retiree

Made appointment on line well in advance, umpteenth extension. They now send a day-before reminder. Brought: -- appointment notice, -- simple Google map to home, signed, -- 1 4x6cm picture / taken at home against white(ish) wall, emailed to shop, they cleaned and printed, -- bank letter (day before, yes, this is ok), -- updated fixed-deposit bankbook for 800K method (most recent activity is the last quarterly interest post from April; yes, this is ok), -- signed copies of all bankbook pages, -- TM.7 form, -- passport plus signed copies of photo, visa, last extension, last entry stamp, entry form, -- receipt of 90-day notification (as done and mailed to me on line). signed of course, -- 1,900 baht. Ten minutes with IO, plus 25 minute wait for return of passport and bankbook. No questions, no problems. Procedure was slightly simpler this year -- no extra picture of me holding up signed forms, and no visit to supervisor desk for double-check. Btw, everybody entering CW has to fill out a short health/arrival info/etc form. These are collected but not read. Not very crowded. -- Retiree

Both Lazada and Shopee have "official" 3M stores that sell very good KN95 masks for about B20 each. I've also seen these in 7/11. -- Retiree

Always been happy with iBody, which is a Thai company up in Chiang Mai. Online via Lazada and Shoppee, and they will answer their phone if you can track down the number. They import from US -- I usually get Solgar multi, and NatureMade D3 (2,000 units -- I take one every other day). They will do COD, and stuff arrives in Bangkok in a couple of days. --Retiree

Tan Tock Seng Hospital will do it. I spoke with a Nurse Tan in the Travelers Clinic. They will: - schedule a doctor consultation (required), - reserve a Shingrix injection for same-day service. An advance appointment is required. Cost in $Singapore are S$427 (Shingrix), S$33 (doctor), + 15% foreigner surcharge, so a little under US$400. No doctor needed for second shot in 2-6 months. Nurse Tan understands the situation, and said a half-day was reasonable. +65 6357 2222 [email protected] I also checked with Raffles Medical Group, which has a 24-hour clinic at Changi Airport. They advertise that Shingrix vaccine is "available at most Raffles Medical Clinics." After a series of phone calls and e-mails, this turns out not to be so. The airport clinic doesn't have Shingrix, and I don't think the other Raffles centers do either. They were very nice, though, and pointed me to Tan Tock Seng. Just fyi, I had the Zostavax shot nearly a decade ago. For me, I think that getting a Zostavax booster now (apparently safe and effective, although not heavily studied), then waiting a year to reconsider travel for Shingrix is my own best "Covid-era" strategy (CDC says that an 8-week gap is sufficient). There's a somewhat higher relative risk of shingles and PHN, but the absolute risk year-on-year is still low. --Retiree

I bought a Concept 2 Model D PM5 in 2018 from their dealer in Malaysia: Aviron Racing -- website seems to be down, but both they and Concept2 have Facebook pages. Cost was US$970 plus $160 shipping to Bangkok (via TNT). I think I used PayPal. Took less than a week to arrive, zero problems. Not especially noisy, and as everybody says this is the rower to buy. -- Retiree

Thanks very much, Toshy. Those appear to be exactly what I was hoping for. -- Retiree

aargh Bankok Bangkok (won't let me edit the post for some reason -- can a mod fix this?)

Middle-aged Ms. Retiree has rather high LDL, despite a healthy lifestyle. There are pretty solid science and gov recommendations supporting the benefits of about 2gm/day of plant stanols / sterols, which can provide about a 10% LDL reduction. It's a bit hard to get more than 20% of this regularly even with a good diet, so various ordinary foods (yoghurt, OJ, margerine, etc.) are available in fortified forms in the West. Does anybody know where stanol / sterol fortified food products might be found in Bangkok? The fallback will be the NatureMade "CholestOff Plus" supplement, which provides 1.8gm daily, but which Ms. Retiree doesn't want to take despite their being functionally identical to fortified or natural products. (Yes, I know I could just wake up early and mix the supplements in with her daily gruel, but ... .) Thanks, -- Retiree

E-mailed to get the detailed price list, then called to schedule an 8am home visit (within a week). Details were confirmed by e-mail and conversation (English & Thai) with Kh. Mink. I signed up Ms. Retiree & myself for 45-test "Platinum" packages, plus several a la carte items. The base price is 4,100 per person; we added 5,500 in extra tests between us (most of which would have been included in the 8,000 / person package). I did not get the 4-voucher package (4 sets of tests over the next 3 years) because they would only do one home sample collection -- the other 3 had to be office visits. It would have saved us about 1,500 per person, but the convenience was worth the added price to us. Nurse came at 8am, set up, and was done within 30 minutes -- efficient & professional all around. Collected payment, four tubes of blood, and one urine sample each. I rented an empty room in my apt building for an hour to make it easier, but any table top would have worked. Got results pdf by e-mail in 8 days; almost all normal. Any H(igh) / L(ow) clearly marked, along with results and normal ranges. Follow-up call with Kh. Phloy, who is a kind of advice nurse. She speaks English well; we occasionally dropped back to Thai. Her advice for me (high rheumatoid factor) was that absent any obvious pains, I should re-test in a year. And for middle-aged Ms. R (rather high cholesterol, despite being fit / mostly good diet) -- even more exercise, less moo sam chan, re-test in six months to see if she should evaluate for statins. Overall I was very satisfied with the service. -- Retiree

Requested and received full-strength Moderna as booster (purchase through Bumrungrad) 5.5 months after regular Pfizer series. Full-scale flu-like aches first night, very slight fever, cleared up the next day. Should'a taken half an Ambien ???? -- Retiree

> I actually have one of these exactly as shown in the advert. Lol, likewise, from grandmother. Mom bought her meat ground, and handed down a ricer. As Hansen's Law states: “What the son wishes to forget the grandson wishes to remember.” -- Retiree

I previously used it to file. Over the years I've only had one hiccup -- last year when everybody (near Bangkok, anyway) needed to do an in-person or by-messenger filing at CM to get their names back in the system. -- Retiree

First time this has ever shown up in my gmail updates tab, from [email protected]: Your receipt for notification of "STAYING LONGER THAN 90 DAYS" will be due on 10/03/2022. Please apply TM47 request online or contact the Immigration Branch Office in your residence area before due date. which makes today 15 days out, right on schedule. Pleasantly surprised, -- Retiree

If you can track down a copy, you may find Adrian S Palmer's Getting Help With Your Thai (Dialog Book B, AUA Language Center, 1977) to be helpful. As I recall it is full of small examples of how to say things like "can you repeat the word after X more slowly" and such. There is a long sample posted here: https://www.solvethai.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=11344 เดี๋ยว เมื่อกี๊นี้ว่าอะไรนะ A: Wait a minute. What was that you just said?ไม่ได้ยิน A: I didn’t catch it.ตอนไหนล่ะ B: What?ตอนที่เสียงคล้าย ๆ กับ เดี๊ยน น่ะ A: The part that sounded something like ‘dian’.อ๋อ ดิฉัน ใช่ไหม B: Oh. Do you mean ‘dichan’?ใช่ ๆ นั่นแหละ A: Yes. Yes. That’s it.พูดอีกที ช้า ๆ นะ A: Can you say it again? Slowly?Sentence patterns:Replace word(s) between the [ _ ] with samples found below each sentence.ตอนที่เสียงคล้าย ๆ กับ เดี๊ยน น่ะ The part that [sounded something like] ‘dian’.ต่อจาก came afterอยู่หน้า came beforeติดกับ was next toคล้าย ๆ กับ was something likeฟังคล้าย ๆ กับ sounded something likeพูดอีกที ช้า ๆ นะ Can you say it [again]? Slowly?ทีละคำ word by wordซ้ำอีกที one more timeชัด ๆ clearlyดังหน่อย a bit louderใหม่อีกที once moreVocabulary (in order of appearance):เดี๋ยว in just a minute:เมื่อกี๊ just, just now, moment agoนี้ thisว่า say, tell, blame, criticiseอะไร what?นะ question particleอะไรนะ pardon?, sorry?, what?ไม่ noได้ยิน to hearตอนไหน when (spoken)ล่ะ particle used in questions or to show a change of stateตอนที่ when, while, asเสียง sound, noise, voiceคล้าย to be like, resemble, be similar toคล้ายๆ กับ to be like something elseๆ character used to indicate the previous word is repeatedกับ with, together withเดี๊ยน dian (no meaning)น่ะ particle used to after a noun to highlight it as the subject of the sentence, or to make a sentence seem softer, more persuasive or less abruptอ๋อ ohดิฉัน I, me (usually but not always female)ใช่ไหม right?, is that right?, is that true?ใช่ yesนั่นแหละ that's it, that's exactly it, that's rightพูด to speak, sayอีกที once more, one more timeใช่ ๆ slowly, unhurriedly, leisurelyต่อจาก continuing on from or afterอยู่ locatedหน้า in front ofติด to be attached toติดกับ next toคล้าย ๆ resemble, look like, likeฟัง listen, hearทีละ at a timeคำ wordซ้ำ repeatอีกที againชัด ๆ clearly, vividly, obviouslyดัง loudหน่อย a little bitใหม่ again, once more, [to be] new, recent, the latest -- Retiree

Interesting. Over the years I've seen three, maybe four different Zolpidem manufacturers / countries of origin at Phyathai. It has stayed in mind because only one brand had long, scored tablets. The current round dome 10mg guys don't always split evenly, even with a pill cutter. Both doc and pharmacy were sympathetic, and agreed that a 5mg dosage (or easily split pills) were better for older patients. But, the pharmacy always insisted its hands were tied because the gov specified a single supplier. Of course, they may have just been asking me to get off their lawn ???? -- Retiree

Pathlab sent me the a la carte menu, which has more details. I think you have to call or e-mail them to request it -- I can't find a detailed price list on their site. The expensive set (8,000 standalone) includes these. I'm showing the a la carte prices if added to the cheaper set. 1,000 homocysteine (B6, B12, folic acid deficiencies, some heart problems) 550 FT4 (thyroid, cheaper gets T4) 950 CA125 (ovarian cancer F) 950 CA15.3 (breast cancer F) 950 CA 19.9 (pancreatic cancer F/M) 950 PSA (prostate M) 1,000 H. Pylori lgG (ulcer) 200 Urinalysis (beer, apparently) The cheaper set (4,100 baht standalone) gets bicarbonate (an electrolyte test, 400 baht a la carte.) There are a variety of other a la carte items (HIV, lead, testosterone, etc.) none over 1,000 -- Retiree

Anybody have any personal experience with them? Prices seem quite reasonable compared to hospital walk-in. Note that they do not do equipment testing (e.g. mammogram or ECG.). https://www.pathlab.co.th/packages/ And for general fyi ... 0) they have two basic sets: one is 45 tests, and one is 50. The individual set prices (not given on their website) are 4,100 and 8,000 baht. Yes, apparently the 5 extra tests, which are listed on their site, are expensive. 1) they have two set packages. You get 3 or 4 vouchers, depending, which can be used by different people, or by one person over a few years. The cost per voucher works out to 2,975 or 6,333 baht, so about 25% cheaper per test. 2) they will do free home / office collection of your blood / urine samples, same as they'd do at their site. However ... 3) if you bought the package, they will only do one person if they visit -- the others have to go to the Pathlab office. I went over this with them several times, in both English and Thai, but they are not willing to take the other samples at the same time, even for a fee. 4) instead, you have to buy multiple single-person sets if you want multiple people tested on a (free) single home visit. Yes, I know, but hey, it's their business model. And as mentioned, I'd like to hear about anybody's experience with them, or any alternative (esp. for lazy folks who don't want to leave the house). -- Retiree

Puzzled by this thread -- I just called Phyathai Hospital, and they said they are dispensing Zolpidem as usual. It has been my experience over the years that a) the specific drug supplier is government regulated, and b) these change periodically, so the hospital dispenses whatever brand they're given. Fwiw I also take just 5 or 6mg (pill-splitters and milligram scales are easy to find), never more then 3 times per week, and it's always lights out immediately. I do wish they'd sell the delayed-release forms, but like everybody else I make do with 6 or 7 hours sleep. -- Retiree

Dr. Roy is great. He did my secondary cataract / YAG laser, and also a number of exams over the years. Just in passing re cataracts -- I had mine done in my mid-fifties. They were pretty bad (couldn't see well in low light, and couldn't fully correct my vision with contacts) but I thought I was too young, and didn't think to check. Had the operation done in the US because I went for the multi-focal lens implant. Not quite perfect (one eye can use an 0.5+ correction), but I have been very happy, and even passed up the doc's pre-surgery offer of Lasik or similar to make any minor adjustments (apparently not uncommon with very high myopia). -- Retiree

Similar at BNH about 3 years ago. Just under 30,000, pre-approved and paid by Aetna. Not unpleasant.

Just a reminder that an on-time 90-day report can be handled by a representative, e.g. your girlfriend, your other girlfriend, or the motorcycle guy on the corner. All you need to provide is the current 90-day report application, your passport, and your previous (accepted) 90-day report. You do not need to supply a picture or letter. --Retiree

And another county heard from -- submitted Friday mid-day, and received approved form today just before 5pm. Also CW. --Retiree

Registered online. Password returned in about 2 hours to regular inbox (not spam) from [email protected] . For me, State/Province is Bangkok, City/Amphur and District/Tambon are both Phaya Thai (so the khwaeng for both -- the khet isn't used). A drop-down of citizenship and place names appear if you click the search icon on the left of each entry field. I got an immediate confirmation of submission by e-mail. I show pending on the check your submission site. A filled-in TM-47 are attached to the confirmation, and also available on the site. I notice that some details are missing (e.g. visa type and arrival card number) but they didn't request that on the original form. Oh -- I had my swiftest runner submit my last TM-47 in person for me 80 days ago, so I am back in the on-line system. Fingers crossed, --Retiree.

Likewise. I figure that if it's to get treated for something serious, probably not a good time to be dealing with Part B signup, too. And, crazy as it sounds, I'm proud that I can pay my fair share to support a system that has done so much to benefit my family, friends, and all other Americans. --Retiree

I don't filter the washwater. There's a built-in filter that has to be cleaned with a toothbrush once in a while. On the other hand, I did buy good-quality ground-fault interrupters for my washing machine and refrigerator. By coincidence, I just replaced my old-fashioned three-stage stainless steel kitchen water filter with a Mazuma M3F-3 (about 6,800 baht -- love me some 11/11 HomePro sales). Been very happy with a Turbora for the past 20+ years, but all the valves eventually wore out, and are not easily fixable -- I think their new models are all plastic, and require filter cartridges, not the bagged resin & carbon. The Mazuma uses the newer style non-compression faucets (and is the only one they sell, anyway), so should outlast me. --Retiree