Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cubanlord]

It's amazing the sheer ignorance and incompetence some doctors exhibit. Friday night, my wife and I went out with a couple of friends to eat at a restaurant. Enjoying herself, my wife ordered a Pina Colada. She drank it unknowing the consequences of her actions.

The next day, she awoke to the unsightly attack of thousands of little bumps all over her body. Worried, we both agreed she needed to go and see a doctor right away.

A few hours later, my wife arrives home and begins to tell me the doctor's diagnosis (at this point in the story, I feel it is extremely important for my readers to know that not only was the doctor fluent in English, but my also had an interpreter with her). She is allergic to beef and should never eat it again. Now, this set off the bells in my head as my wife has, for the past 27 years in her life, never experienced any type of allergic reaction to beef. Kindly and with the utmost respect, my wife told the doctor that she had a very minor reaction to a Pina Colada almost a year ago; her mouth had swollen a bit but nothing like what was happening now. He was resolved in his decision and proved as such when he told her, "no, it isn't the drink, it is the meat. Stop eating meat." (I guess it is also important to state that he is SDA - a religion whose followers are usually vegetarian). So, my wife and I went to bed last night with the thought that maybe this guy did not know what he was doing.

We awoke this morning to an outbreak! The bumps had gotten bigger, redder, and my wife was beginning to feel sick. As a result, she rushed over to the hospital (not a clinic or doctor's office) and was admitted immediately to the emergency room. She called me and I followed shortly there after. The hospital had determined that it was an allergic reaction and immediately gave her an I.V. with antihistamines. They also gave her medication to take after dinner. There determination was that it wasn't the beef. Instead, it could have been a multitude of other things. They told my wife that if this allergic reaction continues, they will run systematic tests in order to find out what exactly she is allergic to.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have lived in Korea for over 3 years (my wife 4) and never have I felt the urge to sue someone or inflict pain on someone the way I do now. It is taking my all to refrain from hoping on my scooter, going down to the clinic, and....

My point in writing this story is to warn people from believing only one person�s opinion. Although rare, it can be life threatening to bestow one's trust in someone who we feel is 'qualified'. Please, in all sincerity I implore you, do not EVER trust the opinion of just one person. Always, ALWAYS seek an alternate point of view. Whether regarding health or any other aspect of your life, just remember that some out there have their own agenda and at times, their agenda often excludes your well-being.

Ralph

[toddswift]

how dare you deride the healers of korean society, HOW DARE YOU!

actually I would NEVER GO to a k "doctor". Those guys mix voodoo with western medicine and look around at the results. Frankensteinish men and old women who have become the experiments of these mad doctors, THE HORROR!

[Dev]

Be careful with Korean doctors. The ones I have had are all pill pushers. Perhaps buddies with the pharmacist in the same building.

I am surprised he didn't say she might have HIV like all foreigners are supposed to have in Korea. I am also surprised he didn't prescribe kimchi, the ultimate cure-all.

Seriously. You know what to do, change doctors.

[VirginIslander]

[simpleminds]

I try to avoid the doc whenever possible; they do like shoving pills down your throat, don't they? When I was sick for months back in 2001, I recall a doc giving me stuff for bronchchitis, when what I had was a severe allergic reaction to the yellow dust/ pollution.

Hope your wife is OK, OP.

Virgin: crikey, good thing you went to your aunt. That must have been terrifying.

[MarionG]

Some years ago in the US I developed bronchitis. My regular doctor was on vacation, so I went to the doctor who was covering his practice while my doctor was away. He told me I had an allergic reaction, and told me I was allergic to coca cola (strictly because my answer was yes when he asked "Do you drink coke?") I told him I had bronchitis. He told me he was the doctor. He gave me meds (antihistamines)
A week later I went back, much sicker, he accused me of still drinking coke. I said "I think I have pneumonia." He said there was nothing he could do for me since he'd given me "strong medicine" and I had not stopped drinking coke.
I took myself to the hospital, where I spent 7 days trying to recover from viral pneumonia. Jerky doctors don't have a preference for any particular nationality. I still drink coke.

[ED209]

Is there no medical council or some kind of complaints procedure you can contact? Or should you just write to cornflake manufactures in this country and ask them to stop handing out medical certificates and driving licenses.

[xingyiman]

The usual diagnosis to anything in Korea is "heavy stomach". This all iunclusive diagnosis can be applied to anything from intestinal cramps to gunshot wounds to the head.

[blaseblasphemener]

My aunt, mother of three daughters, died of breast cancer in 1984 at the age of 40. She had a lump, but the doctor said it was nothing, he could tell just from touching her breast. 3 months later, diagnosis: advanced breast cancer. She died right after Christmas that year.

I say, sue the bastards.

[tzechuk]

Same thing happened to us, Ralph.

Last year our building was being repainted and it coincided with a couple of things we did, which was to buy a new cheese (Bega) and to start buying watermelon.

One day, we gave Letty both the new cheese and the watermelon to eat... and overnight, she had these big red patches on her body and her eye was swollen.

We took her to a paediatrician who told us that she was allergic to the new cheese! I told him repeatedly that our new building was being repainted, could it have been that. He said no.. it was the new cheese. So he gave her some antihistamine and sent us on our way.

Because we were quite sure that it was an allergic reaction we didn't feel that Letty was in too much of a danger or that what she had was contagious, so we sent her to daycare as normal. EVERY SINGLE DAY, after coming home from daycare, her big rashes would be noticeable less red and less big. Yet overnight they would come back. I told my husband that I was convinced that it was the fumes from the paint but he didn't believe me to begin with. After several days when even he noticed the same thing, he realised I was right and the doc was wrong.

We've since given her both Bega cheese and watermelon and she's been allergy free... so it just proves my point that sometimes we know better than a doctor.

[Draz]

[Sash]

Dude, that sucks. I've had my share of quacks as well. To be fair, they are everywhere, though your doctor's words are plain ludicrous. I don't know what's worse, stupid doctors or shady doctors (who do it on purpose)...

That's why they always say to get a second or even a third opinion.

Good luck!

PS- They sell BEGA cheese in Korea?

[GoldMember]

Doctors here don't have to be careful.
Your pushing s**t up hill if you think you can sue a doctor here for malpractice and actually win.

[icicle]

[jeffkim1972]

In any serious matter, avoid all Korean doctors. They are not problem solvers. i've had an extremely negative experience with them in the past which i will not share here.

This myth or negative stereotype about Korean doctors is true, even the ones in America. It doesn't matter if they went to Seoul National or Harvard, if they grew up in Korea, avoid them at all costs. You'll thank me later.