Question to GP Maarten: Having to urinate at night and not being able to sleep afterwards
Almost 20 years ago, my GP prescribed Tamsulosin 10 mg for BPH. In 2016 this was changed to Alfuzosin 10 mg and 2 years ago I added Finasteride 5 mg in response to various questions posed to you on Thailandblog. But for the past year I have been waking up after 2 to 3 hours of sleep because I have to pee. I'm completely awake afterwards and after half an hour of tossing and turning I'm forced to get up. It is then the middle of the night.
I am 61 years old, 1,71 meters tall and weigh 91 kilograms. In 2023 I had a blood test done. All results were good, except for the tumor markers for prostate-specific antigen, which were 3.78. My GP then referred me to a urologist, who carried out further tests, including an MRI scan. Luckily everything was fine; my prostate was slightly enlarged, which seems normal for men my age.
Question to GP Maarten: Pain in my knee due to osteoarthritis, should I consider an artificial knee?
For about a year now I have been experiencing problems with my right knee, so severe that walking has become almost impossible, while cycling is almost without any problems. In the Netherlands I visited an orthopedist through my GP. An x-ray revealed little. An injection I received worked well for three months, and I was able to function normally again during my stay in Thailand. However, back in the Netherlands the complaint returned.
Question to GP Maarten: Are these medicines for sale here in Thailand or is there a replacement product available?
I would like to know if I can buy these medicines here in Thailand and if there is a substitute product.
I have been having a lot of pain in my legs for the past few months. Especially at night. I have now thought about using CBD oil. What do you think about this? And what should I pay attention to when purchasing?
I keep myself fit with exercises and cycling, three times a week for an hour. No problems until recently. But for a few weeks now I have been experiencing a slight pain in the left side of my chest after the exercises the next day. No pain in the arm. After a few hours the pain disappears. During practice everything is normal, no fatigue after an hour of hard pedaling on the bike.
Last Sunday I received the test results from Bangkok Hospital. My blood had been tested for a possible pulmonary embolism. To my horror, the results showed that I have Lupus (LE).
A few years ago I started experiencing pain in my lower back and hips, which became very painful, especially when standing and walking slowly. After a number of physiotherapy sessions and x-rays, it turned out that my intervertebral discs were slightly dried out and hardened. That's why I now perform several exercises daily to keep my back and hips as flexible as possible, which generally seems to be well controlled.
Question to GP Maarten: Strange itchy rash on the chest
Maarten Vasbinder is a retired general practitioner (still with a BIG registration), a profession he previously practiced largely in Spain. On Thailandblog he answers questions from readers who live in Thailand. Do you have a question for Maarten and do you live in Thailand? Send this to the editor: www.thailandblog.nl/contact/ It is important that you provide the correct information such as: Age Complaint(s) History Use of medication, including supplements, etc. Smoking, alcohol Overweight Possibly laboratory results and other research Possibly ...
Question to GP Maarten: Lots of ear pain, should I go to a Thai hospital (continued)?
Thank you kindly for the response. Today was the end of the day for me, in terms of pain and energy. After all those sleepless nights and feeding a baby, we drove past a hospital at the end of the afternoon. They looked in my ear, it was so swollen that he couldn't even see the middle ear. I did indeed receive a broad spectrum AB treatment.
What you describe, otitis externa, sounds very familiar to me in terms of complaints. Just looked it up.
Question to GP Maarten: Medicines after a stroke
My ex-partner has been back to Thailand since December 2023. However, she was struck by a so-called Young Stroke (stroke) in 2022 and is now on lifelong medication of Clopidrogel and Atorvastatin, each one tablet once a day. She currently still has stock from the Netherlands, but at the end of February she will have to purchase this herself in Thailand.
Question to GP Maarten: Serious back problems with a lot of pain
I had previously contacted you regarding back problems, I had an MRI done because I suspected that I had a hernia. But it turned out, according to the doctor at Bangkok Hospital, that the cartilage was gone and he said there was nothing that could be done. It comes from heavy construction work, the doctor suspects after consulting with me.
I have been tired all the time for a few months and sleep a lot, I drink moderately and smoke moderately.
Since switching to Enalapril I have been suffering from tickly cough, but in recent months it has become really severe attacks of cough, several times a day/night, which cannot be stopped with lubricants and licorice-like dragees.
Question to GP Maarten: What can I do about a weak urine stream?
I am a 68 year old man, do not smoke or drink alcohol, am 168 m tall, weigh 67 kg, my blood pressure is now 121/71, 71 pulse. I have now been receiving treatment at Rama Hospital for my prostate for almost 2 years. In October 2023, I had a PSA of 0,969. He also indicated the number 25 for my prostate (I'm not sure, I'll have to ask again).
We are on holiday in Hua Hin and I think I have a bladder infection again. That is a recurring thing for me. Is there any way to get a medication that will help get rid of it? I don't have an allergy to any medicine.
Question to GP Maarten: White spot on x-ray has become larger
A few months ago I approached you to ask your opinion about an X-ray of my lungs. At the time, the doctor in the hospital determined that it was not cancer, but pneumonia and now bronchitis.