Korean Job Discussion Forums

brento1138 · Joined: 17 Nov 2004

I have developed quite the problem in the last 3 years. Terrible pain behind my sternum (don't worry, I've been checked for all sorts of things - including heart) and it is acid reflux / hiatus hernia. Very painful, feels like it is your heart, but it's not. Just imagine how an acid burn feels, now put that inside your body, it sucks. Please note that this is **not** heartburn, but acid reflux disease.

Anyhow, Gaviscon has always been able to relieve this pain. But I am not sure where to look for it in Korea.

Has anyone been able to find it? Or can suggest an alternative? Some days I need to take like 6 of them... esp. after a weekend of drinking (not heavily or anything, like 4 beers over 2 days). If I cannot find Gaviscon, I may have to quit drinking coffee & alcohol entirely (which I've already cut back on, sadly enough to only like 3 coffees per week...)

Sigh. If anyone has a cure (not tums, plz note this isn't heartburn but hiatus hernia)... lemme know.

Scott in Incheon · Joined: 30 Aug 2004

I used to take Zantac for my reflux. I have been able to control it now by only drinking once a week and never two days in a row. I never tried to find it in Korea and always bought a supply when I was back in Canada

You can have some sent over, but you can also get the no-name brand which works just as well and is a lot cheaper. I don't have a name for the no-name brand but it would right next to the Zantac in a pharmacy.

brento1138 · Joined: 17 Nov 2004

Zantac hasn't been so effective for me. Dunno if I've given it a good enough chance though.

Anyhow, people who claim we are intelligently designed can go to hell... lol.

http://www.joyfullivingservices.com/hiatalhernia.html

young_clinton · Joined: 09 Sep 2009

Go to the nearest pharmacy and tell them you need some Ranitidine. Its the pharmaceutical name of a proton blocker drug that you can get over the counter. I don't know the brand name of the drug, the pharmacist wouldn't know it anyway. None of the pharmacists here will understand what you need medication for, but the pharmacist will know what ranatadine is.

Ruthdes · Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Location: Seoul

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Zyzyfer · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 2:52 am Post subject:

The ranitidine sold here last time I bought some is around half the strength of the stuff found over the counter in the US. It's pretty easy to find in any pharmacy really.

IamBabo · Joined: 16 Jun 2005

I get Pariet here. It is so much better than Zantac. You do need a prescription, just walk into a doc's office, that's what I did. If you're dying, Red Door has Prilosec on occasion, it's almost the same as Pariet.

PeteJB · Joined: 06 Jul 2007

I have a huge box of Rennie from the UK. I prefer the tablets. I have chronic indigestion of a sort that has lasted for many years - it is entirely random and occurs whenever it feels like. I usually get a form of acid reflux that affects either the 'sternum' area, lungs or other parts of the chest. I can't count how many times a sudden shooting pain in the chest has made me jolt out of bed and panic - despite 100% of the time it being just a digestive/acid related complaint.

Senior · Joined: 31 Jan 2010

You could look into the cause.

I'm going to say it's wheat. That is pretty much my answer to every health complaint. But google Wheat and acid reflux and you will get a lot of info.

Missihippi · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Location: Gwangmyeong

I also suffer from severe GERD and i havn't found anything to be real effective. Honostly, if you didn't eat anything that was on the "list" of things that trigger reflux you couldn't eat or drink much at all. Coffee is definitely the worst for me. OP, try eating slower and smaller more frequent meals. For instant relief, i drink sprite and just burp it out. Good luck.