Korean Job Discussion Forums

[brakattack]

This is a terrible, horrible, no good, hugely embarrassing question, but do any of you have an idea of where I could buy some topical treatment for hemorrhoids in Korea? Homeplus and Emart don't seem to have any medication sections and I don't know where to go.

Feel free to make fun as long as someone can give me some useful advice. I never expected to have this problem until I was much older but I think my shift to a Korean diet is finally catching up on me. My nether region is starting to itch and get swollen to the point where I have been waking up at night from it for the past 4 days.

[T-J]

Any drug store (약국). Ask for 치질약 (chi jil yak).

[swinewho]

I've got a (barely used) tube at home if you want it?

At least the previous poster has made your life easy - I ended up doing charades in my local pharcamy, he understood what I meant first time as well!

[carpetdope]

Smash those piles with a one-two punch (ie: ointment plus ibuprofen).

[sadguy]

[brakattack]

Hey everyone just wanted to say I went to the 약국 today and got what I needed. The woman there even spoke a little bit of English too and tried her best to make it as least embarassing as possible heh. I guess hemorrhoids are a fairly common problem in Korea. Thanks for the tip T-J.

Without getting into too many details I will say that I experienced immediate relief and should be on the fast track to recovery. Man I had no idea how miserable and uncomfortable it could make you feel but now I totally understand how much it sucks to have it. I'm looking forward to my first unimpeded night of sleep this entire week.

Cheers and good night.

[Mikejelai]

the "Red Door" black market shop (about 150-200 meters past Taco Bell) in Itaewon has Preparation H ointment (and supposotories)

[Louis VI]

It's an ailment of modern living. Stop sitting on your anus! That's what causes it, the pressure on that part of your body. Chairs and sit-down toilets are the worst (compounded by bathroom reading and exerting effort trying to push out stools low in fibre). Squatting is better than sitting. When sitting on the floor, lounge to one side as a regular habit, except when eating perhaps. Stand on buses. Walk a lot and drink a lot of water. There are medical and scientific studies showing how much modern lifestyle has created this problem. Medication is only a short term treatment and really could be substituted by lifestyle changes for your general health. To put plainly: if you have it, it's your own fault. Learn the role you play in creating the problem. Surgery is no cure as it returns if lifestyle changes are not made. Change your life for the better. Eat more roughage and only go the can when you really gotta go now, not exerting effort when going. Don't sit for extended periods of time (avoid sitting for an hour or more as much as possible). Remember, walking and drinking water is also important. Take care.

[Yaya]

A bidet is also good for relieving stuff like that.

[cj1976]

Sometimes my Emma Freuds give me grief if I don't eat enough fibre or do enough exercise.

[West Coast Tatterdemalion]

Seconded on the Red Door. They will have it.

[Benjamino]

Mine just flared up again today and this thread is a gold mine of a find.

[cj1976]

Whenever my chalfonts flare up, it is usually a result of my unhealthy living. When this happens, I lay off the booze, coffee and junk food and eat plenty of fruit. Those bum- grapes can be a pain in the ass.

[joeteacher]

On top of medication...take some TP and put it under very warm water, Apply to anus. Also, not sure if the roid is coming out but push it back in (hehehe) with your finger (or a friend's). Those two things always help when I'm flaring up.

[yodanole]

TJ nailed it with the 2nd post. Drug store. Just curious, why were you going to grocery stores for medicinal products? Korean drug stores don't sell beer, bread or milk. Korean grocery stores may sell a lot of stuff but they don't sell medicines.

There was a big struggle between doctors and pharmacists some time ago as to who could sell/dispense drugs and as a result, it was pretty clearly defined. Long gone are the days when you could just go to the pharmacist and tell him you had gout or a virus and he could fix you up ( hoping you were right in your self diagnosis ).