World's tallest man confined to sickbed in Isaan, unable to walk

[webfact]

World’s tallest man confined to sickbed in Isaan, unable to walk
By Coconuts Bangkok


Photo: Somsak Saejung

BANGKOK: -- A 26-year-old man from Surin, who is most likely the tallest man in the world, is now too weak to walk or even stand up, and he’s pleading for help.

Pornchai grew 12 centimeters in the past two years and - having recently been measured at 2.69 meters tall - now exceeds the Guinness World record holder’s height of 2.51 meters as set by Sultan Kösen from Turkey.

However, the poor man is now very much in pain.

Pornchai is currently confined to his steel bed in an unfinished one-storey house in the Northeastern district of Prasat in Surin. He relies on help from his 60-year-old father, 56-year-old mother, and his 15 years old niece, who are reportedly all sick.

"I would like to have a bed that can move up and down by pressing buttons, like those in hospitals, and I would like to have money to repay the debts of my old mother,” Pornchai said.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/09/28/worlds-tallest-man-confined-sickbed-isaan-unable-walk


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2015-09-29

[ratcatcher]

Perhaps the RTP can have a whip round and make a donation to this poor guy.

[steven100]

If he was in the US he would be making a fortune ....... TV interviews, sponsorship deals etc ....

Edited September 29, 2015 by steven100

[oncearugge]

This unfortunate man undoubtedly has a condition called acromegaly.

Growth hormone (GH, also known as somatotropin) promotes body growth during childhood. If too much is made in a child they will grow very tall. Normally, adults make only small amounts of growth hormone. If an adult makes too much growth hormone, the bones of the hands, feet, and face continue to grow and become quite large, causing their normal features to become distorted.

In the West treatment (which is difficult and expensive) would involve neuro-surgery, radiation therapy, and medication.

I hope this post will put stop to the "unfunny" jokes that some members are making at this man's expense.

Edited September 29, 2015 by oncearugge

[jaywalker]

stop eating street food ?

That's pretty tall. Almost 8' 10" for us Americans.

I'd imagine a change in diet might help the poor guy gain some muscle mass...... I dunno.... I'm no nutritionist... Just a guess.

[otherstuff1957]

I believe that this condition is caused by over activity of the Pituitary gland. Without proper medical treatment he will probably die within the next couple of years.

[colinneil]

Pornchai says he would like a bed that moves up and down, same as hospitals have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He is on an electric bed ( exactly same as the 1 i have)

Is it the reporter bullsh...ing or Pornchai?

The bed in the photo costs 48.000 baht Why tell lies and say i would like 1?????

[oneday]

Very sad to see this and unfortunately he is in the wrong country to expect any kind of aid from the government.

He may have luck with social media and some donations now that this news article has appeared.

[oncearugge]

I believe that this condition is caused by over activity of the Pituitary gland. Without proper medical treatment he will probably die within the next couple of years.

You are correct (see my earlier post)

Regretfully there are still inappropriate comments being made here by some "members" who should be ashamed.

[Sviss Geez]

And I am "most likely" the most hansum man in Thailand as I get told it every bar I pass.

So you are suggesting that this story is false despite there being a photo and medical evidence?

[Seastallion]

This unfortunate man undoubtedly has a condition called acromegaly.

Growth hormone (GH, also known as somatotropin) promotes body growth during childhood. If too much is made in a child they will grow very tall. Normally, adults make only small amounts of growth hormone. If an adult makes too much growth hormone, the bones of the hands, feet, and face continue to grow and become quite large, causing their normal features to become distorted.

In the West treatment (which is difficult and expensive) would involve neuro-surgery, radiation therapy, and medication.

I hope this post will put stop to the "unfunny" jokes that some members are making at this man's expense.

That he has grown 12 cm in the last 2 years suggests a tumour on the pituitary.

The physics of a normal sized heart trying to pump blood through an overly-large body, combined with the square-cube rule with regard to skeletal support, means that his body will not be able to cope.

He is on his death bed, sorry to say.

A bit of publicity might bring in some money from overseas documentary companies. I hope the story spreads, so that this guy's last days may be a bit easier on him and his family.

[oncearugge]

This unfortunate man undoubtedly has a condition called acromegaly.

Growth hormone (GH, also known as somatotropin) promotes body growth during childhood. If too much is made in a child they will grow very tall. Normally, adults make only small amounts of growth hormone. If an adult makes too much growth hormone, the bones of the hands, feet, and face continue to grow and become quite large, causing their normal features to become distorted.

In the West treatment (which is difficult and expensive) would involve neuro-surgery, radiation therapy, and medication.

I hope this post will put stop to the "unfunny" jokes that some members are making at this man's expense.

That he has grown 12 cm in the last 2 years suggests a tumour on the pituitary.

The physics of a normal sized heart trying to pump blood through an overly-large body, combined with the square-cube rule with regard to skeletal support, means that his body will not be able to cope.

He is on his death bed, sorry to say.

A bit of publicity might bring in some money from overseas documentary companies. I hope the story spreads, so that this guy's last days may be a bit easier on him and his family.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acromegaly/basics/definition/con-20019216

[colinneil]

I am not suggesting the story is false.

I am saying story says he is living in unfinished house wishing he had what he is already lying on.

Asked to show my electric bed OK.

My photo shows side rail up, his shows side rail down.

[Equalizer]

That would be 8.825 foot for our American friends.

[NancyL]

Colinneil, the photo in the article does indeed look like he's in a hospital bed, but how can you tell that it's an electric bed? I can't really tell from your photo, either that yours is electric except that your headboard and siderails are fancier than his and you've written about it in the past on TV.

His looks much more basic than yours, like a handcrank hospital bed.

[colinneil]

Nancy my bed has headboard his doesnt.

That is the only difference, except due to his size he has an extention.

When i get hold of my camera, i will poet exact same picture as seen in his photo.

[The Deerhunter]

Perhaps the RTP can have a whip round and make a donation to this poor guy.

The Thais love so much being first in anything. An excellent candidate for BIB generosity. Poor guy probably has a pituitary gland tumor or disorder of some kind.

[arfurcrown]

Well SABloke and SvissGeez what are you two keyboard philanthropists proposing to do to or are in fact offering to do for the gentleman concerned?

Come on don't be shy, actions do speak louder than words, having myself been here for some 24+ years I sure am not holding my breath for the poor fellows countrymen and women to come to his help. Especially in the area of Prasat which is very near to our farm and like the rest of the district not over endowed with wealth or sympathy..

Edited September 29, 2015 by arfurcrown

[metisdead]

Inflammatory posts and trolling posts and replies have been removed.

[JeremyBowskill]

And I am "most likely" the most hansum man in Thailand as I get told it every bar I pass.

So you are suggesting that this story is false despite there being a photo and medical evidence?

Not at all, only that the headline is misleading. How do you verify height by a photograph though?

Edited September 29, 2015 by JeremyBowskill

[colinneil]

Forget all the comments on here.

If this case is genuine, i am prepared to offer a small amount of money to help him.

How about all you other TV members???? put up or shut up.

Any TV member living near him prepared to go and check out the facts????

I will contribute 200 baht to help, only needs 479 others too match that.

[timmyp]

Any TV member living near him prepared to go and check out the facts????

Here are photos of the bed. It doesn't look electric at all:

[circusman]

If he was in the US he would be making a fortune ....... TV interviews, sponsorship deals etc ....

You vastly exaggerate any benefit to this man or any man so tall in the usa or anywhere else. Maybe 50 years ago.

[animatic]

Pornchai says he would like a bed that moves up and down, same as hospitals have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He is on an electric bed ( exactly same as the 1 i have)

Is it the reporter bullsh...ing or Pornchai?

The bed in the photo costs 48.000 baht Why tell lies and say i would like 1?????

They also provide them without motors, just hand cranks on the end.

This one might have been bought and accounts for the debts his mother owes,

or donated, but motorless.

Or as the other pictures show it is just a welded steel frame with wood slates

and a far to thin naugahyde foam pad. Palatial lies not in evidence....

Edited September 29, 2015 by animatic

[Strangebrew]

Well from last picture his bed looks to be as was stated steel frame with what looks like floor mat on 2X4's I feel for this guy maybe free surgery treatment to stop the growth and some charity would help a little.

Edited September 29, 2015 by Strangebrew

[arfurcrown]

circusman post # 24

Your a lovely man for the 'generous' offer. Cheap Charlie comes to mind.

Have you actually noticed the circumstances of the person who made that offer?

He is severely disabled and in a condition of near paralysis.

Now ''circusman'' what is your generous offer going to be?

Now if your offer of assistance is on a par with your rhetoric that offer will of course be very generous won't it !!!

Edited September 29, 2015 by arfurcrown

[sweatalot]

Very sad to see this and unfortunately he is in the wrong country to expect any kind of aid from the government.

He may have luck with social media and some donations now that this news article has appeared.

I think Thailand has health insurance for all. Has he ever seen a doctor?

Take him to a hospital, let him have proper checks and proper treatment for acromegaly

(normally benign tumor of the pituatary gland) - hopefully it's not too late.

proper treatment: neurosurgery endocrinology and orthopedics

Edited September 30, 2015 by sweatalot

[Mobi]

This man needs a bit of 21st Century PR.

In an age when so much utter drivel goes viral on FaceBook and Twitter and gains the attention of millions all over the world, surely this is something that would be really worthwhile trying to publicise.

The poor guy is in desperate need of proper medical care and attention. I am shocked that the medical authorities in Bangkok haven't taken up his case.

How about some social media guru out there trying to drum up some interest in this terrible situation.

The 'tallest man in the world' lying - maybe dying - on a makeshift bed in Isaan, almost destitute and without hope....

There has to be some mileage in this for the caring folk on Twitter and Facebook in the west.

Maybe the Thai authorities can be shamed into action....

Edited October 3, 2015 by Mobi

[Johnniey]

Very sad to see this and unfortunately he is in the wrong country to expect any kind of aid from the government.

He may have luck with social media and some donations now that this news article has appeared.

I think he's lucky to be in Thailand. If he were in Finland, he'd spend a fortune on clothes AND be depressed because of SAD.

[louse1953]

Nancy my bed has headboard his doesnt.

That is the only difference, except due to his size he has an extention.

When i get hold of my camera, i will poet exact same picture as seen in his photo.

Take it easy mate,we beleive you.