Korean Job Discussion Forums

oneofthesarahs · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Location: Sacheon City

So I have just about the worst sinus infection of my entire life. I thought it was just a long-term cold, but now I have acute pain across the entire front of my head, bad enough that it's starting to make my teeth hurt.

Are there any over the counter sinus infection meds that I can get here? I'd rather avoid going to the doctor if I can. I've had enough sinus infections that I know that it's what I have. I also doubt I'll be able to find an English speaking doctor in my little town, and I hate to have to drag somebody along with me.

nwise · Joined: 22 Mar 2007

A "sinus infection" is non specific to the actual cause of the problem. As you probably know, it can either be viral or bacterial. Therefore, to treat the cause, you require diffrent meds. .

To treat the symptoms, congestion, runny nose, etc, you can use pretty much the same things.

Hope you feel better.

Matilda · Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Location: Gimhae gal

ooohhh I feel for you!

I too have tried unsuccessfully to access some 'sudafed' type tabs like back home (containing pseudoephedrine and codeine).

You may want to try 'Otrivin' here. It is a menthol nasal spray produced in Switzerland. At least it will dry your nose enough to have a comfortable nights sleep.

Hope you feel better soon!

jmbran11 · Joined: 19 Jan 2006 Location: U.S.

If you truly have a sinus infection (which it sounds like you do), then you probably need antibiotics. Usually, I am one of those people warning against taking antibiotics for every little thing, but in my experience that's the only way to fix your problem when it's at that stage. Of course, you could wait it out, but that will be miserable!

You need to see a doctor. Unfortunately, I've been twice for the same thing. They barely look at you and prescribe a handful of pills, so you'll have no idea what you're taking (sometimes you have the injection option). The bright side is that it's very quick and cheap. But, nothing OTC is going to help you.

If you find something that works without a doctor, let us know. Sorry you're feeling bad; everything sucks when your face hurts.

AylaZ · Joined: 30 Jan 2007

Sorry to hear that. I had similar pain and after trying pharmacy drugs and trying to self medicate (spun me out and made me real drowsy) I gave in and went to the doctor...

oneofthesarahs · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Location: Sacheon City

Yeah, I'm accepting the inevitable, I'm going to see a doctor. I've had lots of minor sinus infections in the past that I was able to self-medicate away, but this one is different. I woke up this morning with THROBBING pain in and around my eye socket and cheek bad enough that it was intefering with work. I'm not one to pad out lessons but in one of my classes I was like, "Uh...let's just play hangman for 20 minutes so teacher can sit in the back of the room and pretend like she's paying any attention to what you're doing."

Right now I feel a bit like my head has declared mutiny on my body.

Guess4me · Joined: 02 Dec 2006

This may sound a little gross, but there is a very simple indicatory of whether it is sinus congestion or a sinus infection.

If the discharge from your nose is clear, it is congestion. Sudafed and other over the counter stuff is called for.

If the discharge from your nose is yellow, green, or red, there is infection. The ONLY thing that will clear up an infection is antibiotics.

This info comes directly from a very good allergist.

laconic2 · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Wonderful World of ESL

I was in Korea for many years and had sinus infection after sinus infection. Tried everything available and they just kept coming back. Never did go away until I left Korea. I've lived in two other countries since then for several years and have never had a sinus problem again. True story.

momworld · Joined: 12 Jan 2005 Location: Yeoungjongdo

I had a long term sinus infection and the local doctor gave me stuff that didn't do anything but cause a scar on my lip ???
I finally went to the Foreigners Clinic at Severance Hospital (next to Yonsei University). Dr. Litton there gave me strong antibiotics. It DID cost about $40 for the appt. with insurance but well worth it.
mom

iain77 · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Location: here, now

just got over one myself, it began the same as yours, with a long cold that overstayed it's welcome, which transmutated into numb teeth and throbbing face. second bout with this i have had in three years here. bite the bullet, go to an ENT, you need antibiotics. if you feel unhappy about that bring a korean with you and insist that it is, in fact, a sinus infection.

jimmiethefish · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: pusan

I had exactly the same thing with an extended cold first, then severe pain around the eye sockets, teeth, and sinus passages etc that would not go away but it turned out to not be a sinus infection (had to have a sinus scan- cost about 35,000 with med insurance) but severe inflammation due to dryness and cold over winter. The ENT cost 3,000 a trip and the meds about 2,000. The ENT explained that dryness can cause a lot of pain and infammation.

I also have dry eye which causes a lot of pain around the eyes and in the sinus area. Again 3,000 for the ophthalmologist and 1,500 for the eye drops. I had the benefit of the advice of a friend in my home country who is an ophthalmologist. She suggested the problem might originate from the eyes as like sinus infection, problems here can cause sinus pain and should be eliminated as the cause if sinus treatment is not working. The ENT eventually picked up on the eyes too after the symptoms stopped improving and I had the sinus scan.

If you do have dry eyes the doc probably won't tell you to put hot compresses on them up to four times a day. It provides considerable relief and helps improve things faster that eye drops alone.