John49

The word ‘prevention” in the title. Recently, I read that Dramamine (Dimenhydrinate) was suggested as a sleep aid. This is a first generation antihistamine. I tried 25mg before bed and it helps to get a good night sleep. Great news as it is difficult to buy OTC drugs that help you sleep. I’ve since found out that this drug should only be used occasionally as long-term or high-dose use of Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) is linked to an increased risk of dementia, particularly in older adults, due to its strong anticholinergic effects. No drugs available, so back to ‘cognitive shuffling’ (Cognitive shuffling is a sleep-induction technique designed to stop racing thoughts by distracting the brain with random, neutral, and non-threatening mental images. By mimicking the natural, illogical thought patterns of falling asleep, it helps shift the mind from an active "worried" state to a calm, restful state.) This mental exercise probably helps in the battle against dementia as well. I think mental exercises help you get to sleep but it’s kind of boring, the last thing you would want to do at the end of the day.

I had a Singapore Dollar account equivalent to 800k baht, held at Bangkok Bank, that was accepted.

I was at Siriraj for radiotherapy. I understood I had to pay for all upfront. Probably not true, but I wanted treatment asap. The man in front of me had travelled from Vietnam and paid in cash from a bag. Sorted quickly, they had a machine to count the money. I wanted to pay using my overseas debit card and I had already upped my limit for the large transfer, and confirmed with the bank, but it did not go through. I had to call the bank overseas like 3 times, all very stressful as it took about half an hour to clear, making me late for my first treatment on the table. The overseas bank were blaming the hospital terminal, as no issue at their end. I think the bank were right, the hospital terminal did not like my overseas card but after many attempts, it went through. Next time, I would just take a bag of cash - relax, everything under control.

Don’t think there is any need to go to Korea, as lots of good options in Bangkok. I had lower eyelid surgery about six months ago at a clinic in Bangkok; a great result, my two swollen eyebags have disappeared, with no evidence of any surgery. They cut the lower eyelid internally, removed most of the fat – I think they reworked the fat and returned about 2/3 of it. Also, I had a canthopexy (no ligament cut), or a lateral cathoplasty (ligament cut). I think this ligament connects outside corner of eye to brow and rises the corner of eye slightly – coupled with a small V cut-out of the corner of the eye. I think this procedure tightens the under eye skin? I did a lot of research before the surgery. I decided to go to someone who only ‘does eyes’. The plastic surgeons who do mostly tummy tucks, breast etc., can be found to have a negative review when it comes to eyes. Price seem to vary enormously, and it seems unclear if the ligament work (above) is included or not, and medication. I would check out all pricing on initial contact, before consultation, to be clear on any dual pricing. I considered upper eyelid surgery. My feeling is that it's lot more risky – like taking out too much skin maybe – like Bradley Cooper. Psyche yourself up and regard your droopy eyelids as an attractive feature? Unless your vision is blocked. Plus, visible scaring is a consideration.

I lived in a small Thai hotel for several years. Low season saw few customers – clandestine lovers/short timers and overnight travellers. There was just one other long term resident and he avoided contact – I think he even crossed the road to avoid me. Eventually, we got into a conversation and I would take him to one side and sit down in reception for mainly gossip and tips, etc. We become good friends – he was in his eighties and not well. Suddenly, he died and I was invited to the funeral service and cremation at the local Wat, by the two ladies from the hotel reception. My first time; I took some money to make a contribution. My contribution was well appreciated and I was invited to meet the Abbott. It was a struggle as I had to join the group and enter on my knees – very painful so ended up on all fours. I was presented with a wrist bracelet not just the ordinary piece of string but an upmarket version with a green bead. Normally, I reject jewellery and such but I felt good about wearing this as memory of my friend. Sadly, after about 6 months, it fell apart in the shower. A few days, later I heard that a speedboat had been arranged and his remains post cremation had been ‘laid to rest’ some distance offshore. The two ladies from hotel reception who each had about 10 words of English, explained by gesture that the bones were long. I deduced that the skeleton was intact to a degree but possibly ‘dismembered’. This left me wondering are the hundreds of dismembered bones out there rolling around with the tides, in an offshore ossuary? Some weeks later, the two ladies from hotel reception happily told me that our departed friend was still with us in the hotel. I was mystified and no details were forthcoming. I kept dropping hints for more detail – they revealed our departed friend was on the top shelf in the reception area – in the form of a tiny Father Xmas figurine, maybe taken from a Xmas cake, or a misplaced bystander at a nativity scene. I actually believe he committed suicide, but that is another story.

I had a one shot Shingles vaccine several years ago, I forgot the name but turns out it must have been the Zostavax vaccine. Very recently, I had the two shot Shingrix vaccine. So the study data was based on the Zostavax vaccine and the Shingrix is expected to yield similar benefits. The text below clarifies: AI Overview Based on recent research published in The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences (January 2026), the study indicating a link between the shingles vaccine and slower biological aging primarily examined the older, live-attenuated vaccine known as Zostavax. Here are the key details regarding the findings: · Vaccine Studied: The research focused on data from participants who likely received Zostavax. · The Findings: Individuals who received the vaccine showed a slower pace of biological aging (specifically in epigenetic and transcriptomic aging) and lower systemic inflammation. · Comparison to Shingrix: While Zostavax was used in the analyzed data set, researchers noted that the newer, more effective recombinant vaccine, Shingrix (introduced in 2017), is expected to have similar or even more substantial benefits, though this requires further study. · Study Background: The study by the University of Southern California (USC) analyzed data from over 3,800 adults aged 70 and older, finding that these effects lasted four or more years after vaccination. While Shingrix is currently the standard of care due to its superior effectiveness (>90%) in preventing shingles, the study analyzed the older Zostavax, which was in wide use during the study's timeframe (2008–2018).

Recently, I had the latest Flu vaccine in my left arm and a first Shingles in my right arm, at the same time at the local pharmacy. A few days later, I went through the full body scanner at the airport. I was pulled out for a manual scan with a wand; it went right to the injection site for the Shingles vaccine. The operator showed me the scan on his screen and it clearly light up on the injection site in the arm; he seemed just as confused as I was; he was busy and waved me on. A few days ago, I went back for the second Shingles vaccine, I told the story to the pharmacist, and I asked if there was metallic materials in the vaccine, I think he thought I was joking. I googled it and the explanation seems to be that the body scanner picks up changes in density and presumably the injection site was inflamed to some degree. Bit hard to believe, as there could many places in the body where similar is happening, and so many false flags. I did not have any side effects from the vaccinations other than a sore arm for about 2 days. That’s my experience with the Shingles vaccine.

The first time I send money - meant for one month, it was "my good man!". Two weeks later, more money requested, and I ignored it. When I called later - it was "what you want!". Part of my learning curve.

I never heard of getting "red-pilled" so I Googled it. Very good explanation below, with its origin from The Matrix: AI Overview "Getting red-pilled" means "waking up" to a perceived harsh reality, often involving radicalization into far-right, anti-feminist, or extremist ideologies, particularly within online communities like the manosphere, where individuals believe society is controlled by deluded leftists, leading to views like white supremacy, misogyny, and anti-immigration, stemming from the metaphor in The Matrix. Origin of the Metaphor The Matrix: The term comes from the movie The Matrix, where Neo chooses the "red pill" to see the uncomfortable truth (reality) versus the "blue pill" to remain in blissful ignorance (illusion).

Likewise, a few years ago, I had an operation at “one of the big-name private hospitals in Bangkok”. I had the very same operation in Australia about 10 years earlier. It involved one night in hospital and it was a breeze, out the next day as though nothing much had happened. I needed the same operation again and decided to do it in Bangkok as I thought that they cannot possibly mess it up, after my earlier experience in Australia. I was wrong - in Bangkok it was a 3 day nightmare. That evening after the operation, no qualified staff available to offer medication when my blood pressure went over 200 for several hours. The next day chronic diarrhoea, spending a day and a night in the shower defecating green tinted liquid – I believe I was overdosed with antibiotics. Bullet point communication means you only partly know what is happening. Having said the above, I have had good experience with Thai dentists. Also, a bone marrow biopsy (without sedation – a horrible experience for some), at a Thai public hospital that went very well. All medical procedures involve risk – the risks are greater in Thailand.

I have scanned through some of the many posts on this long thread... What I notice is that some of Lorente's posts indicate perfect English - like the one above - I quote again - "I'm certainly not going to explain the problems that arose, but we couldn't agree on the terms for a mutually agreeable separation." Yet when Lorente is asked about his nationality (I think two times?), Lorente says "I am from French". All real Frenchmen know it's 'La Belle France'? Also, the tenacity of numerous responses make it seem like Lorente is in a cosy, comfortable spot somewhere and easily able to generate a crafted response? The balance of probably makes Lorente's predicament seem like Xmas morality test - as a some have speculated?

My first month's supply of immunotherapy meds was bought from a Thai public hospital and very, very expensive - they charged me an original manufacturers price (like from Europe or USA) for a Dr Reddy's generic from India – the price was factored something like 10 times. Straight away, I placed my order with a supplier in India. Much later, at Siriraj hospital, I changed to a second generation immunotherapy drug that was not available at the hospital. Not wanting to have further issues with Thai customs, I was able to find a contact outside Siriraj and bought this second drug near Siriraj hospital. Most interestingly, the price was about double the price I would pay ordering myself from India. I thought that was not such a bad deal. Siriraj, being the the largest public hospital in Thailand, has many pharmacies nearby. In particular, there are people importing and selling drugs not readily available, or high demand late generation drugs. At a guess, if like me, you could end up having to pay twice your from India price? Otherwise, it's a short trip to India.

I had an Indian doctor friend living in Malaysia. I remember him telling me some 15 years ago that he was suspicious of meds sourced from India as being ‘underdosed’. Also, about that time there was some concerns on hygiene at Indian laboratories. These days with the scale of India’s drug manufacturing industry exporting worldwide and well known names like Dr Reddy and Cipla, I no longer worry about these earlier criticisms that may have been valid at one time. My much earlier treatment with Indian antivirals proved effective. My recent treatment with Indian immunotherapy drugs proved effective. Part of my treatment at a Thai hospital involved immunotherapy drugs and I noticed that the drugs were sourced from Dr Reddy. I would certainly go with the big names like Dr Reddy and Cipla.

I forgot to mention that 3 or 4 of my about 8 med shipments got through without being intercepted by Thai customs i.e. they were delivered directly as addressed.

I ordered from two different IndiaMart suppliers - without having any scam issues with the suppliers. Maybe, go through the reviews to help sort scams from legit? The ones like ‘arrived on time and well packaged’, repeated several times, are a turn-off. The first supplier was about 10 years ago (no problem with multiple deliveries to Australia); the second supplier more recently – full of problems with Thai customs. Customs at Laem Chabang exploded with anger and confiscated my shipment – never again. Customs at Prachuap were sympathetic and did not confiscate but were difficult to different degrees (depended on the officer), and I obtained my several shipments after a tax payment. So, success depends on the attitude of your local customs office. There are threads on this forum relating to importing meds from India. Sheryl has made the point a few times that "It is illegal to import any sort of medication without an FDA license." This means that you personally need a Thai FDA licence to import any sort of medication to Thailand. This is why Thai customs will most definitely raise objections. On the other hand, arriving in Thailand hand carrying small amounts of meds for personal use is OK.