Korean Job Discussion Forums

Faunaki · Joined: 15 Jun 2007

Ever since I've been here, I've been sickish stomach wise. At first I thought it was just cause I wasn't used to K food but it's been going on for almost three years. I'm talking diarrhea and usually at night after dinner. Breakie and lunch don't seem to be a problem. Last night I made a Canadian dinner - Uncle Ben's, Shake n Bake, and just a little kimchi - sure enough got sick again.

What's going on? Anyone else dealing with this?

andrewchon · Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:06 pm Post subject:

It could be a psychological problem or you could be allergic to something.
I suggest you go an seek a professional medical help.

ashland · Joined: 05 Dec 2008

i don't want to scare you or anything but you should immediately check with a prominent gastrologist... it could be something very serious.

BaldTeacher · Joined: 02 Feb 2010

Most likely you have gastritis. It's an inflammation of the stomach lining and it's caused by many things- stress, alcohol, smoking, too much coffee, diet.... Also helicobacter pylori bacteria infecting the stomach. I had bad problems with this too- Go to the clinic and see the doctor- he'll likely say you have gastritis and maybe an ulcer and give you a week or two supply of pills. 3 times a day, you'll take an antacid, proton pump inhibitor and probably an antibiotic. Try to stay away from smoke, coffee, alcohol, very spicy or greasy foods, etc. Eat a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables. If the symptoms haven't decreased at all, you need to get to a specialist for an endoscopy/ biopsy.

For people under 50, the likelihood of stomach cancer is very small but it's still a risk.

Look up gastritis on sites like WebMD. You'll get more information that might help you.

redaxe · Joined: 01 Dec 2008

Sounds like some kind of IBS. You should see a doctor. In the meantime, do you eat a lot of oily food? My gut is very sensitive to fat, if I eat oily food it just passes right through me. Samgyupsal dipped in the sesame oil = immediate trip to the bathroom. Try cutting some of the fat out of your diet and see if that helps.

Crockpot2001 · Joined: 01 Jul 2007

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

I was in Thailand and drank tons of booze and ate lots of spicy food. I went to the Pharmacy and asked for Immodiom. Don't accept anything else.

Bloopity Bloop · Joined: 26 Apr 2009 Location: Seoul yo

It's taken you three years to seek advice about this?

I-am-me · Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Location: Hermit Kingdom

I had stomach pains after my 2nd yr here. It was H.Pylori. Afterwards I got some infection in my esophogus which really was painful usually a few hours after eating at night. For all the trips to the hospital, Korean doctors were not that helpful. I got H. Pylori treated in the Philippines. Good luck getting it diagnosed in Korea.

joltaxt · Joined: 24 Oct 2009 Location: Seoul

I had stomach pains when I first got here. It's the food and just like my coworkers I had to adjust.

You'll get used to it. Wait a week, if it continues, see a doctor.

Faunaki · Joined: 15 Jun 2007

Countrygirl · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Location: in the classroom

Both my son and I have had a bad stomach since being in Korea.

A food elimination diet is the easiest way to figure out if one food is bothering your stomach. That's how I found out I have an intolerance to wheat. Every Korean person I've mentioned this to since has said that Korea doesn't grow wheat and all flour is imported and has lots of preservatives etc. This may explain why my stomach is worse here than Canada. For me, just a few days of not eating it made a big difference.

Also, not to gross you out, but I've heard that there are still lots of worms in the food here. I think this is true because if the red pepper powder that my MIL buys is stored in the cupboard and not in the fridge or freezer, then it will eventually get worms. It's easy to buy worm medicine at the pharmacy.

And, oh yeah, I had horrible morning sickness when I was pregnant the whole way through and it didn't completely go away until I had stopped breast feeding.

Hope something helps. It's horrible to always have an uncomfortable stomach.

Michelle · Joined: 18 May 2003

benji1422 · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Location: Los Angeles & Seoul

Wheat is bad for EVERYBODY and along with milk is responsible for the majority of chronic "diseases" that people have. It's difficult to avoid because they put it in soy sauce, which is of course used on everything.

I second and "elimination" diet - but eliminate anything containing wheat, dairy and raw soy first (fermented soy ok), along with the usual suspects: coffeee, alcohol, overly spicy and salty foods, anything with MSG.

young_clinton · Joined: 09 Sep 2009

Maybe it's the Chili's or the water. Don't eat real spicy food and use bottled water. But definitely go see a doctor to rule out the really bad stuff. They'll want to do an ECG (putting a endoscope down your throat esophogus and into your stomach and duedonum).