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Isehtis
Joined: 07 Jul 2010
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 2:42 am Post subject: How is alcoholism tested for in the medical? |
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I'll be arriving in Korea in a few weeks, and was wondering about the medical test. While I'm not an alcoholic, I am a heavy drinker with a high tolerance to alcohol.
So does anyone know what it is they test for to check for alcohol abuse, I'm assuming it's a liver GGT right? If so, does anyone know what Korean doctors consider to be over the limit? |
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rollo
Joined: 10 May 2006 Location: China
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 4:42 am Post subject: |
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Well it sounds if you will fit right in. In fact Alcoholism is probably going to be your best friend. |
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sojusucks

Joined: 31 May 2008
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 5:30 am Post subject: |
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While I'm not an alcoholic, I am a heavy drinker with a high tolerance to alcohol.
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Welcome to Korea. You will feel right at home, unfortunately.
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If so, does anyone know what Korean doctors consider to be over the limit? |
When you have to leave the bar because you are out of money? Seriously, has being a heavy drinker ever cost anyone a visa in Korea? Doubtful. |
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Hawkeye Pierce
Joined: 22 Jan 2010 Location: Uijeongbu
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 7:05 am Post subject: |
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rollo wrote: |
Well it sounds if you will fit right in. In fact Alcoholism is probably going to be your best friend. |
Before I came to Korea, I was a light drinker. Now I have my own still! Korea has this effect on waygooks
Stay away from the local beer. I have been told by a reliable source that most Korean brewers add small amounts of formaldehyde as preservative. Nasty stuff! |
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Louis VI
Joined: 05 Jul 2010 Location: In my Kingdom
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:04 am Post subject: |
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Give the medical staff a thumbs up and say "Soju #1!" and the results will be smiled away. |
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Isehtis
Joined: 07 Jul 2010
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 12:00 pm Post subject: |
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I know the alcohol culture is completely accepted, but is there really no worry in the medical? Maybe I didn't stress my tolerances enough... |
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Epik_Teacher
Joined: 28 Apr 2010
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guava
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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Check post # 5...
Has anyone failed the medical exam?
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=184151
If you wanna clean your liver in minimum time, take silymarin (milk thistle extract) capsules.
You can also take chlorella or spirulina. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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I heard the enzyme test was just to determine if you have hepatitis.
Regardless, I wouldn't worry too much when the question on the medical test in regards to alcohol consumption is how many bottles of soju you consume each time you drink. |
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McGenghis
Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Location: Gangneung
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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I drink like Hemingway did before he got introspective with the twelve guage and I did fine on that test. |
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Troglodyte

Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 5:02 am Post subject: |
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I don't think that they test for alcoholism. All they do is take a blood samples, urine sample, chest x-ray and a physical inspection. Unless you just had a few shots of soju before the medical exam, or went on a bender the night before and still had the alcohol in your blood, then I don't they're going to pick up on anything. |
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tardisrider

Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 6:39 am Post subject: |
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Immigration doesn't care at all about how much you drink. The only thing they care about is drug use and communicable diseases such as HIV. Maybe they care about certain mental health issues.
Employers might be concerned if the hospitals determined that your liver is about to explode ANY SECOND NOW, but that would be more about the threat of missed work than it would be about drinking. |
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BoholDiver
Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Location: Canada
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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You are tested for liver enzymes in order to see how much you drink. if your number is too low, visa is denied. You couldn't possibly fit in in Korea without being a raging alcoholic. |
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wylies99

Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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You can clean out your liver with some pills from GNC? Is that a good thing to do, long-term? |
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JD_Tiberius
Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Location: Korea
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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The only tests they do are urine testing, blood testing and blood pressure testing. Unless you have serious liver damage there shouldn't be any indicators in your blood or urine. What age are you by the way?
tardisrider wrote: |
Employers might be concerned if the hospitals determined that your liver is about to explode ANY SECOND NOW, but that would be more about the threat of missed work than it would be about drinking. |
A bit of an understatement. In my experience an employer here in Korea will freak the hell out if you get anything other than a 100% perfect medical, regardless of the probability of any medical emergency actually happening. They simply don't understand anything about the field of medicine.
Last edited by JD_Tiberius on Sat Oct 09, 2010 7:35 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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