Sheryl

Any good chiropracter will. Any who do not, should be avoided.

It will depend on whether public or private hospital. In both cases, has to be ordered/requested by a cardiologist.

It depends completely on: 1. What is wrong with you. There are many conditions where chiropractic manipulation could be dangerous. If your issue is back pain, I would suggest you first see an orthopedic doctor specializing in spine to make sure there are no contraindications before allowing someone to manipulate yours. 2. How good the chiropractor is. Note that chiropracty (like many other things) is not very effectively regulated in Thailand, making this a less than ideal place for it. There are many Westerners here claiming to practice it, some have actual training and some do not. Very much caveat emptor. For what problem are you considering this, and why in Thailand specifically?

First of all, ergotamine has no effect whatsoever on back pain, it is not a pain killer as such. Its utility is only for throbbing (vascular) headaches i.e. migraine. Are you actually having severe throbbing headaches 5-6 times a week? If so, you need a preventive treatment and should see a specialist in migraines. There are medications suitable for long term use that can prevent, or at least decrease, these headaches. Also, botox injections work well for some people (repeated about every 3 months). Botox is especially helpful for people with 15 or more headaches a month. Such treatments should make it possible to greatly reduce the ergotamine usage to an occasional level. Note that Cefergot also contains caffeine, also an issue if taking regularly. The back pain is a different matter. Ideally, the cause should be addressed. Prior nerve damage will not cause pain now (though it could cause functional limitations -- but sounds not so for you if you can regularly work out), but current compression of nerves will cause pain (as I know all too well first hand myself! This can often be effectively treated with newer, minimally invasive surgical techniques. Have you seen a good spine specialist? (There are only a handful in Thailand, all in Bangkok). Long-term tramadol use is definitely unadvisable. Addiction aside, it is highly likely to cause GI problems (chronic constipation, IBS-like symptoms), and can also cause liver and kidney damage, cardiovascular problems, and weakened immune function. Nobody can tell you exactly how many doses/how often will have this effect but 5-6 times a week is pushing it IMO. If you can get it down to say not more than 3 doses a week and never 2 days consecutively, you'd be safer.

When I get home again, I'll check the receipt and tell you exactly. Possible it was a bit more, I just know that I considered it very reasonable and it was a huge savings compared to private hospital rates for the same thing. Also given how rare skin cancers are in Thais, this is probably the best place in Bangkok to have this done, in terms of having the biopsy read by someone with experience in examining skin cancer samples.

Do not delay on this, it is considered an ocular emergency as there is a risk of the dislocated lens damaging the eye. Both repair of a dislocated IOL and cataract surgery are usually done under local anesthesia in Thailand. It used to be the same in the US and still often is, but with the advent of very effective and comparatively safe short-acting IV sedation (e.g. propofol), that is often also provided in US. This is not actually general anesthesia, rather what is termed "conscious sedation", the patient is deeply sedated but rousable to strong stimuli. However there is no memory of the procedure afterwards. (propofol can also be used in combination with anesthetic gases for true general anesthesia but that would not have been done for a cataract surgery). If you feel strongly about it, you can request IV sedation for the repair, but it will add to the cost. The procedure without it won't hurt, but of course can be anxiety-provoking to go through. Up to you -- but as mentioned, do not delay.

A biopsy is curative only if the entire lesion was removed, with clear margins all round. There is never any guarantee of this, though it could have worked out that way for you in the past. Usual procedure is to do a "punch biopsy" which may or may not yield clear margins. If it does not, options then are a wider surgical excision OR Mohs surgery, the latter being preferred if there is any cosmetic concern or if the lesion is located in a spot where wide excision is difficult (e.g. side of the nose -- I am scheduled for Mohs surgery tomorrow for that reason, nodular BCC on side of nose). It sounds like the surgeon you spoke to at Bangkok Hospital was proposing to do a wide excision rather than a punch biopsy. Maybe because he felt the likelihood of it being cancerous was high based on your history and the appearance of the lesion, who knows. in any case you can get what you need done at a tiny fraction of that cost at the government skin hospital near Victory Monument: https://www.iod.go.th/en/ I suggest not trying the "after hours" channel as they often will not do procedures there, and just make you come back via the public channel; the "after hours" route is useful only for other (non-surgical) types of issues....and also costs much more. Also, while there will be some waiting, it is not as crowded here as at some government hospitals. It is helpful to have a Thai speaker with you but if you do not, can manage with Google Translate etc. With the lesion being on your arm, easy to just point to it, but be sure to add that you have had BCC in the past. (you will be seen first at a triage desk by a nurse, who likely won't speak English, and she will then decide which doctor to send you to). Prepare that phrase ("I have hsogtory of skin cancer, Basal Cell Carcinoma, in the past" on your phone in Thai. The staff are helpful and the hospital sees few enough foreigners that they are still a novelty and thus get extra help. The senior doctors will speak at least some English They will do a punch biopsy and then the results will determine whether or not further excision is needed. (Same as anywhere else, including US). You should expect to wait a few hours so bring some reading materials, and it is possible that you may have to attend on a subsequent day for the actual biopsy (odds of getting it all done same day are greater if you go there early morning). It will take a month or more to get the biopsy results, but they can be emailed to you on request if you want to save what might be an unnecessary follow up visit. Obviously this is all vastly slower than in a private hospital but with a BCC there is no great rush and the savings are well worth it. The hospital has a Line App account and there is an English speaker who responds on it, so once you have a hospital number you can use that for future communications. I forget exactly what my punch biopsy cost but I think it wasn't much more than 1,000 baht including path charge.

If it is indeed a lipoma, then removal is optional. But I hesitate to advise this based an a diagnosis made here (especially at an upcountry hospital). While risk of it being other than a benign lipoma is small, it is not zero, and it would be wiser to get it excised and biopsied. ThUs both removing the annoyance and getting a 100% sure diagnosis. See what Mission Hospital quotes you, I suspect substantially less than the other quote you got.

You should get this done at a hospital not a clinic. And it should be biopsied after removal. Although it appeared on ultrasound to be a lipoma cannot be 100% certain without biopsy. Cost depends on size and depth. 28k is quite low for that hospital so they must think they can remove it as an outpatient under local anesthetic. I also question whether this this quote includes the path exam of the removed lesion, it is probably just the surgical temovsl. Mission Hospital will almost always cost less than Bahgkok Hospital. https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063785131090 Do not bother messaging them as doctor needs to physically examine it and review the ultrasound finding to know what will be involved in removal. Anything the clerks who handle emails tell you will just be a guess and may well be wrong. Go in person, see a general surgeon, and bring with you the ultrasound film and report.

This doctor https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/jun-srimanunthiphol Thyroid nodules are common and most are benign. I have them myself. If (as is usually the case) no need to do anything more unless symptoms develop. The biopsy is nothing, a simple office procedure under local anesthesia.

A flaming post has been removed

Seems entirely plausible to me. Sort of thing that happens all the time. From the facts provided by OP, he is liable. As he does not want to just leave the country with this hanging, he will have to pay something. The issue is to limit what he pays to the reasonable and to avoid being soaked for inflated or outright fabricated claims of injury and damage.

Unfortunately lawyers in Thailand are in no way what they are in the West, and will in a situation like this likely just add to the costs. Also, nothing that will transpire goes by the letter of the law. Best thing to bring with you is a Thai friend willing to advocate for you. Ideally an influential one, at minimum a reasonably respectable and articulate one, but whatever you can get. And understand that you are going to have to pay something to make this go away. The issue is, how much.

Often in cases like this, friends and extended family want to contribute, and GFM accounts and similar are a handy way of doing that. Does not mean they are "begging" for hand outs from strangers. And no reason for strangers to take offense at it. As to the decision to bring back the body -- their business.

This. The fact that you have been asked to come to the police station means the other party is seeking damages. (And the police, their cut of same, which will raise the stakes). Basically what happens in these cases is that the police "facilitate" a negotiated cash settlement. Not at all uncommon, when a foreigner is involved, to seek ridiculously large amounts and also to lie about the nature of injuries and other damages. Insist on seeing proof of both, and keep in mind that mandatory 3rd party insurance of the motorcyclist will have paid up to 30,000 baht of the medical costs.

"super sight" is not a medical term. It is an advertising slogan used by a hospital here in Thailand. As far as I can determine what they are referring to is lens replacement, presumably using multifocal lenses (which some people never adjust to, and which cost vastly more than monofocal lens). It is being touted as a refractive surgery. Lens replacement should not be done for that purpose. If there are cataracts sever enough to affect daily life then, of course, lens replacement is necessary. If you need lens replacement due to cataracts, do your homework thoroughly on the pros and cons of different lens types and the associated costs. No matter what type of lens you select, it is always possible to both eyes at once in cataract surgery. Possible, not necessarily desirable. Agree with recommendation of Rutnin.

A GOB (more often termed a GOP, Guarantee of Payment) is a contractual agreement between the insurer and the hospital. As long as the hospital does not exceed the treatment and charges approved, or treat for a condition other than that approved, there will not be any issue (though payment to the hospital may take time). Not your liability but the insurer's.

Closed per Health Forum rules 4. Posting/pinning of news articles: The forum is for members to seek advice on health/beauty related matters. it is not the place for general dissemination of news, research findings etc. Members are not to post news articles/research findings unless in the context of a discussion specific to an ASEAN NOW member's health/beauty related problem. https://aseannow.com/topic/224498-health-forum-rules/

Closed per Health Forum rules 4. Posting/pinning of news articles: The forum is for members to seek advice on health/beauty related matters. it is not the place for general dissemination of news, research findings etc. Members are not to post news articles/research findings unless in the context of a discussion specific to an ASEAN NOW member's health/beauty related problem. https://aseannow.com/topic/224498-health-forum-rules/

Mine too. Prachinburi. And there must be a transaction shown in the bank book on that same day as well.

What treatment was given? This is an ENT emergency. Prompt treatment with steroids is indicated and should NOT be deferred awaiting scans. Where are you and where/by whom are you being treated?

There should be at keast 1 large, air conditioned pharmacy (with qualified pharmacist) in Chantaburi town. Avoid pharmacies in rural districts. Among other things, proper storage of drugs is iffy.

If you have already been prescribed this by a a doctor and it works well for you, you can buy it in inexpensive local brand at any large Thai pharmacy. Innumerable lical brands. Show the pharmacist "fluoxetine" written down.

Note that there are some real concerns with the viability of WRLife's business model. Thsi has been extensively discussed in other threads in thit forum.

Most antidepressents here do not require a prescription. That said, it is extremely inadvisable to self prescribe these. Among other things, they can trigger manic episodes in people with undiagnosed BPD and greatly worsen anxiety in people with either mixed anxiety/depression or people whose anxiety was wrongly self-diagnosed as depression. You can have a consultation with a psychiatrist at a private hospital wothout buying the rfecommended medication at that hospital - just tell the doctor you will buy it at a pharmacy. Or, you could go to the government psych hospital, very affordable even in the "after hours" clinic (which is recommended over the public channel - more experienced doctors and they'll have more time to spend with you). https://www.somdet.go.th/