Dirk Z

30 years ago.... seems not state of the art...

Over the years I have acquired quite a good insight into the Thai medical system. This regards both large and private or less big hospitals both in the cities or in more remote areas. One of the big differences is that the business model of a hospital regarding income is not based on a fee for the doctor but on testing and selling drugs. I have also travelled a lot and seen hospitals and doctors work in other countries. The approach to counselling a patient and choosing for the optimal therapy is in by far the most cases based on genuine belief that it is best for the patient and I do not think that ethical standards for Thai doctors are very much different of those elsewhere. But it is true that in Thailand there is much emphasis on doing testing, which is often not really wrong but also often not really necessary. I have advised a number of patients here and done some second opinions where it comes into my area of expertise and can only say that the quality of treatments advised and performed are very standard. In one special case of a very complicated condition it was actually world-class treatment.

In my experience if there is a better method you will also want to use it. That's what continuous education is for.

I don't think you can generally state this. As someone with some insight (MD) I can agree that you can have a preference for a certain technique, but if you run into a condition for which it is not suitable you would refer. And also some conditions can adequately be dealt with in different ways. And finally, you can always go for a second opinion. But my main point is not to seek advice here.

Here we go again with all the amateur expert opinions. Don't seek advice here but go and see an experienced urologist. His office is where your problem belongs and is best taken care of.

At the Rock Pub, just next to Ratchthewi BTS I found a terrific band called Mundee. They play on Tuesdays at 10pm, but not every Tuesday, so check the social media. Another nice rock band is Plaztyk, they play every Wednesday at 10pm and Friday very late at Shenannigans in Silom. You can see what both bands are like on my YouTube channel realiszt1. On the same channel you can see other bands and venues although some have changed or closed in the meantime. Check for the date.

Thank you for this and your message is certainly helpful. It takes some "creative" reading but indeed you can understand the message in a way that they will start the process in the time window of 60 days. In our case that begins on 6 November. We'll wait and see.

Thanks for this, but I re-visited the website and it says: You must apply for an e-Visa at least 1 month before your intended travel date BUT no longer than 2 months because most visas have 60 - 90 days' validity starting from the date of issuance. So it looks like we were to early (90 days!) and the somewhat awkwardly formulated message simply means that they will reconsider the application within this 60 days winsow. This starts at 6 November.

I can't help with the issues of the OP, but I understood that the question was also about any issues at all, so I was just trying to get it broader.

I am helping my sister to get an e-visa in The Netherlands. On 18 October we filed the application and uploaded the required extra documents: flight booking, bank statement (screenshot of the bank app), hotel reservation and proof of address (some official letter with the address on it). On 27 October she got an email with header "Request for further document" and this message: This application is on hold. Your application will be re-considered again within 60 days from your arrival date. Also a link to the conditions, but that did not explain anything. From the header you would assume that they will contact you about the documents, but that has not yet happened. On the website under Check Status I can see that they are checking documents, last activity 26 October. I have no idea where we stand now. Of course she can still travel, get permission for 30 days and then go for an extension, but she paid 35 euros and now has neither a visa or a rejection.

In BKK the nicest rooftop bars have become very noisy with stuff coming out of loudspeakers that I hesitate to call music. Sofitel on Sukhumvit near soi 13 is a nice exception with good Belgian beers.

I think you are looking for a real and serious answer. It depends on what you are looking for. Shopping? Bars (what kind)? Live music? Restaurants? There is a lot of everything going on, I live in the middle of it and thoroughly enjoy it.

My meter shows both values. I'm aware of the issues and living in BKK is by choice. And I'm also old enough that the reduction of survival id not that relevant anymore. Same goes for drinking beer.

AQI=AQI. Particles often around 25. But I will keep checking. And I don't smoke.

No I don't confuse AQI and PM 2.5. For the record: the latter number is often around 10.

As you say, it's a medication and not a standard commercially available shampoo.

Shampoo will not prevent hair loss nor restore it, whatever they make you believe.

Before investing in one of the much promoted air purifiers I wanted to know what the baseline parameters are. I bought a reliable Air Quality Monitor. The AQI has almost never been over 50 inside my room, often having the windows open. A bit to my surprise I must admit, but it seems like an air purifier will not make much improvement. I live in central Bangkok.

To their credit I have to say that I found this on a website (https://www.thaiembassy.com/travel-to-thailand/guide-to-thai-immigration-90-day-reporting): Before you actually use your mobile phone or computer to do the online reporting, there are few things you need to do first: This reporting has to be the SECOND 90-day reporting or later on your current visa or visa extension of stay. This is important. You have to report in person or by mail on your current visa or visa extension once in the past before you can do an online report. If you have not done so, please report in person or by mail this time. It just shows that as you said their is no consistency and they do not always follow their own rules. But actually, that is not a surprise.

The same thing happened to me yesterday. I came back from Europe in July 12th and did an online report within the time frame. I have a valid visa. I have not changed my address. I did the same last year coming back from Europe, from Korea and from Japan. But this time I got the rejection and the request tot report at the immigration. So I went to CW where the lady said that after re-entering the country you need to do a personal report the first time and after that it can be online again. This is totally new for me. Next time by the way I will do online again and just see what happens. They really love to make our live not easy. In my case it had nothing to do with TM 30, it was not even mentioned.

It proves how wise God is, he made you celibate.

As I said, it's trial and error. But it won't hurt. Quit anything that doesn't work after 1-2 weeks.

I am a retired neurosurgeon having done thousands of spinal operations and treatments. Around 40 years of practice have taught me that - unless there is clear-cut pathology, like a herniated disc, a tumor, cyst etc. - a lot of treatments are trial and error with very little evidence to support the effectiveness of one treatment over another. We also know that many conditions have spontaneous remission without specific treatment as my own experience in occasional back pain shows. That means that the last therapist always has the best result because the patient is getting better by himself. We having the saying that "nature takes care of the disease while the doctor/therapist entertains the patient". As for lumbar epidural: I have seen the best results in acute lumbar pain and varying results in the more chronic forms. But as far as I know there is still no solid evidence for it's effectiveness. It is not easy to set up a study with matching patient groups over a longer period of time.

It's nobody's business. Thaksin is also entitled to privacy regarding his medical history, something that is all too lightly taken in Thai press.

I use Citibank (now UOB) that has no bank books. Also there is no office at the Immigration. If I can make an appointment online I can get the statement when the banks open and easily make it to Chaeng Wattana. If not, I goto the bank the day before. On the day itself I withdraw a small sum from an ATM machine and attach the slip (which shows the balance) to the document. This has always been accepted.