simon43

Update: April International has denied my claim to pay for the MRI scan, even though the medical report indicated that the lumps found in my prostate were 'level 5' (not Gleason), but meaning they were highly likely to be cancerous. April says they won't pay because an MRI is an outpatient treatment! (My policy does cover outpatient treatment for diagnosed illnesses, but since the cancer is not yet diagnosed, then basically tough!!). So that's 60,000 baht that I have paid out from my low salary.... Next the hospital has requested (3 weeks ago), to cover the cost of the biopsy. Well, I am now expecting April to have the same attitude >>> not yet diagnosed, so not yet covered.... So I may have to pay for the biopsy as well. I am rapidly losing confidence with April International.

Yes, it covers all inpatient costs, as well as outpatient costs for cancer/other serious illness investigations/treatment, such as MRI scans, biopsies, chemo, radiation etc. This is NOT April Insurance (Thailand), but April Insurance (France) - the 2 policies are very different.

I have lived full-time in Thailand since 2002. 2 years ago, I was able to pay voluntary NI contributions from 2006 up to the current year of contribution, paying at the cheapest rate (about 150 GBP per year). I can continue to pay for the next couple of years until my retirement date, at which point I will have paid 30 years of NI, which will give me a reasonable state pension. As others have said, you have until April of this year to back-pay your NI contributions from 2006!

Strictly speaking, the MRI can show lumps/tumours, but they could be benign, and a biopsy will confirm the status of those lumps. My recent MRI showed 2 growths inside my prostate which are 'grade 5' (ie very likely to be cancerous), but I'm waiting now to have a biopsy to confirm this. (I am actually waiting on April Insurance France to give the go-ahead, and they are somewhat slow in giving the OK, perhaps still drunk after Xmas/New Year parties...)

From extensive discussions with Dr Google, I understand that the 2 main side-effects are ED and incontinence, but that the severity depends on whether the cancer is wholly contained within the prostate, or also affects the nerves nearby. My lumps are wholly within my prostate, and I have had BPH and problems in peeing for many years. I finished with sexual relationships years ago and I live alone and teach online, within 3 metres of a toilet! For me, the urinary incontinence would be the bigger issue, but it seems that for most men, this problem all but stops after a few months, and with kegal exercises and a healthy body weight/fitness etc. If I went down the radiation route without an RP, it would apparently make surgery more difficult if the cancer were to return. I am realistic and expect my cancer to return at some time in the future after I've had the RP - perhaps 5, 10 or 15 years later (if I'm still alive). So, if that were the case, radiation/chemo treatment would still be an option. If you're in a sexual relationship, then the likely ED problems after an RP could indeed make it an unsatisfactory choice.

I lived in Phuket for about 10 years, and a total of a couple of years living in Pattaya. Remember that Phuket refers to the whole island, and that ranges from Patong through to quiet villages in north-east Phuket >> totally different from each other. I like Pattaya for the wide range of foods, shops and other facilities within walking or baht-bus distance. It has a nice promenade to walk and jog along. You can even sit (for a while) and have a coconut drink (!!). During all the time that I lived in Pattaya, I never once visited a gogo bar or propositioned a bar girl/boy. I had a very enjoyable time, and Pattaya is where I usually stay when I'm not teaching in Myanmar. (I am living in Phangan now, but that's another subject!). I liked living in Phuket, but wasn't so happy on a recent trip. Overpriced and overbuilt, even in previous rural areas. I don't plan to return.

In other news, ASSK was sentenced to 20 years in jail with hard labour for failing to use green colour bin bags for her lawn cuttings.... The military junta control only 17% of the area of Myanmar (according to expert analysis). When the junta falls (as it will), I hope that the military generals who are behind this sham junta are all taken out and shot, and their family assets confiscated.

Many (MANY!) Russians here in Kok Phangan. I note that rental properties are being rented by them and then (illegally) sublet at typically three times that rental price to their fellow Russians.

.. and there was I trying to work out the connection between kegal exercises and cannabis!

Is Sam Smith 'famous' in Thailand? I don't think so. How about Ed Sheeran? Probably not either. The point I'm making is that some of us on this forum actually live in Thailand full-time and not in the UK, EU or USA. For me, 'famous' singers are Mike Piromphon, Jintara Poonlarp etc. I live in Thailand, not in England. In fact, I often wonder how many forum posters actually live in Thailand, and how many live with their mum in Luton.....

Almost all of my online Chinese students and their parents have told me that they currently have tested positive for Covid. Fortunately, the youngsters only have mild symptoms and their parents a little less mild. The fact that Covid is now running rife in China is IMHO a good thing. It means that the vast majority of the citizens will gain natural immunity to this virus. Now, what about Xi's stupid policy over the last couple of years thinking that he could beat the virus down to zero cases?

In other news, a street vendor from Surat Thani visited Samui.....

Last B&J that I ate was maybe 20 years ago. Stuff makes you fat - I'll pass ????

Cardiac arrest? Not something that you can always fortell.....

Do what I do when asked for my age - I lie!!

[quote] but in reality, you're not going to be hooking your portable heater or welder up to it. [/quote] My incompetent Thai brother-in-law wired up his arc-welder to the temporary electricity supply when I was building a small hotel in Phuket many years ago. I was surprised when he called me late one evening shouting 'Fai Mai!' (fire!). Indeed, when I raced to the building site, he had managed to create so much heat in the wires that he had set the plastic box housing the electricity connection alight, as well as the wooden pole that it was fixed to.... Nice fire! Having ascertained that there was no risk of electric shock (the electricity company wires had burnt away about 3 metres above the box), I went back to bed and left him to explain to the electricity company next day what he had done!

I have given blood in both Thailand and Laos. I'm over 55 years old and simply lie about my age because I know that giving blood is important. No-one has ever asked to see my passport to confirm DoB...

I think all of my farang friends from my time in Phuket have died already - some old and some not so old. I hope for another 37 years! ???? (to reach 100...)

Well, it can be a fatal disease, but not the norm. My father contracted malaria at a young age after growing up in Egypt. He had occasional malaria fevers throughout his life and died of other causes at 89 years old. You would have to be very unlucky to contract malaria in Thailand. I travelled and worked in remote areas of Laos and Burma, but malaria vaccine/medication was not part of my first aid kit - I was more likely to get bitten by a rabid dog!

Well, they can do that if you took out a cheap-charlie insurance policy, (or even a not-so-cheap Thai policy). If you take out 'expat' medical insurance with an insurance company in the EU or UK, then by law, once you are signed up, they cannot refuse you new cover if you make a claim, and they cannot increase your premium because you made a claim. They can only increase your premium as you enter the next age band, and your premium will be the same as everyone else in that age band. I was recently diagnosed (at 63) with prostate cancer, and my insurance company (April International (France), will pay for all diagnostic costs and surgery. Stats tell me that a cancer may return in 10-15 years from now, so it makes absolute sense for me to stay with this insurance company so that any further cancer treatment will be covered. I have an idea of how the premiums will increase for each age band, and I can still afford this cover when I'm in my 80's...

I've told this story before on this forum ???? My mad ex#3 believed that she could decipher lottery numbers in the patterns of toads that were in our garden. So one evening, I grabbed a few of said toads and wrote numbers in indelible ink on their backs. You should have heard the screams of excitement when she found these toads. No, she didn't win......

I came from Donsak to Koh Phangan on Thursday and the old Raja ferry couldn't load vehicles because of the wave swell. It left Donsak, did a few circles and came back when the swell subsided. It loaded the vehicles, managed to get about 3 Km from the port and then caught fire!! We made a quick return to Donsak and I had to wait another 3 or so hours for the next ferry..... (The fire was somewhere in the engine room).

Having worked/lived in Burma for many years, I'm quite used to wearing a Paso (that's a male longyi). I currently teach Burmese kids on Koh Phangan, and wearing a Paso (boys) or longyi (girls) is the norm.

The answer is to lie about your age! I regularly gave blood when I lived in Luang Prabang, where the upper age limit for donations was 55 years old. I was never asked to show my passport, but was asked for my date of birth, which I made up on the spot. On one occasion, the nurse looked confused and told me that according to her records, I was now a year younger than my previous occasion.... but she smiled and happily accepted my donation!

Woollen kilt? You are crazy. Much too hot, even in the cooler season. I had a lightweight cotton kilt custom-made for me in Bangkok. I sometimes wear it outside (with sporran of course), and growl at anyone who dares to suggest that I'm some sort of transvestite. Some women in particular, were very 'friendly' when they saw my handsome legs...