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Just an update on this. I did not try for compensation from India. I have returned to the UK and seen a Urology Consultant. He is from India working here, and said up to 60% of implants fitted in India get bacterial infections! He is putting me through the NHS to repair the damage caused by the infection. It will take several operations, and at the end an implant has to be fitted again as no natural feeling can return now. I saw the consultant privately and am lucky he is putting me through the NHS here,  at the top hospital for this type of  repair surgery in the UK. Looking back, Bumrangrad Hospital did penile implants, and having spent almost all of last June in Bumrangrad, their standards of hygiene were first class. They were about 60% more expensive on penile implants than India, but obviously in the long run, would have been a cheaper and far better choice, than India was for me.

For the record, I am not Thai hospital bashing. But people visiting or living in Thailand should have full health insurance, or decent travel insurance. Care at Bumrangrad Hospital is excellent. 

Just to say my ulcer as Sheryl pointed out, was not caused by H.pylori. Also the first bleed was massive, the toilet bowl was just full of blood! (sorry for that thought!) They said at Bumrangrad Hospital that the bleed was from an artery behind the ulcer. The second bleed saw me back in intensive care straight away, luckily I was still in the hospital. The bleeding was as bad, very embarrassing indeed in the hospital bed! I am lucky to have survived I know. As for warnings of what was to happen, I never had any really, except some indigestion now and again.

Hi, I am in a Bangkok Hospital and have spent five days in ICU. Now I am going to a ward, but the cost so far is staggering! I am self funding and could run out of money soon. What happens then? And if you are not made well, how can one get back to your home country ever? Thanks.

I had three piece AMS penile implant fitted in the Blie Ribbon Clinic in India two weeks ago. The overall cost about 410,000 baht. Sadly as arrived back in Bangkok, it had got infected and am spending nearly double that having the device removed and fighting the bacterial infectionthat had taken hold! It has been a total disaster all round. If I could only turn the clock back.....

I have to have a surgical procedure and in getting quotes, found Thailand more expensive than India. However as I live in Thailand, would prefer to have operation here than India. But is the quality of surgeons say at Bumrangrad Hospital, equal to hospitals in India. 

Thanks for advice. The non immigrant 'O' multiple entry seems my best bet at this time. 

Hello there. I will be coming to Thailand soon, and wish to come for three months. The embassy in London, issue a non immigrant o visa for three months, single entry. It is not expensive. If I wanted to stay in Thailand, I take it this could be used to long stay, with three monthly visits to Thai immigration. However if I used it just for the three months and returned to UK, could I then do the same again say a month later. In other words is there any limit to taking out regular non immigrant o visas at all. I will be in receipt of UK pension then, so should have no trouble getting the visa. Once everything is settled, I could retire in Thailand but see a year or so with returns home needed at first. The alternative could be two month tourist visa extended one extra month in Thailand? The embassy are not at all helpful so thought it better to get forum knowledge! Thanks.

My quotes from Dr Sabhaewal at the Blue Ribbon clinic in India are as follows. The basic but workable malleable penile implant, $5000. The three piece implant was priced at $12400. With the recommendation of quality for the clinic, the prices seem very good! 

I have emailed almost all hospitals in south east Asia regarding penile implant surgery, and just a wave of negative replies! With Bumrangrad being the only one showing interest that I have found, even they seem to be wary of the procedure. When I am in Thailand next, I will pay them a visit, but the blue ribbon clinic in India does seem like a viable choice. I have emailed them for a quote. I know many hospitals and clinics do this surgery in India, but a recommendation, plus their excellent website, puts them firmly at number one choice so far!

Just to update on this. Quote from Bumrangrad Hospital for penile implant is 254,000 to 290,000 baht. Two to three days in hospital. Stay in Bangkok recommendation one week. Doctor recommended by Bumrangrad is Kavirach Tantiwongse, but I notice Sheryl recommends Premsant Sangkum, I dont know if one is better than the other. Hope this helps anyone interested in this procedure.

Well thanks for that information. Certainly getting non-o visa from Vientiane makes things much easier!

Bit confused here. I am coming to Thailand on a two month tourist visa next year, then later in the year an non immigrant o/a to retire in Thailand from London embassy. Can you now get the visa to retire from Vientiane? I will be over aged 65, have the 800,000 baht and in receipt of UK pension, but thought visa leading to Thai retirement could only be gained from your home country?

I was wondering when I retire to Thailand later this year, can you use hotel as your Thai address or does it have to be a house or apartment? Thanks.

Another update. Coming off Amlodipine proved to be a false dawn sadly. I am going to get a penile implant from Bumrangrad hospital in Bangkok. Any ideas on best consultant? I have spent years and years battling this problem, and I just have to try this procedure as my morale is now at rock bottom. I remember someone writing earlier, to get over it think of people really ill! Well I have been, and am ill, and before the grim reaper finally grabs me, I just want to beat my ED problems which in many ways have affected most of my life.

If Bumrangrad now very expensive, what would be the best instead or does it depend on problem. Here in UK I have had three endoscopy procedures for stomach, bladder and colon. If I had these investigations in Bangkok which hospital would be best, and/or least expensive? I would prefer just to use one hospital for all health matters if possible, when fully retired there.

Garry if your systolic is 117 to 128 on the tablet, that is well contained. You would have to have systolic 140 plus regularly to have mild hypertension, I reckon without the tablet it may well stay below 140. And I agree with Sheryl that weight loss and lifestyle adjustments would be the recipe for normal blood pressure readings in most people.

Gary, the 2% figure for Amlodipine affecting your sex drive is generally thought to be on the low side. For me in the side affects for Amlodipine, erection problems are in the same sentence as enlargement of the breasts in men. And sadly, as the doctor pointed out, you can see some breast enlargement! Also, I had terrible ankle swelling (oedema), now completely gone. I had back pain, now gone. My sleep is back to normal, the Amlodipine really affects that. There is a problem taking the drug long term so maybe that is why it was especially bad for me.

The two changes I made definitely did make things better. The early morning erection is proof of that. But whether that then gave a confidence surge to cure the problem, I cant say. But there are other dodgy tablets out there which are well known libido killers like water tablets for instance. My point is for men to examine their medication as well as look at other factors if there could be a problem. Getting older is not always the reason for sex drive problems!

An update on this. I did suffer erectile dysfunction so sought a specialist doctor advice. He did blood tests and looked at my conditions and medications. Firstly, I had iron deficiency anaemia. This was probably caused by medication started about 6 years ago for a hiatus hernia, and never reviewed properly. I was on Omeprazole 20 mg, and daily took antacid tablets. This would have affected iron intake, now I am down to only 10 mg Omeprazole when needed, and no antacid tablets. There is no problem with my hiatus hernia since the dose change, so I was over prescribed it seems.

Then he looked at my blood pressure medication, not changed in over 12 years. I was on Candesatan 16mg, and Amlodipine 10mg. He said Amlodipine can effect sex drive, so just stop it! So I did. My blood pressure is only up a little so far and I am losing weight to help keep it lower.

Well, within a few weeks I started to get those morning erections when you wake up! I thought they had gone for good. The doctor prescribed Levitra 20mg, so armed with this I found a lovely lady who I have visited. And, hey presto, everything is fine again! This has shocked and really annoyed me. For years I had thought it was my age which was affecting my libido, when it was the drugs all along! So for older gents out there suffering maybe ED problems, check your medication, it could be a change there that may make your life a lot better.

Thanks for replies. I will be staying at Centara Hotel when I come over so will be there when the Rotary Club meet on Mondays. It is strange how little information is around regarding voluntary work when there must be the need. Perhaps when there it will be easier to find places who require help.

I am retiring next year to Udon Thani. I will be of retirement age and in UK have always done lots of voluntary work. It helps the charity or organisation, but I also get a lot from giving up my time to try and help. Does anyone know of an ongoing charity or organisation in Udon, or say within 30 miles, that I could give my time and maybe some money to? I have tried google but have found nothing

active at the moment. Thanks.

Thanks for further feedback. Your wait meatboy from 2002 to 2007 is what concerns me. Say my valve staggers on for up to 5 more years, that means my retirement is limited to 6 months in Thailand, 6 months in UK to keep NHS cover! And then it is Russian roulette to see if they do the operation in time! Hgma I have heard good things of Khon Kaen university hospital for heart surgery. Maybe keep monitored in Thailand then as long as no major risk flagged up, have operation here. Major risks shown get back to UK and pretend I never left, most people seem to get away with it!

My valve was a metal version, meant to last 25 years. Sadly it has lasted only 8. It is now being attacked by blood clots affecting its performance and the only option is a replacement. At some stage my INR with warfarin dipped too low and allowed blood clot build up. They say here a bovine big valve replacement now, then if I am alive in about 10 years, keyhole surgery with a smaller pigs valve. This first operation has to still be open heart. When I had my original operation it did all go wrong with them having to take me back into surgery because it did not stop bleeding internally, and also both kidneys failed for seven days before only one kicked back in. Sheryl's warning that complications could cost millions of baht makes me think UK is only option! I will have to see how my current health continues and keep it all under review. When next in Bangkok I will visit Bangkok hospital and consult with them to see what they say. Thanks for all feedback, even chosen surgeon, and I will post more on this if I use Bangkok Hospital.