Sheryl

My problem is with a Revolut card using a Thai bank debit card.

I used a US address with Thai phone number. I do not think it has anything to with details of my account as the error message comes in the split second I enter the card number. In fact before I even finish entering the number. The error message ("Sorry, this card isn't supported") kicks in when I get to the third sequence of 4 numbers. It is a newly issued debit card.

Correct. Would not accept my Kasikorn Bank debit card nor my (Cambodian) ABA debit card. Kasikorn card got error message "Card not supported" as soon as I entered the number, before even submitting it. ABA card got error message that cards from Cambodian banks not accepted. My US debit card has unfortunately expired and new one not yet arrived so can't try with that.

I think "blood was slightly high" is not correct description more lijlkely your red blood count was low (anemia) or there was blood in your stool. But yes, easily arranged if doctor recommends it for a medical problem and the hospital has the capacity to do it (not all government hospitals do). It is getting one for tlroutine screening that is sometimes hard to arrange at government hospitals. Not always, but sometimes.

Exactly what I answered to. First time takes about 5 days. Presumably quicker after that.

The Supreme Court did not rule that the charges were bogus. They ruled that disqualification from running for/holding federal office cannot be decided on by individual states (but states could decide regarding running for/holding office at state level).

They can't. Be sure to drink very large amounts of water, necessary for the Moviprep to work.

I was not referring the tax implication but rather the "illegal employment" issue. He can legally work on a marriage extension with a work permit. So trying to figure out why he is instead working without one.

As mentioned, takes about 5 days for an initial direct transfer (all kinds of complicated verification checks first). And wire transfer incurs fees that rather defeat the purpise (and also take a few days).

It us not 100% clear to me from this that his employer is physically based in Thailand. If it is, surely he could (and should) get a work permit?

Having just opened a Revolut account I can confirm it is possible to do with a Thai address and Thai phone number. HOWEVER be forewarned that unless you have a Google Pay account, adding money to Revolut is far from easy. (I have been unsuccessful despite 2 days of trying). They do not accept payment by credit card, and do not accept debit cards form many countries. Also do nto accept payment by PayPal. There are options for direct bank transfer but takes 3-5 days to effect. Wire transfers of course would incur fees. I do not know how this compares to Wise...but I am pretty close to just cancelling my Revolut account since I am unlikley to receive the card before my departure for the UK (due to inability to pay the shipping cost because of aforementioned difficulty in adding money to the card).

Immigration does not require tax receipts for extensions of stay based on retirement or marriage. I believe it does for business visas. It is actually not illegal to work while here on extension of stay for marriage, but you must hold a work permit, and practically speaking there is no way to get one if your employer is not based in Thailand. Do I understand correctly that you are working remotely for a US-based company? Revenue Dept is not interested in your total income, just the amount remitted to Thailand. That amount is taxable. Savings from earnings prior to 2024 on the other hand are not. If you have any savings that would qualify, remitting only these and banking your earnings in the US might be an option. You can apply any tax paid in Thailand to your US tax obligation and vise versa. But of course if you are claiming the foreign income exemption, your US taxes may be minimal or none.

If all you want to do is assess your hydration, just go by amount, frequency and color of urine. Especially color. The lighter, the better.

When most people say they were "put under" they usually mean IV sedation with propofol. Because as far as they experience/recall they are knocked out suddenly and wake up when it is over. Actually they are (usually deeply) sedated but rousable during the procedure but due ot the agent used have no memory of any of it. No place is using GA for this. People just vary in what they call deep IV sedation.

Yes, at government hospitals it is under 10K. Private hospitals range between 20 and under 40 k...occasionally have promotional prices a bit under 20k. Can be hard to arrange on demand at some govt hospitals though.

As orhers have said, proof of YF vaccine is required to enter Thailand (and most other countries) from Tanzania (and other YF risk areas). And since the reason it is required is that YF is endemic there, it would be prudent to get the vaccine prior to going. The Mahidol Thai Travel Clinic is indeed good source for this. Appointment can be made online. The vaccine certificate is vslud gor lulife. Try to allow a week or more between vaccination and departure since you may feel unwell (fever, aches and pains etc) immediately after.

The usual approach (regardless if body weight) is IV sedation and this is what people refer to as being put to sleep because that is how it feels to most people.

All polyps should be removed and biopsied. The ability to remove polyps is the biggest advantage to colonoscopy as opposed to "virtual colonoscopy" and other screening options and the reason why colonoscopy remains the gold standard. As to your idea that the doctor falsified the report of having removed a polyp, extremely unlikely. Ask for the pathology report on the sample. On the other hand the quote you got of 100k is indeed way out of line. Even at the most expensive private hospital in Bangkok the cost is usually under 40k. It is so unprecedented that I suspect they quoted a surgical procedure by mistake...especially given the reference to "extra nights". No nights should be involved as this is an outpatient day procedure. Upcountry private hospitals are usually best avoided in any case.

As for labs, the test literally takes minutes so just a question of how busy they are. And whether they do it onsite or send it out, a lot of commercial labs are actually just blood collection points and send out elsewhere

Addendum: just located a distributor in Thailand TECHNO MEDICAL PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED 29 Soi Ladprao 92 Wangthonglang Bangkok 10310 Thailand Phone: 662-933-6112 , 662-933-6119 Ext.418 Fax: 662-933-9763 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.technomedical.co.th Contact: Ms. Soonthree Chanlongbutra These units (and the microcuvettes) are nto cheap but believe me, I researched this extensively when I was an advisor to the Ministry of Health In Cambodia (which introduced them in community health centers nationwide) and there is nothing else that is reliable

I would steer well clear of such "no name" brands. The quality ones -- with which I have a lot of experience -- are from HemoCue company based in Sweden. https://www.hemocue.com/en/solutions/hematology/hemocue-hb-201plus-system Make sure you get full set including the microcuvettes as cannot be used without them. You might also find some of the units on eBay but the microcuvettes are still an issue

A dog cafe is a dog cafe. Why does someone who finds yapping dogs irritating choose to go to a dog cafe? It's like choosing to sit at a playground and then complaining about the children running about.

Exactly.

Measles is exceptionally infectious and it needs 95% of the population to be vaccinated to prevent outbreaks...unlike most other infectious diseases where 85% will suffice. US used to have that level but no longer. In Florida it's now about 91%. Hence the outbreaks.

Not at all the case. Measles are highly contagious and anyone with it can (and will) spread it. Weak, undernourished children are the most likely to die of measles. But they are no more likely than the well nourished to spread it. There are not a large number of illegal immigrants in Florida.