aussienam

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Why demonize foreign shop owners?

I understand promoting local production though.

Aren't most Thai shop owners simply profit seeking opportunists the same as the foreign?

Your POV comes off as toxic hyper nationalism, kind of like if xenophobic  Trump was Thai. 

Foreigners here have made Thailand their new home. Where is the respect for fellow human beings?

"Call out to all those foreign owned cannabis stores who didn't contribution to the fight, and are just free-loading on the backs of those who are, those who are bad actors importing in illegal cannabis, buy and sell illegal imports."

From her words, she has addressed the alleged illegal importation of foreign sourced cannabis strains. 

This would be facilitated by organised criminal gangs and individual criminals.  There are plenty of illegally grown cannabis crops around the world whereby organised syndicates are chafing at the bit to get into the Thai market (if they haven't already - I even overheard an Aussie tourist recently talking of exporting to Thailand from his clandestine cannabis crop in regional NSW). 

If foreigners who own cannabis shops are selling illegally imported strains, then it's a valid point.  Foreigners are not citizens of Thailand and don't have an instant right to stay and run a business, particularly if breaking the law.  Of course this would be frowned on and seen as a slap in the face of Thai people, by foreigners disrespecting their laws when only visitors of their country. Remember we are only ever deemed as visitors (except for the very rare few who are granted citizenship).

Are Thai owned shops doing the same? For sure.  Both are profiteering off illegal imports.  Nothing new there. But it is a point that the whole idea with the new Thai cannabis decriminalization, was to help provide new ways for Thai farmers to get involved and make money from locally grown produce. 

Illegal imports is shutting down a lot of that opportunity. Just like so many other produce made in Thailand, they have bans or significant tarrifs to help support that which is domestically grown.  

Is she xenophobic?  I don't feel she is. She's obviously frustrated at the uneven playing field and those who she believes don't care and just come to Thailand to profiteer without respecting laws.

11 hours ago, phetphet said:

Surely deliberately shooting at someone with a gun should incur a stronger charge than bodily harm.

The critically ill innocent 13 year old might agree.

He was hit with a stray bullet round.  So not the intended target, hence the issue of 'intent' versus recklessness comes into play.  One would have to study and understand the nuances of the Thai legal system and what charges are possible.  I am hoping the bodily harm charge can potentially incur a significant maximum jail term.  Often, additional charges are added when further evidence is gathered/clarified.  

5 hours ago, Enoon said:

 

In a land where so many children are routinely abandoned by one, or both, parents, it may be BPD.

 

Oversimplification:

 

It starts with early childhood abandonment/trauma, manifests in late teens/early adulthood with desperation for attachment/terror of abandonment, very poor emotional regulation (rapid onset extreme anger), and has a high rate of suicide (10%) among those diagnosed with it.

 

It does not go away with age.  Without attention it gets worse as time passes. It requires very careful management throughout the life of the sufferer.

 

I recently had cause to investigate it and it seems, to me, to have a remarkable "fit"for many of the "explosive" incidents that take place in Thailand.

 

I would be surprised to find that any attention has been given to its possible prevalence in Thailand.

 

 

 

 

Yeah, there seems to be a definite disturbing trend of disproportionatly high male jealousy/rage killings, that perhaps leans toward a causal link with inappropriate, dysfunctional upbringing, rampant drug & alcohol abuse, the lack of mental health access, diagnosis and treatment for such conditions like BPD, etc.  Add a culture of 'losing face' retaliations and it's no surprise that Thailand has some really serious issues it should be grappling with.  

How do you fix it? 

"A few weeks later, 109 Uyghur men and women were deported back to China."

I fear for the lives of those 109 men. Sent back to China for definite imprisonment, torture and murder for organ harvesting. That organ transplant delivery express lane at the airport in Xinjiang will be a bit busier with 109 extra body parts to keep the elite mainland Chinese alive.

Bloody idiot.  I don't buy the excuse he didn't know the tradition when on Songkran is going on everywhere.  Unless he walks around with his head down all the time (not).  Just anituer brain dead hot-headed loser who potentially has ruined another person's life.  

Better if CCP can agree to prosecute them in absentia under their local regime laws.  That way the accused can have their organs ripped out in China for transplanting and then cremate them.  Done.  

Poor wretched souls.  Discarded, poverty stricken immigrant workers who are treated like cheap and insignificant commodities.  Rest in Peace. So sad. Horrific for all involved. Shame on authorities for allowing this to continue. 

On 4/8/2023 at 12:58 PM, malathione said:

Great but too bad that a similar kindness was not shown to the Uighur refugees.

Sad because Uighir 're-education' camps in China as they coin it, appear to be harboring some hideous human rights atrocities, particularly the organ transplant business, where there is even an organ transplant express lane at Xinjiang Airport.  Uighirs and anyone else incarcerated are to supply the elite Chinese with spare body parts.  Estimated 25,000 - 50,000 executed a year. Falung Gong have copped it for decades.  CCP do not like religious practices.  They want citizens to worship Communism and Xi Jing Ping. 

Bizarre behaviour.  The look on the young man's face, his mannerism, definitely something amiss going on upstairs in his head.  

I'd throw a wild guess at a schizophrenic relapse. Mix of alcohol and/or drugs perhaps with someone who has a mental illness.  Maybe off his meds for the vacation?  

Outcome for him likely going to be very unfavorable.  

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

There is not the remotest similiarity between low cost private US medical services and services in Thai public hospitals (or public hospitals anywhere else for that matter).

 

Problem seems to be that OP's friend is unwilling to put up with the challenges and inconveniences of public hospitals yet cannot afford private care.  Something is going to have to give, and if he can't change his attitude, it may be his life.

 

Return to UK is also not impossible (unless he is unfit medically to fly), contrary to what the man has firmly convinced himself. But it does take some arranging to manage and with his attitude that is a non-starter.

 

 

Thanks Sheryl for your extensive input to this post.  

Agree on your points.  

I was told by my friend that he gave up seeing a cardiologist on the day as he was physically suffering (dizzy/faint spells, very high blood pressure symptoms) and was getting very stressed to the point of fearing a heart attack.  His coping abilities seem very low. 

His partner stayed with him but she's not Thai (cannot read Thai but can speak some of it) and paperwork was also getting confusing and stressful.  He's very frail. It appeared he could not see the cardiologist on the day after long hours waiting.  Travelling distances seems to be a stressful ordeal and therefore why he's now considering local again (Jomtien), to avoid what he obviously felt was an overwhelming ordeal to go through again. 

The gentleman is considerably old, has a degree of cognitive decline added to it too, which includes considerable confusion.  Logical reasoning that you and me see as obvious isn't as clear for people with these issues.  I have a parent just like this. 

In respect to ECG report, what was relayed to me I expressed in my words and his general summary.  I never saw the report. So low heart 'function' or whatever terms used may not be completely accurate.  I will see if he us willing to give me a copy of the report. 

Yes, returning to the UK I feel is the most sensible option, even with the accommodation issues, but this is overwhelming and insurmountable for my friend.   

What can we do?  I think this thread has exhausted options for now and hoping my friend will get to see a cardiologist soon and get some type of treatment (if deemed suitable). I don't want to bash his decison making.  Not my role and will respect what he decides. 

On 4/1/2023 at 7:34 PM, Sheryl said:

What exactly did the cardiologist who saw him at the Red Cross hospital say/advise? Enresto improves cardiac output in people with heart failure, it does nto treat heart block or other conduction defects which  slow heart rate suggests might be your friend's situation.

 

Entresto can be gotten at large pharmacies or online here https://medtide.com/product/entresto-50-mg-28-tablets-box/

(they have it in multiple strengeths, from 50 to 200 mg)

 

It is an imported and new drug so expensive. Anywhere from 3,000 - 7,000 baht a month depending on the dosage

 

And absolutely should not self prescribed. Among other  things there are potential interactions with other medications he may be on. Other medications for blood pressure may need to be discontinued or adjusted, for example since Enresto is a combination drug that includes an antihypertensive.

 

I could advise better if given some idea what the findings were when he went to the hospital. Not all heart conditions are the same. Would also help to know what medications he currently takes.

 

Would also help to know his nationality - some Embassies will help with airfare home in cases like this, some won't.

 

 

Thanks for info.  My friend relayed to me he went to Red Cross, got ECG and report and went home. He did not get to consult with cardiologist.  He mentioned a blockage detected, low heart function. 

That's all I know.  

He is possibly going to try Jomtien Hospital, which someone he knows recommended.  Travelling distances for him at moment is too much.  He won't be returning to Red Cross. 

He really needs to see a cardiologist ASAP of course. He said he will save up as much as he can to pay for appointment. 

He's from England.  But no connections back there anymore = no accommodation and prohibitive costs.  He stated that he also cannot afford flights.  I had suggested he should go back there and get NHS cover. 

Enresto med - would be too much for him anyway after seeing now the costs involved.  

I appreciate feedback from everyone.  It's in God's hands pretty much from here on. 

On 3/28/2023 at 6:24 PM, ubonr1971 said:

Shyrly is correct. They will start with an EKG and then Echo for sure and probably a 24 to 48 hour heart monitor.

 

If the heart function is low he should go on Entresto 100mg twice a day. Its the new miracle drug that raises heart function with proven results. Its half a beta blocker half something else that I cant be bothered looking up. My friend was on it and it worked for sure. Pacemaker might be required depending on diagnosis. 

 

Why go to the small hospitals when top private hospitals as so close in bkk??? 

Any idea where to get Entresto?  How much is it?  My friend is interested in seeking a doctor that may determine whether this as an appropriate medication for him. 

Private hospitals too expensive. Public is only option for him.  We are talking very little funds to spare.  He won't travel to Bangkok due to costs and the stress of travelling too far.  

Thanks again.

2 hours ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

 

It's 'their'.

Partially wrong 555.  Not 'their' for both phrases.  

They're flying to their deaths.