noahvail

Morphine and amphetamine tests for retirees? I would have thought that of all people applying for visas, retirees would be the least likely to test positive for these drugs.

What a complete and utter waste of time (everyone's) and resources.

Morphine and other opioids are illegal in Thailand except for post-op pain, so the docs tell me. If you're dealing with chronic pain, Paracetamol and Ibuptofen offer no help at all, nor does Tramadol. For me the only thing that stops the pain but doesn't slow the reflexes is Demerol, a semi-synthetic opioid, available only in syringes for immediate pre-op patients here.

There's the letter of the law, the spirit of the law, and selective enforcement of the law. I've had no opioids since I've been in Thailand, and I have gotten to the point of needing assistance with even small chores on most days. Still, it's worth the pain to be in somwhere warm all year with a wife who cares about me in peaceful surroundings.

Love your avatar and nickname! Have you tried Celebrex? Or Tylenol 3 or Tylenol for Arthritis....many Tylenol products (maybe not available in LoS).

How about methotrexate? Of no avail?!!

Post-op opioids are only available via prescription in most countries, yes?

Thanks for your kind words and suggestions. Yes, I've tried what I think are all of the standard painkillers. Fifteen years ago I had open heart surgery, causing a staff infection that led to the removal of 90% of my sternum. They weren't able to close the incision, just pack it, and see a plastic surgeon once a week to debrade the dead skin. It took 10 months to close on its own. I took Demerol because it took away the pain but didn't make me groggy. After a month, I asked about addiction. The surgeon's reply: Better to be addicted and out of pain till it heals - if you get addicted, we can deal with that later. At the end of nine months, I just stopped taking them, with no withdrawal. It's the one thing I know that works for me. I'm going to try to find a chronic pain specialist here who can prescribe something of sufficient strength to help.

And yes, of course you're right, one needs a prescription for such things. I'm not drug-seeking, I'm pain-relief seeking. I don't drink or take recreational pharmaceuticals - I want to stay in control of my thoughts and actions.

No apology necessary, it's a friendly board.

I don't think of it as jaded or cynical, just realistic. There is so much that I love about Thailand, but I'm aware of certain things that are not so nice. Pretty much like any country, but I feel more alive in Thailand :-)

Answer to first question: Google the history of Chalerm's son.

Answer to second question: See answer to the first question.

Answer. to third question: No.

Suggest you. learn a bit of Thai history over the past decade or two. With over 3,200 posts, you should have realized the irony and economy of words used.

Have a wonderful day!

Final Answer: If his son is Duang, then you have chosen a poor example to support your defense since he did not kill a police officer, which was clearly the point of my post.

Suggest you recognize that your years here have left you jaded and warped.

Cheers

One never knows the final answer in Thailand. But here's a quote that references a Time magazine news article on the subject: http://bangkokdave.blog.com/2012/08/07/chalerm-son-still-the-untouchables/

Last week, even jaded observers of Thailands corrupt and unscrupulous political scene were taken aback by the news that Duang Yubamrung, the son of Deputy PM Chalerm Yubamrung, had joined ranks of the Royal Thai Police (RTP) and, whats more, would serve as its sharp shooter. To anyone familiar with the history of these two men, the news was nothing short of surreal. The idea of Duang donning a police uniform and sharp shooting at something (or worse yet, at someone) is just so wrong on so many levels, you cant help but think its just a really bad joke.

Duangs previous experience with RTP and sharp shooting (of sorts) is widely known in Thailand. The incident that would become Duangs claim to infamy is described in Robert Horns Time magazine piece, The Untouchables:

"On the morning of Oct. 29 [2001], at the Twenty Club discotheque, the three Yubamrung brothers, sons of powerful politician Chalerm Yubamrung, began trading blows with a group of plainclothes police. According to witnesses, Duangchalerm Yubamrung, the youngest of the brothers, had his party restrain Suvichai Rodwimud, a police officer awarded Crimebuster of the Year honors, as he executed him with a bullet to the head."

Granted, after that he did hide for a while, and came back to a trial whose witness developed mass amnesia.

So, my point stands. Not just a cop, but the Crimebuster of the year.

Answer to first question: Google the history of Chalerm's son.

Answer to second question: See answer to the first question.

Answer. to third question: No.

Suggest you. learn a bit of Thai history over the past decade or two. With over 3,200 posts, you should have realized the irony and economy of words used.

Have a wonderful day!

So, what's the SOP now? Bail, then sneak across the border to Malaysia for a few years, then come back as an instructor at the police academy? Or is that reserved for the privileged few?

Good list. Add to that for making outmeal flour - the kids won't eat regular oatmeal cookies, but when it's a flour they love the taste.

You've nailed it ...

Thai food really is that bland ...

Thanks for the reminder to pack that extra bottle of HP Sauce for my next trip over.

.

HP Sauce, now your talking my language

If you really want to ramp it up, just bring some ghost peppers back with you...only don't say they're "ghost" peppers, nobody here would go near them with a name like that ??

"No Kangaroos were milked in composing this OP"

Why this statement David?

Are you afraid I will grass you up to the Milkers trade union?

Thought Mr Neverdie posted your equity card last week.

But thank you for opening new horizons for me.

Never thought of kangaroos before.................

Now forget the farting and tell me do they produce a lot of milk?

Are they easy to milk them?

Please, let me know soon......I'm waiting with soooooooo much anticipation.

Oh, they're easy enough to milk. The hard part is climbing into that front pouch to do the milking. And then trying to escape afterwards.

Scott, having had several dogs in the past, I do feel for you.

CO2 works well, but you'll need a lot of it. Keeping your dog lying still in a cardboard box, then making the CO2 in a large bowl and literally pouring the heavy gas will start to fill the box, but you'll have to repeat the procedure several times.

I personally wouldn't have it in me to use a plastic bag over the dog's head, as another posted suggested. Too cruel.

I have a friend from NZ who was a vet nurse, and they used "blue juice" - a tranquilizer - by IV, not subcue. Who knows what was in the brown liquid, or if the directions given were correct. Please don't blame yourself for your well-intentioned attempt to ease your pet's transition.

Don't know about Neem oil, but here's a trick I learned in New Zealand when aphids infested my roses. Drop a few cigarettes into a glass of water, and let it steep for a day or too. Transfer the brown liquid to a spray bottle, and give them a fine mist. Don't know why it works, but it does. After the aphids are gone, just rinse down your chilli plants.

Best of luck to you...truly hope it works out for the best.

For what it is worth. They came from a time when everyone was before their time. Can anyone recall the 14 minute "Innagaddadevida" by Iron Butterfly? Different genre but same fortitude. Or closer to home Jethro Tull and "Broadsword".

Innagaddadevida was groundbreaking. I had front row side seats at the shed at Tanglewood in 1969...when the drummer played a solo for 20 minutes. The entire audience was entranced.

The standard of medicine, especially outside of Bangkok and Chiang Mai, is generally not up to Western standards, even in the private hospitals. Here in backwoods Isaan, my wife and I are friends with two MDs, to the point of chatting on Facebook. They both speak English very well. One was sent on sabbatical, paid for by the government, for two years in the US to further develop his surgical skills. He's the one who removed my wife's gall bladder last year, using "keyhole" surgery - in a small government hospital with one OR and no recovery room. She healed quickly with no complications.. Both of these doctors take as much time as is needed with each patient.

But even those two docs complain to us of the horrible state of health care in Thailand. Lack of facilities, lack of the right meds, and the gross over-prescription of antibiotics all contribute to the state of the Thai health system. Doctors' attitudes, though...too many rush through their patients like they have a quota to fill, and I've seen them get angry.

i've seen asshat doctors in the States, in New Zealand, and in Thailand - but as far as copping an attitude, I'd say the Thai docs are #1.

Alchemy and the Dark Arts. A liberal science field.

Who's auditing the auditor? ✏️ ? ? ?

I would love to see all doctors have an iPad or similar with him/her at all times, with available software on contraindicated drug interactions. A new doc at the local hospital prescribed a med for off-label use, which is fine and legal, and I had used it in the past for its approved use. I had shown him all my meds...it's a good check to make on a slightly spurious computer system. But as soon as I started taking it that med I felt hot, my ears were burning and ringing, I could hear my pulse in my ears, and I was quite dizzy from time to time. So I checked with mims.com, and it came back with a level 4 contraindication, with stroke or heart attack being the usual outcome.

I've learned my lesson. I always used to check mims or rxlist.com before I would take any med. The one time I didn't, it could well have killed me, and they would have attributed it to natural causes.

Well, I suppose for every doctor that graduates at the top of his class, there's another who graduated at the bottom.

Sorry for the loss, Costas. I'm sure you and your wife will help the family get through this.

All you need to do is tell them you're a Jehovah's Witness, and they'll be gone. The reverse works as well.

One thing I don't get is if they were conning 100,000 people, how did they manage with just three? Are these just three of many, and not even the top guys? Just wonderin' ? ☕️

OP..that's like asking an Australian who speaks English if he can understand an American, Kiwi or a Pom. The all speak the same language but all have different cultures.

You tell me how an Aussie has a polite argument with one of the nationalities above.

By sitting down with enough cold stubbies to last till the argument is settled. ??