MrPhysio

Took a bit of scrolling before the above answer showed up. Insurance companies find every possible exit route possible if a claim is made, including pre-existing conditions. And as above - age above 70 years adds a nightmare. As a health professional I kept up all the health checks and monitoring - asking questions of medico’s as preventative maintenance. Doing so creates a medical history that is searchable by insurers who are able to wriggle out of paying even by a simple mention. Plus- they ‘value add’ conditions and although one condition may be covered they deny stating that having that condition means you are prone other conditions by extension and they deny coverage. Posters do not know if this gentleman knew ahead of time that he could be caught out - there are obviously elements we do not know about. But if on ventilation, there is a risk of multi- system failures, especially if high pressure ventilation is used. Kidney failure is one such example. Then, transporting someone to the UK because hugely expensive if he cannot be unplugged from the machinery.

It is not unusual to see male public urinals visible from an open entrance by whomever walks past, including females heading to their toilet area. Everything on display - therefore this is more about the hygiene aspect and odour than the visuals.

Be careful out there. Rosuvastatin is not Tadalafil (Cialis). Rosuvastatin is for cholesterol reduction - as per the name, it is a statin. High blood pressure (Hypertension) and poor circulation can create the need for Cialis/Viagra medication. If you take a statin, it works very differently. But Statins can cause bad muscle pain in some people. People should be very cautious about taking medications after advice from well-meaning people, but it is a significant risk. People with hypotension (low blood pressure) or positionally caused problems when standing up (orthostatic hypotension) can be badly affected by Cialis and Viagra-like medications, just as statins can cause problems. Russian Roulette (apology to the Russki's) is mixing different medications on top of a health condition. I am a retired health professional, but I advise readers to get a medical opinion - even if you have had previous experience of medication but have not had a health check recently - we change as we age. Stay safe.

Correction: Australia & New Zealand travel on the Left side of the Road, the same as Thailand. The US & Canada use the opposite - Right side. Getting it wrong causes death very quickly.

A great deal of information is supplied here by helpful posters. The amount of contradiction may be less than helpful. I would happily meet and talk with you if you are in Pattaya: zero cost, no strings. My training is as a health professional, but I am retired and have no intention of working in Thailand. That does not mean I have retired my wish to assist other humans simply by having a chat. Respond by replying here.

Some time ago, I remember reading where residents in a condo were complaining about another resident waking around in a state of undress, knocking on other residents doors late at night. And they could not get anyone to help them stop the harassment. Is this the same place and undressed individual? As to the comment about carrying a knife (or whisk), added to the comments about Australian nationality plus the observation of the offending part indicating Jewishness. I am wondering if the knife was used for self circumcision or he was knocking on doors for someone to provide a swap for the whisk? But, for clarity, men of a certain age from Australian parents are likely to have been circumcised regardless of religion - that is as it was accepted back then.

It's funny that the example above from a similar story describes housekeeping sending a male member to sort out the problem with another male 'member'.

No details in the report. Recently the Thai Government was alerted by a foreign security agency of an impending terrorist attack in Thailand and to raise alert levels. Also, one photo in the report shows a guy using a known hand gesture with index fingers pointing to the sky and other fingers folded. Perhaps related, perhaps not.

The first warning for blood pressure (hypertension) or heart problems show up in men as the problem you describe. i suggest you have a gdneral health check then an appointment with a Urologist to check the bloodflow using ultrasound. See the symptoms as an early warning and then take the advice. You may save yourself from a heart attack or stroke (not the one you want) that can be very disabling. The comprehensive health check will check your heart arteries as well as your aorta and into your neck . At least you obtain the answers and that can provide a scientific plan in safety. Wishing you well.

Herpes is transmitted skin to skin and condoms are not the complete answer unless you wear a full body raincoat. it can be more obvious on a male than a female. HPV can be problematic also - plus condoms do not work to stop throat cancer via elevator fun ( eg going down). Good luck out there if you like to party. Think about how many other travellers have been down the road you decide to travel on - in some cases in the same night you could be sharing with people at the bar you would cross the street to avoid. Basically playing Russian Roulette with the whole chamber loaded. And yes, I am no fun at parties and have never had an STD nor plan on having that experience.

Do your research as best you can. A general point for all plumbing purchases - If you can, try to find out the lead content of your plumbing as some manufacturers do not have any specifications or limitations and zero checks. One of the biggest plumbing manufacturing countries has no check on the amount of lead in products. Lead, especially for children, can cause neurological damage, lower IQ etc. Lead builds up in the human body over a lifetime. i am aware that people will have no ability to know what is in the supply lines, so taps (faucets) etc are only one aspect.

Additional: If the dogs are released after sterilization and health check - how does anyone know if the dogs are biters? And what stops the dogs contracting rabies or other diseases after being picked up the first time? The dogs need to be removed and not returned. The story goes that Thais cannot afford the health care for their pets, and turn them loose if the animal is unwell, then get a new one. Or if they move areas, the dogs are left (cats as well). Wherever the dogs are, their excrement washes down into the sea, polluting beaches, and the sand is filthy and possibly contains mites and fleas. Food dumped all over the place attracts vermin, and then the plastic and foam containers make the place look bad - (difficult enough looking at some of the tourists who could be advertising for Funeral Homes and what happens if you do not look after yourself. Therefore, any policy must ensure animals are registered and chipped for identification, fines are levied / enforced against owners with roaming and off leash animals. That includes for foreign owners breaking common sense pet ownership requirements.

Thailand has had intermittent attempts, but not for a while. Bangkok was the main focus.

If there is a pack of dogs, definitely more than three and maybe as low as two - and you hurt one of them, the others come for you. If you go down or even if you run, things get very bad for you. I had a nasty dog experience where the pack leader began barking and growling (in a park area near Big Buddha Pattaya, and dogs appeared from everywhere. I am fairly certain there were more than 50, all barking and growling. I was alone. Eventually, they lost interest and went back into the undergrowth, except for the pack leader, who kept following me and growling. I quickly looked for an escape route that would not confront the dog, and it immediately bit my calf. the canine deeply punctured, and the other teeth cut my skin, causing bleeding through my clothing. 5 expensive rabies injections, immunoglobulin, and wound dressings followed. I am a pensioner, so expensive. I wrote on the forums, and all I got was a tirade of dog lovers hating bitten humans. I am sure that if the Thais licensed a non-Buddhist per problem area to clean up the problem once a month with a quick bullet, the cost would not be high, like the failed programs to neuter the animals. A designated disposal arrangement could be organized. Or use the tourist police to supervise. There are enough ex-military here who know gun safety. The people bitten did not cause the problem, so they should not be penalized. Poisoning is generally a very cruel death, so Thais may be more accepting. By the way, any market has chopped up chicken, beef, and pork, and some places have alligators and field rats, none of which died from old age. Therefore, the Buddhist argument does not seem to be sustainable. Every couple of days, I see a pack of dogs chasing both Thai and tourists off a walking pavement into traffic. Up to a dozen 'pets' terrorize people walking. A local vendor feeds them in a bus parking area near Cozy Beach.

Another delusional blame shift. Nobody, unless afflicted by dementia as is Biden, believes he could orchestrate such a plan. I would never trust you to bring me the correct toast. However, if you are correct, then you will be part of the problem that caused the overthrow of Western Democracy via voter deception.

People who travel can obtain medical travel insurance and expats can obtain other types of insurance. However, if you have ever researched insurance companies, false advertising, money grabbing techniques and every excuse under the sun and moon not to pay out, you will understand why the resistance. i research the small print and verified complaints, have been a health professional and seen people being stranded by insurers despite years of policy payments, and have personally experienced the same problems. this includes the major insurers as well as shonky smaller insurers. So, if you have a major accident, cannot fight your own case due to injury, have paid out for years and thrown your money away plus have to then fund yourself, you will have part of the answer. Of course, I suggest doing your own research - as some simply take risks Insurance company loss adjusters and underwriters pay out if forced or to keep investigators away to stop being liable, so there are examples of good results.

Funny - I responded to this thread with no judgment, not knowing the background of anyone here. Provided some advice for free on a forum that may be of benefit to somebody - even if it is not the original poster. I take no offense at potentially false stories. My attitude as a health professional is to provide information to the public. Not my problem if the story is a scam as it is up to the reader or patient or scammer story teller to take it or leave it. As far as health stories go, when heard by someone like me, it is not me who suffers the consequences of false info; the joke is on them and their health. Anyone who pities me and thinks I am lessened for having human compassion is welcome to their opinion. Meanwhile, I will continue reading these stories and use them for ideas and issues where I can give feedback, encouragement, or advice that it is up to the reader to take or leave. This is similar to how Bob likes to interact with others in his way, and everyone else commenting reacts in their own way. All good fun.

Well done Mr. Smith. Yes, the best way to break a habit or an addiction is to replace one bad habit with a nonharmful repetitive activity. In this case, the repetition is drinking a volume of liquid from a container (cup/glass) and swallowing. Initially, there can be the addictive property of the substance, such as alcohol, to get out of your system, but that soon goes. Using something initially like a caffeine-based drink can soften the addictive withdrawal by giving you a subtle stimulant. After a while, the benefits of other substances such as green tea (smaller amount of caffeine but healthy other substances) can maintain your alcohol abstinence.

Next Species? YouTubers & Social Media posters. Yes, I suppose that includes me, but not the first time I have been in line for my opinion to be questioned!

Some feedback to those with negative comments about this lady and her family's situation. 1. None of us can predict the future. 2. Few of us know how long we are going to live. 3. The older we get, the more difficult it gets to take on new knowledge. 4. We do our best to make decisions within our knowledge base. 5. Life is not fair, is mostly unpredictable, and in very many respects out of our control. 6. Government officials and politicians ultimately impact us more than our own decision-making, is beyond our control (voting power is an illusion, more or less dependent on the country and those in power. (See a few episodes of Yes, Minister/Yes, Prime Minister, or even Fawlty Towers! - have a laugh through tears of recognition). Given the above, 7. Countries should prioritize birthright citizens and the military for basic pensions and healthcare before non-citizens, no matter where they choose to live out their retirement, with cost-of-living increments added via inflationary changes. 8. If the politicians manage the economy well, then the increased GDP could support humanitarian assistance in rare circumstances - carefully avoiding assistance to non-citizens above that of citizens. 9. Until politicians can implement the above, previous and current politicians should have their special perks such as company appointments, superannuation, pensions, and overseas postings after stepping down from government, suspended indefinitely to rescind being rewarded for poor performance at the expense of the voting population, taxpayers, and pensioners (included armed service members). 10. A version of the monetary freeze of accounts applied to oligarchs and other international reprobates, where accrued interest can be reassigned toward the economy where people have been progressively disregarded could be implemented. The above is a quick response from me and obviously details and other nuances would need to be included for a first-world approach, not only for Britain, but other commonwealth countries. Basically, I do not believe some of the comments about this lady and her family are fair at face value, but I admit that I do not know the family nor any of the people on this forum.

Avoidance options: 1. Keep up fluid intake - drink more than you currently do and increase if hot and/or exercising 2. Do not sit for a long time. 3. Do not strain. If not successful, stop and try again later. 4. Get a low plastic step and when sitting place your feet on it. Most toilets are too low and the bowel is placed at a wrong angle - knees need to by higher. 5. Try to increase fibre in the diet. 6. Drinking a warm fluid can stimulate the bowel, as does eating. 7. Try to go at a regular time each day as habits help. Eg Breakfast of fibre and warm drink, wait a little while and go if feeling the urge but no forcing and short session. 8. Sitting in a warm bath (Look up sitz bath) maybe with magnesium salts or epsom salt 9. One report indicates wet wipes can be a problem. 10. If problems are persisting, use a Scheriproct suppository before bedtime and it may help for a morning relief of bowel movement. 11. Creams with anaesthetic and anti inflammatory topical steroid or adrenaline (possibly not available) can ease pain and delivery - otherwise try petroleum jelly for lubrication. 12. If the swelling is very large and causing pain to radiate around the pelvis, if you have bleeding other than a very small amount, or if your movement is tar like and black - see a Doctor immediately. 13. The problem can persist for a number of weeks and in most cases will go away by itself - but if you are feeling unwell, the area may be abscessed which can be cut and drained and you will require antibiotics. 14. If you have a very high pain threshold, the abscess can burst and self drain over a few days - watery and yellowish red fluid. Most will not tolerate the pain before self burst. 15. Ongoing problems are very effectively dealt with by rubber banding, which you cannot do for yourself. Banding can assist both external and internal problems. 16. Once sorted out after banding you will be free of problems for a considerable time unless straining and other issues are addressed. 17. Most modern advice is not to cut and drain - unless infected. Hope this assists someone.

Additional - Always happy to have a chat, including guidance and discussion about health topics. There is no fee or obligation in any way - and you can assess the info exchanged as you have with your previous experiences. My intention is help people become independent with self care, safely. Cheers

Hello, Ampy. There is a physiotherapy clinic in Sou 4 Pratamnak. i do not know the Physio nor have I heard any reports I recently retired as a Physio - Australian trained and had my own clinic in Australia for well over 30 years. I am in Pratamnak Pattaya, but I do not work as a Physio in Thailand. But I am happy to meet you if you wish.

I am a long term resident in Thailand, living near the big Buddha Pratamnak/Police station area close to where the big buses park. soi dogs are a big problem. There is a population of around a dozen where the buses park - possibly loosely looked after by a stall holder. At one stage there were over two dozen dogs. These animals charge at people walking along the pavement (frequently frightening tourists onto the roadway in front of bikes and cars). The dogs also run onto the road way causing vehicles to take avoidance action. People carrying bags are especially targeted. A lot of aggressive barking. I have witnessed people who own property around here arguing with the Thai people feeding these animals - but nothing changes. Also, the park areas near the Big Buddha (some with exercise equipment) have a large population of Soi dogs. A dog pack leader barking at me recuited around 50 dogs all barking and growling at me, until they lost interest, but the leader bit me on the calf, puncturing my skin, drawing blood along with lacerations and two deep puncture wounds. This required 5 rabies injections, daily dressings, antibiotics and Hospital visits. A large attack cannot be fought off with sprays and bat-tons and had I tried the situation would have been worse. The animals are abandoned by household and then breed in the parks etc. A co-ordinated cull is required - aggressive behavior is an indicator of animal illness.

To address some of the answers concerning substance abuse - specifically alcohol and cannabis potential harm comparisons. The dangers of alcohol are well known - but people misunderstand its effects, thinking it enhances enjoyment. Actually, alcohol is a central nervous system (brain) depressant. It depresses (suppresses) higher functioning processes making judgement poor which looks like you bare enjoying yourself. It is behaviorally very addictive over time and will not only damage the brain but other body organs. Cannabis, in this discussion (responses), works in a very different way but is also dose-dependent. There are well-documented and not infrequent cases of people uses cannabis where people become paranoid and/or have psychotic breaks - a serious problem. Getting high is stated as calming etc - but if taken to excess or with other substances (including nicotine/vaping/pills/alcohol) can have unpredictable consequences. Not least of which can be that a really strong high can make you a victim of crime when your high state is taken advantage of or the THC level of your weed/ hash etc is extremely high (and you will not know), or adulterated. So - cannabis is not as harmless as some people think - although everyone defends their own behavior whether valid or not. If you take any substance to change your state of reality, then you are at risk of becoming dependent whether physically, psychologically, or both. Legal or not is not the issue - just how humans operate.