cnx37

A consultation with a psychiatrist is obscenely cheap in Thailand. B1000? Quality - personal observation - woeful. I make a similar observation re Oz.

Medication is obscenely expensive. I have paid B1500/pill.

After having bipolar disorder (type 11) for many years, I have ceased all medication. Effects - ZERO - nothing adverse! The Oz doctors would be aghast!

In Oz, I had ECT - same in LOS.

Tip - NO BOOZE! There are self-help groups in Oz & LOS.

As mentioned by another poster, the company of a quality Thai lady is the best remedy & natural. Please be extremely careful!

Anti-depressants etc - I am not qualified in this area - personal experience only. It is a band-aid! My quality of life has improved significantly - another tip - choose your friends/acquaintances very carefully. Dispose of unnecessary relatives!

I MUST be really "sick". I may even attend another meeting today - "one day at a time" - 2 days in a row! Maybe I should start another meeting - advanced sobriety group?

In CNX, not much "Lord's Prayer" or "I luv you Jesus" stuff.

Just the usual "power plays", "character assassinations", "my sobriety is better than yours".

My desire - BP Petroleum - "the quiet achiever".

I don't luv JC - but I do luv AA. The politics is a bonus.

Went to a meeting this morning - 1st for quite a while! About 20 in attendance - a surprising number of women. I knew one guy only. The faces change but not the program. They come - they go. Maybe on holidays - in LOS for a visit. Maybe back on the "slops". Maybe a better way?

When I mentioned that I had not been for a period, the majority were agasp. Did you have a drink? No. Agasp again.

I still luv AA - with all its peculiarities.

jaideeguy

YOU ARE THE MAN!

Such different lifestyles? You watch English TV? Consume Chang? Still ride a m/c? OK, you can operate the internet & eat hamburgers.

Problems? Who instigates such?

And you, BIG $$$ GUY? What B15-20k/mth? - B25k at Songkran? Rented house/condo/room?

I am envious - MR MAN!

Hi tominbkk

As it is said: "Horses for courses".

It ain't a competition to "corner" the market. Whatever works for you I am SURE will be find by all - one day at a time.

Arjunadawn

Really it is TOO simple. Choices are extremely limited!

sirchai

a) avoiding people I cannot stand. I have been "culling" for some time. Recently, another "got the chop". Farang family - severely "cut" - 100%!

my wife - same, same. A real blessing! Young in years - maturity - well beyond her years. I very much appreciate her support.

c) doctors/hospitals - I should watch what I say. I have been to RAM in CNX - purportedly the best - definitely the most expensive for medication. At RAM, I had an oncologist & a pain management doctor - morphine & morphine. After a while, I was hallucinating & had severe constipation. Suandok - oncologist.

d) morphine did a job on me. I ended up returning to my home country - wheelchair, oxygen & escort. Home country doctors - useless - primitive withdrawal from morphine - no substitute.

e) existing house v new house. There are not a lot of existing houses for sale. This will be accommodating the "whole family" - Wife, self, FIL & MIL. It will be 2 storey - reasonable size to "breathe". FIL & wife will have prime responsibility. I will take a back-seat but put in my 2 bobs worth when it suits.

f) think positively - I am a member of AA (& try to follow the principles in all my affairs).I even try a little prayer - I will try anything!

g) meditation - tried a little - I would NOT say that I gave it a good try - a feeble attempt!

AOA

Currently, I use TOT in CNX - OK. Recently, changed to wi-fi - similar to land-line.

I have been advised by a Fang resident to utilize 3BBB - local knowledge - he changed from TOT.

northernjohn, mesquite & CWMcMurray

NJ - thanks for the offer! Do I need to make a reservation or just try "pot luck"?

mesquite - I appreciate your frank comments - response provided - not a debate.

CWM - a late entry! Agree! I am paying - wife's house (of course). I will need to "stand firm" or suffer the consequences - our norms (it just depends).

My wife & I did not meet in Pattaya last month. We have known each other for about 10 years.

a)farangs moving to a small town - I am already insane.

b)wife's relatives & friends - never met the friends. Family - we take it in turns at a restaurant (I do not eat much). Yes, years ago, I provided financial support - no coercion - very much appreciated. FIL - now 60 - intends to work until he is 70 - to support me.

c) sitting on the floor - OK by me - up to them. With a previous g/f, I used to join in - not now.

d) jabbering on endlessly in local language - yes, a problem. My Thai is limited. My wife is bilingual. FIL/MIL - Thai only - except happpppy bird-daaaaaaay. Really, my problem to solve. I have no need to be a participant in all activities.

e) eating local food - no problem in the past - enjoyed - including insects, grasshoppers. Now, I have throat cancer - no solids!

f) drinking local whiskey - no problem. FIL - low consumer. MIL - non-drinker. Relatives - no idea. PIL pretty well keep to themselves except grandma (age 84) - any interest? - she is a widow - own home - many termites.

g)total lack of farang contact - now fairly limited - cancer. Most communication is by telephone & internet. From what I hear, there are about 20 farangs living in the town. One, two or three will be ample.

h) all at my expense - there will be a house-warming - I am told maybe 200 guests. Estimated budget is B40-50k - we have agreed - 50/50. This is a once-off! Other - I am confident that all will be worked out.

i) my wife is a home-lover. Partying - immediate family only - lunch, dinner occasionally. With acquaintances, "dutch" - 50/50 - B200-300 per person - no "free lunches". In the past, I have been the "silly ol fool" - my farang family - touched me up big time. My wife advised against it. FOOL, FOOL, FOOL - ME!

theDukes - you have a quality reputation in CNX. Unfortunately, I cannot enjoy your menu (throat cancer) - cannot swallow - 5 years now.

"honest educated opinion" - welcomed!

I am 66yo - PIL/MIL - 60. I may well pre-decease them!

Succession planning - all in order.

Build the house - decided - YES! There have been minor matters - resolved.

I take care of them & reciprocal - already in place. In the past, I have given them a "helping hand" - no coercion. FIL plans to work until he is 70 - take care of me!

TV & computer - there will be a few TVs - maybe 2 computers.

Expenses - no problem. Our monthly condo charge is >B4000 - it will be zero. That is just a start.

Quality of life/other intangibles - all good - Rose-colored glasses (I do not think so).

Enjoy myself - very much - riding a bicycle, hosing the garden, learning to ride a m/c + ? - all good!

Village/simple life - a huge desire!

banker44 - really I cannot help myself re the house construction. It is just a matter of how much involvement! I anticipate that I will enjoy the journey - enjoy the pain of problem resolution etc. A dog - team effort - it has been a very long time since I have owned a dog - say 60 years.

Suggestion #1 - will take on board

Suggestion #2 - pass - I will buy a bicycle & learn to ride a m/c! Compromise?

Kiss & make up! I will take a video - you will be a sponsor if I need a visa agent!

Hell, extension of RV - sooooooooo easy!

CMCMANGOMAN

Just emailed the contact - thanks!

I am "desperate" - quality of life - what is that?

I object to paying a visa agency - principle! B5k-10k - it is not the $$$. Would rather "invest" the $$$ in other ways - the wife can have it - clothes, face treatments etc.

My wife does the 90 day checkups. We do the online "play" - again my wife coordinates - no problems to date.

Last time (annual extension), we were all prepared as usual - very simple procedure. Arrived 10-15 mins early - a full house! Went to the inquiry counter - polite, polite. We were out 5 minutes after the scheduled time!

Another 12 months of bliss.

I even researched PR! Forget it - my advice.

BTW - I am surprised. CNX residents are renowned for their - "I have no $$$"; "how do you live on B15k/mth"; "super-tight"; "visa runs". Now, B5k-10k is petty cash? Maybe times, they are a changin!

Krisb

"Come on Aussie, come on!"

Condo is in CNX - for sale - not for rent (B6+m)- 164sqm - 14th floor - Huay Kaew Rd.

I am ex BNE & ex GC.

LOS is HOME!

northernjohn

Privacy? That is something which I will not know until I have experienced it. I can always "escape" as required. FIL & MIL work all day.

I get along with FIL & MIL - but no day-in-day-out experience. My Thai is so-so - their English - worse. my wife - bilingual & interpreter. Re FIL/MIL, there is not a lot to talk about? In fact, absolutely nothing comes to mind re FIL/MIL chit-chat. Sabai dee mai? Dee.

I do not lose sleep over it - my wife is ecstatic (a +++ for me?)

If the "s..t" hits the fan, I can always bunk in with you! Thanks mate.

This thread goes on & on & on.

I considered it to be quite simple - I could well be wrong.

AA works (if you work it).

"A simple program for complicated people" - you are not wrong there.

Just get on with it - "One day at a time".

Don't stuff around - it will kill you.

krisb

"Do what your heart says" - I agree - but my heart changes like the weather - BS!

My mind is made up but still appreciate any input - can always modify/adjust.

Condo (CNX) is on the market - very quiet - current political situation & not the silly season.

Footings have commenced - another plan is WIP - better now than later.

In fact, this "minor event" has given me a new lease on life - that is a +++!

I am looking forward to -

a) hosing the garden

riding a bicycle

c) learning to ride a m/c

d) integrating with the local community (farang & Thai)

e) better climate, less pollution

f) nahm tahoo - haven't had any for at least 7 years.

Surprisingly, there has not been much input from the Fang farang community - where are you?

AnotherOneAmerican et al

This is not over by a long shot! You may "suffer" this for years - decades.

Maybe I am a fool - maybe I am a genius.

Given my cancer "fun", life is not that exciting anyway. Having a larger house - no problem for me. Master bedroom upstairs; another bedroom - downstairs; lounge room; TV room - I can get "lost" easily. Construction - FIL & wife will take major responsibility - I have veto. During the day - no problem for another 10 years - family working.

Cleaning house - not my problem - sexist - "woman's work" - or outside paid worker.

Big $$$ - not really. CNX condo - about the same.

There is a grandmother (widow) - FIL's side. She insists on living in her own home. Her monthly pension - B800/mth? I enjoy buying her milk; upgraded her TV from a 14" B&W to a 29" (color)(a few years ago) - never met her!

bristolgeoff, krisb, AnotheroneAmerican, stoneyboy, cloudhopper etc

Thanks a heap for your input!

I can stay in CNX - ladynight - every night!

The journey so far with Thai wife - >10 years - a record by far (& enjoyable)!

Making a stand ie not living with parents brings another set of problems. I have already put my foot in the water (can always take it out) - but still wet!

Thai families - natural! Whichever decision one makes, there is a set of problems to resolve - that is "living life on life's terms". Granny flat, 20-500km away, same house, big house v small house - whatever! "cloudhopper" explains it succinctly!

When I arrived in CNX, I lived in a guesthouse (B4k/mth) - the honeymoon period - excellent memories.

Thanks Robby nz

Rectal, throat, breast cancers - they are all disasters. My biggest "bitches" - cannot eat - vegetable soup & chocolate milk for 5 years now. Had nasal feeding & a device stuck down my throat, remedial eating lessons. Ceased golf - let my driving licence lapse. By default, I am almost bed-ridden. I am very "lucky" to have such loving & supportive Thai wife, FIL & MIL.

I was on morphine treatment (various styles) for a number of years - started hallucinating. Went to Oz in a wheelchair & oxygen tank - I was travelling real well!

In the end, I ceased it all. Moving to Fang - not really a problem - brand new hospital - quality of medical services??? Staff at RAM hospital (CNX) - more morphine,sir? Morphine use - an added benefit - chronic constipation. It is such fun (for nurses & me) have fingers & other gadgets stuck up your anus- enough, enough "pleasure".

Surgery - unsuitable. Chemo - unsuitable. Radiotherapy - 35-40 times. My mouth is "burnt" to a cinder. Loss of 70+% of teeth, dental decay (cannot extract), hyperbaric chamber - sensitive to spicy food.

If the cancer re-occurs, please telephone Dr Nitscke (Oz) or Switzerland etc (I am now very pro- euthanasia).

Good luck with your journey. Good to hear of success stories - had an Oz acquaintance with rectal cancer - full recovery - living a "normal" life. Others- DEAD!

I have been in CNX for 12 years - been with my wife for 10 years. I am 66yo - we live in a condo in central CNX.

I have throat cancer - stage 4 - in remission - serious after-effects from radiotherapy - no more they can do.

We are moving up-country, building a "retirement home" & cohabitating with PIL. Of course, the wife (an only child) likes the idea. Me - seems OK - but I have zero experience in this area.

I doubt that I will see another 10 years. PIL seem to be a "nice" couple - hard workers - not bludgers - honest, sincere.

BIGGEST ISSUE!

Living in the same place as PIL. We can afford a separate pad - the house would be "big" - breathing space. Both my wife & I "like" the idea of communal living (academic for me)- note that there are no other brothers/sisters - 4 pax. PIL will be working all day. Wife will work p/t with parents. I will have my own space!

COMMENTS/EXPERIENCES?

Thanks Marko

Many ways to get from(a) to (.

Nothing is perfect (to my knowledge). A dream - release me from cancer; ability to eat a real meal again. After 5 yrs on vegetable soup, eating can get rather boring. During the critical time, I had a feeding tube (nasal feeding), some gadget stuck down my throat, lessons on how to eat again.

Morphine is not a good substitute for som tam - too spicy & no solids. In a place like Thailand where eating is such a varied & enjoyable part of life - there is a big component missing. Forget all the BS about "better than death" - I have had my moments.

Enough of reality, I am living the dream. Transitioning out of CNX - I will not miss it. It has been good - wonderful. CNX has had its day (for me). In a year, I may be back - tail between my legs.

If so, I can always start another thread!

Schmackos

Thank you for your "blessing". Your experience & wisdom is much appreciated! Say hi to the b/f.