Korean Job Discussion Forums

[winnie]

I have to go to the doctor today....

I have the following symptoms...

Tightening of the chest when I breathe in...and I have been coughing up phlegm...as well as coughing occasionally.

I think it may be a post-flu bacterial thing, and I just want some antibiotics....

Can someone translate this? Maybe clue me in on the general procedure for going to the doctor here...do I have to go to the hospital or can I just go to the pharmacy? Just show em my health card(paper thing), and pay up?

[Ya-ta Boy]

Someone else will have to translate the symptoms for you. (Try at work so you have a note in Korean.)

Go to a doctor's clinic in your neighborhood and give your health card (the paper thingie) to the receptionist. After the checkup, take the prescription to a pharmacy. (Some doctors do sell medicine.) Be ready to get 4 or 5 different pills in little paper envelopes. Most of the pills have nothing to do with the specific illness. Don't worry about it. Just take 'em. [/quote]

[denverdeath]

Ya-ta Boy's advice is pretty good. Be careful with the mystery bag of meds though. A few people I know have had bags with up to ten pills in them and felt a little freaky after taking them all at once. You may want to wait until after you finish teaching to try the first round in order to let your body adjust. If you know the name of the anti-biotic you want, you can probably ask for the doctor to prescribe it to you and then go pick it up at the pharmacy. They usually only give you three-days worth though and you may have to go back for more. Anyway, follow Ya-ta Boy's advice. Probably can't hurt to have a doc make an assessment of what the problem may be...

[Derrek]

Those symptoms could be anything, but I had pneumonia 2 years ago, and luckily, the doctor took x-rays and sent me to a hospital.

Where are you?

Yonsei Severence Hospital has english-speaking doctors. As does the international clinic in itaewon.

[sparkx]

Winnie,

Leave stool, urine and blood samples on the the bottom step of the Sookmyung Women's University subway stop (exit 4). I'll swing by later today, pick them up and have my boys at the lab have a looksee.

[crazylemongirl]

sounds like asthma. But I think you should seek out an english speaking quack if your confident in Korean because the doctor may have some questiosn for you so that they can prescribe the right drugs.

They do seem to give you a lot of pills in a very short space of time. Last time I got an attack they gave me so many steriods my cheeks turned purple and I looked like a soju man!

[kermo]

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

[bucheon bum]

[eamo]

[Sliver]

���� ���� ����� ��ħ �Ҷ����� ������ ���Ϳ�. ��ĥ ���� ���Ⱑ �ɷȴµ� �ǻ缱���Բ��� ������ �׻����� ó�����ֽø� ���ھ��. �ǻ缱������ �ǰ��� ���� �� �ּ���.

(Breathing is difficult and when I cough there is phlegm. I had a cold so I think it would be good if you prescribed me some anti-biotics. What do you think?)

NB:�׻��� [hangsaengjae] is the word for antibiotic

You could print the above out and give to the doctor. I hope it pretty much says what you want.

That said, what everyone else has said about the medications and the need for a proper check up in Korea, especially with worsening respiratory symptoms, is pretty much true. Be careful and remember that doctors should be considered just like any service provider. If you don't like the service from one doctor or you're not happy with the result, go somewhere else. The good thing about Korea is that its cheap if you have insurance.

Get well soon.

[nrvs]

I think you should visit a doctor that speaks English. I don't know about you, but I prefer to be completely understood when I'm talking about any ailment. Especially one serious enough to send me to the doctor's office in the first place.

I recently visited Samsung Medical Center in Irwon (one stop from Suseo on the orange line). Making an appointment is easy; the reception staff are all RNs and speak perfect English. The doctor I saw spoke good English as well. He didn't burden me with unnecessary medication. If you live in Seoul, south of the Hangang, I think Samsung would be a good choice.

Koreans told me it's a bit expensive (W30000 to see the doctor) but I think it was worth it. Hell, it's way cheaper than any doctor in America. I don't have the Korean medical insurance so I imagine it's much less expensive if you've got it.

[rapier]

I have nice co-workers and can usually get one to go with me. failing that, either get them to write out what the problem is on paper, or call them to translate while you're there.

[winnie]