Korean Job Discussion Forums

[canale226]

Not sure if this is in the right place, but...

For the past few months I've been experiencing chronic, debilitating nausea coupled with never ceasing burping and stomach pains. Its gotten to the point now that its really starting to effect my teaching, and overall quality of life. I'm living in Pohang now, and I have a sneaking suspicion that I've got H. Pylori.... again. I know what treatment I need (hopefully), but I am unsure about how to go about getting the medicine I need (Omeprazole, Amoxicillin, and Clarithromycin). Having only been to the doctor once in Korea (and it being a bizarre experience to say the least), I'm unsure as to who I need to see exactly.

Would a general practitioner suffice, or would I need to see a specialist for something like this? Anyone have any experience with this type of medical treatment in Korea?

Thanks!

[crisdean]

just start with a GP and explain your symptons (depending on the doctor you may or may not need a translator). If (s)he doesn't have a clue, prehaps they will be able to recommend a specialist for you. Odds are the GP will just do a bunch of tests, discover the cause, and then just look up a treatment.

[exar_kun79]

Make sure they don't just give you bags of pills and put a needle in your butt. that happened to me on a number of occassions, and I also think it could happen if I went in saying I had cancer or aids.

[J Rock]

A similar situation happened to me a year and a half ago, I just got back from Thailand and I had terrible stomach pains and volcano butt (yes that's the medical term for it). After a week it wasn't getting any better and I asked my director to take me to the doctor. She took me to a GP first in Suji and all he said was stop eating spicy food for a week and see how you feel, he didn't do any tests or an exam.

I knew it was a bug and not just spicy Kimche Jiggae, so I had my director take me to another doctor. This time it was a Gastro specialist and he actually took some kind of tests and I explained exactly what I ate in Thailand. He came back into the room and I expected him to give me some sort of medicine for the bug I had but he casually explained to me that I would for sure need surgery to cure my sickness. I looked at my director and was like no way am I getting surgery for this.

I went home printed off information about exactly what I thought it was (H. pylori) and what meds I needed, gave it to the third doctor my director took me to, he looked over it for maybe 10 minutes and wrote me a script. After the meds it started getting better after 2 days and eventually went away.

I guess the best thing to do is go to the doctor's office informed with what you think you have and let them know, which is kind of a scary thought because the doctor should tell you what's wrong with you.

[tabula rasa]

I had a concern about my stomach recently so I went to the International Health Clinic at Dongsan Hospital in Daegu (across from Seomun Market).

In addition to the endoscopy they performed on me, they also checked my h.plori level for free as part of a research study they are doing on levels in foreigners in this province. The doctor on staff recommended the endoscopy and she said they were doing this research and I could have it done for free.

I signed a waiver the morning of the procedure, had the endoscopy done at 9:45 in the morning, finished and left the hospital at around 10:30. I had the results of both the endo and the h.plori at 1:30 the same day.

The staff at the International Clinic walked me through everything and the doctor I saw for my results spoke English and answered all my questions (with the pictures of my stomach on his PC).

http://www.dsmc.or.kr/e-dsmc/international%20Clinic/cnt2.htm

Hope this helps.

[tabula rasa]

sorry, I should add that it cost 120k. 107 for the endo and initial consultation pllus 13 for the final doctor's meeting. good luck.

[blackjack]

you don't need a doctor, kimchi has you covered

"A 2008 study published in Korean Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology found that kimchi contains a bacterium strain "showing strong antagonistic activity against H. pylori." The bacterium strain isolated from kimchi, designated Lb. plantarum NO1, was found to reduce the urease activity of H. pylori by 40-60% and suppress the latter bacteria's binding to human gastric cancer cell line by more than 33%."

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

[jdog2050]

[canale226]

Awesome, I appreciate the responses. As I am out here in the sticks (Pohang), I think I'll just go into the clinic where the English doctor works with a list of the medicines I need, and information about H. Pylori. I've had this bug since Cambodia, and the nausea is getting unbearable. I appreciate all the responses!!!