Korean Job Discussion Forums

bixlerscott · Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Location: Near Wonju, South Korea

[b]Anyone experiencing sore throat and sinus trouble again and again in recent times?[/b]

I have in Korea about 6 weeks and my throat sure gets sore regularly since day 3, but was worse today after I felt fine yesterday. I was starting to feel better over this past weekend, but then I wake up this morning on Monday to find my throat is very sore once again... Sore all the way to my friggin brain.
I am pissed as I was going to go out and travel to Busan today on this pretty nice sunny warm Monday off. I get up at 8am today, after going to bed early and avoiding any drinking and then I am just feeling wasted with f*cked up pain in my throat and head again today. Could not swallow and it still hurts to swallow tonight. Does not make a bit of sense why I am just sick sick sick since day 3 in Korea. (been a few days that I felt good, but not many)

I have never had much sore throat and head ache before in my life. Seems like my fellow foreign teachers and the Koreans are doing just fine here, but not me. I am foxed on this one as I am generally pretty strong and healthy...

[b]What is the deal? Can anyone tell me whats going on and what I might do?[/b]

Been to the doctor twice and they did not do anything out of prescribing 2 measly days of some sort of pills so I gave up on the doctor and just hoping I get over it soon. I do get over it once every several days and then I get it all over again. Been through the cycle like 5 times now.

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

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=52252&highlight=Morning+Glory

Get a Morning Glory!!

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

Try an HEPA air filter and make sure you're drinking enough water.

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

Does your head hurt when you bend forward? If so, your headache and sore throat are due to the infection and/or inflammation of your sinuses. Go see a doctor about it, drinks lots of water, get a HEPA filter (100 000 should get you a nice one, search for '공기청정기' at gmarket.com) and a nasal saline humidifier (search for 'coclean' at gmarket.com).

dogshed · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

A few years back my cough and sore throat were diagnosed as an alergy.
A little loratadine (Claritin in the US) takes care of the problem. May or may not be part of your issue.

Loratidine is cheap and almost completely harmless so it wouldn't hurt to just try it. One pill per day. Mine cost 200 won each.

Sinus infections may be secondary to something else that causes the mucus production such as an alergy. Finding a solution to the first issue may leave you with the second issue.

There have also been things in the news about an immune response to fungi.

On some people like me decongestants make the mucus thick and the problem worse. This is why I don't take alergy medication with a decongestant like Claritin-D.

An expectorant like guaifenesin is supposed to make the mucus thin and watery to promote drainage.

cerulean808 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

I get 'strep throat' a lot more in Seoul compared to home. Due to the pollution I think. Last bad bout was just after the yellow dust last Spring coupled with a late night of soju drinking.

For a sore throat I find gargling salt water brings almost instant relief especially if you start doing it as soon as you feel the first symptoms coming on. A couple of tea spoons or as strong as you can handle in a glass of water. Gargle as often and as long as you like. If its bad I keep a glass of salt water by the bed because the throat gets worse at night ( probably coz I snore and my throat drys out ) and wakes me up.

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

dogshed · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

If it's not an allergy, it could partly be due to having to talk - and yell - more than you're used to doing...

I'd recommend drinking a lot more bottled water, ginger (or fresh ginger-root) tea with honey and lemon - and always use like Halls or Robitussen cough drops/candies ...

You can cut down a lot on yelling (if that's what you do...) by buying some kind of whistle (I picked up a slide-whistle from a music store ...) or even a tambourine (which is also good for chants, drills, and songs...)

[Of course, this thread is in the wrong forum - should be in "General" discussion about living in Korea...]

Nowhere Man · Joined: 08 Feb 2004

bixlerscott · Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Location: Near Wonju, South Korea

Good suggestions as more activities that do not require physical supplies are sought after. The books are too small, supplies very limited, and the kids lose control of themselves to get in some free play time to run off all that energy.

I was yelling and trying with all my innerpersonal effert in my 1st month, but now, I stopped. No point in wasting my breath and energy getting kids to sit down and work a little when the Korean staff seem to not care in detail about the education itself. They just want you to handle it whichever way you will (in a discreet manner) and go with the flow while they put on a good front to parents. Some days the kids will listen to sit down and other days, they run so hard, there is no hope to do anything other than baby sit them for the prescribed class time. As most experienced foreign teachers say, "Go with the flow, and live and let live, and what happens, happens".

It is frustrating to get sick repeatably, becuase you feel weak and suffering and it is unacceptable in Asian countries to show or admit weaknesses. Apparently, arriving here in Winter and adjusting here your 1st time can realy fox your body out which does take 2 months to build up immunity like people normally have, as many foreign teachers have told me. Good thing Kindergarten is out this week so that just leaves a couple of elementary classes in the afternoon to teach and then we get Thursday off so maybe this lets alot of the stress off of me while we ease into Spring, very nice healthy weather, minus this yellow dust thing. (They say it's not as bad on the south coast, I have not noticed anything)

Yea, I got socked with a bad cold once again last Thursday and stayed home all weekend (starting to feel better). Hopefully I can go enjoy my Independence day, March 1st, in Busan and it's nice and sunny like today.

Fresh Prince · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: The glorious nation of Korea

Since coming to Korea, I've experienced all kinds of ailments. I've had minor sore throats, ear infections, stomach issues, skin problems, you name it. It's all part of adjusting to a new country with different bacteria and viruses everywhere. That's not even considering the added stress of working in another country. Exposure to stress lowers the immune system's ability to function. Dealing with a bunch of rowdy kids for the first time is going to have that effect on most people.

You'll adapt to it sooner or later and your body will develop defenses (assuming you have a healthy immune system). It just takes some time. Try to enjoy your time here. Get involved with your local expat community and take Korean classes. I've found that for some reason, keeping busy makes everything a lot better.

W.T.Carl · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

About 4 weeks into my stay in Korea, I came down with the flu. Then came colds and a truely nasty case of sinusitis ( keep in mind that the Koreans consider blowing one's nose very dirty). It was not until about April that I felt what I would be consider to be well. By June, I was strong as bull. Now I am rarely sick. It will take time!

Adventurer · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

For so many months I've felt phlegm in my throat, but since I've been drinking lots of herbal teas including dark, Chinese green tea and taking Vitamin C tablets, the phlegm is not there so much, and I don't get a cold as often as before. I don't think I simply built up a tolerance to the germs and pollution.

dogshed · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

There's an episode of "ER" where a girl has a sore throat and it was gonorrhea.