Korean Job Discussion Forums

[the dakota kid]

Hello all,

does anyone here have any experience with hypothyroidism and refilling a prescription for Synthroid or Levothyroxine? I am bringing a 90+ day supply with me, but I will have to get a refill eventually.

Thanks,
tdk

7 days and counting

[rainsong23]

I take synthroid, I've never had any problem refilling at any regular doctor clinic. Just take in your empty bottle so they can see what it is and you shouldn't have any problem, at least I haven't. I can even usually persuade them to write me a prescription that says I take three pills a day instead of one so that it will last me longer between trips to the doc since I've been taking it since about 19 (I'm 35 now) and my dose has never really changed. They will probably take a blood test. And with the medical coverage from my job it's dirt cheap too. Anyway been here four years, it's never been a problem.

[cbclark4]

Yep, shouldn't be a problem.

I'm on synthroid for about 30 years now.

[moosehead]

me too - not a problem, you will be able to get a script for 180 days at a time, back home it's one year but 6 months is still pretty good.

also it's cheap even w/o insur; that many pills is less than $40

[inthewild]

Where can one get tested for this kind of stuff in Seoul? English speaking doctor preferred. Thanks!

[moosehead]

International Clinic at Severance Hospital, Yonsei Univ is where I go.

there are several drs - Dr. Park has been there a while and is my preferred dr.

[pokesplort]

i am also thinking of getting tested soon so thanks for the information. anyone know about how much that test would run me here in korea? i thought about it back home but i had much less money then. my mom had some thryoid issues which she either didnt tell me she's getting drugs for, or isnt severe enough, or just isnt taking them. but i am ALWAYS tired no matter when i go to sleep, how much i get, or when i get up. i've always had trouble with memory and focusing on things. and of coure my metabolism...well it sucks. although i never wanted to use a thyroid problem as an excuse for being a little pudgy, because i'm usually too lazy to really start exercsing. anyways too much info i'm sure, but as i said, prices? and this dr office in seoul is good? good english etc? i may make a trip soon. thanks in advance!

[khyber]

COMPETITION!!!

I'm at 150....y'all?

[moosehead]

don't recall the costs - but definitely cheaper than the U.S. and K insur picks up a big portion

as for weight gain and other symptoms - apathy was my worst (well, palpitations also, that was weird)

the reason I mention it is the apathy is really dangerous - it's far worse than depression - you can have trouble, literally, getting out of bed in the morning.

I belonged to a gym at the time I was diagnosed. Sometimes I'd literally quit in the middle of a work out (and I loved (still do) working out) and just go shower and leave. It was awful - I didn't care and I didn't care that I didn't care and I KNEW I didn't care.

your libido will suffer also but again, you won't care. within a few days of starting supplements I was hornier than a cat in heat - ! yeow!

your thyroid is NOTHING to mess around with - totally!

also had weird skin problems, rashes, all kinds of stuff - the thyroid is extremely important - lose it and you die. those of us on supps have to take them the rest of our lives.

[pokesplort]

yeah i definitely have the apathy down. so the international clinic, i checked out their website but their seems to be many different sections.... i guess i should just call them and ask for an appt for a thryoid test. i havent been to the doctor in a long time as it is, beside my quickie health check when i got here. and those dreaded annuals. there is a severence hospital and a yongdong severence hospital. do you think it matters which one i call up?

[moosehead]

Severance Hospital is part of Yonsei University - it's a medical school and the hospital is a teaching hospital.

if you call the International Clinic at 02-2228-5800 they speak English.

You'll have to see a dr first and they will make the arrangements for the blood test.

I recommend Dr. Park but there are others there, she's not the only one.


also they are really busy so you'll have to do the follow up work probably (i.e., they'll tell you they'll call about the results but rarely do).

good luck

[Young FRANKenstein]

[pokesplort]

hey thanks for all the help i really appreciate it:) i'm gonna get this taken care of as soon as i get paid next.

[rayne]

I need to get my Synthroid medicine refilled soon. Some previous posters say I can get it refilled at any doctor's clinic without a prescription (just an empty medicine bottle).

Can I just go to a pharmacy?

If not, can anyone recommend a doctor's clinic? I live in Paju but am willing to go to Seoul.

Since Synthroid is cheap here it's probably not hard to find, right? Back in Canada not all pharmacies stock it so I had to go to big pharmacies or order it and wait a couple of days.

My prescription is 50. I heard that Korea doesn't stock 50s (I read it somewhere on Dave's maybe 2 years ago... can't find the thread anymore), is that still true?