Prajak

For 20 years my wife has struma. Her cervix is " filled well" and better than mine. The thyroid gland  is bigger than usual but the composition is smooth, even, no bulging. It is not growing for years and years.

We have visited a general practitioner in Khon Kaen and she wanted an 'echo' and the result is this....

Abnormal result. The study showed multiple inhomogeneous echoic solid masses at bilateral thyroid lobes size 6,9 mm to 26,5 mm. Hypervascular appearance is seen. There were a few subcentrimeter middle cervical nodes enlargement>>nonspecific finding. The skin and nipples are intact. Impression: multiple solid thyroid masses.

We got a bloodtest also and the chemistry lab says...

Free T4 1,2, normal 0,7 to 1,8 ng/dl
Total T3 113,8, normal 61 to 177 ng/dl
TSH 0,48 normal 0,50 en 5 ulU/ml.

This is not abnormal ?

We are a bit worried about the words 'hypervascular appearance'.

The general practitioner does not give any medication until the throat doctor has taken a biopsy and has this tested for cancer.

Is this normal ? Are these figures normal ? Does hypervascular appearance mean that there is cancer ?

I appreciate your opinion. And I apologize for my poor English.

I need arch support since the pain is increasing in my feet. I had this kind of support all my life but since I live in TH I did not take it (not so easy in slippers...) but now I do need these things.

In Nongkhai where I live not available. Anyone about Udon, KhonKaen, Khorat, Bangkok ?

Thanks.

Smooth as silk ! There is a Dutch saying: as if an angel is peeing on your tongue….

Went to the Immigration Office today and presented….

- TM7 with a new photo.

- The income statement “new style” from the Dutch embassy; and this paper has been verified at the Consulair Section of Foreign Affairs at Chaeng Wattana, Laksi, since I know how important this is for the officials in NK. They told me “ next year new one”.
My income according to this letter is over 20 k euro (x 42 is…). Actual too….

( This verification at Laksi costs 400 baht plus the fee for the person who is willing to go there and wait for hours….. Three days later the stamp/seal is in your place by post. )

- The bank letter (same day) stating my balance from abroad, the bankbook, copies of all pages from last 12 months, and a view of the 1,2 M baht I brought into the country in past 12 months. They checked it and gave the stuff back to me.

- The copy of the housebook (I rent a house), the copy of my landlady’s ID, and the rental contract which they sometimes want to see. They kept that stuff.

That’s it.

I gave them proof of my income; translated to English: they did not even look at it.

I paid 1,900 baht and have my extension. Happy !

But…..

What is the change ? There is a change: all previous years the Dutch embassy checked my income. My bank book, my annual statements of pension and deposit accounts, sometimes even my pension policies. I could handle this stuff by post and bank payment, let’s say less than 2,000 baht per year.

Now I have to report at the embassy ”in person”. That means 4 k baht for the air planes, 2 k at least for cabs (I live in a remote area in Nongkhai province and have no car), 1,300 baht for the embassy fees, so this new “system” costs me a lot more money and what is the benefit for Thailand ? No benefit since now nobody is checking my (or your) income. Just file some amount and go to the Immigration Office.

Before this new rule almost every embassy checked the income thoroughly and now…..

So I think this new system will not be continued…….

In the past two months two farang males have been attacked in centre of town in the middle of the night. At about 1 am, I heard. Did they just visit the ATM ? No. Did they get problems with a few drunk Thai ? No. They were attacked by a group young Thai armed with sticks. Robbed too. Farang, usually 50+, are easy to rob in the middle of the night. After a lot of beers in the pub you have no chance against young people who are there with just one goal: to beat someone black and blue.

OK, they are still alive but the farang community is worried about this. Nongkhai always was a safe place to be, even in the middle of the night. Things change......