Finasteride can be sold over the counter I think, e. g. Propecia is finasteride. If you can't use your insurance and don't want a doctor consultation then a pharmacy is likely to be a lot cheaper than Bangkok hospital,
Yes, I have bought all those meds over the counter at Thai pharmacies, no problem. And cheap enuf you might even not care about the insurance and inconvenience of needing a doctor’s referral. Or get the prescription before leaving SA?
Will go to Bangkok hospital in Hua Hin when there and try to get Proscar on my medical insurance.
=== The rest of the story. My urology experience in HH.
If you dp go to Bkk Hosp and they assign you to a Urologist = Dr. Tanongkit Prachapinyo = My opinion is turn around and dash out the door so fast they will not even know you had been there.
Had surgery in USA many years ago to remove a section of the prostate gland. But per problems and ultrasounds it has continued growing and is causing serious inconvenience. Went to Bkk Hosp requesting a cystoscope exam to take a look. He suggested PSA not High enuf to suggest cancer danger so try Vesicare 5mg (Solifenacin succinate) and come back next week. My faucet shut off like not even a trickle could dribble. Internet says Vesicare is antispasmodic for overactive bladder = not my problem and with it my problem had became compounded. When I reported back he seemed offended that its affect was backward but said OK we can do a cystoscope and set me up for it an hour later. On doing the scope he acted totally surprised at the enlargement altho he had seen my records and ultra-sounds. I asked what % the enlargement, no reply, ignored all questions as if I were not even there. So I learned nothing except he did say he did not see any scaring. Seemed to be a kind of guy who says his opinions but not open to questions.
He prescribed Avodart. Handed him list of present meds, 2nd time, asking what to continue or to stop. On looking at it he said, “Stop the Finasteride” Internet on arriving home stated taking both is highly dangerous. If you gotta be yr own doctor why go to a doctor..?
HH Hospital was far worse. Went there first with same request, for cystoscope exam. Here is blow by blow of that fiasco.
1/ First visit = sit in chair 3 hours waiting for brief interview with fast track doctor on 3rd floor. Receive appointment for general check up and exam + blood tests a month later.
2/ Did all that. Receive appointment for ultra-sound at 3 weeks later.
3/ Sit in chair 2 hours waiting for ultra-sound then back to chair waiting to see doctor #2 again and receive appointment to see urologist 4 weeks later + another blood test before seeing him..
4/ Blood test then stand in breezeway behind main building 4 hours waiting for name to be called then sit in last chair of musical chairs arrangement in front of urologist’s office. 1 ½ hours to progress thru the musical chairs and into urologist’s office. He asked some questions, pressed groin twice and gave prescription for Finasteride and appointment for another blood test and return to him 4 weeks later.
5/ Did blood test then same drill again, standing in the breezeway then thru the musical chairs. His question, “How’s the pee?” “Same.” That’s it, 3 words from him, one word from me then out the door !!! Gave me appointment for operating room 4 weeks later.
So, up to this point had been 4 months into the old army game process of going thru the numbers toward an objective assessment of whether my problem has gone into danger zone. Then I ask the nurses and office people some questions and learn my final appointment will be prostate removal, not assessment.
To be clear, the ‘Fast Track’ nurse did lead us down to the urologist’s office and handed my paperwork to his office girl but there was nothing fast track about any part of the entire routine that consumed 4 months and accomplished zilch.
Did not go back, went to Bkk Hospital. Bkk Hosp does have good doctors and it does not take what is left of your life to see one but that time I believe I got an unlucky draw. This was 2 years ago so possibly there is a different urologist now but I have resigned myself to always knowing where the toilets are and sleep with an empty milk bottle beside the bed. The option seems to be scuttle the desire for the female anatomy and that is not desirable either. Even my dog is not happy with that limitation.
About HH Hosp — they are cheap but you get what you pay for. It seems to me that the “Fast Track” privilege means zero except what they can provide in their den on the 3rd floor. Get there extra early as appointments mean nothing. Especially in the rest of the hospital. For instance, if you need a CT-Scan or an Ultra-Sound EVERYONE’S appointment will be whatever time that department opens. Like, if 39 people have CT-Scan appointments and CT-Scans start at 4:30, every one of those 39 people’s appointments will be 4:30. And they do not even necessarily put your name in the queue in the order that you arrive. If you arrive 1st, your paperwork might easily be in the pile 1st = 1st in last out. Of course inpatients go first, as it should be.
We do go to HH Hosp for simple stuff and cheap prescription meds, hopefully without leaving the 3rd floor and arrive before 8:00am, when the doors open, which is a long time before the doctors arrive but it puts a shorter wait at the beginning of the day rather than out the door at evening mosquito time.. If a simple problem, talk to a pharmacist, not a hospital doctor