Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TheresaTheresa]

Had sinusitis once in my life living back in the west and that was in the thick of summer with a high pollen count and air quality warnings. Within a week of being in Korea I have had a chronic case of it requiring numerous trips to the doctor.

The stomach upset from the food I can understand but sinus infections are unusual for me.

Anyone else had this problem?

[redaxe]

Yep. I lived in Seoul for two years and during that time I got sinusitis about once every two or three months. When I get it, it starts with a sore throat, then a stuffy nose with brownish, bloody phlegm for a few days, and then after about a week it's gone.

I also got tonsilitis in Korea. I had never had tonsilitis in my life until Korea. That lasted a lot longer and was much more painful than the sinusitis, and I ended up having to take two courses of antibiotics to get rid of it.

[zhanknight]

Yeah, same thing. I've been looking for a neti pot half heartedly and haven't found one.

[cazador83]

i get it twice a year in korea (usually when the weather changes). it starts as a cold then turns into sinusitis. after a week on antibiotics it's usually ok. the ent told me that it's bc i have a deviated septum and need surgery....

[Hootsmon]

I have chronic sinusitis, which means it's permanent...and a huge pain in the backside. Every day of every season, at least one of my nostrils is blocked. I have a Neti Pot (there is a Korean website called "Happy Yoga" I think where you can order a ceramic one for only 10,000 or so) but it doesn't help me much, except in the winter when the air gets really dry.

I'm going to try some new nasal sprays/inhalations but if anyone knows any other solution (except surgery, which I want to leave as a last resort) let me know!

[Dazed and Confused]

[quote="zhanknight"]Yeah, same thing. I've been looking for a neti pot half heartedly and haven't found one.[/quote]

Use contact lense saline solution. The bottle is handy for putting it up your nose so you don't need a neti pot.

[Alphabet_Stew]

More probably Allergic Rhinitis

(sneezing, runny/blocked nose, itchy nose/ears, slight headache, sore throat)

It affects 1 in 5 people. (20% of the American population).

its actually more beneficial to pop into a local doctors clinic, pick up some medicine, than sitting on here complaining about it)

its bound to occur several times during the year in Korea with all the pollen and spores being blown around in the air.

[trixied]

i get it twice a year as well, in the spring and fall. this past spring, started as sinusitis then turned into a busted eardrum followed by a respiratory infection. had it for two very painful weeks. the doctor told me if i had surgery for my deviated septum, i wouldn't have problems anymore. but it only lasts a couple of days with medication.

[TheresaTheresa]

Christ - I see I'm not alone!

The Sinus infection I had back home was accompanied by severe coughing which sent me to the doctor before it got too bad.

The one I've had here had no coughing but I couldn't taste or smell anything so I had no idea what was going on with my health. Seems it made me smelly so off I went to the ENT. Dude had to drain my sinuses with a machine and been on meds/antibiotics for over a week. Thankfully it is improving quickly.

Hoping to prevent it happening again so suggestions welcome.

Will look into the saline contact lens solution as a netee (sp?) pot substitute. Thanks for that!

[HagwonKanobi77]

I feel like I have this as well. Is this where you blow your nose and a constant flow of the yucky stuff gets released? I've had this recently, and it seems to get worse about 2:00pm--when I start working. It wasn't that bad today, so maybe the Super Lysine and Ester-C I'm taking are working.

[Lost]

I've had 4 sinus surgeries in my life (1 in korea) due to it. I have a deviated septum (still) after it also. I've been going to a Traditional Korean Doctor Allergy clinic......"COBY"......... there are 10 of them around Seoul. Its slow, but treating the condition far better than the antibiotic/ steroid meds. Also....rather that looking for the netipot thingy.....my old Korean ENT told me to buy a enema tube with he pump, then buy the 1 liter saline water jugs at the pharmacy (1000 won per liter). Cheaper and easier. Its soooo much easier. When you squeeze the pump, it just shoots the saline up your nose and rinses clean. No weird pot/ head/ angles to worry about. Look in the bigger pharmacies near the hospitals. I buy half a dozen water bottles now that last me weeks and rinse twice a day. Cant smell much....but can breathe!

[dory]

i find the saline solution too weak and use a prepackaged mix with warm water.
you can also make your own by adding salt, though i think some types of salt work better than others.
i like to throw something antibacterial into my nasal wash too.

i use a squeeze bottle, so the earlier idea about using the contact lens bottle is a great idea. just be sure to sanitize between uses.

nasal washing (whether you use a squeeze bottle or neti pot) is AWESOME.
i currently have sinusitis and i blow out chunks of the nasty stuff every morning, but i can breathe for several hours afterwards.

the air quality is bad, and so is ventilation in my apartment. i also think the mold problem here contributes a great deal. i pretty much don't bother with antibiotics here anymore.

[nobbyken]

I like saline, but discovered cold tap water to be just as effective.
You can fill your cupped hands from the tap and lower your head horizontally into the water before drawing up your nostrils. When you feel it getting to the top, just let it run back out.

If it is blocked and bunged up (rarely these days, PTL) I use a syringe with tubing and a conical end which fits snuggly in the nostril. Tilt head like using Netti pot. I purchased this in a University Hospital Pharmacy. They have things you don't find in normal pharmacies.

[TheresaTheresa]

Lost, Dory, Nobbyken:

Thanks for these great suggestions! Will look into them this week.

[Capricious1]

Apple cider vinegar is a natural fighter of all that is phlegm, a few tablespoons deleted in water three times a day regularly will help then it out and get it under control. Not exactly tasty but useful.