chas39

Glad you're changing it back. I find it really difficult read. The font is too light and thin - sorry, being technical there. 

Not directly Thai related - but concerning operations to reconnect the tearduct properly. Many years ago I had a couple of operations, done by the UK NHS to tighten/stitch my eyelids to improve the drainage of " tears" from my eyes. 

That was fine for many years. About 3 years ago my eyelids started to droop a bit. Old age? It's not life threatening, but tears tended to roll down my cheeks if it was windy, and particularly when near fans in Thailand. It is irritating, but more importantly it's tempting to rub your eyes. This is a danger for me as I've had two cornea grafts and I don't want to do any damage. 

When I asked my eye consultant if I could get this fixed again the answer ( under the free NHS) was " er - maybe - the operation is restricted now and will have to go before the Committee for consideration". So I think it may now be regarded as cosmetic/less of a priority when the money could be spent on say, cornea grafts. Could this be a factor in the Thai Hospital looking for payment? 

Anyway, t'Comittee agreed my operation is necessarily. I'm just waiting for the date. 

3 years after I first raised it. But grateful for the NHS anyway, and I understand them watching the budget. 

I hope your wife's operation goes well. 

Lovely tribute. Thanks from Nong Khai. 

Slightly off topic, but within the interests of the tribe - I was sitting waiting to board a domestic flight from Suvarnabhumi to Udon Thani. There was a public announcement which, as usual, I didn't quite catch, but saw families with children go to board first. A youngish Thai guy got an came over to me and said that old men were included too. 

Not sure about older women.... but a nice gesture. 

ThaiSMILE airline I think.

Wonder if at 78 I qualify. But thanks, it's worth a look at Immigration too. 

I have about ten different medications - tablets /inhalers /eye drops. I can get all except two over the counter in Thailand - often under a different name. Looked them up on Google and got help on this forum. 

For a heart drug I couldn't get over the counter at a pharmacy I went to the local Government Hospital. They were very helpful and cheap. But I did have copy of my old UK prescription ( not looked at) but also a summary of my medications from my UK medical records. There are procedures to download these details online in the UK. 

It depends on country you are from I suppose. 

Surely it would help to know the name of the snake so the hospital can apply the correct antidote. 

I appreciate that the thread is about the costs of medical provision for expats in Thailand, but there have been references to getting home to the UK for free treatment. 

So it might be useful to refer to the rules now. So far as I understand them. 

Free treatment is given if you can convince the NHS Hospital Trust/ provider that you are  ' ordinarily resident ' in the UK.

Entitlement is not earned by paying tax, National Insurance -  nor holding UK passport, having citizenship nor, I understand, for just being in the UK for a given length of time. So don't waste your time having a row with anyone on these latter grounds. 

( However, emergency treatment will be free - so long, I guess, as you can show you haven't travelled to the UK specifically for treatment.) 

So the key thing you have to convince the NHS you are ' ordinarily resident '. The definition encompasses the phrase :-

     - a person is ' ordinarily resident ' for this purpose if lawfully living in the UK for a settled purpose as part of the regular order of his or her life for the time being. That is if they are normally residing in the UK ( apart from temporary or occasional absences) and their residence here has been adopted voluntarily and for settled purposes as part of the regular order of their life for the time being whether for short or long duration - .

Forgive me - but I am using the official words. 

This is just me pointing the direction in which someone should travel if they want to get free NHS treatment. I don't suggest dishonesty - just be aware of the guidelines that will be used. 

The best bet is to search online for one document in particular. It is headed Department of Health " TOOL : Determining if a person is properly settled in the UK in order to establish if they are ordinarily resident here." 

It spells out loads of questions/facts that might be asked by the NHS. 

God, this is all a bit boring, but you may need it some day. 

I will try to find the link. 

I come to Thailand for about 3 months each year. I was asked recently  to complete a questionnare/provide information and went for interview. I showed my passport, rent book, completed form and after a few questions was confirmed as ' ordinarily resident '. 

I refrained from saying that at 77 years old I have been alive for longer than the NHS has been in existence....! But that wasn't one of the criteria. 

The OP mentioned Ramipril which doesn't seem to have been mentioned since. I have twice bought some from my nearest pharmacy in Nong Khai. So it must be widely available. Sorry, can't remember the price. 

I use 2.5 my but they only sold 5mg. So I use a pill cutter. 

Hope you find what you need. 

As a 70 year old you are eligible for cheaper fares on the railways and National Express  if you apply to register with them. But you will have to balance the cost of the card against the savings on the ticket. It can be done easily on-line. 

Have a good trip. 

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand

It shows where Pattaya is - but south along the coast south of Chonburi, it doesn't show Pattaya. It was a joke about the FCO wanting to airbrush Pattaya. It was a joke...never mind.

In case you look again, I also realise that southern Thailand isn't shown by me. Though it was on the original.

According to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Pattaya not just misty, but doesn't exist. Their wishful thinking :-) 

11 hours ago, Alive said:

Actually, I think it's just old people. It's the same in the west. Sure the older folks use tech but they old onto the values of their day and the fears of their day. And they mostly chase the younger women. Certainly these folks are lost in the past.

What do you mean that at 77 I "old" onto the fears of my day? I don't hear any German bombs dropping and my diet is a touch more than dripping sandwiches - on ration....

Some years ago, when I lived in Pattaya, I had wheezing - but also found walking difficult because of it. The first Doctor at a clinic said lung infection. Take antibiotics.

No improvement. So I went to the German/Austrian Doctor on Soi Day/Night. Lung infection. Antibiotics of a strength sufficient to immobilize a horse.

No improvement.

I dragged myself to the Bangkok/Pattaya Hospital. Saw the Lung Doc. X-ray showed liquid on the lungs, but told it was the heart not working efficiently and this was the cause of the lung problem. The Lung Doc shoved needles through from my back to my lungs to get rid of the liquid. Oo-er, I know , I know.

But what a relief.

Straight up to see the Cardiac Doc. ECG. Doc said I needed a test (tube up through the arteries/dye - to establish if I needed stents or bypass operation.

I couldn't afford all that and my BUPA wouldn't cover the cost. I got pills that considerably eased the problem until I got back to the UK. 

Lungs cleared, triple bypass op. Fit as a Butcher's dog.

After a year or so more wheezing/chest infection. Discovered I had COPD. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Damaged lung cells - caused years ago by long abandoned smoking. So I have inhalers for that which keep it under control - until I get the very occasional exacerbation (as they call it). My Doc gives me antibiotics and \prednisone to control that when it happens.

I have two inhalers - Spiriva/Tiotropium and Relvar (this latter not yet available in Thailand. 

So I'm clinging on to the branch ok!

Two points - it's now legal in the UK to get a copy of your medical records; I found out that many years before this happened a note had been made "-possible COPD and possible Cardiac problem. If I'd been told that earlier it would have help with a self diagnosis earlier.

Also the point is well made about coming off Prednisone gradually if that is prescribed as sudden withdrawal can cause real joint pain and other symptoms - including chipmunk face!

Sorry I've gone on a bit, but some of it could be relevant to other's problems also.

PS. Thanks to the UK NHS.... 

I enjoyed that chas39 but really liked the music! Carabao? Do you know what C.D. ? I want to get/download it.

Hi soisiphok; glad you liked it.

I found the track on YouTube. There were videos of Carabao just sitting/playing in a studio rather than in concert. I had a quick look just now but couldn't find the same video - but it will be there somewhere.

Hope you find it. They have their own website which may be of help. It also lists upcoming concerts.

Nong Khai is a pleasant, quiet provincial town with a few farang restaurants and many Thai restaurants in the town and along the Mekong every night. I took this video of the Saturday night market along the Mekong. There are glimpses of the river and the Friendship Bridge to Laos.

Lets hope it stays quiet.

Have a look at the UK Department of Work and Pensions.

I think it will have a link to their office in Newcastle that deals with International pensions.

I went through the bag checking process in February. I felt then it was a bit haphazard.

It may be better signposted now, but it was by chance I came across a crowd of people looking at a TV screen watching luggage travel past on a conveyor belt. There was a notice and someone shouting out " If you haven't seen your luggage go through in five minutes then go back to check in to see why."

All a bit vague then. On the screen it just looked like a series or black bags moving past - at a distance. Not clear if yours has gone through before you get to see the screen...

It may be clearer now.

She can't be guilty; nobody is pointing.

After I checked my luggage in last month I walked towards the Departure area and picked up - almost by by chance, that you should check a TV screen to see if your baggage went through ok on the conveor belt. It was difficult to see your own luggage amongst all the black cases.

Someone kept shouting out in english if your name hadn't been called out after 5 minutes your luggage had passed the check. All a bit vague and uncertain I thought.

Maybe the system has now changed/improved.

In Nong Khai recently the cash I brought from the UK ran out, so I decided to go inside the Krungthai bank to withdraw baht -without the 200 baht fee from the ATM.

They told me they hadn't "the system to do that...." and to go to the District Bank Centre down the road.I did that, Was taken behind the counter to an office with a machine like the UK ones where you pay with your Debit Card and enter your PIN.Got the cash No 200 baht fee.

A few weeks later I went to the same Bank Centre to do the same...."Oh not hab system any more..." Had to pay the ATM.

I'll try another bank next time.

I spent time with a Nun recently.First time for everything..

I had to go back for health reasons having lived here for 5 years. Now health under control.

The transition is difficult for a while - but can be done. Now back on my feet and come back for 3 months a year.

Best wishes for the change.