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crazylemongirl
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: almost there...
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 Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 4:16 pm Post subject: idiot korean doctors |
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So I went in for my mandatory medical yesterday. One of the things they do is a chest x-ray. The school nurse is all in a tizzy because they think I either have pneumonia or lung cancer. Now I'm a 26 year old non-smoker from a non-smoking family so chances of lung cancer a very low. I had also been for a workout just that very day so my chances of having pneumonia again very low. I did have a cough but that's because my asthma hasn't been the best due to the yellow dust.
However I do have a slightly weird ribcage (two sets of ribs don't meet up where they are supposed to) which I told the doctor about when I went back. I suggested she do a physical examination to check that was the source of the weirdity on the xray. She refused.
To cut a long story short: After 3 hours and one TB test, a Cat scan, a mammogram, an IV and 5 chest xrays it turns out CLG was right. However I can't help but wonder if I didn't have cancer before hand, dousing me in radiation all day wouldn't have helped me along. |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 4:22 pm Post subject: Re: idiot korean doctors |
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| crazylemongirl wrote: |
So I went in for my mandatory medical yesterday. One of the things they do is a chest x-ray. The school nurse is all in a tizzy because they think I either have pneumonia or lung cancer. Now I'm a 26 year old non-smoker from a non-smoking family so chances of lung cancer a very low. I had also been for a workout just that very day so my chances of having pneumonia again very low. I did have a cough but that's because my asthma hasn't been the best due to the yellow dust.
However I do have a slightly weird ribcage (two sets of ribs don't meet up where they are supposed to) which I told the doctor about when I went back. I suggested she do a physical examination to check that was the source of the weirdity on the xray. She refused.
To cut a long story short: After 3 hours and one TB test, a Cat scan, a mammogram, an IV and 5 chest xrays it turns out CLG was right. However I can't help but wonder if I didn't have cancer before hand, dousing me in radiation all day wouldn't have helped me along. |
The problem I have with this is if they hadn't have done this and you found out you had pneumonia or cancer later on in a year or even 10 years later and it could have been caught early you would 100% be b!tching about that (and if you are North American, suing). An overreaction when it comes to health is 99% of the time better than an underreaction. |
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I_Am_Wrong
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: whatever
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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hahaha...
Last september I had to have a new medical done for the start of a new school year. After a year in Korea I had gone from 160 lbs. to 180 lbs. Now, I'm 6 feet tall, so I wasn't too concerned about it. After doing all of the tests I sat down and had a chat with the doctor about my general health. He was looking at a chart that had height and proper weight for that height. He looked up my height and my weight, turned to me, and exclaimed, "YOU ARE OBESE!" I said, "sorry, I'm not obese." He looked at his chart again and said, "no no no...you are very obese...oh my god!" So I said to him, "look at me, do I look obese to you?" He said, "no you don't" and looked up his chart again and said "this is big problem because you are very obese." |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 4:28 pm Post subject: |
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| I_Am_Wrong wrote: |
hahaha...
Last september I had to have a new medical done for the start of a new school year. After a year in Korea I had gone from 160 lbs. to 180 lbs. Now, I'm 6 feet tall, so I wasn't too concerned about it. After doing all of the tests I sat down and had a chat with the doctor about my general health. He was looking at a chart that had height and proper weight for that height. He looked up my height and my weight, turned to me, and exclaimed, "YOU ARE OBESE!" I said, "sorry, I'm not obese." He looked at his chart again and said, "no no no...you are very obese...oh my god!" So I said to him, "look at me, do I look obese to you?" He said, "no you don't" and looked up his chart again and said "this is big problem because you are very obese." |
Well, if he was going by that stupid BMI scale thing, I can understand it. That BMI thing sucks. |
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sadsac
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: Gwangwang
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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Doctors here could care less. I'm a diabetic, my regular monthly consult with my doctor to get meds consistes of me walking into the clinic, the nurse sending me in to see the doc, sit down, one word conversation, "Diabex" and then goodbye. The whole process from go to woe is less than a minute. No tests, nothing. Thank you doctor. Such is life in Korea.  |
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flakfizer
Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Location: scaling the Cliffs of Insanity with a frayed rope.
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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| laogaiguk wrote: |
| I_Am_Wrong wrote: |
hahaha...
Last september I had to have a new medical done for the start of a new school year. After a year in Korea I had gone from 160 lbs. to 180 lbs. Now, I'm 6 feet tall, so I wasn't too concerned about it. After doing all of the tests I sat down and had a chat with the doctor about my general health. He was looking at a chart that had height and proper weight for that height. He looked up my height and my weight, turned to me, and exclaimed, "YOU ARE OBESE!" I said, "sorry, I'm not obese." He looked at his chart again and said, "no no no...you are very obese...oh my god!" So I said to him, "look at me, do I look obese to you?" He said, "no you don't" and looked up his chart again and said "this is big problem because you are very obese." |
Well, if he was going by that stupid BMI scale thing, I can understand it. That BMI thing sucks. |
Actually, I think the BMI is pretty useful. Studies have shown that even if a lot of the weight is muscle, people who weigh a lot for their height have more health risk. By the way, according to the BMI, being 6 feet tall and weighing 180 pounds would land you in the "normal" range (score of 24.4) anyway, so I don't know what method that doctor was using. |
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krats1976
Joined: 14 May 2003
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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I can't say I've had the best of experiences here either. The first time, they ended up taking blood from the middle of my forearm (OUCH) because the veins in the normal spot on the inside of the elbow are too small (yet, I've never had a nurse in the US have a problem... though they've always commented on it). The next two times were emergency room visits where I got the emergency care I needed as well as exceedingly painful shots in the... *ahem* you know. 
I finally found a doctor here in Gwangju who listens to me and takes the time to discuss my questions and who can speak in English, though he has to write it out as he's speaking. Plus, his nurse was very nice and when I told her the veins really were big enough in the normal spot to draw blood from, she tried it despite her doubts (it worked). I'll be going back to that clinic for sure. |
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Yesterday
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Land of the Morning DongChim (Kancho)
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 5:45 pm Post subject: ... |
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I guess you must like all the attention from the doctor - because actually there is no need for it........
Every small (dong-suburb?) in Seoul has a small Health and Welfare office (Jamsil-dong office, Gangdong-gu office, Songpa-gu office etc)
and medicals are much better and cheaper and easier done there.....
(Its where all the koreans go - when they have to get their medicals for their work places, military etc)....
Its rather cheap - and all you need is your ID card, - costs 10,000won and takes 5~10 minutes - its basically just a chest X-ray, taking some blood from your arm - and its all over....
They tell you to come back in 1 week and pick up your medical certificate - and the guys who do the chest x-ray and blood test - do a hundred per day - and are very good at their jobs....
The other benefit is - the medical certificate is basically stamped (authorised) by the government - (not just some family doctor) and for the next 3~4 years - you can go back and collect additional medical certificates - by just paying a 3,000won fee at the desk - in which they bring up your name - print off another copy, sign it - and hand it to you in less that 5 minutes - and yes - I have had no problems the last couple of years at my public schools - just giving them these (additional 3,000won print offs from the receptionist)
There really is no need to keep going to a doctor each year.... just for a new medical certificate - unless you really do enjoy it... |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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| flakfizer wrote: |
| laogaiguk wrote: |
| I_Am_Wrong wrote: |
hahaha...
Last september I had to have a new medical done for the start of a new school year. After a year in Korea I had gone from 160 lbs. to 180 lbs. Now, I'm 6 feet tall, so I wasn't too concerned about it. After doing all of the tests I sat down and had a chat with the doctor about my general health. He was looking at a chart that had height and proper weight for that height. He looked up my height and my weight, turned to me, and exclaimed, "YOU ARE OBESE!" I said, "sorry, I'm not obese." He looked at his chart again and said, "no no no...you are very obese...oh my god!" So I said to him, "look at me, do I look obese to you?" He said, "no you don't" and looked up his chart again and said "this is big problem because you are very obese." |
Well, if he was going by that stupid BMI scale thing, I can understand it. That BMI thing sucks. |
Actually, I think the BMI is pretty useful. Studies have shown that even if a lot of the weight is muscle, people who weigh a lot for their height have more health risk. By the way, according to the BMI, being 6 feet tall and weighing 180 pounds would land you in the "normal" range (score of 24.4) anyway, so I don't know what method that doctor was using. |
Bah. Seems like an excuse not to do any physical activity. The health risks involved in having a higher muscle mass are rather insignificant when you consider the fact that most people who have a higher muscle mass workout regurlarly. |
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crazylemongirl
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: almost there...
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: ... |
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| Yesterday wrote: |
| I guess you must like all the attention from the doctor - because actually there is no need for it........ |
Not at all... I went to the place as it was one of the 'approved ones' and I went there with a Korean teacher who was getting hers done at the same time. The extra attention came as a result of the first x-ray and them not listening to me. |
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peppermint
Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: ... |
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| Yesterday wrote: |
I guess you must like all the attention from the doctor - because actually there is no need for it........
Every small (dong-suburb?) in Seoul has a small Health and Welfare office (Jamsil-dong office, Gangdong-gu office, Songpa-gu office etc)
and medicals are much better and cheaper and easier done there.....
(Its where all the koreans go - when they have to get their medicals for their work places, military etc)....
Its rather cheap - and all you need is your ID card, - costs 10,000won and takes 5~10 minutes - its basically just a chest X-ray, taking some blood from your arm - and its all over....
They tell you to come back in 1 week and pick up your medical certificate - and the guys who do the chest x-ray and blood test - do a hundred per day - and are very good at their jobs....
The other benefit is - the medical certificate is basically stamped (authorised) by the government - (not just some family doctor) and for the next 3~4 years - you can go back and collect additional medical certificates - by just paying a 3,000won fee at the desk - in which they bring up your name - print off another copy, sign it - and hand it to you in less that 5 minutes - and yes - I have had no problems the last couple of years at my public schools - just giving them these (additional 3,000won print offs from the receptionist)
There really is no need to keep going to a doctor each year.... just for a new medical certificate - unless you really do enjoy it... |
Not sure about that, I went to the one in my area last year, and for some reason they wouldn't do it. |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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| flakfizer wrote: |
| laogaiguk wrote: |
| I_Am_Wrong wrote: |
hahaha...
Last september I had to have a new medical done for the start of a new school year. After a year in Korea I had gone from 160 lbs. to 180 lbs. Now, I'm 6 feet tall, so I wasn't too concerned about it. After doing all of the tests I sat down and had a chat with the doctor about my general health. He was looking at a chart that had height and proper weight for that height. He looked up my height and my weight, turned to me, and exclaimed, "YOU ARE OBESE!" I said, "sorry, I'm not obese." He looked at his chart again and said, "no no no...you are very obese...oh my god!" So I said to him, "look at me, do I look obese to you?" He said, "no you don't" and looked up his chart again and said "this is big problem because you are very obese." |
Well, if he was going by that stupid BMI scale thing, I can understand it. That BMI thing sucks. |
Actually, I think the BMI is pretty useful. Studies have shown that even if a lot of the weight is muscle, people who weigh a lot for their height have more health risk. By the way, according to the BMI, being 6 feet tall and weighing 180 pounds would land you in the "normal" range (score of 24.4) anyway, so I don't know what method that doctor was using. |
Muscle is 3 times as heavy as fat. Since the index doesn't take that into account, it sucks. (there are other things, but that is an easy one).
And what Hollywoodaction said. |
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seoulsucker
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Location: The Land of the Hesitant Cutoff
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| Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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| I_Am_Wrong wrote: |
| 180 lbs. He looked up my height and my weight, turned to me, and exclaimed, "YOU ARE OBESE!" |
Maybe the guy looked up 180 Kg as your weight instead of lbs. I wouldn't put it past 'em. |
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pest2
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 6:39 am Post subject: Re: idiot korean doctors |
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| crazylemongirl wrote: |
So I went in for my mandatory medical yesterday. One of the things they do is a chest x-ray. The school nurse is all in a tizzy because they think I either have pneumonia or lung cancer. Now I'm a 26 year old non-smoker from a non-smoking family so chances of lung cancer a very low. I had also been for a workout just that very day so my chances of having pneumonia again very low. I did have a cough but that's because my asthma hasn't been the best due to the yellow dust.
However I do have a slightly weird ribcage (two sets of ribs don't meet up where they are supposed to) which I told the doctor about when I went back. I suggested she do a physical examination to check that was the source of the weirdity on the xray. She refused.
To cut a long story short: After 3 hours and one TB test, a Cat scan, a mammogram, an IV and 5 chest xrays it turns out CLG was right. However I can't help but wonder if I didn't have cancer before hand, dousing me in radiation all day wouldn't have helped me along. |
Yeah this is great you have this story to tell because I, too had the pneumonia a couple of months ago...
I went to the doctor, and they were all perplexed and worried so they took chest xrays.
Now, I have a "barrell" chest... my momma had a barrell chest, my grand-daddy had un, and gosh darn it, I got me un, too. I've actually always been quite happy to have it; I have a really high lung capacity that really helped me back in my cycle-racing days (vo2 max of 80+ ml)... In fact, I still ride alot/fast around where I live here in the land of white lies and Kimchi and I suppose it is still good. I am still really healthy/watch what I eat/wouldnt dream of smoking.
Anywayz, the doctor is all in-awed by my chest xray. Then she gives me a scolding look and says, "when you quit smoking?? smoking bad"...
I'm like, "whadya mean?? I dont smoke!! I wouldnt dream of it!!!'' (but Im totally aware that she wont believe me because she assumes that I, too, am a natural part of her culture of white lies)...
She points to the photo of my chest xray and says,"your chest shape wide. You have disease".... I'm like... "OK, whatever, I'll stop smoking... but for now can you just give me my cough pills and antibiotics?"... |
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semphoon
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: Where Nowon is
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| Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 6:55 am Post subject: |
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Im 92kgs and only 5'8'' ( I think 175cm) and Im healthy 
If you keep yourself busy and dont eat "bad" food you'll be fine.
Whats the point of this thread again....
oh yeah -
Koreans down flush their shi*tty toilet paper down the pan. Instead they put it in a bucket. I swear Ive seen bood on some toilet paper. I was almost sick. But, curious, I had to pick it up and have a sniff. |
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