Korean Job Discussion Forums

[buffygrrl1]

ok so i just got my test results and i have helicobacter pylori. the doctor wants to do an intestinal test...i really don't want it (i read you just get 2 weeks of antibiotics right? why do i need this test?) i'm going home in a month.....will i die if i dont get it :/

btw seriously i think everyone should get tested for this thing because aparently LOTS of people have it here and don't know about it

[spliff]

Hmmm....how did the symptoms, if any, present?

[buffygrrl1]

they didnt really i had a fever and my stomach hurt (stomach flu going around) so i got blood and urine test. none of those had anything to do with it...you wouldn't know you have it unless you get tested.

[gojulie]

isn't H Pylori the bacteria that gives you stomach ulcers? If so, some people have them for years without knowing or treating them. I could be way off base here, so check webmd or something.

[buffygrrl1]

yeah thats the one but i def just got it HERE because i had a physical b4 i got here and nothing was wrong with me. Still don't get why i have to have some weird stomach test now :/ wish somebody that had it would shine some light on the matter.

[sistersarah]

i heard that around 70% of adults here in korea have the bateria, compared to 10% of american adults.

it's because you can get it easily from other people, and everyone shares food, cups, sticks their spoons in the same soup, and stuff like that here.

that's all i know about it. i suspect i have it because i have terrible chronic stomach pains. i had a barium test at a radiologist and they saw nothing abnormal in my stomach though... i would get the test done here... no long waiting period and probably cheap.

[billybrobby]

Well, since wikipedia has made me a medical expert, I'll hazard a guess. No test for H. Pylori is 100% foolproof, but the endoscopy test is the most reliable. Certain antibiotic-resistant strains of the disease have been found, so maybe they're trying to use antibiotics only when they're very sure.

I lived with a tube down my throat for a couple weeks and it wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't horrible. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Stuff like that is mostly mental. (I know that sounds condescending, but I really think it's true)

[SeoulShakin]

Hey - I had the same thing.

Found it here, but likely had it for a while. It's the one that can cause ulcers. Luckily I didn't have any ulcers, so I just had antibiotics for two weeks, then a breath test to see if it was gone, and it was.

The internal test is likely to see if you do have an ulcer from it. If an ulcer is present, the treatment varies slightly. If there is no ulcer, the antibiotics do the trick. What kind of internal test do they want to do? I had to have an ultrasound, and a barium test (yucky) to check for ulcers. Once it was ruled out, I got the antibiotics.

Sucks to have it done, but it's good too. At least you'll know.

I had a physical before I left (mind you that was two years ago now) and I was fine, so I got it here. Likely from the sharing of everything, which sucks.

But once you are treated it's much better. My stomach pains disappeared, and I felt much better.

Good luck!

[buffygrrl1]

yeah they want to do the barium test...i really dont want it can't they just give me the antibiotics and i can check if im better at home?

[Roch]

[spliff]

Been in Asia for roughly 16 years (Thai & K-land) wonder if I should get tested although I don't have any problems w/ my stomach. From what I gleaned 80% of folks don't actually show any symptoms while having the infection....food for thought.

[Roch]

[SeoulShakin]

As I said, if the ulcers are present, the treatment varies. So technically they SHOULD check to see if the ulcers are there. It's a necessary precaution.

And how can you check if you are better at home?????
Like someone said, most people don't even know if the bacteria is present in the first place, so even if you FEEL better, the bacteria may not be gone, and you'll just get sick again later. Doesn't sound so smart to me.

Yeah, the barium test isn't fun. I've had a barium test done twice in my life. The one they do here sucks cause it tastes terrible to swallow the barium, but it's MUCH more pleasant than a barium enema (had that too). If you don't know what that is, google it. Not so fun. So yeah, it sucks, but the barium test only lasts about 15 minutes or so, and you'll be guaranteed to get the correct treatment to get rid of it for good.

[Gatsby]

This is very upsetting.

I've been noticing stomach problems, too.

I happen to have taken the test for helicobacter at a health fair, and it came back negative. So if I got it, it's a safe bet that I got it in Korea. From this idiotic custom of shared food.

The strain here is likely pretty resistant, given the idiotic way they administer antibiotics.

The correct treatment involves more than just antibiotics:

[I-am-me]

I thought i was the only one with those symptoms!!!