Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Captain Marlow]

does anyone know what i can ask for at the chemist that is similar to tums? i have a feeling that they won't have tums, and it may be difficult to mime my symptoms... thanx...

[Captain Marlow]

i'm bumping because this acid really hurts...

[Tommy]

What about drinking a glass of milk or eating yogurt?

[Jellypah]

My pharmacist gave me something called "Almagel-F" which is liquid and comes in single dose packs - 1,000W and 4 x 15ml to a box. They really taste like tums or pepto. He coupled that with some pills - BAROCID (For stomacheache, Brash) There's a picture of a stomache on the front and it's in a blue box.

Most pharmacists can speak some English - so if you say "heartburn" and point to where you're feeling it, they should be able to sort you out. If you can get the medicine you need, it's really quite effective.

Good luck!

[Easter Clark]

In a pinch, try swallowing a teaspoon of toothpaste. But don't make a habit of it!

Also, try mixing a teaspoon of baking soda with a glass of water.

[Captain Marlow]

thanx... i'll try the milk right away, before i walk down to buy the medicine...

[Jandar]

Prilosec

Omeprazole


Pepcid

Famotidine

I don't mean to scare you but Heartburn symptoms occurring more than twice a week can lead to Cancer of the Esophagus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esophageal_cancer

Both my Brother(39) and my Mother died from this disease.

Some people here are recommending milk and yogurt, these too can cause heartburn, diabetics are known to get heartburn from milk.

A couple of word to help you in preventing heartburn, lose weight, being overweight is the primary cause of most heartburn. The weight puts undue pressure on your digestive tract. If you are being awakened by your symptoms, then it is advised that you refrain from eating three hours prior to bedtime.

Believe me it is well worth your while to see a doctor and get a prescription for Prilosec.

I am always concerned about heartburn, many people do not know how serious it can be.

[icnelly]

A spoon full of apple vinegar. It will probably hurt bad the first time, but it should fix your stomach. AND you can buy the stuff at any store in SK; I think I've even seen it in the convienence stores.

[PeteJB]

Rubbish. Sorry to hear about your relatives Jandar, but my mum has suffered from heart burn most of her life and has no traces of cancer in her whatsoever. I also suffer from frequent heartburn/disgestion related chest pains and have been poked and prodded just about everywhere with no result.

I can agree though that milk and dairy products are not good at fighting heartburn. It can offer temporary relief, but often leads to worsening of the reflux.

[Crockpot2001]

[Straphanger]

[Jandar]

Here's more on the link between Heartburn and Cancer.

http://heartburn.about.com/b/2006/10/05/heartburn-complications.htm

http://www.heartburnalliance.org/heartburn_and_cancer_con.php

http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20060417/heartburn-related-cancer-is-curable

Chronic Heartburn is experiencing symptom more than 2 times a week every week.
My own experience was eating tums like candy daily.

Diagnosis Barretts.

Annual surveillance by endoscopy.

Treatment Prilosec and diet.

Your health your choice.

[sojourner1]

My grandpa got esophagus cancer from it, but he didn't have ranitidine and Prilosec/omeprazole. Haven't seen any Tums here.

You can get ranitidine over the counter here, but not omeprazole. I tried many times, but the Korean pharmacists don't know what it is.

In Thailand, I bought a bunch of omeprazole over the counter with ease.

I got some Prilosec from the states when another American teacher took Summer vacation home. Prilosec is over the counter in America just like Thailand, but not Korea. Korea is frustrating when it comes to medicine, pharmacies, and doctors.

[The Hammer]

Some of you may be suffering from GERD (see link). If you have chest pains there is a chance that the acid is eating the lining of your esophagus. Having acid in your esophagus is bad news.


http://www.medicinenet.com/gastroesophageal_reflux_disease_gerd/article.htm

I have a prescription for a medicine called Pariet (Rabeprazole sodium).
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100002017.html

Pariet reduces acid production in the stomach. I also have another drug that help the muscle at the top of the stomach stay closed. I don't know the name right now.

These two drugs have helped me immensely. I was suffering tremendously before I was diagnosed.

By the way, GERD is not common in Korea, so if you think you might have it you need to tell the doctor, or they will probably never find it. I went to the doctor with chest pains and suffered for 6 months because the doctors didn't know what was wrong. Finally, after telling one of my friends my symptoms he said I probably had GERD. I went back to the Dr. and sure enough I had it.

Hope this helps!


P.S. Stay away from fatty foods.
Do not overeat.
Do not eat just before bed time.
Do not eat peppermint (it's the worst).
Throw out those breath mints!
Red wine seems to be a killer to.

[IamBabo]

I second the use of Pariet. I was diagnosed with esophagitis last year and have been on it for over a year. The second endoscope has shown that Pariet is a great drug, it has basically healed the damage to my esophagus. If you have bad heartburn, get this stuff. It has worked wonders for me. I am in the process of losing weight. Everything I have read has said losing weight will help the most. But, you need a prescription for it and while it is cheap compared to American drugs, in Korea it is considered expensive. I think I spend about 20,000W for a month's supply. I can't recommend it enough...