Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CabbageTownRoyals]

I've actually got the flu right now and its been so long since I've had it, I'd forgotten how hellish is really is~ body aches, fever, splitting headaches, exhaustion. Feels like I've been hit by a freight train basically.

Anyways. Do you know much about the flu shot? I've never had it before, cuz in NZ its recommended only for children/elderly. And I know it only covers the main strains but I just don't want to go through this more than once this winter.....

I'm also wondering if its worth getting after one has already had one strain of the flu?

[Beeyee]

Please type the words 'Flu Shot' and 'Alzheimers' in to Google before you consider this lethal concoction.

[wylies99]

Good question. I'd recommend 1) Vitamin C every day, 2) Lots of sleep, 3) Airing out your classroom as much as possible and 4) Staying away from sick people.

Oh, and if this is your FIRST winter in Korea, expect Koreans (students, teachers, strangers on the subway) to be sick 100% of the time. If you are on the subway, stand as close to the door as possible. You'll thank me later.

As for the actual shot- nahhhhh. You had it.

[CabbageTownRoyals]

Yes, I did look into it, seems a little controversial. Its like most inoculations, all doctors seem to have a different opinion, but the truth is, we don't know the truth about the long-term effects of many very modern drugs etc.

I'll def. give it a miss this year, but am still not certain about future shots.

I'm still curious to hear about other people's experiences with it tho..

[MrRogers]

I have taken flu vaccinations for many years and they have always helped me - while I see others drop like sprayed flies - and I have a weak immune system

I firmly believe in flu vaccinations!!

along with vitamins, herbs, wet wipes everywhere, SALINE to clean out your sinuses, and washing one's hands every other minute with hot water and soap after leaving public places, computers, and school/kids environment (don't touch the doorknobs!! or wash your hands with soap and hot water - of course impossible to do at ALL the nine schools I go to - so I use wet wipes then and sterilize when I return home)

also - wipe down your cell phone, computer and other personal items you touch with wet wipes and dry with tissues

[Zulethe]

Do not take the flu shot, or antiboitics unless absolutely necessary. Your bodies natural foreign body killers will be compromised. Not to mention after years of taking flu shots, eventually, your body will become accostumed to these helpers and your natural immunity will be on vacation.

Not to go into biology but really do some research on this. When I was in the military, they forced me to take these, which makes sense because one's country needs to have it's fighting forces ready. Much like any country promotes the flu shot to keep it's people productive.

It's not good!

If your not concerned about living a long life...to me means into your 90's, then go for it.

Remember this post, when your older and you find yourself suffering from every virus or bacterial agent out there.

Eventually, your immune system just won't work properly and neither will the antibiotics or other medicine you take to keep diseases at bay.

Z

[some waygug-in]

If you've already got the flu, the shot won't help much.

It may help prevent future infections, but if you fight off the infection naturally, your body will have developed its own antibodies to the virus.


Get plenty of rest, stay warm, drink plenty of fluids....especially teas.

Here's one I like; get a fresh lemon, cut it in quarters.

Put 3 of the quarters into the fridge for future use. Squeeze 1/4 into a cup.

Put the squeezed fruit in as well. Pour in some honey (enough to make it sweet enough for your taste)

Pour in some cinnamon powder.

Get a tea bag (green tea). Pour in hot water.

Sip slowly, allowing the steam from the cup to enter your nostrils.

Do this 3 - 4 times daily.


If you are able to get around town, see if you can find one of those old style "Sam Gye Tang" restaurants. The ones that put in lots of ginseng
and give you lots of fresh garlic slices as a side.

When you are served, put all the garlic into the soup as it boils. The heat will cook the garlic a bit and make it a bit less harsh to the taste.
Add some salt (because they usually don't add any). Some hot peppers and onions as well, but not too much. Eat slowly. If it's a good restaurant they will give you a small cinnamon drink after you're done.

When you finish, go straight home to bed, and keep yourself good and warm.

I bought a small heating pad that I put under my neck, it helps a lot. I also wear a wool hat (toque) to bed with me. I find that if I keep my head warm, I get over these things a lot faster.

[moosehead]

it's a testament to the lack of science education in today's Western cultures to read the incredible posts on this thread -


ok here's a few tidy items not mentioned

one's body is in a constant state of making antibodies - constant ok? after a certain amount of time, some of those antibodies are discarded - dissolved - because they are no longer needed.

first of all, if one succumbs to the flu, yes, you will have some antibodies but again, those don't stay in your system forever - hence we get sick again and again. some people who "never" seem to get sick - don't go out much or do actually have unusually strong immune systems - which is a genetic trait, btw.

when one gets a flu shot these days - the shot will immunize against a minimum of 3 types of flu - so even if you've been sick once, you may still get sick again so yes, it DOES pay off to go ahead and get the shot - plus once you've been sick, your immune system has actually been significantly challenged, as well as your body as a whole which actually weakens your ability to cope with future exposures to colds within, say, the next several months or so.

someone mentioned the flu shot only being for children and the elderly - well - that's not entirely true. people who work in high-risk situations should also be getting immunized - and who is that? health care workers, for one, and guess what - teachers are another - do you really need an explanation as to why?

please DO note - getting a shot is no big deal BUT to acquire the best possible immunity one should NOT have even a SNIFFLE when getting vaccinated else the shot will not work or have a minimal effect. Try and get it when you are as well as can be. People who have allergies to eggs should ask first as albumin (egg white) is often used in the cultures in which the serum is prepared.

as to other precautions - yes, washing one's hands is important - also - minimize handling of papers such as homework and notebooks - these are cesspools of germs, honestly. I also try not to use anyone else's pens or pencils but my own - keep one on you for signing things - banks, anywhere. Don't share cups, of course, or anything else. Yes, open windows on buses when possible, avoid crowds here in K in winter -

drs here often include caffeine in the drugs they prescribe - hence a lot of Ks manage to go to work/out even when very ill. they are contagious as hell but have no consideration for the fact they are spreading disease. Be careful. It will help.

Respiratory infections can be serious and can make a foreigner sicker than the locals simply because we have no immunity to the local bacteria and viruses. Don't let people guilt-trip you - if you are sick and can't work, then don't. Take care of yourself - no one else is going to do it. It's all up to you.

The flu shot can be obtained just about any clinic or hospital. It will run you around 20-40,000 won. Well worth it. Some drs even recommend it twice a year.

peace

[moosehead]

it's a testament to the lack of science education in today's Western cultures to read the incredible posts on this thread -


ok here's a few tidy items not mentioned

one's body is in a constant state of making antibodies - constant ok? after a certain amount of time, some of those antibodies are discarded - dissolved - because they are no longer needed.

first of all, if one succumbs to the flu, yes, you will have some antibodies but again, those don't stay in your system forever - hence we get sick again and again. some people who "never" seem to get sick - don't go out much or do actually have unusually strong immune systems - which is a genetic trait, btw.

when one gets a flu shot these days - the shot will immunize against a minimum of 3 types of flu - so even if you've been sick once, you may still get sick again so yes, it DOES pay off to go ahead and get the shot - plus once you've been sick, your immune system has actually been significantly challenged, as well as your body as a whole which actually weakens your ability to cope with future exposures to colds within, say, the next several months or so.

someone mentioned the flu shot only being for children and the elderly - well - that's not entirely true. people who work in high-risk situations should also be getting immunized - and who is that? health care workers, for one, and guess what - teachers are another - do you really need an explanation as to why?

please DO note - getting a shot is no big deal BUT to acquire the best possible immunity one should NOT have even a SNIFFLE when getting vaccinated else the shot will not work or have a minimal effect. Try and get it when you are as well as can be. People who have allergies to eggs should ask first as albumin (egg white) is often used in the cultures in which the serum is prepared.

as to other precautions - yes, washing one's hands is important - also - minimize handling of papers such as homework and notebooks - these are cesspools of germs, honestly. I also try not to use anyone else's pens or pencils but my own - keep one on you for signing things - banks, anywhere. Don't share cups, of course, or anything else. Yes, open windows on buses when possible, avoid crowds here in K in winter -

drs here often include caffeine in the drugs they prescribe - hence a lot of Ks manage to go to work/out even when very ill. they are contagious as hell but have no consideration for the fact they are spreading disease. Be careful. It will help.

Respiratory infections can be serious and can make a foreigner sicker than the locals simply because we have no immunity to the local bacteria and viruses. Don't let people guilt-trip you - if you are sick and can't work, then don't. Take care of yourself - no one else is going to do it. It's all up to you.

The flu shot can be obtained just about any clinic or hospital. It will run you around 20-40,000 won. Well worth it. Some drs even recommend it twice a year.

finally, the shot is not a guarantee you won't get sick - but if exposed, chances are if you get sick, you won't be as sick as you would have w/o the shot. It can shorten the duration and make the difference between feeling terrible and feeling deathly ill and being in bed for a week. That's worth it to me.

peace

[MrRogers]

Moosehead, you said it all!

[mindmetoo]

[D.D.]

[mindmetoo]

[DoubleRS]

Mindmetoo...Good job at batting down the idiotic claims.

From what I've read and talking to my doctors, a flu vaccination allows the body to develop it's own antibodies to fight against future infections. I've had inoculations in the past, but not for the flu. I've traveled a bunch but mainly for vacation.

I'm moving this week to Yangyang and I do not want to sacrifice my sick days if in case I get the flu. However, I agree that consistent flu shots will weaken your immune system. But for this one time, I'd rather error on the side of caution to NOT get sick THIS particular winter

[moosehead]

immunizing against a virus will NOT weaken your immune system - in fact it will probably strengthen it -

assume your body is in a state of health, no present illness. everything working properly. you get the flu shot; you've just boosted your immune system to a higher state of protection - the antibodies are there, for a particular amount of time - they decrease as the months go by.

you are exposed to a virus you are immunized against. your body's antibodies now go into action fighting the infection. assuming you are still healthy, chances are you won't get sick or will only become slightly ill.

now, assuming you had the shot but was exposed to something else that wasn't in the shot. your body spends a great deal of energy putting all its resources fighting this particular infection then - wham - you are hit with another one, this time you've been immunized for it. your body has some antibodies already on tap and can mount a significant defense that can at least keep you from being as ill as if you hadn't had the shot at all, but this time you'll be pretty sick.

now, 3rd scenario, you are healthy and don't believe in vaccinations. you become exposed and don't get that sick because you are young, vigorous, exercise and eat properly. you think, I can handle this. then you get exposed to another virus w/i a couple of weeks of the first one. this time you get really sick - wow - knocked off your feet, can't get out of bed sick. what happened? your defenses were weakened by the first attack and w/o the flu shot you didn't have anything in reserve to fight it.

as for a long-term weakening of your immune system, the reason this won't happen is because antibodies don't stay around forever in your system for general influenza/respiratory/cold viruses. Anyway, they mutate so fast what we are immune to today we won't be immune to next month and especially next year.

unfortunately, as we grow older our immune systems do break down and weaken, hence the advice people over 50 or so should get flu shots. youngsters get immunizations because their systems aren't finished growing yet and being attacked by a serious disease can harm their growth, even cause problems with organs such as the heart.

it absolutely boggles my mind that in this day and age, people are still afraid of getting vaccinations - one of the easiest ways to keep your life healthy and vibrant. but then again, people still smoke also - go figure

**at home** people often pass viruses back and forth between their loved ones. watch out for toothbrushes - if you get sick, keep the same toothbrush but when you start getting better - throw it out - even twice - your toothbrush can harbor enough material to make you sick again. you can even soak it in alcohol overnight if you'd rather not replace it.

push the fluids and as much protein as you can manage - antibodies are almost pure protein and you are making them like crazy when ill. fresh fruits, veges, can do you more good than just vitamins. turn on the vaporizer and stay warm.

air out your apt as often as possible to keep viruses and bacteria from multiplying.

and if your K dr prescribes antibiotics, take them. they know more than you about secondary infections which DO appear as opportunistic infections following a viral infection.

viruses and bacteria are way more advanced than humans - they've been around long before our ancestors ever even clubbed one another over the head for that extra morsel. respect the fact that there is a reason they've managed to survive for so long and hopefully we will manage to stay here also.