Sheryl

4 hours ago, RC8 said:

Ahh ok, thanks Sheryl.

 

I don't suppose there are any hospitals around the Roi Et or Khon Kaen area that you would recommend?

 

Would make things a lot easier.

Not for skin cancer, no. 

Experience with it is very limited in Thailand.

1 hour ago, Caiman said:

ENT Doctor prescription for a Small nasal polyp "Naso Spray" Mometasone Furoate 50 mcg. Hua Hin Hospital Pharmacy.

 

This is same as Nasonex, just different brand

1 hour ago, In the jungle said:

 

The hospital in the south did an MRI specifically of the lumbar sacral region of my back and both hip joints.  The radiologist who assessed the MRI noted no abnormalities.  I have the MRI scan on DVD.

 

I should perhaps have mentioned in my original post I am 64 years old and male.

In Thailand radiologist reports of MRIs (especially of the spine) are not very reliable. The scan should still be read by a spinal specialist (who will also likely want an Xray as these can actually be better for spotting some things). So still suggest you see Prof. Wicharn.

If he also says origin of the problem is not spinal then indeed next stop should be a neuroligist in which case I suggest

https://www.bangkokinternationalhospital.com/doctors/dr-apichart-pisarnpong

19 hours ago, SooKee said:

 

 

This is the odd thing, in two ways.  Firstly I've not moved to the next age bracket which I always though was 66, my renewal date is 1st April and I do not reach the next age bracket until after that.  AA World Insure though (I'm still in contact with them and will be until I change) have said that April do not use age bands?  It's all very strange and there definitely seems to be a 'smoke and mirrors' thing going on!  

 

AA World have gone quiet since I contacted them asking whether the reason for the increase was the change of region, to which they replied as I said above, apparently not.  Given that's not the reason, I asked them to ascertain precisely what the reason is, beyond the normal inflation line that they trot out.  Of course I accept inflation will play a part, but 30%?  Heard nothing since.  Still waiting to hear from AOC.  

 

I've mailed April a couple of times to ask too but, of course, I've had no reply from them either.  That I don't find at all surprising given I think their communication is garbage, always has been for me.

age bracket usually starts at 65 not 66 e.g. 

60-64

65-69

70-74

etc

So if yiu just turneed 65 you would have fallen into a new age bracket.

Just pay it as soon as possible.  Ask your bank if the auto transfer will still go through, if not you may need to initiate a transfer.

There is a brief grace period for late payments (I forget how long, it is in the SS Act, but certainly not less than a month). 

11 hours ago, SooKee said:

Just by way of an update for those with April France, or thinking of going with them, having asked AA World directly, they tell me that Thailand moving to region 2 from region 3 is only for new business, not renewals.  If that's the case, a 30% / $800 premium hike is alarming to say the least!  Or maybe April have, on paper, left Thailand in region 3 for renewals but have just hiked the price of the premium anyway.  Given that premium increases over the previous 3 years have been 8%, 6% and 10%, the 30% being asked for now will need some explaining.

 

Great news re Zone (if correct) and would explain the reports from others renewing now.

Re your 30% increase are you sure you did not move  into a new age bracket? As barring any structural change the elements driving increases are (1) inflation (specific to health care costs) and (2) age  bracket. 

Check your B12 levels.

Sometimes necessary to add sublingual B12 as older people may gave trouble absorbing it orally (but if your levels are normal, no need)

12 hours ago, RC8 said:

 

Thanks for the advice Sheryl. I will try the early OPD clinic the day after I arrive.

 

In the meantime I will try to get an appointment booked somehow, maybe ask my wife to call them.

 

Cant get the online booking system page to open here in the UK (maybe the firewall at work)

You can't book sppointment for the public channel. Only the after hours clinic.  Which can also be accessed as a walk in. 

3 hours ago, JackGats said:

Red yeast rice is effective. Contains a statin though.

Also a statin and in non-consistent doses so no advantage over taking a statin .

There are 2 options, the regular public channel and the after hours clinic.

However if they agree need for biopsy, will likely not do it in after hours clinic and refer you to public clinic on another day anyhow (that is what happened to me...wasted a 5 hour wait and 500 baht fee in the after hours clinic only to be directed to public channel on the following day. Well maybe not complete waste as I did get a fixed appointment  for the next day which might otherwise have taken more  time to arrange.).

My advice is to just show up by 7 AM, go to the OPD (I think 8th floor but double-check). Get a number and wait. Bring plenty of reading material.

It is a government hospital so things are not quick, and if they decide you need a biopsy appointment for that would likely be on a different day, and wait time to get biopsy results is about a month.  Regarding appointment dates it is possible to negotiate a bit if they try to give you one many days or weeks hence - explain that you do not live in Bangkok etc.

I paid 700 baht for the excision & biopsy, public channel

2 hours ago, CanNot said:

Yes, that are the results after taking ezetimibe for some month. 

Make sure that LDL is a direct measure and not an indirect calculation as with your lower than average triglycerides indirect LDL calculation might not be accurate

You might also try a contact lens prescription designed to yield mono vision i.e. one eye for distance and one for up close.

Bempedoic Acid (Nexletol)  is both very new and not available in Thailand. Which is likely why your doctor had not heard of it.

You mention only your LDL, are triglycerides OK?

Simvastatin and atorvastatin are both lipidophilic statins and that class of statins are more apt to cause or aggravate nerve pain. It might be worth trying a hydrophilic statin such as rosuvastatin as they are less likely to cause this effect.  

the other type of drug that might be considered is sustained release nicotinic acid. It used to be available as brand name Niaspan in Thailand but is now off market, but various brands can be purchased form iHerb as "nutritional supplements" (make sure it is the sustained release form)  https://th.iherb.com/search?kw=nicotinic acid sustained release. However discuss with your neurologist first whether this would be safe in terms of your neuro condition.

In terms of doctors, I suggest:

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/rachanon-murathanun

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

 is there a medical reason why I could not wear contacts all the time and then put on driving glasses when I ride my motorbike?

None  that I can think of

5 hours ago, Mike Lister said:

Gaba100 is effective and inexpensive, widely available OTC without prescription..

This is a serious medication with significant pitential adverse effects. Not recommended to use just as a sleep aid. 

OP Sominar works for many peoplw but try it out before you travel as it makes some people groggy afterwards. 

13 minutes ago, how241 said:

Agree 100%.  In the case of someone who has had 3 colonoscopy's already and never had any polyps, now age 70, it seemed like it might be good.  I did read about false negatives and false positives but the regular colonoscopy doesn't even check for cancer/blood and relies on visual inspection only.  I could be wrong or misunderstanding the info.  I never heard about this test and thought it was a new thing but I think I read it came out 10 years ago.  Can it be bought in Thailand ??  Cost in not a concern. 

       Thank you Sheryl for all the help you give everyday. 

Cologuard brand probably not but the large international hospityals may have some sort of Fecal Immunoassay Test (FIT).

As a point of comparison:

Detection of cancer: >99% with colonoscopy, about 92% with FIT

Detection of polyps: >99% with colonoscopy, about 40% with FIT

polyp removal: possible with colonoscopy, not possible with FIT

Simple tests for occult blood, much less accurate than FIT

34 minutes ago, how241 said:

Anyone try 'Cologuard'  ?   Good ? bad ? available in Thailand ?  your thoughts ?

https://www.cologuard.com/

Biggest limitation is that it may usually will mit drtect (much less remove) polyps.

Colonoscopy is far superior. 

Just now, Tropicalevo said:

That would explain it - she was a teacher and had paid SS for many years.

 

Thank you.

Yes it explains it.

People with SS are entitled to  emergency care at any hospital, including private, for up to 72 hours. It is not given free, the hospital  gets reimbursed by SS. (But at SS rates which is less than normal private hospital charge). 

System is not always correctly implemented by private hospitals though. Luckoly in your case it was. 

5 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Hi Sheryl

I am confused and I do not want to dispute your very valuable comments to AN but.....

My wife died in her sleep.

I rushed her to the nearest hospital that had decent emergency care . It was a private hospital (Bangkok Hospital Samui).

They tried to resuscitate her for almost an hour and eventually gave up.

I went back the next day to pay the bill - no charge. Hence my comment.

We are both from the UK.

I have no idea why you were not charged. Normally would be. Unless she had Thai SS from (past or present) employment in Thailand. 

7 minutes ago, eisfeld said:

Interesting that Trang was the closest option for treatment. That means they couldn't have done it either in Surat Thani nor Nakhon Si Thammarat. Phuket would have been also the same distance.

 

Also interesting that it was an army helicopter. Do hospitals in Thailand not have their own holicopters? I am not critizing btw, it seems to make sense to share this resource that is not frequently used.

Trang likely has  the the "hub hospital" for thrombolytic treatment in this Health Region (Region 11). 

Government hospitals do not have their own helicopters. Private hospitals sometimes (but nto always) do. The recently expanded "Sky Doctor" system is managed by the  Ministry of Public Health system and covers the more remote Health Regions, including Region 11.

30 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

Real world sure. But even Nepal is decades ahead of Thailand when it comes to rescue airlifts.

 

Not much choice in Nepal. Most rescues are from mountains and road access is bad to nil.

Most of Thailand by contrast can trandport people to higher level faciluties by road.

On 3/15/2024 at 12:54 PM, Tropicalevo said:

But there are six other hospitals on Samui.

Or did he not have insurance!!!

Mind you - emergency care is FOC. It is the follow up that is expensive.

The treatment needed is highly specialized and is not available at most hospitals  in Thailand. Certainly none below provincial level and not even most provincial hospitals. 

Emergency care is not free for foreigners in Thailand.

Air ambulance is expensive, can be sure he had $$ or insurance or both.