Lacessit

My Australian OAP has cost of living adjustments every six months, in line with inflation. I recently spent two nights in a government hospital, 7000 baht. I might pay that much for a single specialist consultation in Australia. They charge like wounded bulls. At my current rate of capital depletion, which is added to my pension for a comfortable lifestyle, I will be reduced to having a pension only when I am 105 yo. Yes, the AUD loses purchasing power in Australia. AFAICT the baht still buys all the stuff I need. Having said that, people who come here hoping to live on a pension alone are in for a rude shock, when the first unexpected expense appears on their horizon.

So the change is for people in government service? That's going to mess with the intake of youth.

Did you teach them financial literacy? Do they have credit card debt up to their eyeballs? Did you teach them to delay gratification until they could afford the cost? I think I know the answer already.

IMO stupidity is believing Trump will do anything for his "basement dwellers" once he is re-elected. Except perhaps hold rallies where they can flock like sheep to buy his made in China dreck. When he is not playing golf, that is. Can Americans be that dumb twice? Perhaps they can.

If only it were that simple.........

It probably works like this for you........

Good luck. Water helps alleviate some of the physical discomforts of withdrawal. Stay hydrated.

More like a month, ask Sheryl.

Have you had your appendix removed? Have you had a CAT scan? Has anyone diagnosed Crohn's disease? Bear in mind the pain you have now is withdrawal, which simply has to be endured. Make sure you keep hydrated. Drink lots of water.

You'll have to ask her.

Cannot do it immediately. I'll PM you. She is no oil painting. Has plenty of podge, strong as a bull.

AFAIK obinuzamatab and venetoclax are not available in Thailand. I don't know how many hospitals in Thailand have CAT scanning facilities that include the administration of radioactive carbon isotopes to measure tumor progression. Due to private health insurance in Australia, I paid nothing for CAT scans, blood tests and monthly infusions. I paid about $100 for a years' worth of venetoclax medication.

The OP needs to be aware he is developing a tolerance for tramadol, which means it will lose effectiveness in relieving pain if he continues on this path. IMO he needs to progressively increase the length of time between doses, hour by hour. Distraction techniques, such as reading or watching videos may help. Dwelling on the pain won't. It's OK to take tramadol as long as you are controlling the drug, and the drug is not controlling you. I use it myself for back pain, but only every second or third day, and only if I feel I really need it. For sleep, try Codiphen or Amitryptiline.

My GF is going to be ropeable. She was looking forward to getting her 600 baht in a couple of years time. The introduction is clumsy, it should have been phased in. The clowns who introduced this change may have cause to regret their actions. Voters will be looking for any means of revenge.

A good way to acquire hemorrhoids. I don't worry about, mine are quieter than my GF's anyway.

I am wondering how voter values have become so distorted a stream of lies and disinformation is now regarded as normal. Moreover, accepted as truth. Kissinger's views on Trump would never be shared by some one like Ted Mack.

I am selfish, my GF is exclusive to me. I can introduce you to a 61 yo who would be glad to help you, in return for very modest financial support and the cachet of marriage. For some reason, she craves a foreign husband. She speaks no English. My regular massage lady, she is quite nutty, so you should get on well together. A good pair of Crocs are quite comfortable without socks, although unsuitable for prolonged walks.

Never tried rowing, I probably would have capsized the boat. I have never been flexible. Even as a kid, I was unable to touch my toes. When I was training in jujutsu, best I could do with a roundhouse kick was chest height. OTOH, I have always been stronger than average.

I did not know CMU was such a bad neighborhood. Perhaps good manners are not to be found in some of the young. It was ever thus.

Back at home with a swag of antibiotics, thank you. IMO having a Thai GF who knows the system helps considerably. There is no way I could negotiate the hospital bureaucracy without her. I agree, once you are in your 70's insurance becomes prohibitively expensive, if it is even available. I am uninsurable due to pre-existing conditions. When I had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma a couple of years ago, I went back to Australia for treatment. The drugs used for chemo there were simply not available in Thailand. I also had three CAT scans with radioactive infusions to measure my progress to remission. I can't even begin to estimate how much that would have cost here, best guess millions of baht. I still pay for my Australian private health insurance, although the time will come when I can no longer travel.

Some government hospitals have private wards, which no doubt are more expensive. That may give rise to the double charging hypothesis. Three days ago, I was hospitalized with Pneumonia. Two nights in hospital, in a public ward. Most of the costs were in nursing care and laboratory tests. The actual bed cost per night was 200 baht. Outstanding care, 4 bedside consultations with doctors. 7000 baht total. To me, it was an absolute bargain. I am damn sure if a Thai national went to an Australian, UK or US public hospital, they would be paying a lot more than that.

As others have said, the insurance is not valid without the tax paid. IIRC it's only about 200 baht, most of the cost is in the insurance itself. Why be an idiot over 200 baht?

The insurance that goes with motorcycle registration covers 30,000 baht of medical treatment in the event of an accident. Treatment in a government hospital is quite inexpensive, even for foreigners.

Get a quote at a public hospital.

Thais have outstanding flexibility. I'd be in traction if I tried to do what my GF does, by way of stretching exercises.