Sheryl

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Rock hard Thai mattresses (which is 95% of all Thai mattresses) will do this -- all the more so if one is thin.

For home, get a good memory foam topper, well worth the expense and makes a world of difference.

For travel,  get an air mattress and bring it with you. If buying from lazada search for "air bed". And make sure to get the little electric pump to inflate it.

I never stay in a Thai hotel without having packed my air mattress. For exactly the reason you describe.

Dermal preparation is preferred to oral (no liver pass) and also easier to titrate.

I and many others use Oestrogel. As the name implies, it is a gel. One tube I think costs around 300 baht or a bit less and lasts me at least 3 months but your needs may vary. It comes with an applicator to measure out dose but I find less than that works for me.

12 hours ago, david_je said:

My "My Docs" only shows insurance cert, notice on personal data and paying premium. Is it hidden somewhere in there? Thanks.

Very odd. This is how mine looks:

Please keep it civil and on topic, or I will have to close the thread.

The General Conditions are on the customer portal. Just click on "My Documents".

Mine shows only from 2023 but that may be because my 2024-2025 premium is not yet due/posted.

OP I suggest https://www.samitivejhospitals.com/center/detail/special-needs-child-center

Make sure the work up includes hearing tests as sometimes delayed speech is due to hearing problem

4 hours ago, Dolf said:

0.04%

There is no fixed rate of risk.

It depends on many, many factors:

- the woman's viral load

- whether she has any breaks in the skin or mucosa (invluding where you can't see)

- whether the male partner has any breaks in the skin/mucosa

- how vigorous (or rough) the sexual activity is

The online customer portal for April should have all relevant documents including general conditions

2 hours ago, roger101 said:

Since that test, I have had 2 more AST and ALT tests. Both show absolutely normal readings (14 and 23 and then 18 and 23). I am thinking of cancelling my appointment at the Liver Centre.

They only sent me there because my ALT was 56. Blood tests and a Fibroscan are involved (don't ask me what that is). Any views on what I should do?

I don't want to waste money on unnecessary tests if they are not needed.

I would skip the appointment unless there are other symptoms (such as jaundice).  Your prior reading was barely above the normal range and readings since are completely normal.

An isolated reading at or slightly past upper end of normal range is really nothing to worry about.

Simply taking an antihistamine (or many other meds) can account for this.

Where in Thailand are you located?

The eFGR is just a calculation based on creatnine level and age, sex, and body size.

Thai labs (even in hospitals) often fail to adequately account for age and size so I would look more at your creatnine than at your eFGR (note that the "e" means "estimated"). And make sure creatnine is measured when adequately hydrated as dehydration wil increase it. There is no need to fast before a creatnine test.

@NewGuy see Prof.Dr. Khajohn Tiranathanagul  at Chulalongkorn after hours clinic

https://chulalongkornhospital.go.th/specialclinics/

He is there on Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings (start from 4 PM onward).  3rd floor of the Phor Por Ror building which is large highrise on the corner of Rajadamri and Rama IV, directly connected by overhead walkway to both Silom MRT and Saladaeng BTS.

You have to make appointment first through the Call Center at least 1 day in advance 02-256-5193. They will give you an appointment number, make careful note of it.

And assuming you have not previously been a patient there, you need to start by going to the ground floor of the building to register and get a patient hospital card. Bring your passport, and show them your appointment number when you do as they will issue you both the hospital card and an appointment slip which you then show at the nurses' counter on the 3rd floor. Special Clinic starts issuing queue numbers at 4 PM.

The time of your appointment has little or nothing to do with when you will actually be seen. Be prepared for as much as a 5 hour wait and bring plenty of  reading material.

On 3/25/2024 at 3:56 AM, Antiparovian said:

Where do you live? 10,000U a day should enough.

It is not safe to take more than about 800 IU Vitamin D daily, and 400 IU is enough for most people.

Did you mean to say weekly?

1 hour ago, BananaBandit said:

 

I was thinking about entering visa exempt, and then extending it for 30 days. 

A visa is a better bet and will remove rhe need for an onward ticket. 

A non-O visa based on marriage should avert any issues on entry. 

8 hours ago, david_je said:

Sheryl, Since I know you have done it, does it make any difference if I switch from AA World to AOC before or after I renew my April policy in May? How has your experience with AOC been so far?

Like you, I had used the old AA as broker. The company now listed as my broker on my policy and new premium notice is called Alliance Insurance Services, with an aa-world.com email and a Pattaya address and phone. I recall reading here that the old AA was no longer allowed to broker overseas policies and shifted to an India-based contact?

Thanks. 

 

AA world is a different entity than AA and headquartered in India. 

AA in Thailand is not allowed to broker non-Thai policies. 

While you can complete the paperwork to change brokers at any time, the new nomination takes effect only at your next premium. AOC assurred me they would still represent my interests before then if and as needed but fortunately not thus far necessary. 

As a result I can't give much by way of feedback yet. 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/parit -mekaroonkamol

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

I had Lasik surgery on both eyes many years ago.  No pain, just the smell of burning eye ball...

They use a topical anesthetic.

There are nerves in the eye. Hence the pain if you get a bit of sand in the eye or (wirse) have a cirneal abrasion.

For cataract surgery local anesthetic is ymused, so painless. 

3 hours ago, david_je said:

Would you consider that a compelling reason to stay with April then?

Up to you -- and also really depends on what sort of exclusions you would otherwise face. If only treatment of cardiac arrhyrhmias and rate is OK  you might opt to accept that but if it is all cardiac conditions, or anything related to AF (which would include stroke) then at that point I would stay wirh April.

8 hours ago, thaisabai said:

hello Sheryl

always very helpful information from you. much appreciated

 

question re Neurologist or an MRI specifically of the lumbar sacral region of my back 

 

any recommendation for Pattaya?

 

thanks and regards

 

thaisabai

For  problem in your lumbar spine you should see an ortho specializing in spine, not a neuro, and should come to Bangkok for that.

You can get MRI at several locations in Bangkok including Bang Na which is convenient if coming from Pattaya  https://mrithailand.com/en/contact-us-2/

However unless you are experiencing pain radiating to at lewast the thigh, or weakness in leg on that side, you might wait to see if doctor recommends MRI as might not be necessry.

12 hours ago, sniggie said:

500mg widely available and inexpensive. 

He is specifically asking about extended release formulation.

@berro Glucophage XR is available here  only in 750mg and 1,000 mg. The 500 mg strength here is not XR.

An alternative brand of the same thing, which may  cost less,  is Deson PR.

post linking to unreliable source removed.

2 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Thanks, Sheryl!

Hua Hin Hospital. 

It's so hard to get an appointment with a GI doctor. 

Would you not even recommend any of the private hospitals here, or the foreign one -  Be Well Clinic? Going to Bangkok is very inconvenient at the moment, 

Normally not, but there will be a GI specialist joining Be Well on 25 March who looks OK

https://bewell.co.th/supporting-specialists/

Hua Hin Hospital is not a very high level hospital, lucky if they even have a GI specialist and would likely be not daily.