Korean Job Discussion Forums

[calicoe]

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

You can get flax seed here:
http://nicedeli.com/main/node/205

They also have a berry flavor, but I've never tried that one.

Please let me know if you can find bentonite clay. I've never tried it, but my trainer from home has been telling me to try it for a week. I want to lose this pesky 5 kg and a fast would get me started nicely.

[Kimchifart]

[Jeweltone]

Iberogast (STW 5) also helps keep things regular and less painful; I developed an extremely rare stomach disorder from living in Korea (also grossly misdiagnosed by Korean doctors, btw), and it is one of the few things that helps me. It is a completely herbal remedy, and can be gotten online from many sources (including Amazon).

Here is another link:
http://www.evitamins.com/product.asp?pid=13436

[Seoulman69]

I've been suffering from loose stools recently and was wondering if it could be IBS.
Please forgive the rather disgusting details

I was having a meal with friends. I had some meat and ate alot of kimchi jigae. After the meal i had a rather severe attack of diarrhea. The diarrhea started very soon after the meal.

The next time I was eating gamjatang with a friend. The same thing happened again with the symptoms starting perhaps 10 minutes after the meal.

I have been eating gamjatang for many years with no ill side effects so was confused by the recent reaction i'd been having.

I thought it might be a reaction to red pepper but it happened recently with other foods. One was a japanese style curry and the other happened today after some greek food.
Today I felt like I would vomit, and the diarrhea only started maybe 50 minutes after the meal.
Usually I have one loose bowel movement then feel alot better.

My diet is fairly healthy and up until a couple of months ago I was fine.

Does this sound like IBS?

Sorry if this is too detailed but I am rather embarassed by the situation and it is starting to upset me.

[crossmr]

IBS is a chronic condition. So it'd be hard to diagnose after only a couple months.

That said, you can view a symptoms list here:
http://www.gihealth.com/html/education/ibs.html

if it seems to be centred around certain foods, you might be able to narrow it down. one of the things with IBS is that it will hit you any time. Even when you're not eating. Heck for me, if I don't eat regularly enough I'll suddenly get diarrhoea after not eating for about 5-6 hours.

Sometimes it will also flare up on foods that have otherwise been fine for me. This is a hallmark of IBS. I could eat the same thing everyday for weeks without issue, then one day eat it again and suddenly be in trouble.

It makes it hard to find "safe" food, and instead my diet consists mainly of "usually safe" foods.

[Kuros]

Others have given good advice about avoiding gochujang and kimchi.

Don't drink Korean swill (aka Hite, Cass, etc).

I struggled with these same problems. But the Korean swill would give me crippling intestinal pains. I never had this problem no matter what I drank in China or the States.

[Seoulman69]

Thanks for the help and advice.
I will avoid beer and red pepper until i feel better.

[calicoe]