Love Interest 2026 Update

[Marc308]

Peter, your advice is very sensible. A visit to Pulse Clinic would make a lot of sense. 

But, regarding A/C, we have to remember that much of the world exists without A/C, and it feels very uncomfortable to some. They shiver, wrap themselves in swaddling clothes, and chatter their teeth sometimes. Seriously. And the opposite is true -- have you given a Thai boy a "hot shower"? You would think you were trying to scald them to death, as many are only used to room temperature showers with water scooped from the catchment tank near their home. 

 

 

[Mavica]

8 minutes ago, Marc308 said:

 ... many are only used to room temperature showers ... 

 

In both Mexico and Ireland where I've lived or traveled, room/air temperature shower water is the norm.  When I was living in Mexico City, I successfully fixated on elements of the military and those wonderful young men preferred room temperature showers because their barracks didn't have heated water.  In Ireland, an uncle of mine I'd stay with didn't have heated water and I bathed outdoors, taking water from a 55 gal. drum below a gutter downspout. Ouch!  Nowadays, though, my family there has heated water.  When I visit certain parts of Mexico the water is unheated, even today (Pacific Coast, mostly).

[hank75]

1 hour ago, PeterRS said:

I have a western friend who years ago had a much younger Thai bf. He had a small problem with a tooth. My friend took him to a dentist and it was discovered that he needed a considerable range of dental procedures.

I had a similar experience. My current regular guy has an extremely perfect set of teeth. When I first saw him on stage I was convinced he had veneers, since they  are far cheaper in Thailand.

After some time together I discovered he actually had incredibly poor dental hygiene, would only give his teeth a perfunctory swipe with the hotel toothbrush. When I went for a professional clean, I insisted he get one too and then it transpired he had never used dental floss in his life. 

[vinapu]

Just now, Marc308 said:

Peter, your advice is very sensible. A visit to Pulse Clinic would make a lot of sense. 

But, regarding A/C, we have to remember that much of the world exists without A/C, and it feels very uncomfortable to some.

 

 

Indeed, many people set temperatures too low and constant moving between 20 degrees room and 34 degrees outside invites trouble. I usually set it at 26 and still had occasional boy complaining that it's too cold. 

[Keithambrose]

44 minutes ago, vinapu said:

Indeed, many people set temperatures too low and constant moving between 20 degrees room and 34 degrees outside invites trouble. I usually set it at 26 and still had occasional boy complaining that it's too cold. 

Oh dear, I like it at 18 for sleeping!

[jimmie50]

First of all, thanks to everyone for your concern about Cam.  He is finally filling better, although not 100%, but has gone to the gym this afternoon for a short workout.  I cautioned him not to overdo it.  After three days of being cooped up in the condo with each other, we were about to go a little crazy.  Getting outside and getting a little fresh air will do him some good as well (if you can call Bangkok air fresh).  A little sunshine will do him some good as well.  

It is a struggle between us to find a balance on the A/C.  I am accustomed to central heat/air conditioning back in Denver.  I am always careful to make sure any place I book when I travel has A/C as one of the minimum requirements.  Cam, on the other hand, has never had A/C at home, nor anywhere he has lived in Bangkok.  The only place he has A/C on a regular basis was at the bar when he went to work.  We had sort of settled on 23 degrees as being comfortable for both of us all the time, but since he got sick I have bumped that up to 25.  That works for him and is tolerable for me, so we will probably leave it there.  

I also appreciate everyone's concern regarding Cam's overall health.  While he said he had never been to see a doctor even as a child, I don't know what the standard practice is, if any, in Cambodia regarding childhood vaccinations.  No idea if his mother took him to see a doctor or not, and he was too little to remember.  Prescriptions are not needed to get some medications in Cambodia or Thailand as they are in the US, so he has always been able to just pick up anything he needed previously for colds.  He was fortunate enough not to get Covid.  He easily purchased an antibiotic for this cold over the counter along with the other medications recommended by the pharmacist.  

There are certain things I do know about his overall health.  He has always practiced safe sex with me.  I know he takes Prep.  He has told me that he would never go with any customer who refused to use any protection.  He has told me stories of getting dressed and walking out on customers who insisted no condom regardless of the money.  I know he and two of his Cambodian friends who also work in bars get tested at Pulse every three months.  I have seen him on video chat waiting for his number to be called at the clinic and then he has showed me his test results.  I have also shared my test results with him...we are both negative.  From this standpoint, I am very comfortable with the situation.  As I said to @bkkmfj2648, Cam probably is taking on more of a risk given my age and various ailments versus his health status.  Still, at some point it would be a good idea to try to persuade him to get a complete physical.  Perhaps after I meet his family and am able to connect with his mother and/or sister, we can all work on him regarding making an appointment.  

[jimmie50]

5 hours ago, Marc308 said:

Asian "medicine" can appear quite bizarre at times to a Western viewer. Just go with the flow and smile. 

I experienced this first hand with my Taiwanese boyfriend and his family.  Many times during that ten year period my theme song was 'smile and go with the flow'.  Often was given some pretty nasty stuff to try when I was sick and they tried to 'heal me' with the Chinese medicines.  My ex and his brother both had Master's degrees in engineering, and his sister a Master's in Business...so all very well educated...but when sick would also go to the Chinese medicines first.  

[spoon]

Seeing cam is doing the test regularly, and practise safe sex, even taking prep (kudos to cam!) when he says no doctor, he probably means his sickness is not serious that needs a doctor visit, especially if a doctor visits will results in the same advise, for a flu, take wide range antibiotic and over the counter flu/cough medicine to treat the symptoms. Visit to doctor will just add unnecessary cost (consultant fee, plus usually more inflated price for the medicines compare to pharmacy), and given his status in  thailand, might also means he need to show his id, so he probably wont be comfortable for a normal flu.

Early on, when you posted about this, it does sounds like he avoid doctors totally. But he seems to be very responsible for his sex health so i sure hope if he got a more serious illness, visit to a doctor wont be a no no. 

 

[hank75]

1 hour ago, spoon said:

and given his status in  thailand, might also means he need to show his id, so he probably wont be comfortable for a normal flu.

This sounds most likely. 

Additionally they have probably been accustomed since young to toughing out minor ailments. My ex Cambodian guy did visit the doctor in Cambodia for anything that dragged on. But generally these guys are young, fit, exercise often so they bounce back fast. Wish I could claim the same. 

Also has anyone tried the generic cough and cold medications or antibiotics that can be purchased over the counter in Thailand? They are far stronger than anything I’ve ever taken, in most countries they would be prescription only and last resort. I can’t remember the name of what I took, it was recommended to me by a pharmacist and it knocked me out cold.