Retiring Abroad with RLS

[ziggypiggy]

I'd be curious to hear from those who have moved to other countries when they retired either for a change of scenery or to get more out of a fixed income. Have you been able to find local doctors to effectively treat your RLS? If so, have they been willing to prescribe the low dose opiods that many of us rely on.

[SueJohnson]

Where specifically are you considering?

[ziggypiggy in reply to SueJohnson]

Latin America or Southeast Asia most likely. Very early in the fact finding phases. Just curious if anyone has taking that permanent leap.

[SueJohnson in reply to ziggypiggy]

As Joolsg said Every country has different rules.

[Joolsg]

Good question. Every country has different rules.

[ChrisColumbus]

Don't retire to the UK! 😉

[ChrisColumbus]

(You'd be very welcome of course, but unfortunately money doesn't go very far and medical treatment has become something of a lottery 😕)

[Rameau in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Caused by deliberate, calculated government underfunding .

[ziggypiggy in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Maybe just a visit then.

[Whippetmama]

Don't even think about Mexico. DAs are readily available - no prescription needed and are VERY expensive. And opioids are harder to get here than In the US. Few Doctors are permitted to prescribe them and very few pharmacies stock them, There is one methadone pharmacy in the entire country (and Mexico is a BIG country) . And buprenorphenine isn't available here at all.

[TheDoDahMan in reply to Whippetmama]

Wow! Not what I expected. Thanks for the info.

[RCHD]

not easily found… 🙏🏾

[Ticki]

hi retired to a small little town in Baja California off of the sea of Cortez it’s called Mulege and I have to drive three days back across the border to California to get my prescription every month, and three days back and that’s the only way I have been able to stay here for 3 to 4 months out of the year.(Buprenorphine).

[ziggypiggy]

That's crazy. But what else can you do.

[RiversW]

Hey ZiggyPiggy,

I retired to Brasil a couple of years ago and have had very good luck finding treatment for my RLS. It took a couple of tries, but I found a great neurologist. His RLS knowledge was limited but he was willing to listen and with guidance educate himself about RLS. Consequently, after I had reached the end of the line with Neupro(augmentation) and my neurologist in California suggested Buprenorphine , he did some research of his own and prescribed a 20mg patch of Buprenorphine. At that point, my life turned around completely. I was sleeping better than I had in 30 years. Rested! Who remembers what that was like. I didn't. So as I said, my experience has been good!

Of course the downside of moving away from the United States is that Medicare and my private insurance do not travel abroad. Doctors outside of the public health system here are not cheap, but nothing like in the states. Typically I pay 300 dollars for an office visit and a follow-up. Zoom calls are less. At this point, I don't see my neurologist often. In two years, I think I have seen him 3 times.

Whenever I travel back to the states, I see as many doctors as I can since my health insurance and Medicare are active. Also I try to get as many 3 month prescriptions filled as possible. In a pinch I buy meds in Brasil. Many medications only available with a prescription in the states are available over the counter in Brasil and not nearly as expensive.

Of course, if a serious health issue comes up, I can always head back to the states where I have insurance.

I hope this information is helpful.