Paradise Pete

8 hours ago, Pib said:

Wow....such a major announcement  and fanfare for a foreigner with a home country arrest warrant.  Heck, in the U.S. they arrest wanted motor cycle gang members everyday....take them to jail...no fanfare....just a short entry in the daily police blotter.

#1 Rule of Aseannow: No announcement is so good that an ex-pat can't find something to complain about.

2 minutes ago, TimeMachine said:

I have a fascination with most things science. How do they know there is plaque in there? Sorry,  I'm all questions like an annoying nerd student. 

I think we've hijacked this thread long enough.

6 hours ago, TimeMachine said:

Do they take a look with 3d images. My first thought about that shrunkin artery is what if its had pressure applied to it so that the shape looks different and flattened out but in fact the cross section area is the same. Going from circular to elongated oval. Im sure they know what they are doing anyway.  And you felt better afterwards so must have been restricted.  Just a thought. 

Is that a known technique? The problem is not that the artery is simply flattened and needs to be reshaped, as if it were a rigid tube. As we age our arteries for various reasons develop a build-up of plaque that restricts the blood flow. The greater the restriction, the greater the chance of a cardiovascular "event". The stent compresses the plaque, reducing the restriction.

On 8/21/2023 at 7:29 PM, TimeMachine said:

No.  Excellent.  Thanks.  So your energy came straight back?  How often will you go for a dye check to see if there is a need for more? 

Yes, I was immediately able to do more exercise. When the stent was going in I tried very hard to feel the rush of blood though the re-opened highway, but I could not. ????

I do an annual stress test, which has not revealed any further issues. If it does, then the dye test would follow.

Here's my before and after:

On 8/21/2023 at 11:51 PM, scubascuba3 said:

Great earners for hospitals those stents, not always required

No doubt. But fwiw my US cardiologist agreed with the diagnosis, and there's no money in it for him. He's a great guy. Best doctor I've ever had. He's willing to talk about any health thing I want. He was a GP before specializing in cardiology. And when an older patient is paying by medicare, which typically pays less than 100%, he just waives the balance.

On 8/17/2023 at 8:03 PM, TimeMachine said:

Just curious.  How was your need for a stent diagnosed? Were you feeling certain symptoms?  It was caught in a checkup? 

During a routine visit to a cardiologist at pattaya international I mentioned that I was getting tired more quickly than usual. My resting ECG was normal, but she suggested a stress test on treadmill to see if that was still the case. Under stress she could see indications of a problem. With her recommendation I contacted Pyathai Siracha and arranged for a test in which they inject something and can observe its path. The test revealed a 65% blockage and a 35% blockage.

The doctor there recommended a stent for the larger one. I agreed and he immediately began the procedure. I was awake and could observe everything on the screen next to me. It wasn't long before he said he was done. I never felt a thing except at the entry point on my wrist. I spent the night there in the ICU, which is their standard procedure, but I felt fine.

BPH wanted 400k, they charged me 225k. The doctor (Koonsiripaiboon) gave me a complete record of everything, including a DVD of the video. I brought that to my US cardiologist and he agreed with the diagnosis and praised the execution of the procedure.

The stent used was "top of the line." 50k of the 225 was just for the stent (from Germany, I believe).

I told my US doc that I wish I'd requested that they do the 35% blockage as well. He disagreed, saying my LDL was excellent now (low 60s) and it might never be a problem. My thinking was that I was already there and it would have been 'just' another 50k or so, instead of 225 (or more) in the future, plus the hassle and some small ongoing risk.

(the before and after pics are like a map going from a soi to a four lane highway.)

Way more info than you asked for, I know ????

16 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Not the strongest; however, I have found Codiphen ( Diphenhydramine, drowsy antihistamine ) works very well for me.

IME pharmacies in Thailand stock it. Non-addictive.

AFAIK barbiturates are the strongest sleep medications, they would only be available on prescription from a hospital pharmacy. Street pharmacies would not stock them.

 

Agree. 50mg of diphenhydramine helps me quite a bit with jet lag. It's gentle, and takes time to take effect. It's not to be taken regularly, though.

18 hours ago, topt said:

You could also try Pyathai Siracha for possibly a more reasonable price.

[email protected]

 

Gavin is their international coordinator

A good idea. I had a different procedure done there and they charged just over ½ of what Bangkok Pattaya quoted me. 

fwiw mine was a stent. Modern equipment, great doctor. He was the only one who spoke much English though, so be prepared for that. My US cardiologist reviewed the video and docs they gave me of the procedure and said he thought they did an excellent job.

13 hours ago, brianburi said:

'Farang is derogatory and rarely will you hear it spoken from an educated Thai. 

Alien is fine by immigration here and ' non-Thai is de rigueur in print.....

Is English a second language?,  or just another Mr Thailand.........

Who told you Farang is derogatory? It may not be the hi-so term, but it is not an insult, though it can be used as one, just like many common terms.

--------------

The word "farang" is generally not considered a derogatory term in Thailand. It is a neutral word that is used to refer to foreigners, specifically those of European or American descent. However, the word can be used in a derogatory way, depending on the context. For example, if someone is using the word "farang" in a negative way, such as to insult or belittle a foreigner, then it could be considered offensive.

The word "farang" is thought to have originated from the Persian word "farangi", which means "Frank". The Franks were a Germanic tribe that ruled Western Europe in the Middle Ages. The word "farang" was first used in Thailand to refer to the French, who were the first Europeans to arrive in the country in the 17th century. Over time, the word "farang" came to be used to refer to all foreigners, regardless of their nationality.

Today, the word "farang" is a common word in Thailand. It is used in everyday conversation and in the media. In most cases, the word is used in a neutral way. However, it is important to be aware of the context in which the word is used, as it can sometimes be used in a derogatory way.

On 8/15/2023 at 8:29 AM, Longwood50 said:

Thanks Sheryl, 

If it was a problem with an ulnar or carpal tunnel wouldn't it be a neurologist that performed the surgery to eliminate the pinched nerve.  Maybe mine years ago was an orthopedic surgeon and I was thinking wrong that they were neurologists. 

The ortho is the place to start. He or she will refer you to (or consult with) a neurologist if need be. That's what happened in my case (I couldn't move my arm - a scary thing). My case ended up being much more complicated, but the underlying cause was in my neck.

22 hours ago, brianburi said:

ah,yes that old favourite..... being called a farang by another farang.

Where are these places you write about......?

What would you like to be called? Immigrant? Oh that's right, immigrant is derogatory. The whimsical "ex-pat" then. Also I don't know what you're on about "places".

19 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I rode a m'bike because it's the only way to get around in the notorious traffic jams. However anyone is welcome to sit in a traffic jam watching the people on bikes going to the head of the jam if they wish to do so.

It's perfectly safe and a great time-saver, right up until it isn't.

11 hours ago, KannikaP said:

pissed?

Maybe Jet-lagged.

I don't see how this is due to "Thailand's perilous roads" though. He was in the wrong lane.

2 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

140 million stolen in July via cyber crime.....and the RTP come up with stickers for busses!

Are you saying it's a bad idea, or are you suggesting that that's the only thing they're doing?

19 hours ago, mosan said:

Thanks. I was wrong.

On 7/28/2023 at 1:36 AM, bbko said:

It cracks me up when I read about foreigners in Thailand complaining about an influx of other foreigners.

How can one be xenophobic when they/we are foreigners in a foreign land? 5555

If you call yourself "ex-pat" instead of "immigrant" you don't have to think of yourself as one of those dirty foreigners. ????

On 7/22/2023 at 10:54 AM, Scouse123 said:

 

 

All my blood tests were either within range or normal except for one slightly ' elevated ' cholesterol level. The accepted range being up to 200 and I was 205. So nothing untoward was flashing up during the blood tests.

 

What was the breakdown of the 205? The lower your LDLs the less chance of a stroke. Forget the 205 and focus on that number. If you can get it well below 100 you've greatly decreased your chances of an adverse cardiac event. how to do that? All the boring stuff: Exercise, eating well (the so-called Mediterranean diet or the Dash diet are statistically the best), and if need be, medication.

6 hours ago, sirineou said:

What difference did it make if he was an Arab?

Fly with Thai Smile From KKC to BKK, a few times every year, Never had a problem , always very accommodating.

 

What difference does it make that you fly with them a few times every year and never had a problem? Was this guy on any of your flights?

12 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

I will, just wondering if this trip will be okay with what I have now

You can enter the US with an expired US passport. I assume the same is true for an expired Thai passport in Thailand.

22 hours ago, h90 said:

I sit on a kind of bicycle at home something at least 10 hours per week, maybe 15.

From time to time I get some acne like infection, mostly where the leg is connected with the rest of the body.

It seems to be not direct on the surface, but "inside" the skin/below the skin and therefor it does not react very good to cream. And than sitting on it 2 hours every day is not helpful as well.

Any idea on how to treat it more efficient? (Years ago I tried tiger balm.....that can not be used in this area....)

 

Use a hair dryer to get it as dry as possible, then apply dermacombin liberally. Keep at it and if it's anything like what I had (it sounds like it) it will disappear.