Korean Job Discussion Forums

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

Okay, so many are having trouble with coughs or cold-like symptoms, so let's start a thread on what to do.

1) Forget cold medicine, it'll make your condition worse. Not all cold symptoms come on at once, but the medicine seems to treat you like they di.

2) Get plenty of rest. Easy.

3) Take zinc lozenges (I don't know if pharmacies have them here).

4) Take Vitamin C, though studies show that the vitamin isn't as effective as once thought.

5) Wash your hands constantly.

6) Keep windows closed when you sleep.

7) If possible, get an antibiotic from your doctor. That could cut your sickness time greatly.

poppydaisy · Joined: 02 Mar 2008 Location: Bundang, Korea

Has anyone lost their voice due to a sore throat???? I have a sore throat and recently lost my voice. I never had this happen to me! I'm taking some medication that my boss gave me but I was wondering if I need a trip to the doctor? Has anyone had a sore throat? Can you share with me how you remedied your condition? Does anyone know if the pharmacy sells zinc losenges?? Embarassed

ciccone_youth · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Location: Japan

i lost my voice twice since i arrived in korea!

the school nurse gave me zinc lozenges, and i'm pretty sure they sell them at the local drugstore.

there is not much to do-- drink plenty of water and teas, and REST your voice!

no need to go to the doctor, your voice should slowly come back.

poppydaisy · Joined: 02 Mar 2008 Location: Bundang, Korea

Thanks! I'll go to the pharmacy tomorrow to get the zinc losenges. Anyone know why this is prevalent here in Korea? I have heard from another teacher that I interviewed having lost their voice. I've never had that happen before in the US.

kingplaya4 · Joined: 14 May 2006

If you're at a nasty school who's not going to give you a day off no matter what, I recommend taking that cold medication ASAP. While it won't do anything to strengthen your immune system, it will reduce postnasal drip, which is what causes you to get a sore throat and even lose your voice at times. Trust me I've had a million colds in Korea, if you want your teaching voice, take those nasty meds.

ciccone_youth · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Location: Japan

maybe it's all the screaming i do in the classroom or the kids' germs!

JerBear · Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Location: Seoul, South Korea

It's a combination of all the screaming kids who haven't been taught by their families and society to wash their hands properly along with a culture that doesn't spend a lot of time and effort placing soap and paper towels in bathrooms (communal hand towels??? give me a break!). Also, it's the Chinese dust, the pollution and the change in diet and exercise patterns that contribute to a weakened immune system.

There is one thing FOR SURE that you CAN do. Wash YOUR hands frequently and take hand sanitizer by the gallon with you to work. There are Korean brands of hand sanitizer (or so I've been assured by my Korean coteachers). I haven't personally found any because I brought some from the States with me. I've also seen some US brands for sale at the various expat shops in Itaewon.

I sanitize my hands between each class and have now made it a blanket policy NOT to accept any candy or other little treats that the kids try to give me. They're just being nice of course, but they haven't taken into consideration the germs that are crawling all over their unwashed hands. I try to be nice about it and if they persist, I just put in my pocket and throw it away later (and then sanitize).

ciccone_youth · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Location: Japan

oh yes, i cringe when they give me a candy they've been holding for like 10 minutes, all soft and warm.... ew.

but i was wondering, if i start not washing my hands so frequently, will my immune system adjust to the germs in korea and i won't get sick anymore?

i'm afraid that if i keep washing and sanitizing my hands, i'll get weaker and more prone to get germs? i don't know, though.

JerBear · Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Location: Seoul, South Korea

ciccone_youth · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Location: Japan

i see, thanks!

i'll keep using my anti-bacterial gel in between classes!

Imbroglio · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 5:12 pm Post subject:

I brought back 20 bottles of this stuff 2 months ago

BS.Dos. · Joined: 29 Mar 2007

poppydaisy wrote:

Has anyone lost their voice due to a sore throat???? I have a sore throat and recently lost my voice. I never had this happen to me! I'm taking some medication that my boss gave me but I was wondering if I need a trip to the doctor? Has anyone had a sore throat? Can you share with me how you remedied your condition? Does anyone know if the pharmacy sells zinc losenges?? Embarassed

Mine has just returned today. I had a sore throat last week, which then turned into a full blown cold over the weekend. Since then, I've had a really tight chest and a nasty dry cough. I've been taking the usual stuff; Vit C, cough drops/medicine and hot water with lemon/lime and honey and it's only (today) started to ease up.

It's been really annoying as I've been off all week and really wanted to hit the gym this week, but as my chest has been so bad, I haven't been able to go.

JerBear · Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Location: Seoul, South Korea

smedini · Joined: 02 Apr 2008

I was quite fond of Korean citron tea (yu-ja-cha) while living there and still buy it today at Korean shops here at home...it's full of citron and honey and while I have a cup of it now and again just for the yum of it, I load up on it when I feel something coming on. It always makes me feel better.

IMHO
~smedini

Ramen · Joined: 15 Apr 2008

No medicine in the world will remedy your cold or flu. Medication will only give you temp relief from your misery.

Take a week of sick leave and rest.