Popular Post Dave Hounddriver Posted June 6, 2017 Popular Post Posted June 6, 2017 Most of our Philippine resident members have been here a long time. Obviously we are still alive. Let me speak, for a moment, for those who are not. It is eye opening to look back over my last 10 years here and realize how many expats came here and died within a year. We don't hear their side. Many/most of those people would still be alive with modern medical care in their home countries. We just lost another one last night. A fellow named Ken. I feel vaguely uneasy about this as he has only been in Philippines for months, not years, and one of the reasons he came was due to some of the blogs I have online. I used to make and sell some vlogs/blogs as a hobby and of course the buyers of those items want you to make the place look fantastic, and I did. Ken told me flat out that I was instrumental in his decision to move here. So Ken came to spend his retirement years in Philippines because of people like me who convinced him it was paradise here, and he loved it. But moving half way around the world when you are past your prime does not work for everyone. I can't count how many loved it here but got sick, sometimes it turned to pneumonia, and they died. These are average guys. Who's to say whether they would have lived longer had they stayed home? But they might have. Its a lot of stress on our old bodies when we introduce them to new "bugs" at an advanced age. (When I say I can't count how many lets say its more than 10 and less than 20 that I personally knew.) So if you are the kind of person who has never lived anywhere else and you are contemplating coming here for your retirement years, think long and hard on it. Lots of people come here for 6 months of the year and then go home for 6 months and they seem to be the healthiest of the lot. I suppose their bodies get used to the travel and the 6 months back home gives them time to readjust. Just remember there are a lot of dead expats here, as well as live ones. Be mentally prepared for the possibility. I came here when I was only 52 so young enough to adapt to the local bugs but I have had a couple of close calls that I may not have survived if I was 10 years older. As I approach mid 60's I am tempted more and more to follow my own advice and spend more time in Canada. We will see where that goes as its not part of this topic. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jpbago Posted June 6, 2017 Popular Post Posted June 6, 2017 4 minutes ago, Dave Hounddriver said: So if you are the kind of person who has never lived anywhere else and you are contemplating coming here for your retirement years, think long and hard on it. Now Stevewool will never come. We almost had him. 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpbago Posted June 6, 2017 Posted June 6, 2017 5 minutes ago, Dave Hounddriver said: sometimes it turned to pneumonia, What is it with this pneumonia? I talked to a Floridian about 60, the other day who said that he had it twice. Usually in Canada, I hear of people in their 80s that get it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hounddriver Posted June 6, 2017 Author Posted June 6, 2017 1 minute ago, jpbago said: I hear of people in their 80s that get it. In Philippines, expats die of pneumonia in their 60s and 70s quite frequently. Or sometimes its complications like the heart gives out so they call it a heart attack but the real problem was the weakening of the body due to some bug. Pneumonia is a huge killer in Philippines. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Dave Hounddriver Posted June 6, 2017 Author Popular Post Posted June 6, 2017 5 minutes ago, jpbago said: Now Stevewool will never come. We almost had him. I was thinking of Stevewool when i wrote this. After my feelings of guilt over losing Ken, who came here due to the glowing reviews I gave this place, how would any of us feel if one of our members was persuaded to come here and the same thing happened? I say: Come on over Stevewool. But recognize that there is risk as well as reward. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jack Peterson Posted June 6, 2017 Popular Post Posted June 6, 2017 (edited) 25 minutes ago, Dave Hounddriver said: But moving half way around the world when you are past your prime does not work for everyone. Very True Dave And your Topic is Brilliant but can I just add that it is not all Doom and Gloom as many of late post here and many other Places. Health Care is the one Subject that I can relate to as I maintain it is getting better, Many will know from my writings that I came at 64 one year or maybe 2 earlier because of a Stroke, now before I get shot down in Flames I know that there have been many reports of Bad Hospital care and Cost but for me, I am almost Fully recovered from the Stroke and I know 2 or three that are not. For me and to add to the OP's ( our Dave"H") Opening Post make sure you are reasonably fit before you make that Move, Of course this is me But I have been a Foreigner in many Countries for many years so I guess I got used to the Things some have never been exposed to. I Totally with dave's Post (Topic) But on a personal side Just now I feel I can But then I did think Long and Hard, I could have stayed in Spain But She was calling and has done a great Job since I arrived Moral from me. Think even Harder if you are Single. Sorry dave I did not mean to Hijack the Topic but it has made me feel how Lucky I was then and certainly now. Edited June 6, 2017 by Jack Peterson 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DavidK Posted June 6, 2017 Popular Post Posted June 6, 2017 Pneumonia is very big here. I'd only been here 5 months when I got it. Fortunately at 56 I was strong enough to fight it off, with a little help from Cebu Doctors Hospital. Had me in there for 5 days though. This warm wet climate is ideal for microbes to proliferate and infections of one sort or another are easy to come by. Previously I was 0 for 20 (years) in hospital visits, here I'm 2 for 2. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gratefuled Posted June 6, 2017 Posted June 6, 2017 (edited) 41 minutes ago, DavidK said: This warm wet climate is ideal for microbes to proliferate and infections of one sort or another are easy to come by. Yes, this combined with smoking can attract a virus. Clean the filter in A/C as needed just to be safe and better performance. I might add that there is a "permanent Pneumonia" shot that is available. I had mine back in the states before coming here. I get a flu shot every year. I've never had anything more than a common cold since I've been here ( 6 years). I do get LBM from time to time. Check out the "permanent Pneumonia" shot and see if it covers both viral and bacterial pneumonia. Edited June 6, 2017 by Gratefuled 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mogo51 Posted June 6, 2017 Popular Post Posted June 6, 2017 1 hour ago, Dave Hounddriver said: Most of our Philippine resident members have been here a long time. Obviously we are still alive. Let me speak, for a moment, for those who are not. It is eye opening to look back over my last 10 years here and realize how many expats came here and died within a year. We don't hear their side. Many/most of those people would still be alive with modern medical care in their home countries. We just lost another one last night. A fellow named Ken. I feel vaguely uneasy about this as he has only been in Philippines for months, not years, and one of the reasons he came was due to some of the blogs I have online. I used to make and sell some vlogs/blogs as a hobby and of course the buyers of those items want you to make the place look fantastic, and I did. Ken told me flat out that I was instrumental in his decision to move here. So Ken came to spend his retirement years in Philippines because of people like me who convinced him it was paradise here, and he loved it. But moving half way around the world when you are past your prime does not work for everyone. I can't count how many loved it here but got sick, sometimes it turned to pneumonia, and they died. These are average guys. Who's to say whether they would have lived longer had they stayed home? But they might have. Its a lot of stress on our old bodies when we introduce them to new "bugs" at an advanced age. (When I say I can't count how many lets say its more than 10 and less than 20 that I personally knew.) So if you are the kind of person who has never lived anywhere else and you are contemplating coming here for your retirement years, think long and hard on it. Lots of people come here for 6 months of the year and then go home for 6 months and they seem to be the healthiest of the lot. I suppose their bodies get used to the travel and the 6 months back home gives them time to readjust. Just remember there are a lot of dead expats here, as well as live ones. Be mentally prepared for the possibility. I came here when I was only 52 so young enough to adapt to the local bugs but I have had a couple of close calls that I may not have survived if I was 10 years older. As I approach mid 60's I am tempted more and more to follow my own advice and spend more time in Canada. We will see where that goes as its not part of this topic. I have accepted that by living in Asia generally, I can expect to die earlier than if I stayed in Oz. But having watched my mother in nursing homes for 25 plus years, then I am not too worried about it. The time I have had here, especially the last 5 with my SO, have been the best of my life. If I check out at 75 or less, I won't be complaining. I am hoping the next years in Phils will be even better. 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Gratefuled Posted June 6, 2017 Popular Post Posted June 6, 2017 23 minutes ago, mogo51 said: f I check out at 75 or less, I won't be complaining. I am hoping the next years in Phils will be even better. I want to die before I get old. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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