek reimbursement and it is often difficult to get the necessary documentation from the hospital. Most insurance picked require pre-authorization for inpatient hospitalization. Private hospitals have third party payment departments that handle this. You just show them your card and they contact the insurer and work it out. Can take a week or so in non emergency situations

Yes, he is an excellent choice.

If already left Thailand and permission ti stay expired, she has to start the whole process over again. Had she stayed in Thailand, could have done extensions. Agents are location specific (referring ti location in Thailand). mine handles Sakeo and Prachinburi provinces. So probably no help for you. I have not used them myself but I have seen a place right near the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok tel number 064-289-5556, 089-500-5457, 094-904-9900. They may not speak any English, just Thai and Khmer. The process of getting a new L-A visa takes 4-6 months, be forewarned. You might like to get her a tourist visa in the meantime. (She will have to show Thai Embassy proof of US $1,000 in a Cambodian bank account).

By far the best place in Thailand for refractive surgery (and also the first to do it here, so the most experienced) is TRSC https://www.trsclasik.com/en/treatment

That refers only to their general outpatient consultation hours, which are limited as they also work at government hospitals in a teaching caapcity. Surgery times and rounds on hospital patients are not reflected in the posted hours, and will not be a problem.

Do you have Tricare? (not all veterans qualify). If you do, important to enroll in their Overseas program. See http://www.jusmagthai.com/medical.html And which of the many Bangkok Hospitals are you referring to? I believe Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai has a direct billing arrangement with Tricare but most other branches do not There is a facebook group you should join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tricareatw Once you join there is a subgroup just for Vets living in Thailand, you will be able to get a lot of first hand info there

Possibly he is under 70 now and just wanting to look ahead. OP a good broker can nto only tell you what plans are available to you at your current age but also give an indication of what premiums will be like as you age. I recommend AA brokers www.aainsure.net

Dr. Chanakorn is certainly the #1 specialist for this in Chiang Mai, but hardly in the whole of Thailand. In Bangkok in particular, there are a number of highly qualified doctors. I would particulalry recommend: https://www.medparkhospital.com/en/doctor/prof-dr-keerati-charoencholvanich https://www.samitivejchinatown.com/en/doctor/19 https://www.siphhospital.com/en/medical-services/find-doctor?doctor_id=197&medical_id=0&day=&startTime=&endTime= (same doctor, different hospitals. Lowest cost would probably be at SIPH but you need to confirm). or: https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Somyot-Piyaworakhun https://www.vichaiyut.com/en/profile_doctor/dr-somyot-piyaworakhun/ (cost likely less at vichaiyut) At Bangkok Hospital Phuket there seems to be only one doctor trained in hip replacement and I have no feedback on him. There is a German ortho specialist (Gerhard Melcher) in Phuket who is well regarded but AFAIK does only knee replacements, not hips.