Wrong Turn

Yes, go see a good physician.

Related to your question is this "Indian Candle Wax treatment." I've never heard of it. Honestly, when it comes to the ears, letting the body - ear - take care of itself if the best way to go, IMO.

This included, avoiding the wax removal, when a barber sticks a long metal rod into your ear to remove wax. The was is in the out ear to protect the ear, and it falls out naturally in minutely small amounts.

"Don't stick anything smaller than you elbow in your ear."

Good luck and keep us posted.

I'm merely repeating others posters here, but yes, it's USD, and only USD.

You pay and get your VOA before you get your luggage, and there is nowhere that I know to get USD when you first arrive at the airport.

One person in front of me flew all the way in from Moscow, and only had Russian Rubles.

The visa folks at the airport, told him to get US Dollars, and wouldn't process his VOA.

I assume he found someone off to the side, and bought dollars, and probably not at a very good price.

The study got widespread publicity that, I'm afraid, gave the wrong impression about both the safety and efficacy of this time-tested remedy. A review of the study by a team of experts assembled by the American Botanical Council (ABC) put the findings in perspective. It showed that, contrary to misleading information carried in some news reports, the study itself concluded that milk thistle extracts are safe and are well tolerated by patients. The ABC experts also reported that the conclusion questioning the efficacy of milk thistle was based primarily on the results of only one of the 13 trials analyzed."

Dr Weil

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA365823

Good luck mattcodes

Some posters mis-read the above post by Dr. Weil.

He is saying that the study discounting Milk Thistle is invalid and misleading.

Dr. Weil is stating that Milk Thistle does help.

Any idea what this drug in 5MG doses may cost over the counter ??

1,500 Baht for about a 5 month supply - if - you're chopping them into 1 MG doses for your hair.

Why doesn't the quote function work for the first OP posts? It never works.

OK, I suppose this is not an April Fool's joke.

I don't think (but who knows???) the problem I developed would have developed if I had been wearing normal sandals with a decent strap around the back. I will move to that kind of sandal when all the pain goes away, which I have good reason to hope will happen. The pain problem I did develop didn't happen overnight either.

The kind of open shoe with no back support I am talking about --

The strap on the back is critical.

The strap on the back of a sandal changes the *entire* way you walk, put weight on your foot, and even affects your knees.

Jingthing:

SHOES, not shows, ha ha.

OK, I admit most people with common sense would realize this already, but perhaps some others can learn from my mistake.

I have been wearing open sandal type shoes (not flip flops) with no back of foot support for a long time now, everywhere I go, and that includes mostly rough urban walking on concrete.

As you might predict, this eventually created severe food pain mostly in the back of the foot, maybe something like tendonitis or related to it.

Without going into the specific details of my case (not sure if there is permanent damage or not), I can say the pain was quite severe and didn't go away right away when I stopped wearing that kind of shoe.

Now I feel I must wear normal shoes with good support for a long time to see if the problem gets totally healed. I don't even want to wear open sandals to the beach now, at least for the time being.

Yes, and wearing sandals changes your natural gait of a walk if there is not back strap.

I too, (similar but unlike you) used to wear the cheap, thin, sandals. When I hit 40, I started having foot pain, deep inside the foot, in places I'd never felt anything before.

I have always had flat feet, but never problems because of it.

I eventually was in so much pain I went to the podiatrist (in US) and I was told I had fallen arches and now I wear orthotics in my top-quality shoes.

I cannot wear sandals ever again (yes, I tried!).

I won't wear sandals, even on the beach.

We cannot skimp on footwear.

Best of luck.

American tipping customs for restaurants are shocking. I am now used to more Thai level tipping at restaurants, though I do tip here. In the US, if you tip 10 percent of the total bill you may get sneered at (even if the service was awful), they aren't really happy unless you tip 20 percent of the bill, and if you don't tip at all, you might want a bodyguard (which I understand as they are taxed as if they get a minimum tip) and of course never go back unless you fancy eating snot and spit or worse.

Yes, tipping in the States is a bit odd to me, although I do as a matter of custom.

I never had a job that garnered tips when I was in high school or University. It's one of those concepts of "you tip this person in their job, but not that person."

And if someone gives me a draught beer I order, by pulling a level to fill the glass, I'm supposed to tip - automatically.

I don't care for it.

And yes, if you *don't* tip, you will be sneered at, and they ALWAYS remember who doesn't tip, or who doesn't tip enough. It's like you committed a crime.

livinthailandos:

I'm sure some of you have experienced this before, reverse culture shock, basically when you go back to your home country and experience culture shock after being gone from your home country for a while. As I have been living and working in thailand for the last 3 1/2 years. I've decided to go back to the US for a 3 week visit.

You would think I would remember my own experiences from last time I was in the US, but after not being in the US for 3 1/2 years seems I don't remember much. I would like to hear your comments or experiences on this matter or what you faced when you got back to your home country. look forward to everyones postings

I found (and do find) that certain little things in the USA annoy me.

When and if I return to the US, I may have difficulty in adjusting, or perhaps not.

I definitely don't like the many aspects of US culture, now that I've lived in Thailand for several years.

Is this culture shock, or is it a change of perception of my native country's culture?

I think it's both.

No excuse for being an obnoxious, aggressive and *physical* jerk on a confined plane.

This guy's an adult.

He bought the ticket.

Let him rot for 16 months, then give him the boot.

So the family all had a big party plenty of food and beer all paid for by the falang

And this "papa farang" grew a new leg, because he was boyfriend #2, 3, 4 or whatever.

This guy made the decision.

It never ends.

I sit back and laugh.

Ianbroad,

What's happening is not new news. Many scenarios.

How to plan?

Good question: many ways.

gold, land in *certain* areas, and yes commodities have been hot and will be. Boon for some of the few investing in them, and painful for many more (and possible us).

Hard to say.

The paradigm is changing between East and West, and withing the West itself.

The new model is fast approaching.

With regard to crunches,

A quick note about the abdominal muscles (abs).

The are small muscles and it's easy to over-train them.

I just came across of an Artikel from James Turk, Commodity Advisor of the State Fond of Abu Dhabi - I migh consider to sell my "Papergold" and get into real

But keeping it at Home is a significant Risk - so I am in need of a Bank Safebox

Just my humble opinion, but if you're going to buy real, actual gold, I'd put it in a secure safe, bolted to the wall of your home.

By "papergold" do you mean gold funds? I would not trust those at all. Gold has to be real, and in your possession. And of course, verfied.

I'd never leave gold in a safety deposit box in the Thailand, or the west.

Thanks to the both of you. Your advice will be headed.

I've had bronchitis twice before.

In both previous cases I went to the Dr. and used anti-biotics (I believe 4-5 days worth) and they did work.

This was 10 years ago.

Now, I have another case emerging of bronchitis (I do not smoke).

Should I get antibiotics or just let my body fight it off. How long would it take if I don't take anti-biotics for it to go away?

TIA to anyone that can help.

An advise ? walk away, there are people you just can't help.

If you really want to make a difference in this world, join the Peace Corps or Doctor Without Borders, but don't waste your time with people you can't help.

I have to agree.

This person who tried twice (cry for help?) or not, or trying to "win" in a situation is now making threats to try it a third time.

She needs to seek professional help.

Best of luck. Hope these people don't bring you down with their problems.

Thanks again Beechboy and Sam666.

Also with my 1 MG daily usage, I don't take it on every 4th day. This is too avoid the "hormonal" issue.

I am aware, that taking over 1 MG per day can cause breast development, small breasty looks on a male.

If I find it, I'll let you know where, Sam666.

I agree with Beechboy, that daily usage of any medication is not worth it unless absolutely necessary.

Why so touchy?

Not touchy. Just noting my usage of Minoxidill and finesteride.

I work in the medical profession and would not prescibe any of those drugs for hair loss/growth (you are contradictory about this.)

If I sound contradictory, I'll clarify.

I was prescribed or bought OTC (can're remember) in the US - Minoxidil. Didn't work.

I was prescribed finesteride at 1 MG per day (not 5 mg) in 1998.

Works great. No side effects. Been using it every since. I've recommended that friends take it, and they have are they are happy with the results.

Thanks for info on the Boots location, beechboy.

I appreciate your info, cheers.

The other use is for hair growth, which would not warrant a prescription.

I assume you want them for the latter.

Correct. It's to prevent hair loss.

I am not preaching, but look thoroughly into the side-effects, particularly those with regards libido.

Thanks for the note. I first got presriced by finesteride in the US in 1998. I had no side effects and have taken it ever since. As for the side-effect of a diminishing libido, it's only in 1-2% of people who take it, and then it usually (but not alway) fades away.

There are better ways to address this problem ie. Regaine of which there are cheaper versions (5% minoxidil) now on the market.

I tried Rogaine and 5% Minoxidil. It did not work for me at all.

Finesteride not only prevented my hair loss, but I actually grew my hair back, which does happen in some males who take finesteride.

Recent studies of finesteride in recent years have strengthened it's success rate, and further proven it does (in a high % of males) work.

Also, my doctor from the US recent cited some studies that you can get the benefits of finesteride by taking less than the prescribed 1 MG per day.

Thanks for the response. Cheers.

Good luck my friend.

The old lady in the pharmacy opposite the "Old German Beerhouse" in Suk. 11 is usually very accomodating with these "fringe" drugs.

Thanks for the not on this. I assume it's Soi 11 off of Sukhumvit. Thanks.

Ask for Finpecia, about 75% less than Propecia, but not available at all pharmacies. Proscar goes under the name Harifin-5.

Cheers, I bought Harifin-5 in the past and was happy with it.

I'm pretty sure they sell in in Boots.

Other than that try the large pharmacy just after the petrol station on the corner of Soi 4. They sell most things there.

Thanks for the reply and info, StateSix.

Where is, "Boots?"

Thanks.

I am coming into Bangkok for just 2 days, and need to buy some finesteride which can be a Thai or Indian brand, of under the brand name of "Proscar" or "propecia."

Does someone know of a pharmacie on or near Sukhumvit in Bangkok to buy this?

If someone can help, it'll be much appreciated. Thanks.

As for SS,

I don't dwell on it much becasue there's nothing I can do. I have to pay into it by law, as well as my employer.

I'm 41, and am told by the gov I'm "eligible" as of now, to collect at the age of 67.

I'll do my own planning, of course.

Reading more of this thread - I've read the entirety of it - and I'm surprised that anyone would think a Thai wife that never work in the US, and never paid taxes has a right to one cent.

SS is broken already. Lastly, we don't need foreign wives getting anything.

(Yes, I know about the rule of living in the US for X amount of years, to qualify.)