Korean Job Discussion Forums

slancaster · Joined: 10 Nov 2005

I've recently been diagnosed by a Korean doctor with gastroreflux disease (or something like that----basically the pH of my stomach is far too acidic). It is very painful----and scary: when my symptoms flare up, it feels like I'm going to be consumed by my own stomach acid. Are there any non-pharmaceutical products that you might recommend to help me lower stomach acidity? Also, I've recently started attending an intensive Korean course in addition to teaching, and I've been feeling stressed. What's your understanding of the relationship between stress and this disorder?

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

Imbroglio · Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 5:10 am Post subject:

This hit me after I left Korea, and has been my biggest pain in the ass for the past five years. I go through the same thing, the flare ups are crazy hurt pain. Get yourself on protonix. It really helps. Don't know if it's available in Korea but check it out, and let me know. I might be coming back to Seoul in the next six months.

OH and stress has a lot to do with the flare ups. This is coming from experience and watching the flare ups over a course of almost five years now. The first couple of years I ended up in the hospital because the pain was so bad, only hot showers would help me feel better, after a few days of that, no engery, dehydration kills you.

Eat lots of Fruits and anything that has lots of fiber, did I mention fruits? Nectarines are great!

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

I've been afflicted with too much stomach acid (what is called 'heartburn' where I'm from) my whole adult life.

However, it calmed right down after I started to eat more and more Korean food. Only when I eat western food does it flare up again. Avoid processed meats (sausage) and processed diary products (cheese). Pizza can sometimes cripple me!!!

I tried a few over-the-counter things from Korean pharmacies but they don't really have much for it.

Bicarbonate of soda (it might be called sodium bicarbonate) is the best home remedy. Mix a teaspoon of it with half a glass of water.

Drinking milk will give temporary relief but later your stomach will react to the alkaline milk by producing even more acid. Ouch-time.

I don't about it being related to stress. I'm laid back to the point of catatonia but it still gets me.

There was a breakthrough in stomach acid control a few years ago. One-pill-per-day was curing most people. Yes. Curing.

You can read all about it here...
http://heartburn.about.com/od/treatment/tp/treating_hrtbrn.htm

Harpeau · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC

This may help:

http://www.tooth114.com/tooth114/commerce/contents.asp?code=200493155256

We've had one of these for a couple of years. Actually I really think drinking alkaline water is very good or you. I find this machine - though pricey - an excellent investment.

One other thing: while eating, don't talk about anything that's stressful.

All the best!

Corporal · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

Oh don't be ridiculous, there is no such thing as gastroblahblahblah. None of my Korean coworkers have gastroblahblahblah! If you were a woman you'd probably be taking menstrual leave and complaining about how bad you felt, wouldn't you, you slacker! Get back to work, you are making the rest of us look lazy! Evil or Very Mad

SuperFly · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Location: In the doghouse

Just pray it doesn't develop into chrons disease.

Novernae · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

SHANE02 · Joined: 04 Jun 2003

I have the same problem OP. I have medication from home that works wonders. It'salled "Losec" The ingredient is Omerazole.

Here its not covered by insurance so its really pricey. You can get it on-line of course. I just bring a six month supply from home (that's all I can get each time).

1 tab a day for me and it gone. Actually my dotor said that if my reflux problem is untreated it could develop into cancer because the acid burns and scars the tube at the to of the stomach.

My Korean doctor prescribes "Zantac" which in NZ is available over the counter. It does work but it's not as good as "Losec"

I know how you feel, good luck with it.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

peony · Joined: 30 Mar 2005

baking soda in water works ok as eamo said but its not a long term solution, ask your doctor for a prescription for either Prevacid or Nexium

whenever i get a flareup, i take Prevacid for a week or so and it helps heal whatever is going on in my stomach (usually acid reflux or gastritis)
(i've had stomach problems since coming back from korea as well, 3 years - i blame the soju from the previous year in korea and the high stress of returning to and living in NYC)

drink lots of warm, or hot liquids, i know its hard to in the summer but cold liquids do more harm than good to your sore tummy

and milk definitely does not help, stomach acid mixed with milk backing up on your esophagus is not a good feeling!!

try no soda, no fried foods, no cold drinks, no coffee for at least a week and also, nothing to eat or drink at least 2 hours before bed - see if it helps you feel any better

oddly, i too, like eamo, dont have problems when eating korean food, indian food or thai food. its usually italian, chinese and regular 'western' food that gets me bad. dont know why that is though

and try to eat bland foods like jook, sullungtang and mandu gook, moo guk etc.

peony · Joined: 30 Mar 2005

i just remembered, there's a medicine in korea called ' gelma '

it comes in a packet and is a gel/ liquid

Grimalkin · Joined: 22 May 2005

Zyzyfer · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:23 am Post subject:

Ask for ranitidan/ranitidine at any pharmacy. You have to be careful taking it, though. I was browsing on the web and saw a very scientific-like site that said taking it right after eating will actually hinder digestion in the form of proteins and such and make you produce more acid in the long run.

Natural cures would be milk (consumed slowly over a long period) and spearmint gum or spearmint, which is an herbal cure. I have daily flare-up off of silly things like bagels with cream cheese on them, so you have to know what causes it and experiment with what cures it. Sometimes, milk does me fine, and other times, I need to pop a pill or two.

PS Several of the pills you buy from pharmacies need to be taken 2 at a time.

Edit: No. 1 key is to not overeat. Acid reflux is caused by this plus even a mildly acidic food. Learn your stomach's real tolerance and cut back a bit when chowing down on a meal.

Leslie Cheswyck · Joined: 31 May 2003 Location: University of Western Chile

Avoid liquids for at least an hour after a meal. Liquids dilute the stomach's digestive acids, thereby forcing it to produce more acid and for a longer period of time. You don't want that.

I've been doing this for some years, now --- most of the time. At first it's difficult, but you'll find the craving for a gulp goes away after about five, ten minutes, especially if you keep your mind occupied.

I also find apples have a way of keeping reflux at bay.