Hia.

I have had a look through the search feature, and most of the info I found was either incomplete or outdated.

I sent a detailed email to Ucare with a list of meds I'll be needing, and I received a reply containing the prices for some basic medications, however, there were several things they left blank. When I pushed the issue they said the medications, including Oxy, were not available. That said, there are several dated posts here that tell me otherwise. Unfortunately, I've been on this crap for over 10 years and it controls my life, so I'm not new to it, I won't OD, it's too late to worry about developing a habit etc etc etc.

There's also a 4" bolt in my foot that's causing me untold problems, and it needs to be removed. I'm Australian, and thanks to the fantastic public health in this country, my age, and my rural location, nobody is interested in doing anything about it. I'm happy to pay for the procedure (not really happy, but I'll do it) so I was wondering if people would recommend having it done in Cambodia, and roughly what they'd charge. Or, do you think a better choice would be to wait until I get somewhere where they have first class hospitals?

I'm actually on my way to South Korea. They were supposed to reopen their borders of December 15th but, due to Omicron, it was postponed. The plan is to visit SE Asia and play up a little until the Korean borders open up. I'm open to the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand or Cambodia although fewer hassles with meds, visas, and better access to cheap, loose women may end up helping me decide. For some reason, Cambodia has been standing out, and so far it's my preferred destination. I've retired early so I'm not on any kind of timetable, and I can basically do what I want. I've 7 years experience as an ESL teacher in Korea, so there's always the possibility of starting another contract if the right opportunity presents itself, in any country.


The list is as follows ~~>

Per 28 days:

Oxycontin -
30mg x 112
20mg x 56

Endone -
5mg x 56

Trulicity diabetes weekly injection -



Any help with this is greatly appreciated.

Sorry. I've seen people suggest going to Thailand to source it, but I've read a hell of a lot of stuff about Thailand being incredibly anti-narcotic and pushing very severe punishments for those caught. What about Vietnam? If it was located, is bringing it over the border a big thing?

How about visiting a legitimate doctor for a prescription? Does that impact price or availability? Are there "chronic pain specialist" doctors here or does one just visit a GP?

Your thoughts are appreciated.

I know oxycontin is available here but you won't get it at Ucare. You need to get on the ground and go pharmacy to pharmacy asking for the products you need, have the brand name and generic name and wouldn't hurt to even translate to Khmer on the phone. Show pharmacist and if non try the next pharmacy. Ucare do sell dihydrocodeine for short term pain relief. From what I've read oxycontin isn't any cheaper here than in the US so i don't see why you wouldn't just bring your script from aus?

I had the same problem years ago for my wife but I just kept going pharmacy to pharmacy until one just gave it to me. When I was leaving Cambodia they wrote out a pseudo prescription and I took my chances going through China then Canada. Best to get a legal prescription. As for the cost, they were like $300 a bottle or more, don't remember. Recently bought them in Colombia and they were 40mg 30 Pac for $85. Not cheap but with legitimate prescription.

No OP, sorry.
Wrong country - for both your surgery and your meds.

Like sailor said, you may be able to track down a pharmacist who can supply Oxy etc - but low dose and super expensive.
The "best" you will get is Traminol. and that's putrid. Like bad black market morphine circa 1975 but not as effective.
( i had a half busted back here once, or it felt like that anyway. I researched)

Surgery here is expensive but mainly it's just plain Russian Roulette dangerous. Highest risk in the world i reckon. (others may not agree)
It is very hard to do better than Australia for all things medical. And for nearly free, including virtually all medications.

I won't preach to you about those synthetic opioids, but personally, i would never take them if my in-grown toenail was starting to poke of out my arse. Heroin would be better. (and for gods sake i ain't recommending that)

Shudder There are better ways of managing pain. imo but that's your biz.
Chronic pain is a bitch, i feel for you. all the best. But those opioids are an insidious Witch.



you can believe me

any excuse...

You are seriously thinking of coming to Cambodia for a surgical procedure ? Did you know that people living in Cambodia (including Cambodians) go elsewhere for operations if they have the choice , Thailand or Singapore mainly.

I second what SA said. There is no way I would CHOOSE Cambodia, (or Laos or Myanmar), to have a non-emergency operation. You seem concentrated on getting your preferred medicine, but why not get operated on in a country with modern health standards, and THEN run off to SEA to get your drugs ? Or try Thailand. Check out the Thai expat forums, or PR will fill you in.

Sincerely. I have experienced hospital stays in Cambodia and China. Not by choice, and I do not recommend either.

Anchor Moy wrote: ↑Tue Dec 28, 2021 6:05 pm You are seriously thinking of coming to Cambodia for a surgical procedure ? Did you know that people living in Cambodia (including Cambodians) go elsewhere for operations if they have the choice , Thailand or Singapore mainly.

I second what SA said. There is no way I would CHOOSE Cambodia, (or Laos or Myanmar), to have a non-emergency operation. You seem concentrated on getting your preferred medicine, but why not get operated on in a country with modern health standards, and THEN run off to SEA to get your drugs ? Or try Thailand. Check out the Thai expat forums, or PR will fill you in.

Sincerely. I have experienced hospital stays in Cambodia and China. Not by choice, and I do not recommend either.

Phnompenh hospital is Bangkok hospital, so that might not be so bad.

Thanks for the replies.

* Retired Sailor - When you say, "bring my script," I assume you mean the medication, or do you just mean the paperwork? The law for prescribing S8 meds changed here in 2020. The last time I went to Korea in 2018, I took 3 months worth of everything I required. Now, I'll be lucky to get 4 weeks worth. I'll have plenty of paperwork to explain why I'm on the stuff, so that part isn't an issue.

* sammycooke - I've spent a lot of time in Korea and, when there, I pay about $4 US per 40mg pill. My whole med box per month when purchased in Korea costs me over $600. I'll be okay if that's what I need to payout each month, but I'd prefer to make sure I know upfront what I'll be paying and getting hold of the quality and quantity will be hassle free. Also, I'm a little concerned about bringing the stuff into Korea or Australia without a script or with a Cambodian script, so I'd like to hold on to as much Australian product as possible just to make sure I won't get screwed later on.

* SternAAlbifrons - I mentioned in my post that there aren't any Australian doctors interested in doing it. Although the medical system is free, it's shit, and because this bolt has been there for some time, it's not a straight forward procedure. I've been on the Oxy forever. I've tried nearly everything else, and Oxy seems to be better in every area. I'd much prefer not to be on the stuff but I have little choice. It's not something Australian doctors are eager to prescribe, and it's always given as a last resort type thing.
I don't care anymore, I've had enough. I've spent over 2 years of my life in hospital, I've had over 50 fractures, I've had 25 admissions for chronic pancreatitis, and I've got some other chronic issues as well. Pain can get stuffed. Oxy allows me to get on with my day with being constipated my only side effect, so I take it. I don't abuse the stuff, I take what I need and get on with it. Thanks for your concern but I've heard it all before.

* phuketrichard - I'm seriously worried about bringing in and buying narcotics in Thailand. I've read a lot about what's needed just to bring the stuff in for personal use on a prescription, and part of the mission is to contact (I forget now) some department in Thailand and get them to mail out some kind of authorisation that must be filled out by yourself and the prescribing doctor before getting on the plane. Beside those instructions were warnings stating that any failures to follow the correct procedures will result in confiscation of the medication and possible imprisonment. At the end of the day, I'm not really too excited about spending 10 years in a Thai prison. That said, I've seen in many places people saying to buy Oxy in Thailand isn't difficult at all, and it's just an OTC transaction. You believe, however, that if I present with a prescription from a legitimate Thai doctor, it'll be by the books and I won't have any problems? What about bring the stuff back into Cambodia? Do you have any experience there? I'd assume if it's accompanied with a script from a Thai doctor it'd be okay...
"Getting off" the stuff isn't something I'm worried about. There have only been a few times over the last 10 years I've run short, and I know first hand that withdrawals really suck ass. While I understand very well what it's like, I've never actually completely run out of Oxy, I've just delayed a dose for several hours, so I've never had to suffer withdrawals in their entirety. I don't image there'd be many things worse than having to endure that shit for days on end. While I'd be interested to see how effective CBD oil is at dealing with my issues, it isn't available where I live in Australia so I don't know how helpful it'd be just to use for the short term. I'm grateful for your reply.

* Anchor Moy - Not exactly. I'm seriously considering having said procedure done in South Korea. They were actually the ones who put it in my foot in the first place back in 2007. I was tossing around the idea of having the work done in Cambodia but as I know nothing about the Cambodian medical system, I had to start asking questions somewhere. It's not at all a very difficult operation, I guess it might be for Australian orthopeades. There's some bone callus that's grown over the head of the bolt that needs first to be ground away, and then the thing needs to be screwed out. If it was a complex procedure I wouldn't even entertain the idea but, it's not, and that's all it is at his moment, an idea. Like I said before, I can get the meds in Korea without issue. The plan was to get my foot done there, but I'm still unsure when the Korean border will reopen so I began thinking about having it done in Cambodia.
Thanks for the warning. I think I'll take your advice and have it done at either Thailand if I'm there sourcing meds or when I arrive in Korea.

* Sirhaden1 - Thanks for clearing that up. I've waited 14 years to have this thing taken out so I can easily wait for a few more months or another year. That's good to know though, I'll look into that a bit more when I get a chance because I'm the type of guy who really needs to know where a decent hospital can be found.

Does anyone have any thoughts about Vietnamese medical system? Am I likely to be able to obtain the medication, and what about surgery?

Thanks again lads.