What if I have
special medical needs?
What if I
need special medicines?
This really depends on your specific situation. It
would be very important to ask on the discussion boards
about these issues and be as specific as you can. Use
an alternative ID on the boards if you don't want to
reveal your personal information (always a good idea on
the boards anyway). You may be quite surprised by the
responses you get. Not all of us out here are problem
free! Many of us have nagging health problems or issues
that can not just be ignored because we live overseas.
International Medicine
More and more - you will find "international hospitals"
in capital cities and other locations that specifically
cater to special needs and to expatriates. The care is
often excellent and only a fraction of the cost of care
at home. Do a Google search for "international
hospitals" in the country where you are thinking of
going. Usually, they are quite good at responding to
e-mail - send them a note and ask if they have a
specialist to deal with your health issue. Due to the
high cost of medical care in some countries, a whole new
"Medical Tourism" industry is starting to cater to
foreigners and their needs. Tap into the resource and
see if your needs can be met easily.
Medicine
You
will often be able to find medicine that you use at home
far cheaper overseas. Sometimes it is generic medicine,
sometimes it is a local equivalent under a different
name brand, sometimes it is exactly the same thing.
Check with your doctor(s) in your home country about
what might be okay for you. Know in advance that they
won't tend to trust anything overseas as being "safe".
Don't count on getting medications mailed to you from
your home country. Above and beyond the customs problem
- postal service can be unreliable overseas. All that
said, I do have one medicine mailed to me in Thailand.
Mailed in small quantities - no problem. Mailed it once
in large quantity: BIG PROBLEM! I don't even want to
tell you about it . . . And - an update -
several years later - I finally found it here.
Things change - or sometimes you find someone with great
hunting skills to find them for you.
Caveat: I'm not a doctor -
but I am careful with my health. I am, after all, on
the high side of my 50s. All the above is just my
opinion.
