NR: I need advice about allergies
ok, sorry about the possible TMI in advance.
I moved to Korea about 2 weeks ago. About a week and a half ago, I developed a skin rash that has pretty much been with me since.
It's itchy and a little sore, classic allergy rash, and it seemed obvious that it was caused by something I was wearing or putting on my skin. I got some shirts drycleaned at the hotel and figured it was the harsh chemicals in the drycleaning. I wore some shirts that had been washed at home (in Canada) and it died down a tiny bit, so I forgot about it. Two days later we moved to our new place, I wore a shirt that had been washed in our new washer and the rash was back. I switched back to unwashed shirts from my suitcase, rash stayed and has been there ever since.
So now the wierd part. It's only on my ribcage, basically in a band from right under my arms down to my last rib, front and back, and that's it. If it were a reaction to a harsh detergent or chemical in clothes or soaps, it would only make sense that other "tender" parts of my body would be affected, but it's not even on my belly.
It could be stress (teaching at a new school etc.), a food allergy (I can't read much Korean, so I'm usually just guessing at what's in my food), or some other new environmental allergen, except that I'm not having any other allergy symptoms, and it's only in one spot.
The other wierd thing is that I've never been allergic to anything... usually only mild sniffliness at vast quantities of dust/fur etc, and never to food.
Visiting a doctor here is a daunting and time-consuming task for someone who's only been in the country for a few days, so I was hoping that someone here would have a suggestion.
Hi,
I'm sorry you're not feeling well.
When i went to Korea I had skin problems fairly often. I have excema but it seemed to worsen there. There could be a lot of reasons; water, mold (a lot due to the rainy seasons), pollution, yellow dust, detergents... I'm not sure what part of the country you are in or what you're school setup is. When I was there I lived in Suwon and the doctors there were easier to deal with than i had thought they would be. Your school is required to provide you with health insurance, and a doctor's visit should be about 3000 won. Just make sure to bring your insurance card. There are a lot of dermatoligists and you don't need a referral. Most doctors are required to take English in university so communication won't be terribly difficult. A lot of the signs for derms and other types of doctors should be in English as well. If not, you could ask someone in your school who speaks Korean to look up a derm. for you and possibly take you over. At my school we had an incredibly helpful staff who were more than willing to take us to the doctor and translate if necessary. If you're not that lucky you could always stop by a pharmacy to get a cortisone cream, over the counter. There won't be as much English spoken but a rash is pretty easy to mime ;) Keep in mind that privacy is different in Korea. Don't be surprised to find that your school knows whatever you've told your doctor, its not considered confidential. Also, many doctors there are very heavy on prescriptions for symptoms rather than finding the underlying cause. I've often come back from the doctor with a bag of unknown pills for my symptoms as well as ones to treat the side affects of the pills and the side affects of those pills. If there is a Korean staff at your school they might be able to point you in the direction of folk remdies or a chinese herbalist as well. Good luck. I hope you feel better
I just remembered,
If you are near the ocean, go for a swim. My doctor at home advises it for any and all allergy problems. The salt is a diinfectant, and a natural exfolliant. Sea salt, sand and sun always fix my skin.
Thanks...I think I will try and get to a doctor, although it's a long weekend, so it might be a couple days.
Teresamck I posted a topic about being veg in Korea a while ago, I don't know if you saw it, or if you vegan in Korea. Anyway, I'd appreciate any info you have about cooking veg here... any cool ingredients you found etc. (if you were veg here...)
Is it possible that you have shingles?
I second the ocean suggestion or soak in a tub w/ mineral salts if that is possible.
I hope you feel better soon.
hey
I was vegetarian when I was in Korea last time. I lived in Suwon (about 40 mins south of Seoul). It was a big city and I could shop in Seoul easily. I ate pretty much the same way I did in Canada. I did try some new veggies. The mushrooms were my favorite. King oyster are amazing and super cheap there. They are the really big ones that look like they've been shave to a point on the stem bottom. There is also some amazing fruit to try that people should be selling in carts all over your city now, pear -apples (yummmm), potato-sized yellow melons (I thought they were squash the first time I bought them), musk melons (look like honeydew but taste waaayy better).
If you are in the Seoul area there is a vegetarian group that meets monthly or biweekly at veg restaraunts through out the city. They are really fun. I only found out about them right before I left so I didn't get to know anyone well. I'll email one of the girls I know there to see if I can get you some contact info.
I shopped at Indian groceries for dried beans and lentils, as well as curry pastes and sauces. There were some in my city and also all over the Itaewon area of Seoul. There was also a seventh day adventist buffet in Seoul that also sold veggie products. I'll also try to get you directions there. It was a great way to try Korean food with out the stress of finding pork or fish in the middle of your dish (Oh no! That's not meat. Its pork, silly foreigner! :D)
I shopped a lot at Hannam market in Itaewon/Hannam neighborhood. If you are in Itaewon or Gangnam its a cheap cab ride till you get the hang of the subway and bus system. They have a ton of western food and clearly labelled Korean food. Its a great spot when you want a treat or need spices you can't find elsewhere.
Let me know if this helps or if you need any other info. I'll be back in Korea in July so you'll have to let me know about any veggie finds you make!
if you check out Galbi Jim forums
(http://wiki.galbijim.com/Vegetarian_restaurants), there are a list of
restaurants.
The Seoul Veg club also opened up a new website, send them an email to get
the updates:
http://seoulveggieclub.wordpress.com/
This place sells fake meat Korean style as well as being a restaraunt
Country Life Buffet |
Style Korean buffet Vegetarian-friendly? Fully vegan
Dinner for two 18,000 Address - Telephone 02) 511 2402
Country Life Buffet (시골생활, "country life") is a vegetarian buffet restaurant in Seoul, located near Shinsa Station exit 3; go straight out the station, turn left at Starbucks, and you'll find on your right on the second floor about midway down the street. Hours are 11:30 to 2:30 pm and 5pm to 9 (closed Saturdays). The price for the buffet, which is entirely vegan and features salads, soups, whole-grain bread, kimchi, jjajang,deokbokki, bindaeddeok, bulgogi, and kimbap, is 9,000 won, or 8,000 if you bring a large group.
and this is a listing of veg places in Seoul, keep in mind thoughg that rest. in Korea open and close fairly quickly so not all listings will be relevant.
http://wiki.galbijim.com/
thanks for the info... i'm in mokpo, not soeul, but i'll use it when i go visit.
i'm starting to think that this rash is stress related. it went away over the long weekend we got and then came back when i went back to school. something about getting yelled at for not showing enough respect to my principal is probably putting my back up :P
I don't suppose you can get tila (lime or lindenflower) tea, but maybe someone could send you some? If it is stress or humidity related, a good strong infusion of tila in cool bathwater, and a bit of a soak in it, would help a lot. I use it for prickly heat!
If you don't have a bathtub, you could soak a washcloth or small towel in it and lay it over the itchy bits for about 15 min.
Look in non-food recipes on here, and you'll find it.
BTW the herb I mean is Tilia cordata in Latin, in case your family/friends can't find it by the English names I gave you. I don't suppose they do much Latin in Korea...