pinfold

I read and re-read the likes of this topic many times,different headings obviously,and the desperation in some of the wording is pitiful. I know for some its hard,especially with family here and visa issues back in the UK,in a way its like being a prisoner,trapped.

I have evaluated my position here in Thailand in the last few months and now realise its a hopeless mess,the longer I stay here the more hopeless it seems. Not from a money angle anyhow,but reading the UK pensions thread I often wonder how an ex=pat can afford to live out here with any comfort.

With no family left so no ties anywhere,the move to wherever should be easy,....not so, Thailand and another country close by has been my home for a fair few years,but the welcome mat in Thailand has well and truly been pulled up,not the friendliness that once existed any more

Totally agree with the OP. Obviously depends on where and who you are going back to

Been here 10 years now and the novelty has well and truly dried up. It was great for a few years, dont get me wrong, but you soon see through the cracks. So taking my son home for a decent free education, and real friends and family.

Most of the guys I have known here, you take away golf and bar girls, and they would be lost. I have done that, but cant imagine being like that myself, a big red faced whore junkie at 50 or 60. Keeps them happy, on the outside anyway, but not for me.

Looking forward to a decent 2nd hand car for 10k, decent roads and driving, culture, going to live football, sport in general, friends, family, beer, food, long summer nights, UK holidays for my son inc Xmas with the family, Easter, Haloween, Summer breaks, Going somewhere for a bet, horse racing days out, poker tournaments, Buying a decent house that I can pass on that wont be a run down p1ss hole in 30years, drinking water from the tap, My <deleted> being flushed away from the house, not having to put up with the smell of <deleted> when walking in town, bus drivers not doing 120kmh up the hard shoulder,minimal power cuts, no dogs everywhere yapping away, no dogs splattered in the road, no dogs banging away at the side of the road, no cobras in the garden, a house in my name, land in my name, not having to photocopy and sign 100 pieces of A4 everytime I want to change something legally, no blatant under the table pay offs, free healthcare, not driving to a shop to buy something and being told "Mai mee' or 'mai roo'.

Not having to listen to being referred to as 'Farang'...... ,defend it all you want, but lets face it, ****Racial stereotyping comments removed****

The land of smiles. More like the land of smiling assassins.

Agree,I have been here for six and I'm well and truly fed up with Thailand,and need a move,out of Asia too. Not that I want to go back to the UK but certainly within a few hours of it,Canary Islands I'm looking at now and have been for a while. I need to take a bit of time over there before the jump.

The sheer amount of long term ex-pats I have known to leave Thailand in the last couple of years is amazing,the Johnny -come -lately farang hoping for a new life here soon get disillusioned,Thailand's changed. Just glad I never bought anything here,can move without the burden of that.

When I look at my passport,all filled within two and a half years it brings it home to me anyway ,just how unhappy I am now with the place.

I have no personal experience, but heard from several sources that Malaysia has cheaper, but more or equally professional health care than Thailand. Rip-off factor is less and they can speak good English.

Probably not as cheap as India, but worth to check out.

Yes I know Malaysia has a good write up medically wise. Guy I used to speak to at the California WOW gym told and re-told a story of a guy wind surfing in Phuket,broke his hand and went down to Penang. The doctor could not do enough for this guy x-rayed, bones re-set,strapped up for one ringit. Impossible to believe? who knows but the doctor knowing the guy was English was all over him because of the empire past. Good option though

pinfold

Having spent some time as a guest lecturer at an Indian Medical School I believe I have , perhaps, some insight into what is available.

If one looks for medical staff with Western European, UK or American education/training/qualifications you perhaps will not go far wrong.

However India whilst home to some of the best medical care it is also home to some of the worst! ( Just believe me! I have no wish to debate this !)

in Thailand choosing a medical provider solely on the basis of cost ( cheap or expensive!) may not always be a good idea!

Personal recommendation is good but not always possible to obtain, so in the case of non urgent issues, remember that Doctors only offer advise. It is you, the patient, who determines if that advice is acceptable. It is always possible (and relatively cheap) to obtain a second opinion.

In the case of English speaking expatriates who do not speak Thai it is worth seeking a Doctor who is able to communicate well in English.

Sheryl and yourself are to put it mildly are an absolute rock upon the ex-pats which they should always turn to for advice,and personally I thank you wholeheartedly Long since I have been here I have looked at Sheryl's advice to others and they are gems.

But I know once your past your sell by date insurance wise you should not be in Thailand,if by sheer luck and keeping yourself fit that many an aging ex-pat has got away without medical bills ,good for them,but the body is only a machine,somewhere along the line it will break down, I just do not want to fall seriously ill or die in Thailand thank you

For me all of Thailand's hospitals should have a bright neon sign alongside the word "hospital" and that is "come hither and we'll soak you" What rhyme or reason a charge of £800 for basically for a watch and monitor exercise over a 24 hour period,its sickening to even comprehend

Yes I do frequently go to India for treatment,for me its the best in the world,better than the NHS in many ways,I can get procedures done that the NHS would consider unnecessary ,but the last pneumonia scare put the frighteners under me,not that I want to return to the UK ,but the Canary islands would be a good option free medical and warm weather.

Anyway jrtmedic and especially Sheryl,thanking you two especially

They are no way a problem if handled correctly. I look after quite a few soi dogs,spaying etc,keep the numbers down

Probably one of my most heartbreaking tasks yesterday was one soi mutt a real pearl of a dog,gentle ,intelligent so lovings was taking her to the vet to be put down,her back had been broken. The vet initially refusing,but promising another 7 days she will do it. To me that's 7 days of agony watching her slowly die. Pathetic,but that's Thailand

pinfold

Having spent some time as a guest lecturer at an Indian Medical School I believe I have , perhaps, some insight into what is available.

If one looks for medical staff with Western European, UK or American education/training/qualifications you perhaps will not go far wrong.

However India whilst home to some of the best medical care it is also home to some of the worst! ( Just believe me! I have no wish to debate this !)

in Thailand choosing a medical provider solely on the basis of cost ( cheap or expensive!) may not always be a good idea!

Personal recommendation is good but not always possible to obtain, so in the case of non urgent issues, remember that Doctors only offer advise. It is you, the patient, who determines if that advice is acceptable. It is always possible (and relatively cheap) to obtain a second opinion.

In the case of English speaking expatriates who do not speak Thai it is worth seeking a Doctor who is able to communicate well in English.

Your right,but there are web sites offered by ex-pats,such as this over there too, that give precise information

I know Sheryl hates me butting in with this particular suggestion,but for years I have done it and for me its a no-brainer.

India,only 2 to 3 hours away,finest of the finest medical care the world can offer at a tiny fractions of Thailand's, and courteous to the point of embarrassment. I know its a step into the unknown for most,but as an individual who cannot obtain medical insurance any more,its better than sliced bread.Cheap airline pricing too.

Preventative cancer screening,surgery for whatever, it really is heaven sent

I had a quote ,recently of £800 as admission fee at Pattaya hospital for one night,ended up in Indian hospital day after at £28 a night,was half dead though,superb care thoughout

'amazing how acceptance of imminent death changes a person,so swift it was more than brutal'

interesting thing(s) you said but unclear

maybe you are talking about two diff things

acceptance of death? and

and how cancer spreads quickly?

Soon as consultant advised him,few days after GPs visit,he was told there was nothing to be done,did not want photos taken,no reminder of any presence on earth,banished his friends and family from contact,died a few weeks later in hospice.

Heavy smoker

It depends entirely on the type of pneumonia. It can be viral (in which case antibiotics won't help), bacterial (in which case the choice of antibiotic varies with the particular bacteria responsible), even fungal.

It is not something you can self treat, even if living where antibiotics are sold OTC.

Zinc supplementation has been shown helpful in preventing respiratory infections/reducing their severity. In Thailand there are a couple of preparations sold with zinc, one is Redoxan (Vitamin C + zinc), another is Berroca C, I think the Redoxan is a little cheaper. Might help as a preventive but if you again develop pneumonia or anything remotely like it see a doctor early on for proper treatment. If you are still in the Pattaya area, there are less expensive alternatives to the private hospitals there, e.g. Queen Sirikit Naval Hospital in Sattahip, or Phyathai Hosp in Sri Racha.

As for your current weakness, how long has it been since the pneumonia? While your description is a bit unclear it sounds like you may have been critically ill in which case it is to be expected that it will take time to get your strength back. Proper nutrition and enough rest are the best measures.

If there is any possibility you might have HIV, get tested. As untreated it can weaken the immune system and leave you vulnerable to severe infections. (The infection could have been acquired anytime over a period of years).

Thanks Sheryl, No ,no HIV which is a wonder, got blood results back this afternoon,nothing amiss. Pneumonia,caught it 5 or 6 weeks ago I guess ,. Yes was ill,was fit for nothing at the end,virtually unconscious, high fever,fainting too,just remember all I wanted was sleep,dragging myself around,should have got myself on a direct 'plane back to the UK.

Yes take plenty of bed rest,I'm exhausted come early evening ,just want previous energy levels back,somebody mentioned a steroid injection,what you think?

Definitely not,will further suppress your immune system. No reputable doctor would administer this in such a situation.

Have you had a recent blood count? Not knowing what type of pneumonia you had nor what drugs were given makes it very hard to say but there are some medications which can suppress the bone marrow (causing among other things anemia) . The same can happen as a sequel to septicemia and for all we know your pneumonia may have proceeded to that by the time it was treated. So do get a complete blood count if you have not recently had one.

If that comes back normal -- and IF there are no signs of a continuing lung infection -- then tincture of time along with a healthy diet and lots of csleep are your best allies.

Its just getting someone to sleep with me now Sheryl

Next door, secure scooter storage 30 baht a day

It depends entirely on the type of pneumonia. It can be viral (in which case antibiotics won't help), bacterial (in which case the choice of antibiotic varies with the particular bacteria responsible), even fungal.

It is not something you can self treat, even if living where antibiotics are sold OTC.

Zinc supplementation has been shown helpful in preventing respiratory infections/reducing their severity. In Thailand there are a couple of preparations sold with zinc, one is Redoxan (Vitamin C + zinc), another is Berroca C, I think the Redoxan is a little cheaper. Might help as a preventive but if you again develop pneumonia or anything remotely like it see a doctor early on for proper treatment. If you are still in the Pattaya area, there are less expensive alternatives to the private hospitals there, e.g. Queen Sirikit Naval Hospital in Sattahip, or Phyathai Hosp in Sri Racha.

As for your current weakness, how long has it been since the pneumonia? While your description is a bit unclear it sounds like you may have been critically ill in which case it is to be expected that it will take time to get your strength back. Proper nutrition and enough rest are the best measures.

If there is any possibility you might have HIV, get tested. As untreated it can weaken the immune system and leave you vulnerable to severe infections. (The infection could have been acquired anytime over a period of years).

Thanks Sheryl, No ,no HIV which is a wonder, got blood results back this afternoon,nothing amiss. Pneumonia,caught it 5 or 6 weeks ago I guess ,. Yes was ill,was fit for nothing at the end,virtually unconscious, high fever,fainting too,just remember all I wanted was sleep,dragging myself around,should have got myself on a direct 'plane back to the UK.

Yes take plenty of bed rest,I'm exhausted come early evening ,just want previous energy levels back,somebody mentioned a steroid injection,what you think?

Pleased to know your seeking medical advise !

Best wishes

....what would be the first drug used if suspected pneumonia?. Was told years ago I was a good host for chest infections,whether it was because swimming was my sport as a youth and developing expanded lungs or whatever,never smoked

Amoxcil, just read it on comp,have to get a supply in for emergencies

As a matter of interest how do you know you are suffering from or have had "pneumonia" ?

Also "penicillin" would not be a first line choice of antibiotic to treat "pneumonia"

Perhaps you should consult a Doctor.

If you are in Thailand the cost will be very small compared to what is charged in the States

Thanks for reply. Went to a Pattaya hospital initially after a couple of visits to GPs,then given heart attack on admittance fees for hospital here,flew to India next day,

All I know is on hospital admission there after x rays is long plastic tubes being taken out of sealed paper wraps and falling asleep for four hours,waking up to be told the initial drip I was placed on did not suffice at getting rid of type of pneumonia,and long syringe with a timer included into the drip.

Been for a blood test this morning,awaiting results.

Can only think of one thing that gave me whatever it was and those geysers in Yellowstone,they belch steam at certain times and getting more of a lungful of whatever nasties lay therein

Carried it for over a week,was in the USA when I contracted it,knew something was wrong ,but those US emergency room charges are astronomic,but could not get penicillin for love or money from pharmacy.

Got rid of it now but overall weakness still with me,was losing over 1Kg of weight a day at one stage,wanted to get shut of weight ,but not that way,just was eating anything to slow weight loss at the time.

This damned weakness just will not go away,is there anything to help?

You remind me of a close friend I had years ago,about your age. For a few weeks he kept on about a little food filled him,then within an hour or so he was starving. told him a few times to see a doc,within a few days of another employment contract being picked up,he did visit a doctor. Lasted about 6 weeks after the doctor visit,stomach cancer. I miss him terribly,but he was a smoker

Once you are in the above stage there is no chance of it being caught early,amazing how acceptance of imminent death changes a person,so swift it was more than brutal

If you went to govt vet third road you could get the liquid sort 100 pill eqiv.for around 350 baht

Don't you need a visa to go to India? How long does that take to get and what does it cost?

Don't you need a visa to go to India? How long does that take to get and what does it cost?

Yes need visa,had visas for 10 years now, for India(used to live there) my 5 year one finishes in Oct this year,need 6 month tourist one then,keep re-newing it though. no idea of cost,but I hear there going like Thailand 30 day free

They probably have the cricket on TV in India too

That's all the buggers have on television.

You know through all the discomfort of pneumonia it was that cold vapourising bottle of air/oxygen that was my main relief,could not draw it into my lungs fast enough

Flew from BKK to Calcutta. I previously put a piece in Thaivisa Health section "Options to Thailand health care" that will explain more,without going into detail here. I go there frequently for whatever needs doing MRI's knee surgery,everything and everything. I have friends who go to Malaysia too who describe there as "cheap as chips" never tried it though.

Now cannot get insurance in Thailand and if India was not so close I would abandon Thailand completely just for my healths sake,keep myself fit as I can here, but who knows?

10 days,chose Catholic hospital as language no problem,keep away from the Apollo private hospitals,they will soak you. The £ is fantastic value at the moment too

The costing I gave before,meals drinks,drugs included

Not exactly a move I wanted to make early June to see Old Faithful,rain cold and wet,but paid for by A.N. Other. On return health wise knew something seriously wrong and getting worse,two GP's in Pattaya were good,but not exactly good enough.

Cut to the chase,worse going on badly,breathing getting difficult,taken to International who wanted to advance of almost £800, and around £655 every subsequent day holed up there plus plus plus,told them to stick it,(knew at this stage pneumonia was probable cause)

Next day flew to India, (three hours £120)asked local GP best hospital choice(no tourist hospital) quoted £280 for whatever it took and how many days to treat.........Best care and treatment the world could offer,that includes the UK too at a price that was unbelievable.

Still a bit weak on return,but good damned good. Pattaya or any Thailand hospitals forget it ,all rip off merchants. Just keep an open visa to India for urgent medical care,its my best policy

For Nontabury,yes I spend a fair bit on the computer working away ,do you? and I too am not spending time on your gobbledygook as much as it offends you Just returning from China and the US on business with a case of pneumonia I am not spending time here on you,as ill as i feel at this moment I have been in touch with the DWP,unlike you,with nonsensical review.

Forgive me but I intend to inform nobody of my whereabouts,you want to do it? up to you,not interested.

Now the laws that are being broken and the punishments meted out please, no hearsay, no hearing from someone else just the genuine article please All I ask Thank You.

I find its all hit and miss regards medical care in Thailand with the potential for outrageous billing awaiting,it depends which way the wind is blowing I guess on a particular day.

Plane ride to India ,3 hours away, utterly superb medical car,at a fraction of Thailand's and a recent return fare of £60 return into Calcutta. The list of first class hospitals was sooo impressive. I go there for whatever medical problems I encounter

Interesting. So the quality is good you say. How much cheaper than a good private hospital in Thailand? Is there double pricing?

The difference is like night and day. I put a piece up in the Health section a couple of months ago "options to Thailand medical care" Look it up,I do not want to go into great detail here,but well worthwhile taking a trip out there,it was amazing. No double pricing.

I find its all hit and miss regards medical care in Thailand with the potential for outrageous billing awaiting,it depends which way the wind is blowing I guess on a particular day.

Plane ride to India ,3 hours away, utterly superb medical car,at a fraction of Thailand's and a recent return fare of £60 return into Calcutta. The list of first class hospitals was sooo impressive. I go there for whatever medical problems I encounter

Bought the 3g paperwhite model a few days ago in the US $179 +tax +,$20 rebate from Staples. Its good,easy to use ,but I like the basic kindle after using it for a couple of days,cannot get used to the swipe screen

The 3g is definitely the one to go for,no wi fi hot spots ,picks u the 3g signal anywhere

Wether you withdraw from an ATM or over the counter in the bank you will be charged a percent.

It's usually a percent of rate not really the amount you withdraw.

Ie if Bangkok bank had a rate of 44.04, your bank at home would have given you a rate of 43.7/43.8.

If you have online banking it should show in your transactions, it does with Halifax.

It took me about a year until I realised you could take big money out at a bank. I used to withdraw twice a week and pay for items on my card incurring charges all over the place.

Now I use Ayuthaya located central festival 4th floor (the yellow bank). They almost always have the best rates. I can withdraw anything from 15,000 to 250,000 baht. Then run across the mall and deposit into my kasikorn. Another point there card machines are ver quick, you can have 100,000 baht in minutes.

And obviously you avoid the 150baht charge from ATM.

I personally think its the best and safest way to withdraw in Thailand.

Your suggestion that all are charged by your home when withdrawing from an ATM is incorrect. Many are not. Including holders of the Halifax Clarity credit card.

You just need to obtain better financial instruments. Metro Bank debit and credit cards top the list. Halifax Clarity too. N&P BS Gold account debit.

Will not accept Metro card using passport at yellow bank,maybe because its MasterCard ,Visa it will (Small yellow bank in Tesco north)