Sheryl

Through the after hours special vlinic? And how recently? 50 baht is standard consultation charge in the publ8c channel. Aftet hours used to be 500 but seems to have gone up at Chula, at least for foreigners.

My friend (Cambodian) was charged 1000+ plus. This was to see an ortho specialist.

Weekdays it starts at 4 pm. I think there are also hours on Saturday. Be forewarned it is not cheap. About 1000 baht to see a specialist and waits can be realy long (5 hours last time I wrnt though YMMV). Makes sense if you expect the consultation to lead to surgery or other costly procedure but not so much if you need just a consultation.

Any necessary treatment includes any related medication. Which someone hospitalized for a heart condition would likely have. Usual moratorium perriods seem to be 2 years. If OP's friend is able to get an insurance policy at all. It would almost certainlh contain a broad exclusion for cardoovascular diseases.

It would be worth noting how the readings relate to timing of your Ramipril dose. The higher readings you mention still have a normal diastolic (bottom number). Typically when only the systolic is elevated (top number) it is a temporary elevation due to pain, stress, excitement etc. It is completely normal for BP to fluctuate in repsonse to such things. When you get such readings, take some deep slow breaths, wait a while and repeat to see if it is then lower.

A lipase level of 64 is not consistent with pancreatic disease. In fact it falls within many lab's normal range. In pancreatic disease the levels are in the hundreds, even the thousands. What your doctor told you is correct.

As has been explained, the Spike Protein tests measure antibody, not spike protein itself (which indeed does not last very long in the body) Although understanding of Long COVID is still in early phases, it (and other COVID complications) seems to be immunological in origin i.e.aan abnormal and prolonged immune response may underlie it. Same may be true of some vaccine reactions as well.

I suggest you try doctors at Bumrungrad (1) https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/hiroshi-chantaphakul He is an immunologist. The symptoms you describe may be consistent with Myalgic encephalomyelitis (AKA Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) which is thought to be immunological in origin. If those symptoms worsened after the natural COVID infection then Long COVID may also play a part, and this too is thought to be immunological in cause. (2) https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/ketchai-suavansri A specialist in cognitive disorders. Be sure to bring your MRI result.

Could be due to cardiac arrythmia. You really should see doctor to get this checked out. And if it recurs go to the nearest emergency room for evaluation.

Choice of doctor is more important than hospital as long as hospital has up to date equipment (Bumrungrad and Bangkok Hospital for sure do). It would help to know what type of cancer you have. That said, the Bangkok Hospital Wattanasoth Cancer Center has a good array od specialists for comprehensive cancer care including a good palliative team (contrary to what many people assume, you do not need to be terminal to consult palliative specialists, and they can be helpful with things like treatment side effects. )

Phyathai Sri Racha is offering a number of packages. https://www.phyathai-sriracha.com/product/heart-screening-program-1/?lang=en The CTA with dye is not indicated for simple screening in the absence if symptoms and there is some small risk with the dye. Regular calcium CT is fine for general preventive screening.

The 2 person bickering/flamefest is over. Cease and desist. Posts removed.

Coronary cslcium CT can be done at any large hospital. There are promotional packages from time to time.

Several such studies have been done. Long COVID can occur in both vaccinated and unvaccinated people but is significantly more common in the unvaccinated. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(24)00082-1/fulltext

A post filled with misinformation has been removed. @retarius you mention possible long COVID vs vaccine effects. Did you have a confirmed case of COVID and if so when in this timeline? If you had COVID then long COVID is quite likely. But obviously not if you did not have it. The "spike protein test" does not test for presence/amount of COVID spike protein in the body. It is a serology test that measures antibody levels. While it can apparently help differentiate between Long COVID and vaccine-related effects this distinction has no individual clinical application. In other words, it won't help you to know this. Severe COVID and Long COVID both appear related to the immune response as are vaccine side effects. In other words, in a minority of people the vaccine triggers immune system-mediated complocations of the same type seen in some COVID infections. It does so at a much lower rate/severity than actual COVID infection but that is not much comfort if you happen to be among the minority who suffer such effects. Where in Thailand are you located?

A second opinion from a dental suggeon seems wise.

Costs do vary by dosage but as others have said, it is never cheap. You won't get it for less from a Thai online pharmacy than what is shown above.

Can also buy an inflatable cervical traction device gor few hundred baht, achieves same without turning you upside down. Especially good if you can get someone to massagd shoulders while it is on.

These can be difficult to find in Thailand and are very costly. Worth it for people on insulin or with very otherrise "brittle" (unstable) diabetes but for most people with Type 2, regularfingerostick device to check fasting BS once a week or so is fine.

I had not thought of that but indeed a possibility. @still kicking had you taken Viagra/Cialis in the 24 hours before this episode? Or any other meds?

Yes, dehydration can lower your BP and is especially dangerous for people in antihypertensive meds. If you have further episodes you should see your doctor as your meds may need adjustment.

The point is that he would like to know the cause and what, if any, treatment(s) might help. He would also like to know if massage etc is safe for him. And, for planning purposes, he might like to know where this is going, i.e. is it likely to worsen? How quickly? Might he in the future need surgery? Could it resolve with conservative measures? If so, what? Spine issues likely to resolve on their own do not usually last this long. Pain lasting beyond 3 months -- and certainly beyond 6 months -- is more likely to prove chronic. There are in fact a range of treatments that can help with pain stemming from age-related spinal degeneration. These may include physical therapy, anti-inflammatories and other oral medications. improved ergonlmics, use of cervical traction, epidural injections and, in severe cases, surgery.

I have seen people with permanent brain damage from this. Years ago, working in refugee camps on the Thai border, one of the western relief workers got this and was in coma for many weeks in a Neuro ICU. Not to be risked IMO. Exception being those who live in cities and spend no time in rural areas. Urban risk is very, very low since resevoir is pigs. The advise to "never mind" is based on Thai populations -since most adults will already have been infected in childhood and thus immune. Same is not true of farangs.

AccuChek brand is recommended and has good support from the company if any problems with the machine. A good pharmacy will not only sell one but teach her to use it.

Various Youtibe and other social media links have been removed in keeping with forum rules: "18. Social media content is acceptable in most forums. However, in factual areas such as, but not limited to news, current affairs and health topics, social media cannot be used unless it is from a credible news media source or a government agency and must include a link to the original source." https://aseannow.com/forum_rules/