Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Lorilou]

It seems like I've been sick since I've arrived in Korea! For the last 2 months, I've had some sort of cold, flu, fever or other illness. I'm sure it is because I'm teaching little kids all day long-- my friends here all teach high school or university, and have yet to catch so much as a cold.

So I'm curious-- am I the only one who's sick all the time here? Any suggestions on staying healthy? I'm been taking my zinc, washing my hands religiously, etc. But nothing really does much good. If you have been here a while and were sick constantly in your first few months, please tell me it will eventually get better. Right now I've resigned myself to being sick all the time, and figure I'll have a crazy good immune system by the time I leave here. Still, it's getting frustrating, and I'm tired of being dragged by my co-teacher to the korean doctors and prescribed unidentifiable pills that seem to do more harm than good...

[sheba]

I know how you feel... When I first arrived I was sick all the time too. Take precautions like wash your hands before eating or use hand sanitiser if youre worried about the kids, limit contact and be picky about eating any food they might offer you. Not a whole lot else you can do short of wearing those awesome face masks... lol

Also remember that things like late nights, drinking, bad food can weaken your immune system so try to live a reasonably healthy lifestyle, at least until you feel better! Maybe you could get someone from home to send you over some reliable medication - cold n flu tabs, painkillers etc so you know what youre getting.

You WILL get better!! Hopefully sooner rather than later. Once the weather starts warming up youll feel much better Im sure.

Good luck and hope you feel better soon!

[Lorilou]

Thanks for the advice-- I've been doing all of that with no avail, but will keep it up. How long did it take for you to stop being sick all the time? I'm hoping my immune system will start to toughen up here soon!

[Olivencia]

Eat some garlic.

[prairiemaker]

I have become weaker and sicker since I arrived three and a half years ago. Part of this has been stress. One big part is the difference in life style. At home I was always outside and always staying fit just by an active lifestyle. When I came here I began to get sick.


Like you I took Zinc trying to feel better. Then I became really sick. The problem is Zinc can become too high and also cause copper to fall. I had a test run and it turned out copper levels were seven times lower than normal. My hair and skin actually lost pigment color and hair became white and skin pale. I actually thought I was dying. One doctor finally suggested a trace mineral test. Zinc was twice as high as normal and Calcium and Magnesium were also very low. One reason was lack of D vitamin. D helps your body make use of several other vitamins and minerals. I do not go out as much here, especially in winter and I work long hours so gradually my D level dropped due to lack of direct sunshine.

I could not understand how I could go to Philippines and begin to feel better in two weeks and likewise after returning from Philippines be sick here again in two weeks. But in the Philippines was sun all day, clean air so sinus cleared, and a diet very high in copper like sardines and avocados.

Part of your sickness is also likely do to stress which causes several vitamins and minerals to fall. You can do test from here and pay USA doctor to do if you prefer. Test is 125 dollars and doctor to read and advice 60 dollars.

I never thought I would live in a place I had to run two air cleaners just to breathe clean air and eat bottled sunshine just to stay healthy. All of this made us really look at the quality of life my wife and I had here. We began to look at all the small things we really love and were missing and decided for us it is just not worth living here. I gave my university notice that at the end of contract we were leaving. It was a hard choice to make and a scary one because of the loss of money. Korea has given my wife and me tremendous opportunities that I would never have had anywhere else. I love my job, but the lifestyle and the way we respond to it actually makes us sick.

I would urge anyone who is sick here and not getting better to check their vitamin and mineral levels. Many have adapted here very well and live active outdoor lives in the sunshine and eat healthy. However many of us have not and after awhile the diet and lack of sunshine combined with stress can cause your vitamins and mineral levels to go way out of balance.

[Old fat expat]

I have not been sick since I stopped going to the gym.

While I had a gym membership, I was constantly ill. Gyms are extremely dirty here in Korea. I have been a member of 3 Korean gyms to date, got sick at each one of them, and each one was dirtier than any gym I have been a member of in the US or NZ.

Hagwons and gyms = flu petri dishes.

[Loza]

I was really sick when I first arrived too. You will get better!
Wash your hands as much as possible and keep them away from your face.

This is my advice to feel better:Try to stop eating processed food. Eat organic as much as possible. (Fruit and veg are great but Korea uses alot of pesticides). Most EMARTs have an organic section. Make your own food at home so you know what's going into it. (Though the well being restaurants here can be great!) Avoid genetically modified food- canola oil, corn products and soy/products containing these. Get some pot plants for your room to help keep the air clean. Get a bicycle.

Good luck keeping healthy. It's a constant effort!

[themagicbean]

I suffered almost constant sinus infections after moving here (I have allergies and a history of sinus problems but they'd been dormant a long time). Change in species of plants, change in pollution, more pollution, etc. Try sinus washes, regular exercise, jjimjilbangs, and if nothing else most of the usual remedies are here, learn Hangeul/Konglish and you can ask for pharmaceuticals by active ingredient (pu-soo-do-e-pe-du-rin (pseudoephedrine)) or western brand name (e.g., Zyrtec).

[The Goalie]

For food, take the Michael Pollan advise: Eat food (as opposed to food-like substances). Not too much. Mostly plants.

Get out. Not just out of the house but out of Seoul (if you live in Seoul). The Korean mountains are loaded with trails and they're easy to reach.

Don't sleep with your heat turned on.

Don't take medicine. Let your body's natural defenses do the work.

Download stuff that makes you laugh. It really is good medicine.

Above all, rest assured. It's normal for your body to take some time to adjust to so much that's new. I had a stomachache for my first six months. It went away.

[emetib]

Since I'm presently taking Zyrtec religiously, I already know my allergies are going to be insane going over there with the new environment. That, and I also love to run outdoors. How hard is it to procure an air purifier for my flat?

What is this whole neti pot business? I've seen them and considered them. Are they worth it? I can grab one before I head over, or can I get one easily over there?

Finally, is hand-sanitizer easy to find there, or do I have to stock up on the stuff before I leave? After working in the lab for so long, the things I've seen...

[Lorilou]

[djsmnc]

You guys are all wimps. I never get sick here or at home. I drink and smoke sometimes and don't take vitamins.

[prairiemaker]

We use two air cleaners for a three bedroom apartment. They are Cairs and we rent them for 25,000 a month each and they come and change the filters. You can buy them for around 600 dollars or 700,00 Won each, but the filters will cost around 14,000 Won a month. We would have done this if we were not leaving in September.

This seems to be common practice renting them in Korea. We are not in Seoul, but I am sure you can get them wherever you go, unless a very rural area. It will depend on were you live if you need them or not and what bothers your sinuses. We are right down town in one of the busiest parts of the city. They do work. My sinus improved after the first night.

[VanIslander]

1. Don't exercise outside if you're in Seoul, Incheon or Daegu, the three most polluted cities.

2. Indeed buy an air cleaner and have it on while you sleep.

3. Stretch. It's amazing how much it can improve your health if you take it seriously.

4. Water and fruit. Odds are you aren't getting enough.

[nautilus]