Chiang Mai can take your breath away !

[Aussiepeter]

I lived in CM on and off from 1992 to 1999, then continuously from 2000 until 2013. After arriving back in Oz in 2013 with my family I saw a GP as had voice trouble - up and down falsetto - as if I was becoming a ladyboy. I have never smoked. I was sent to a specialist who diagnosed me with laryngeal cancer, a T1 on a vocal cord.

Dr asked the usual questions - did I smoke etc but when I told him I had lived in Thailand, asked where in LOS ? When I said CM, he said I was the fourth patient he had seen with this type of cancer in a non-smoker and the only common factor was former long-term resident of CM. He asked about the air pollution and I told him it goes through the roof for half the year or more in CM. He could not say definitely, but was pretty much certain all four of us had caught it from long-term exposure to the foul air (PM 2.5) in CM. The cancer had spread too far to be lasered off, so I had three months of radiation therapy on my throat. I had to go back to be 'scoped' (horrible thing they shove up your nose and into your voice box) every six months for five years. Thankfully, it is gone. So too is my prostate, but that was the subject of my first ever post some years back, thankfully deleted by the moderator (again, my thanks) as I had given a serve to the CM doctor who removed my manhood. After being gelded back here in Oz in a last ditch attempt to kill the cancer, (successful) I now know (too late) that I should have gotten a second opinion, back in the real world ! 

 

My Thai family and I live in a lovely part of Oz with clean air and my wife, after six years here, says she is NEVER going back to Thailand, EVER, as she won't risk our daughter's health. I went back alone to CM in March for dental work (radiation wrecks your teeth) and the air was putrid. I too will never go back.

The air pollution, together with all the BS I read on this portal about immigration was enough to convince me. For those stuck there, wear a good mask ! Cheers all !

[Puchaiyank]

Air pollution is a major factor in my relocation...have chronic breathing problems after moving to Thailand...my health, good or bad, is in direct proportion to air pollution...

 

Sorry you had to endure pain and suffering with your cancer treatment...I'm hoping to avoid your experience by leaving Thailand soon...

 

I know...I'll be careful of the door as I leave...????

[bkk6060]

Wow, imagine the coincidence/odds of you seeing the same GP in another country who had four patients from a city in northern Thailand all having the same cancer.

 

So, you have been castrated and obtained throat cancer in CM. Why did you risk coming here for dental work after all that?

Gosh, don't think I would ever return sure hope you are feeling OK.

 

 

 

Edited October 6, 2019 by bkk6060

[Aussiepeter]

If you had READ the post bkk6060, you would have seen that I was SENT by my GP to an ENT specialist who has saved my life. As I said, he could not definitely say it came from the PM 2.5 in CM. but yes, in seven years he had seen four non-smoking expats from Changers with the same illness. My prostate cancer was a completely different deal. One in four men get it after the age of 40. Un-related. A Thai Dr did a poor job on me (it can happen) and I had to have female hormone back in the real world that 'gelded' me - I still have my nuts, though they no longer do anything. After 33 years in the military, I can only confirm that it is better to be alive and the father of a lovely kid, than DEAD ! Dental work only took a week and saved me 5 grand - you work it out ! Cheers.

[cheshiremusicman]

17 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

Air pollution is a major factor in my relocation...have chronic breathing problems after moving to Thailand...my health, good or bad, is in direct proportion to air pollution...

 

Sorry you had to endure pain and suffering with your cancer treatment...I'm hoping to avoid your experience by leaving Thailand soon...

 

I know...I'll be careful of the door as I leave...????

Have you thought about moving to the Hua-Hin area, which does not suffer from poor air quality. We do not suffer from the problems that CM has due to the crop burning. The 2.5 micron particles are not stopped by the masks that we see people wearing they are far too small and these are the particles that cause lung/throat damage in the main. If you want to check on the air quality in the HH area I suggest that you look at the 'visibility' quotes on the Thai Met office website, it's normally about 10kms. I hope this is of some help to you and may I wish you good health in the future.

[orientalist]

I developed something like chronic bronchitis after years of walking on polluted Bangkok streets. I recovered from the dry cough and constricted chest after 3 months but it returns if I am near cigarette smoke, incense or mosquito coils. I wear a good mask these days but the condition has probably shortened my life by a few years.

 

I once thought of moving to Chiang Mai, but it's not an option now.

[1FinickyOne]

15 hours ago, Aussiepeter said:

Dental work only took a week and saved me 5 grand

ok - so you like it here, right? 

22 hours ago, Aussiepeter said:

The air pollution, together with all the BS I read on this portal about immigration was enough to convince me

And you wrote your long post just to inform us of how venom filled you feel? We all know about the air quality and immigration, which for any of us who legitimately qualify only takes a few hours a year, in total... sorry for your illness... but really, no need to get others wound up... 

[newcomer01]

Not venom

  Just a very informed view

  Every year it gets worse here in Chiangmai

Would never recommend it to anyone to live here.  For me I'm pretty well stuck.i

Edited October 7, 2019 by newcomer01
Spelling

[Foxy52]

'It'll take your breath away,' was being considered for use as a slogan by the Hong Kong tourist board, just prior to the SARS epidemic. Needless to say, they dropped it

[tandor]

16 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Wow, imagine the coincidence/odds of you seeing the same GP in another country who had four patients from a city in northern Thailand all having the same cancer.

 

So, you have been castrated and obtained throat cancer in CM. Why did you risk coming here for dental work after all that?

Gosh, don't think I would ever return sure hope you are feeling OK.

 

 

 

..once gelded a stallion becomes a good stayer in the human race..best of luck to OP.

[Ron jeremy]

In a previous thread an expat from Chang Mai commented how much he likes to walk around with his mask on, really! I have been in Chang Mai a few times in smokey season, never again. Why people live there is beyond me, my friend wears a mask in Bangkok, I just shake my head. 

I have had several nasal sinus infections in Thailand, as have my friends, it's a common thing among long term expats as well as tourists.

just remember, your health is your wealth.

Edited October 7, 2019 by Ron jeremy

[Krataiboy]

2 hours ago, kenk24 said:

ok - so you like it here, right? 

And you wrote your long post just to inform us of how venom filled you feel? We all know about the air quality and immigration, which for any of us who legitimately qualify only takes a few hours a year, in total... sorry for your illness... but really, no need to get others wound up... 

A somewhat uncharitable riposte to what was clearly a well-intended wake up call. It has galvanised me into ensuring my daughter, studying in Chiang Mai, buys and wears a high-quality facemask when pollution levels are high.  

 

So thanks, aussiepeter.

[Benmart]

On 10/6/2019 at 6:15 PM, bkk6060 said:

Wow, imagine the coincidence/odds of you seeing the same GP in another country who had four patients from a city in northern Thailand all having the same cancer.

 

So, you have been castrated and obtained throat cancer in CM. Why did you risk coming here for dental work after all that?

Gosh, don't think I would ever return sure hope you are feeling OK.

 

 

 

Paragraph one makes sense.

Paragraph two contains the interrogation phrase, "why did you...". 

 

The "why" is none of my business unless I am paying someone's way in life. In this case, I am not.

 

I read the OPs post, am grateful I don't have cancer and wish him well.

[AussieBob18]

Best wishes mate - hope the prognosis stays good for long time.

Like you we left CM a few years ago and moved to Aus - we visit the family and friends in Isaan and Bangkok once a year.

And like you I found the medical system (and dental) in CM to be massively over-rated - much better in Aus.

Once highly recommended Thai quack wanted to operate but I waited til next visit home - simple procedure fixed it.

Take care and enjoy Aus - it has its problems but the medical and dental system (and PBS medications) is fantastic.

And the roads are much much much safer ????

 

[BritManToo]

On 10/6/2019 at 6:34 PM, Aussiepeter said:

My prostate cancer was a completely different deal. One in four men get it after the age of 40.

Are you absolutely sure that wasn't related to 'smoking' in Chiang Mai?

[DLock]

On 10/7/2019 at 4:38 PM, Mansinthe said:

Was in CM the last few days and the air quality is really bad even compared to Bangkok. 

 

My wife and me had the same problems.. headache, sore throat.. nauseating feeling like want to throw up.

 

I thought it couldn't possibly be worse than saigon or hanoi but it was..way worse.

 

 

 

Fake news. 

 

CM air quality is very good at the moment....and better than Bangkok.

 

Saigon is moderate, but far worse that Chiang Mai.

[Samuel Smith]

1 hour ago, DLock said:

 

Fake news. 

 

CM air quality is very good at the moment....and better than Bangkok.

 

Saigon is moderate, but far worse that Chiang Mai.

AQI is good right now, but last week of September, was up in orange & red for a few days.  Then some nice, welcome storms cleared the air again.

[elephant45]

How can anyone believe these AQI monitors? They don't maintain anything here or there, or any SE Asian country. There must be very precise gauges that need to be cleaned every week or so to ensure some type of accuracy on the air quality monitors.

[Samuel Smith]

3 minutes ago, elephant45 said:

How can anyone believe these AQI monitors? They don't maintain anything here or there, or any SE Asian country. There must be very precise gauges that need to be cleaned every week or so to ensure some type of accuracy on the air quality monitors.

Lots of people have their own, at home.  Mine matches the figures given by the nearest sites on the AQI maps.  And the pm readings drop to single digits when held next to my air purifier.

[opalred]

years ago when i came to cm i was getting a sore throat all the time

being  oz have my beer ever day / went to dr he said was i a drinker 

then said don't drink chan beer as to much chemical in it /changed to leo  sore throat went away 

13yrs on still drinking leo no problem /but some dry years people getting sore throats are from the dust on the streets mixed with dried dog <deleted> in the dust

the smoke is mild to what you get in Malaysia Singapore  most years

[bwpage3]

On 10/7/2019 at 1:50 AM, Krataiboy said:

A somewhat uncharitable riposte to what was clearly a well-intended wake up call. It has galvanised me into ensuring my daughter, studying in Chiang Mai, buys and wears a high-quality facemask when pollution levels are high.  

 

So thanks, aussiepeter.

Hope she wears it in the house because your air con is sucking in all that pollution.