Badrabbit

57 minutes ago, Psimbo said:

B300 when I got one last Jan in Phuket Town.  A lot quicker with the address report in the back of the passport. The Colonel is absolutely right- the IOs do NOT charge a fee (the civvy girl next to him takes the money????). 

 

Might be worth changing the thread title to add Phuket Immigration to avoid the usual  irrelevant 'but here in.......................' replies.????

Thanks, I'm just back from Immigration  super quiet and super quick, yep 300bht which I didn't have a problem with, very friendly happy girls doing the Certificate.

Transport office also super quick, got my appointment for Licence renewal.

I need to get this it's my 1st in many years, what's the going rate for this at the moment, yes I know it should be free! I'm prepared to pay for tea just want to make sure I have enough on me.

Just when you think this country could not get any worse they come out with this ridiculous idea, how is making people have a big bike licence going to stop road deaths?  The Police will still be non existent and even if you do see the rare police they still do nothing, it's impossible to police the roads when the Police are drinking tea!! all bikes here including scooters are fast, unbelievable!!! 

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

 Aspirin is contraindicated in people with gastritis and indeed can cause it. Hence people needing to take gaviscon are advised to not take aspirin for this reason. In addition if taken at the same time, the Gaviscon can reduce the absorption of not just aspirin but many other medications.

 

You can safely take Gaviscon a few hours apart fro mother medications, aspirin inlcuded.

 

And if you have gastritis - which needs to be confirmed - you  need to stop aspirin altogether  which means likely need a different medication in its place.

Why don't you return to Dr. Walters and update him on the negative cardiology findings etc. Get his advice on alternative to the aspirin, among other things.

 

Test for h. pylori is not all that expensive. Alternatively, could just treat for it empirically. Discuss this with Dr. Walters.

 

And if the pain recurs, try the Gaviscon to see if it helps as that is important inofrmation.

Thanks for the info and advice, who is Dr Walter's? 

I have Gaviscon but it says not to be taken with asprin, I can not afford any more OPD tests, I have Insurance which I need to use but my condition is not bad enough to warrant going in as an inpatient, the CT was over 18k, I have read that tests for Acid Reflux are also very expensive. I will put up with for as long as I can, it's not so bad now just very uncomfortable.

Heartburn nightmare!! so far its cost me over 40,000bht.  the 3 hospitals that I used did not investigate the cause of my chest pain they just assumed it was heart related, I told each Hospital that I thought it was Acid Reflux(Heartburn) they ignored it! 4 ECG's all normal, 4 blood tests all normal, Stress exercise test, normal, CT Scan with Contrast, nothing found, my last appointment the Cardiologist had no idea what my pain was even though he suffers with Acid Reflux himself. now I have attended a local Clinic over 6000bht for two visits, I still have Heartburn.

I have lost all trust with the doctors and hospitals, I've not slept more than a couple of hrs in the night for over 8 days, I am at a loss how to deal with this, it's taken savings that I really could not afford to lose as every appointment has been as OPD, I'm putting up with it but its changed my quality of life for the worst! 

2 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

So why have you apparently not tried antacids?  They are cheap and available everywhere and can make an immediate and huge difference if it is trapped gas.  Gaviscon has been a life saver for me (although more expensive than basic types).  Air-X works for most and is cheap.  At least if you try and does not help you further reduce possibilities - but suspect they may help a lot.

It's not trapped wind as I didn't realize that the CT Scan included an xray, Xray did not show trapped wind, I've been to the hospital today to see the Cardiologist( he said to see him first if having further problem) he is 100% certain what I am experiencing is not connected to my heart, he seems too think that Acid Relfux could be the problem, everything he asked me makes him think this is the problem(he suffers from this) he suggested that I see a Stomach Specialist today or he will prescribe some medication to see if it sorts out the problem tonight, if it continues tonight then I will have to see Stomach doctor, the other problem is finance as everything so far has been OPD now cost me over 30,000bht if I lose my savings I dont know if I could survive here just on my pension, so more worry.

I am at my wits end and scared, my CT scan with Contrast plus stress test were both good, but yet again I have pain in my chest which started mildly at 1900, gradually got worse, I have taken 1 isordil 5mg 20 mins ago it's now 23.10, pain is still there but slowly getting  better, do I check into hospital for a couple of days to have tests to find out what is wrong or go through this every night, Doc said "you have not got a problem with your heart" any advice would  be much appreciated. 

I'm applying a hot water bottle to my chest in the hope it makes it more comfortable, this worked yesterday.

It's now 23.35 the pain is nearly gone and I feel better than when it started.

1 hour ago, cdmtdm said:

is your back out ? or shoulder strained ? 

No they are fine, just back from the hospital, dr says its maybe a muscle spasm, last night it  came again, I applied a hot water bottle over the area and it pretty much made it 100%  better quickly, thanks to all that offered good advice.

4 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Gi = gastro intestinal specialist.

 

Pain from gastritis can be felt in the chest and even radiate to the throat.

 

Often the easiest way to tell is to see if antacids or PPI (like omeprazole)  helps relieve the pain when it occurs.

I've gone bad again in the last 30 mins, pain again in the same area, it's not my heart as it's been ruled out, I'm now convinced its trapped wind, I have put heat on the area and it's got so much better quickly, is this feasable? 

13 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

A GI consult should be next. If not suggested, ask for it.

 

They may recommend gastroscopy. If the do mot make sure they at least test for h. Pylori.

 

Good news re the heart.

What is a GI? I asked him about Acid reflux he said " pain from reflux would be lower and in middle, my pain higher and on the left, he mentioned a Spasm.

6 hours ago, Sheryl said:

You should not wait until the 22nd. Ask to have it moved up.

 

Also, ask your cardiologist about a stress test. That is actually what I would have done first.

 

If you have not yet seen a cardiologist make an immediate appointment to do so.

 

The tests done just ruled out a heart attack, you might still be having angina. A stress test would help clarify that.

 

If angina is ruled out then it is indeed possible that the pain you are having is due to gastritis rather than your heart, gastritis can mimic a heart attack in its symptoms.

 

One thing you can do is keep some Gaviscon (antacid available at any pharmacy) at your bedside and take it if you have pain, if it gives relief that suggests it is gastric pain not cardiac. Omeprazole taken at night will also help if it is gastric pain.

 

If it is gastritis you need to be tested for h.pylori and treated if it is present. Test can be combined with gastroscopy or done as a breath test. Need a GI specialist for this.

 

 

 

Had Stress today which showed no problem, had CT Scan with Contrast again no problem, back to see doc tomorrow morning, dont know what is next! 

I've had to rush myself to hospital twice in the last few days, bad pain in my left chest, both times the ECG and blood test show nothing wrong, Ive taken Isodil 5mg which made the pain better, but now I feel generally unwell, is it my heart or could it be Acid reflux or something else, my CT Scan for my heart is not until 22nd, dont think I can bear another night, both times it has happened at approx 2am, what do I do now? 

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

And I think that cost was for a Thai. There is two tiered pricing in many Thai hospitals.

That's great news two tired pricing in Hospitals! could be me finished in the near future then! 

24 minutes ago, murrinman said:

my wife has had multiple stents  inserted at the Rama 9 hospital in Bangkok top notch first op was 3 stents for a cost of 370000 bt then a couple of weeks ago 2 more were inserted at a cost of 270000 bt overnight both times  not cheap but not expensive considering the alternates would highly recommend there team

Thanks but I'm in Phuket.

4 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

As cost is a consideration be aware that if CT is abmormal or inconlusive you will anywau have to undergo an angiogram which is the most definitive test. 

 

Uou mau need to stop the aspirin first for a few days.Make sure they know you are on it.

 

And if the angiogram shows significant blockage it is best -- and saves money -- to do the stent then and there as you otherwise have to pay for and undergo a second angio for stent placement.

 

With risk factors and a recent episode of chest pain should not delay.

Thanks, I have got the CT scan on the 22nd of this month, I will take your advice, hoping very much there is not a problem.

1 minute ago, Sheryl said:

At a Mission Hospital (a nonprofit) if just one stent probably about 300-400k but you should confirm with them. More if multiple stent.

 

Less at a government hospital but I am not sure the one in Phuket can do it.

Thanks Sheryl, once this problem has been sorted I will then look seriously at my diet, but right now I'm just worried about the possibility of needing the Stent Operation.

1 minute ago, OneeyedJohn said:

Not wishing to offend but a TIA is usually a result of high cholesterol.

Maybe you should tske a look at your 

It's a bit late to be looking at my diet right now, I've asked a question about Stent cost  not a question about Cholesterol! 

Just now, OneeyedJohn said:

Are you overweight?

 

No I'm not, I'm 190cms tall, 89kgs and exercise everyday fast walking for 1 hour sometimes 2.

Has anyone had this operation done, I've had a problem with chest pain, went to Mission at 1am this morning to be checked, blood test and ECG did not reveal anything major, went back again at 9am for repeat tests again nothing bad showing, saw Cardiologist who suggested a CT Scan to see if all okay, my Father had a Stent fitted at about my age now 64 so there is family history, would anyone know approx cost of Stent ops? My Insurance is not huge and savings not huge either so a little worried that the CT Scan will show a problem which needs sorting. Obviously hoping all will be okay, also I had a TIA stroke 2 yrs ago, Doctor said I am high risk for having a heart attack.

I have been taking 1 Asprin 81mg since the TIA. Doc has given me (C) ISORDIL 5MG so he must have concerns.

Great service but they do not answer, I've tried and now consider it waste of time trying.

2 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

I'm 82kgs, 183cm height, 60 yrs old, my TG's are 45mg/dl

 

 

 

I'm no doc, how on earth do you manage to get 45, do you eat virtually nothing? 

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

High triglyceridea are indeed a risk.

 

What were the rest of the  lipid panel (HDL, LDL) and your fasting glucose or Hb1Ac?

 

And when did you last have your triglycerides measured, with what results?

 

Do you smoke?

 

There is a fairly common genetic condition that leads to elevated trigs but usually the LDL would also be high.

 

If HDL, LDL and glucose were all normal, you don't smoke and prior trig levels were also normal then the first thing I would do is repeat the test at a different lab (such as https://www.andalab.net/health_check_up/programs/)  Lab errors are not unknown.

LDL Cholesterol s1 unit 3

Cholesterol 214

Cholesterol s1 unit 5.5

Triglyceride 325

HDL CHolesterol 38

HDL Cholesterol s1 0.98

LDL Cholesterol 110

Triglycerides s1 unit 4

Glucose 

Glucose fastingxs1 unit 5.38

Glucose fasting 97

I dont smoke.

Test done 2 yrs ago thing triglyc was about 303