Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ya-ta Boy]

Wednesday morning my co-teacher said she had the flu. I woke up around 2am Friday morning with:

1. night sweats (ick!)
2. every muscle, joint and bone in my body was aching
3. chills and rather severe shivering that comes and goes every 4 or so hours
4. slight headache
5. a bit of lightheadedness
6. NO nausea so far

No visual or auditory hallucinations of pigs, though.

[Ya-ta Boy]

There seems to be a second kind of flu going around. I posted last week asking if anyone else had the flu, but no one replied, so I thought I was the Lone Ranger. It may not be swine flu, but I guarantee you will be sicker than a dog.

I came down with the flu last Thursday night but soldiered thru Friday. Saturday was hell and I decided if I didn't feel any better on Sunday that I would go to the hospital. Fortunately, my fever broke during the night and Sunday was a million times better than Saturday, but I still felt miserable.

I knew I needed to stay home yesterday, but didn't. Managed to teach all of one hour and most of the next. My fever was back and I was majorly dehydrated. Told the students to practice their presentations for Tuesday while I sat in the corner for two hours and concentrated really hard on not falling off the chair.

As soon as classes were over I went to the dispensary (I work on a very small military base) . The one doctor was terrific. He asked about travelling, contact with anyone who had travelled, etc. I told him that my one private student had been sick last weekend, but was getting better on Monday when we had class and was fine on Tuesday--so what he had was a 4 day thing. At first I thought I'd caught it from my partner, but yesterday she said she'd been fighting it off for about two months.

He said he was fairly certain my flu was not SI (I don't know why he called it that) but to make sure, I'll be going in to a gov't health center later today to get a blood test.

That drip thing worked wonders on the dehydration--it was a good feeling to get saliva back in my mouth. My temp came down a little (38.4) and I started to feel better. After that I had a terrific time chatting with the doctor and with the medic from Oklahoma. Also good: Doc asked how many days I wanted off work. My partner will have to do combined classes and is a good lady, so I didn't want to overdo a good thing. I said two days with the possibility of an extension.

I love having two free days off work in the middle of the week; too bad I feel like crap.

Anyway, if you have the same flu I have, get thee to a doctor. They are not quarantining everyone.

[bassexpander]

We had what you're describing about 3 weeks ago. The wife had it much worse than me.

[losing_touch]

I am in the midst of something terrible myself. My fever has mostly subsided, but I generally feel like crap!

[DrOctagon]

Nope. I'm as strong as an ox.

[ekul]

I caught something similar about a month ago, last only 2 days though.

[Socks]

[Michelle]

Hi Everyone,

Sickesses have abated in my life since I got plenty of plants for the apartment....

Breathing proper air is important.

[Yesterday]

Yep - I have many plants in my apartment also -

I have no pity for people who are always sick - just follow basic hygeine and nutrition sense..

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Apart from madatory medicals I've never been to the doctor in 4+ years in Korea, even with a broken nose and a fractured arm. I'm sure not about to go this week, unless dragged their unconcious by medics.

[Forward Observer]

If you eat a lot of kimchi, you will never get sick.

[dmbfan]

[I-am-me]

My cold is going on 4 weeks now. I cough on every korean I can just in case it is H1N1. Tag, you're it!!

[Ya-ta Boy]

Went to the Songpa Gov't Health Center this morning for a blood test. They called my doc from yesterday, then another doctor who agreed that whatever kind of flu I have isn't swine flu. (The Health Center is in a spiffy building with a wrap-around wooden covered walk-way. Nifty)

The second good news is that my boss called up and said I have the rest of the week off...so that means I only have 4 hours of teaching next week before our two week vacation. Yippy. That's a whole month off. Too bad the first week is used up being sick.

I don't think my problem is lack of fresh air. I live next to a forest at the foot of a mountain and at least a mile from any major road. Food ain't it either. I'm a decent cook when I want. Flu in 2001 and again in 2006, and now this time--by far the worst, so I'd say my health is reasonable. My problem was coming into contact with someone contagious--I think I'll charge him extra for that.

Since several others have had this, it pretty well shoots down my theory that I'm collateral damage in a biochemical attack on my private student. That's not entirely a product of a fevered imagination. He's heading up a new opposition group and got sick on the day of their first big seminar with opinion leaders from across the country.

[Yesterday]

want a tissue?