Tazmo

In my District you need a letter from your Embassy (verification of your passport ).

I am a UK Citizen, retired and living in CM with a Thai Partner. We are in the US right now. No problems at Immigration, interview date was a month later than when we wanted to travel for a family reunion, but she managed somehow ( through a friend or Agent) to get an earlier appointment. Interview was less than 3 minutes, just to provide an address of where she is staying. Given a 10 year Visa. Same for the UK, we went twice. Second time we applied and got a 10 year visa ( pricey). She was through Immigration before me! Also no problem for Canada, but my niece in Canada was required to provide an invitation letter. She has traveled to 3 countries in the past and returned to Thailand ( on Uni Scholarships); over 40 and house in CM in her name. I have a feeling that they do a Social Media check, FB etc, so Bar Girls or Ex, or Masseurs tend to get turned down, having said that I know of some that get accepted at first and second attempt, providing Partner has assets in the UK, don’t know about the USA, which by the way I find is the most expensive country in the world to holiday, most recently I think, because I have been here several times over the past 35 years, people very friendly and polite and prices used to be reasonable in the past, the dollar shop, not many items for a dollar. Also the lengthy Tavel hours/ days, not good as you get older!

I choose hospitals with JCI creditation . The Joint Commission International is a group of retired American professionals who inspect and help to improve hospital standards and quality of care. Sadly they don’t control prices so expect a big bill. CMR I have used a lot over the years and took many clients there when I was working. If they haven’t got a specialty they would refer you to the appropriate hospital. Lanna hospital is cheaper and has a good orthopedic service. Maharaj hospital also has a good ortho service. An Australian neighbor/ friend of mine recently passed. He used the government cheap hospitals. I advised him to CMR, he went and was offered to stay overnight for more tests, but his wife declined saying he didn’t have enough money! He died shortly after, she must be happy, says he drank too much alcohol, but has the house, car and his 800K for herself. Insurance Companies has pushed hospital prices up sky high!

How about Police records. They are surely summoned to the accidents and will have detailed records, including nationality. I wonder if they would help or even the Tourist Police? I would also be interested to know alcohol or cannabis/ drugs levels in their blood. I know you could get this in other countries. TAT sadly won’t be interested in this, they weren’t when dengue was very prevalent. Another source could be the Immigration, but as with all agencies there may be an issue with confidentiality?.

I always liked my late father’s: Never curse the bridge you’ve crossed over.

Sorry, I meant CAT Scans

I was offered biopsy a few years ago, but having worked in Urology, I know that the biopsy can be taken from an area that is cancer free. Plus complications as with any invasive procedure. The hospital did not have any alternative. So I went to a bigger hospital with JCI Accreditation and the Urologist there arranged for me to have an MRI which was also diagnostic of cancer and it was negative. I did another follow up one 2 years later and still clear. During the MRI however, although pain free, it can be frightening if you’re claustrophobic. You have to remain still for a very long period. My meditation helped! You have to shop around, I also had kidney stones and declined surgery and went for non invasive, lithotripsy. I have seen 4 different Urologists. I chose the ones who offered options and gave me what I wanted. I know of others who have had their prostate cancer cured but later had secondaries to liver etc. and died some within weeks. One of my brothers who was a Surgeon himself and the other a close friend. Another friend had it spread to his testicles, and had to have them removed.!, Not trying to be scary here, but factual. So if you had a cancer diagnosis and successfully treated, it’s advisable to have car scans, regularly.

Having worked in Psychiatry for many years and with suicidal people. It is a very difficult to stop someone if they’ve made up their mind to do it. Usually it’s after coming out of a depression. When depressed the individual would usually have pyschomotor retardation, making it difficult for them to carry out the act. So in this case it would be valuable to know what he’s been like for a few weeks leading up to the incident. Another point, from experience, a UK Coroners Court would only give a verdict of suicide if a suicidal note is left and forensic proves this as well as proving he wasn’t under any pressure to write such a note. Having said all that, alcohol and drugs, cannabis, now widely available can lead to psychotic reactions/ irrational thoughts. Not sure of all his history! very sad and tragic such events requires sensitive handling and support for those left behind. Often relatives are in a state of denial and look to blame others. Not saying this is the case here, but a fact that I have encountered.

Archers, down the road from Zoe’s in Yellow, an English Guy who also runs The Moat House; Next to the Moat( they also do a vegan breakfast). OMG opposite Rasta by the Iron bridge ( during cricket tournaments, most of the cricket teams use it), highly rated! also they do the best cod and chips ; O.Malleys Irish Pub in Anusarn market; The Score Sports Bar, across from the UN Irish; Crustys down the road from the holiday Inn. These are also places where you would get a roast turkey dinner at Christmas! UN Irish and Butter is Better have their own bakery with a wide choices of bread and fresh! Happy noshing!

In England they say sex is like snow! You don’t know how much you’re getting and for how long 555

Depends on where you live? I use a local Clinic and the Doctor does not charge ( unless you go for a Consultation). Clinics tend to be in the Evenings, as the Doctors work during the day and the Clinic is usually at the ground floor of their home ( my area is semi rural). You will most likely need either a Thai Partner or a Translator. let the translator do all the talking. But provide her/ him with your list of medication names; dosage and frequency. Maybe you can google clinics near to your location? Should’nt be a problem. Good luck

https://aseannow.com/profile/11421-neeranam/ I had a few years of poor sleep and tried all that has been mentioned in this forum. So I decided to see a Specialist who prescribed tramazone 50 mgs at bedtime and if required 1 mg Lorazepam. I tried the tramazone on its own and it didn’t help. So I started adding the lorazepam and it has worked. Tramazone apparently can take up to a week or more to work! I have a follow up appointment in 4 weeks time and by then I will decide whether to continue or not. It was a 900B fees altogether for Medical, hospital and medication. But IMO it has been well worth it.

No hatred in my blood, I think, Retired to enjoy life and remain open minded, but 5 observations and maybe more : 1. Ex Pats who brought their racism here from the West, when I thought I escaped it from leaving a Western Country. Yes, it’s common in all races but the degree varies. 2. Ex pats with more money than social skills and would never have a Western relationship with a woman. 3. Old Ex Pats with money who come here for young boys. 4. Ex Pats Clubs with Racists, totally unaware of their racism and are quick to say “ I am not racist, I have a Thai wife”, but living like their British Colonial ancestors. 5. Addicts, Sex, drugs, alcohol, Ex pats again who find a haven here, yet their fellow compatriots never acknowledge this but moan about Thais way of life (“ moaning minnies “, ‘ whingeing Poms”).. social skills

I have checked your records and I can confirm that the Life Certificate has been received, and it was processed by our offices on 18 July 2023. Pension payments were reinstated and issued at this time and no further action is required. Please note, payments can take up to 5 working days to clear into your account. ( this was after my phone call on the 18 July……last payment was in March!)

Correct reply that Widows Pension has been phased out. It is now known as “ Bereavement Pension “ with a different set of criteria. I am yet to read it all.

PaoloR you need to repeat as before and send with a tracking post. Then it seems like they genuinely believe you’re alive when you phone and speak to them. They will ask you to hold for a minute while they check if your Certs have been received. Once you told them that you have tracked it. They will confirm same and then They will ask a few questions for identification purposes. Then politely inform you that your pension suspension has been lifted as of “today “ and you will receive your backdated and future pension as before. This will be confirmed by an email the same day.

I would just like to update on this topic which was covered before. I was in the same situation as a few others. Not having received a Life Cert by post, so surprised when I didn’t receive my pension as usual. My email was answered and a LC sent which I completed and returned by registered post with a tracking code. I found out it was delivered but still no pension 3 months later. So as I am in the UK I rang and all was acknowledged and the suspension lifted and was told I would receive it the next day. Followed up by an email, confirming the lift of the suspension but stating it could tayup to 5 days! But I am satisfied. I also confirmed that my pension rate will be adjusted to the local rate whilst I am in the UK, providing I write with supporting documents ( air tickets), which I have done. One question I have is about Widows pension. Would my Thai Partner/ wife be entitled to this or does it not apply nor exist? I could only find “War Widow’s Pension “ on their website!!

Depression needs a thorough assessment of several aspects of your life events, background,upbringing, relationships, drug use and its effects etc etc, done by a professional. During the interview which can be over 2-3 sessions, you might yourself stumble upon the causitve factor eg you may link it to an earlier bereavement a year or so ago for which you hadn’t grieved and now the anniversary has stirred up guilt feelings etc. Or the Therapist might identify the causitive factor and agree a plan with you to tackle it. on the other hand it may not be related to life events, but chemical imbalances which can be rectified by antidepressants and or tranquilizers. Has to be monitored closely. Side effects could be an issue but you have to balance that against the benefits you’re getting. Others have been benefitted from psychotherapy but you have to be suitable for this form of therapy. Incidents of suicide have been documented during this therapy (/ easy to break up the gig saw but difficult to reassemble again, sometimes there’s too much focus on early developments and with an unhappy childhood that can leave a client hopeless upon reflection. Counselling, dealing with the ‘ here and now’ has been often the most effective and is evidence based. Group therapy has also been helpful for suitable clients. Alternative therapy, mindfulness, yoga, meditation has helped many. Apart from reactive depression, there’s also endogenous depression. Occurring from within, for no unknown reason. Hard to treat and sometimes psychotic features may be present. In the past Electric Convulsive Treatment has been used successfully, as a life saving measure. It requires informed intervention consent from a relative/ friend/ advocate. Has been used successfully with the Elderly, but can leave short term amnesia. The new trend has been post traumatic syndrome therapy. First started with the Military, many who saw colleagues killed and ended up with huge guilt feelings. Started heavy alcohol abuse. They found a new form of therapy that treats the basal section of the brain which is affected by trauma unlike the frontal lobe for other types of depression. Some of the therapy if Freudian based and there is the danger of clients remaining a “ victim” for the rest of their life! There’s a lot of good advice give in this forum, and I have just added an overview of treatments and the importance of early and accurate diagnosis. Even go for a second or third opinion.

From your experience and the way you managed has worked well for you and I have no doubt that you worked hard to achieve the results you got. But by addiction I am referring to the over indulgence/ excessive use to a point where the individual is unable to function or recognize there is a problem until he/ she hits rock bottom. You really need to see it to understand or believe. I am not going to try to convince or argue with you. Some are able to deal with it while others struggle big time.

Addiction is a disease and you won’t recognize it unless you worked in the field or had someone close to you who suffered or died! Use, abuse and misuse of substances including alcohol is as old as the hills. Many people indulge without any harm. It doesn’t mean to say that another person can do the same without harmful effects. I have known people who smoked all their life and never had lung cancer or drank alcohol all their life but never had cirrhosis. Sadly they are in a minority. Several factors contribute to becoming addicted to not only alcohol and substances but internet ; sex; love ; food . The addictive behavior takes over and controls your life, you become a ‘Slave’ to it! Put that in your pipe and smoke it, you doubting Thomases! lol

There’s a lot of good advice given here. As a previous sufferer I would echo most of the advice from those experienced advisors! If your reflux is a symptom then you need to have it diagnosed. Just like headaches, a symptom, but there are 100 causes! So if you know the causative factor then you can get the appropriate treatment. if you only want to treat the symptom then you got all the necessary information. I used gaviscon and tried different beers, nothing worked so I quit alcohol and only have Heineken 0% whenever I fancy it. Some Foods also bothered me, some breads, pizzas, meat etc. So I went vegetarian. No further problems. My last meal is early evening, 5ish. Now after spicy food I might have some plant based milk. Different things will work for different people, depends on your values and beliefs to some extent. Old habits are hard to break but I decided that I didn’t want to be a slave to alcohol! And I think of how better I feel without it. That’s after several decades of loving it, 50+. Cheers!

Good to look for alternatives rather than animal and poultry farming which is adding to the Global Warming! plus murdering animals who have a right to live like us, while we pretend to love dogs, cats etc. We stopped hunting, time to stop farming. Compensate them and go organic and plant based! Better for our health too and future generations!

Quite interesting and helpful to read what others have experienced. Also comforting to know that I am not the only one in this situation. I also received no pension since April. Not received any LC by post from DWP. Contacted them by mail and was sent an electronic LC form which I completed and posted via EMS and tracked it that it was delivered within 7 days. But still nothing up to now! Emailed them again, no response! Going to the UK on Thursday, will follow up there. What a terrible system, feels like you’re begging!

My sons didn’t seem to bother. I think they knew I wasn’t reckless or thoughtless.

From my experience as a Head Nurse for an Endoscopy Unit ( doing colonoscopy) and an Operating Theatre. I would just share my experiences on the topics. Propfol is dangerous only if not used under supervision and with the correct equipment available, so in an Operating Theatre is is considered safe and I worked where it was the drug of choice, particularly for short procedures eg day cases/ day surgery because it effect was immediate and recovery fast without a hangover, but not remembering anything, some even asked if the procedure was completed. ( I believe this was used and referred to as “ the rape drug”, and also I believe it was the drug prescribed for Michael Jackson for his insomnia, he could go off to sleep quickly and wake up to do his work. That’s what I have read. But his Doctor was prosecuted because it was prescribed without the necessary equipment available!). In the Unit for colonoscopy we never referred to anaesthetic but said it was done ‘ under sedation’ and only used pethidine 2mgs and 2 mgs of I think midazolam? Most anesthesiologists give an emetic pre operatively, as it cannot be trusted that the patient would have fasted and there is a danger of fluids etc getting into the lungs. In fact it was a standard pre op medication back in the UK. I know because I had to order drugs to restock our cabinet! vomiting post surgery is not unheard of, but a rarity. In years gone by, preparation of a post operative bed for someone returning from surgery, always had a vomit bowl. Up to 10-12 years ago this was not the case. Logically if the stomach is empty then there is nothing to vomit. But some patients do feel nauseous. But I have never heard of an allergy that causes vomiting, but having said that I would not doubt it. I know of warm and hot feelings during the administration of a drug. Also some had become aggressive and violent with the sedative having a paradoxical effect. The ones that I saw vomited had either eaten before the procedure or ate too early after. With Cardiac problems an experienced anesthesiologist would administer a spinal anesthesia. But not all anesthesiologists are trained for this. It’s very effective and does not compromise your heart or brain functioning. There should be a pre assessment before any surgery ( except emergency) and you should get the opportunity to see and discuss your condition, concerns, preferences etc with a anesthesiologist. Personally I would not accept surgery if I didn’t have this opportunity. Often it’s the anesthesia that kills people not the surgery. Where I worked in the Middle East they performed gastric banding for obesity. A patient died because of the anaesthetic and they stopped the procedure altogether!