ricklev

3 minutes ago, Excel said:

You mean as in 12" ? Expect as it is a government building that there will be outlets to service the  high up civil servants somewhere there although perhaps on not such a large scale as you have enquired. ????

I have no idea what you are talking about.  

Anyone know if there is a foot massage shop in the basement?  Thanks.

Anyone know of a shop at Pantip that can install ink tanks on my Canon printer?  I'm not sure what is left there these days after their attempt at rebranding.  Any printer repair shop can probably do it.  I live close to Pantip but can go to Fortune Town if I have to, so please let me know of a shop you recommend there also.  Thanks.

I'm looking for a used low mileage Aerox in excellent condition. Please contact me if anyone has one for sale or any suggestions about where to buy a used one is appreciated.  

I might just go buy a new one if I don't find a good used one. I live close to Lumpini Park. Can anyone suggest a good dealer close by? Thanks.

On 5/29/2022 at 9:49 PM, Sheryl said:

This is an excellent GI specialist:

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Parit-Mekaroonkamol

 

 

 

Thanks again Sheryl!  I always appreciate your help.  I saw Dr. Parit and he performed an upper GI endoscopy and a colonoscopy.  He was definitely the right choice in all aspects! (Nothing major was discovered.)

I wonder how long it will take for CBD oil prices to come down.  It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Sheryl, can you recommend a GI doctor at Saint Louis Hospital or do you suggest spending the money for Bumrungrad because of the quality of care or that particular doctor?  I will spend the money if need be but the last couple times I went to Bumrungrad it felt a bit painful when I got the bill, especially when compared to Chiang Mai.  

Edited:  Just spent a few minutes looking at the listed doctors at Saint Louis.  I will just go see Dr. Parit as you suggested.

35 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

This is an excellent GI specialist:

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/en/doctors/Parit-Mekaroonkamol

 

 Doctor might advise gastroscopy, even though your ENT did an endoscopy, in order to check the condition of your esophagus and stomach. In particular, changes to the esophagus are a worry. If the reflux was bad enough to seriously inflame your larynx, it may have done a number on the esophagus as well and this if can sometimes lead to cancer later if not identified and addressed.  Gastroscopy will also show whether you have a hiatal hernia and if so, how severe it is. (In very severe cases, surgery is soemthimes necessary. Most cases can be managed conservatively).

 

Any doctor  is  going to  advise PPIs. If your larynx is very inflammed, as sounds like it is,  I think you have no choice but to take PPIs until it has fully subsided. Once tissue is inflamed, whether in the larynx, esophagus or stomach, exposure to stomach acid will further aggravate it and healing is impossible. I don't like PPIs either, but had not choice but to take them for gastritis/ulcers on 2 occasions. I got off them once the problem was resolved. And yes, it was difficult (rebound hyperacidity) so I had to taper it. But possible.

 

If after making all necessary lifestyle modifications (see below) the problem persists, and especially if you notice that you have a lot of gas coming up, then the possibility of small intestine bacterial (or fungal) overgrowth might be worth investigating, but do not go down that rabbit hole until you have covered all other bases.

 

In terms of lifestyle changes, you may know them already but no harm in repeating:

 

- elevate the head of your bed or use a GERD pillow so that your upper body is elevated while in bed

 

- do not eat anything for 2 hours before lying down

 

- eat small amounts at a time. Avoid overfilling the stomach. If hungry with smaller portions, take more frequent meals rather than large portion at once.

 

- minimize caffeine intake (very important, it loosens the sphincter and contributes to reflux)

 

- if you smoke, stop. Also very important - smoking also weakens the sphincter and contributes to reflux.

 

- If at all overweight, weight loss will definitely help.

 

- there may be specific foods which set off reflux in you, this is very, very individual. Since you have "silent" reflux this will be harder for you to determine than it is for those who have symptomatic GERD. However if you can pay close attention and try to spot any gas eructions - even very small ones - and then link that to any specific foods, avoid or minimize them. The likely mechanism when specific foods seem to cause reflux is excess gas formation putting pressure on the stomach.

 

In cases where hiatal hernia is present some people report relief by taking a large glass of warm water then jumping up & down (you can keep toes on the floor and just lift the heels, but come down hard) a few times before eating. The idea being to get the stomach back down where it belongs first so you don't end up with food stuck in a portion of stomach that has pushed up into the thorax as that will put pressure on the sphincter and easily lead to reflux. This advice only for those with hiatal hernia, won't do any good if you don't have one.

 

Thank you!  I appreciate your help. 

21 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Of course that decision is up to you, but what I can say is that omeprazole (a PPI similar to Prevacid) really did help my condition, and without it I don't know what I would have done, and the d-limonene which I took later on really was the clincher.

 

Don't be afraid of PPIs, and you don't need to be on them for life, although my doctor was okay with me being on them for a couple of years.

 

What really persuaded me to take PPIs and make a change in my lifestyle (getting out of the extremely stressful job I was in) was when he told me that if I carried on the way I was, then I could well be dead from esophageal cancer within a year or so.

 

So I resigned and took time out for myself, and decided to come over and live in Phuket, and I don't suffer from this any more, thankfully.

Thanks.  What is the actual brand/name of the supplement you are taking which contains d-limonene.  It's not so clear when Googling it.

Just now, Sheryl said:

Nobody specifically specializes in this. But any good GI doctor can treat it (for that matter most people can treat it on their own). They can also confirm the diagnosis though many are more inclined to treat empirically than bother.

 

8s your issue to confirm a suspected diagnosis, or to treat known  condition?

Thanks Sheryl.

So the third ENT I went to in the last month finally did an endoscopy and said there were clear signs of acid and inflammation and probable silent reflux.  He suggested Prevacid (said it would be a little better than omeprazole) but said it is only effective in 40 percent or so of his patients.  That was in Chiang Mai at Chiang Mai Ram hospital, but I actually live in Bangkok.

Anyway I have raised my bed and am mostly doing the "Acid Watchers" diet, although I can't really tolerate swallowing food.  Liquids are OK.  

I don't want to take the Prevacid or any PPI and hope to find a doctor that can help me make educated decisions and do whatever is needed regarding testing as the next step.  That is not easy.  Any suggestions for a specific doctor?

1 hour ago, xylophone said:

I suffered from gastric reflux for a few years and it became dangerous because I developed Barrett's oesophagus, which is often called a "precancerous" condition.

 

My doctor put me on omeprazole 40 mg in the morning and the same in the evening for about six months and then wound back the dosage.

 

I also learned what foods exacerbated the problem, namely: – red peppers, onions, milk chocolate and a few others, and stayed away from them.

 

I continued with the omeprazole for a couple of years and then I discovered d-limonene capsules, and took those for a few weeks and my condition completely disappeared, and I have not taken omeprazole for many years now, although I do keep some on standby, just in case.

 

I went back to NZ and my doctor did a gastroscopy on me and was absolutely amazed that my Barrett's oesophagus had disappeared, so I told him about the d-limonene, and he actually ordered some online for a friend of his – – yes that's absolutely true, because despite what this friend was doing he was still suffering a bit.

 

If you do a bit of digging around on d-limonene, and don't be put off by the fact that in one of its forms, it can be a very good cleaner!!, You will find some references to the treatment of gastric reflux and similar.

 

Best of luck, and I did note that another poster has mentioned about raising the head of your bed a couple of inches, and that helped for me also

Thanks!

3 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Changing diet and eating habits can help a lot. I was on Somac ( pantoprazole ) for many years for gastric reflux, I have not needed it for at least 3 years.

 

Some of my experience-based rules:

 

1/ Eat early in the evening, no later than 7 pm. Retire to bed at 10.30, so there is plenty of time to digest.

2/ Avoid fatty and rich foods. Vegetables that grow above ground are best, small portions of protein.

3/ It's better to feel a little bit hungry after eating, than full.

4/ Alcohol in excess is bad news.

5/ If I must have dessert, it is fruit or yoghurt, easily digestible.

6/ I have a glass of water with half a teaspoon of baking soda every night before going to bed. That damps down any residual stomach acid.

7/  A glass of water by the bed to sip on if my throat feels a bit raw during the night.

 

I'm not saying these rules will work for the OP. However, they do work for me.

Thanks!

Any recommendations for a good gastroenterologist in Bangkok specializing in laryngopharyngeal reflux (silent reflux)?

Any comments on your reflux medical experience here are also appreciated.  

Thanks.

3 hours ago, clearance said:

Try Japanese Pitta masks (can be difficult to find original ones). They are very breathable (made from spongy material) and you can wash them, so a pack of 3 masks can be used for 1-3 months.

(they don't offer any anit-viral protection tho, only anti-dust/pollen)

Thanks. Where do you buy them?

When I am outside I want to conform to mask wearing even though I know it is not needed.  Hence I have been wearing these very cheap (20 baht per box of 50) black 3 ply masks, but I cut out the first two layers.  

However, I have been having some throat problems and it occurs to me that two years of too cheap masks might be related.  I run around Lumpini Park wearing them.

Any suggestions for masks that fulfill the role of looking like a mask but allow relatively free breaths?

7 minutes ago, blackcab said:

You are covered by the Pathum Wan 2 Area Revenue Branch Office:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/qh1puRcDecBtiYcZA

 

Very close to BTS Chit Lom, I believe their office is on the 14th floor of the PiYa Place office building tucked away behind the Mercury Ville building, accessed by Lang Suan Road.

 

Here is the Revenue Department website with their full address:

 

http://webinter.rd.go.th/publish/38289.0.html#link1

Excellent information!  Thanks.  It's walking distance for me.  How often does that happen here!

12 minutes ago, blackcab said:

@ricklev what district do you live in?

Lumpini, Pathumwan

I have an old 10 digit tax ID card/number.  

It seems this has been replaced by a 13 digit number for foreigners.  Is that correct?

If I live in the Rajadamri area where do I go to get the new card/number?

What do I need to take with me?  I have a work permit, but it is more of a kind gesture by my former university employer than a salaried job.  I haven't filed for a refund in years although some small amount of withholding from my university and fixed accounts has been reported.  It looks like they have just left my tax ID # blank on the reporting form they sent to me.  I don't want to bother them about it as they are kind enough to provide the documents for the work permit every year.

I tried to sign up for a Forex trading account using my Thai address and they did not accept my 10 digit ID # hence my interest in getting up to date.

Realistically I don't want lthe Thai Revenue Office paying close attention to me.  Is it just a formality or is the application for a new tax number a serious matter.?

Thanks for any info. 

A USA friend of mine entered Thailand a few months ago on a 30 day visa exemption and has since gotten a couple of covid extensions with the current extenstion expiring on 16 May.  He went to the new covid extension office at Icon Square in Bangkok today to apply early for another extension.  He wasn't turned down but was give an "application of stay is under consideration"  stamp in his passport and told to return on 17 May.  

He did ask what that meant, but the officer couldn't really tell him.  He asked if he would be on overstay when he returned on the 17th and was told he would be but it would be OK.

Any idea what this means?  Is it just a formality and he will be given two more months on 17 May or is there a possibility of denial and being told to leave the country toot sweet?

Thanks.  

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Songklod Iamjaturapat

Saint Louis

https://saintlouis.or.th/doctor_search/result?utf8=✓&doctor_name=&doctor_depart=57eb7c57047882000100058f&doctor_skill=&all=all&commit=search

 

Thank you!

Can anyone recommend a specific doctor for a throat problem I am having.  I just need a consultation, not surgery.  I prefer Bangkok Christian or Saint Louis hospitals.  Thanks!

1 hour ago, toHs said:

There is a 7 day grace period right? My 90 day is due today, it has been getting rejected but I since looked at this thread and especially the post above - with the search function has the input a little different from what I have been submitting. So tried again hoping I don't need to go in yet?

Unfortunately, there is no 7 day grace period after the due date for online reporting. 

Only slightly related, I was staying at Nakornping Condo and the very helpful banana lady called the tire repair guy for me to come and fix a flat on my ancient Honda Wave.  I'm not sure if it was the same guy as used to be there but there is a sign in front of the fruit sellers still there for repair.

Anyway, he shows up and immediatly wants to sell me an 800 baht special for farang tire that he brought with him.  I refused and asked him to just change the inner tube.  He was clearly angry I didn't want to buy the new tire and charged me 250 baht for the inner tube.  OK, that is life and he did have to ride to meet me.  No complaints.

He also  made sure to not to properly attach the back drum brake so I had no rear brake when I rode it.  This was a couple of years ago and it still bugs me when I think about it.  

They were building that hotel when I stayed there and the noise was annoying as my living room window faced it.  Too bad about the new construction noise!  Sucks.  Everywhere I stay in Thailand eventually has construction noise!

Had to mail it in after online rejection once again in Bangkok. Maybe every fourth mailed in report someone working there has the decency to return my copied documents.

As my Mammy (God rest her soul)  used to say, "Lord bless their hearts".