Korean Job Discussion Forums

trigger123 · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 4:40 pm Post subject: How to get rid of a Korean Cold?

myself, and a number of my fellow waygookin's, are experiencing our first proper nasty korean cold. this year's strain appears to be particularly virulent, and none of us, despite eating lots of fruit, sleeping well, drinking lots of water etc seem to be able to shift the darn thing
without going into details (ummmm, well okay then i will...) i am shifting a lot of muck out of my face and there appears to be no let-up! i'm blowing my nose all the bllomin time and i've had it for at least 4 weeks now...
i've heard all sorts of advice from koreans, (eat this, drink that, do this twice a day, shake that), but frankly i'm not going that keen on some of their suggestions...
... so, assembled daves esl medical staff, what should i do?

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

small comfort perhaps but you are not alone ....

I am using medicinal whiskey every night. Damn, hev to buy another bottle on the way home tonight ...

peppermint · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 4:56 pm Post subject:

If it's been going on for a few weeks, go see a doctor. It might be a sinus infection, that's easily treted, and even if it's not, they'll give you a needle or a multicolored bag of pills that'll fix you up.

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Treating A Cold
Pat inquired, "What did the doctor tell you to do for your cold?"
"He told me to drink a big glass of fresh orange juice after a hot bath."
"Well, did it help?" Pat asked hesitantly.
"How do I know?" Mike retorted. "I haven't even finished drinking the bath yet!"
http://basicjokes.com/djoke.php?id=703

Health Watch -- Treating a Cold
When you're sick, whether you have a cold, fever or both, your body needs fuel to fight the illness. Starving the body weakens it in its battle with the germs.

Instead, when you get a cold, fever or any other kind of illness, you should eat a steady diet of nutritious foods. You should also keep yourself well-hydrated and get plenty of rest. Hot liquids – such as that old stand-by, chicken soup – may help open up sinus passages so you feel less congested. Most colds should run their course in a few days. If your illness lingers longer than a week, you should see a doctor. If sneezing, sniffling and congestion are chronic at particular times of year, you may have allergies instead of a cold.
http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/cda/dept16498/files/124936.html

Treatment list for Common cold: The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Common cold includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.

Rest
Fluids
Cold-and-flu medications
Aspirin - but not for babies, children or teenagers because of the risk of Reye's syndrome.
Acetaminophen
Decongestants
Cough suppressants
Antihistamines
Steam inhalation
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/c/cold/treatments.htm

COMMON COLD: TOP 10
http://www.lovetoknow.com/top10/common-cold.html

Koreabound2004 · Joined: 19 Nov 2003

Go to the hospital silly.

canuckistan · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:41 pm Post subject:

Geez I know what you mean. I've had this low-level thing parked in my head for a week after the initial bacchanal of spewing snot etc.
I very seldom get colds let alone colds that last 10 days, so this virus is surprising me at its resilience. It's just going to take time to drop kick the little *beep* out of my system.

I'd say the worst thing one could do is go out drinking or get food/fluids/sleep deprived in any way as I suspect it could come right back and turn into other nasty things.

casey's moon · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: Daejeon

If you have a lot of pain in your face, definitely see a doctor for some antibiotics. Otherwise, as Canuckistan, rest, hydrate and eat well until you're better, and stay off the sauce! Also, eat as much kimchi as your stomach can handle. The garlic and ginger can be really helpful. Oh yeah, and if you don't seem to have a sinus infection but are word about getting one, try snorting up some warm salt water a few times a day. Feels gross, but it really works.

I wouldn't go to a doctor unless I was sure I needed antibiotics -- they will give them to you even if you don't need them, along with a cocktail of other meds, some of which you definitely don't need.

thorin · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

How much do you drink/smoke?

If that isn't it, try traditional medicine. I don't know how it works but it seems to.

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

I'm getting it too I think.

Have fought off two this month before they became a problem but I think in this case it will be third time lucky for the buggery germs.

chiaa · Joined: 23 Aug 2003

When I was teaching I use to get sick six or seven times a year. Since running the store, once a year at most. For colds, I really think Korean doctors have their act together. The pill cocktail they give you works within a day with out fail (at least one me).

Go to the dcotor to get the cure.

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

I have this cold.. damn is a killer..
my nose is so congestered its the typical one nostral blocked, then that clears while the other ones blocks..
I take medicine..
yesterday went to the drug store the korean guy gave me asian medicine all these powders and stuff.. I hate that stuff.. he was like this good!
im ok.. so I take it and nothing happens... all night my nose is blocked
then I went down today and got some whiteman medicine and that too doesnt seem to be working.. I need to get better pills..
anyone know any good ones that work?

chiaa · Joined: 23 Aug 2003

trigger123 · Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 9:44 pm Post subject:

thanks alot for all the advice folks, i'll try some of these remedies out later...
and yes, usually i would have visited the doctors by now, but i don't have a lot of confidence in the local hospital.
i had my school medical a few weeks ago at this place (hmmm, and i was uninfected with cold at this point too...!), where amongst other tests i had to give a blood sample. after seeing the korean version of doctor nick from the simpsons give me my eye test ('please wear your glasses'), my height ('please keep your shoes on') and my blood pressure ('its ok to wear you coat while i apply the pressure cuff') i sat down to give blood to nurse kim.
now i used to give blood regularly in the uk, and i never had any trouble, but i think nurse kim was more used to drawing fluid from tangerines at med school cos after 3 attempts and two arms she had nothing to show for her dredging efforts.
but, to my horror, on effort no.4, i started to feel faint and i passed out! i woke up a little later, and there was nurse kim, reviving me with one hand with a syringe full of my blood in the other! she'd got it while i was out cold!
but its definitely wierd that so many of us have similar symptoms, maybe its a strain of cold that we don't get back in our home countries? i too was rarely sick back in england...

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

What the average person doesn't know and what doctors do is that the human body most times than not, will heal itself, rid itself of this, that or whatever. However, sometimes, it needs help.
If you have had it longer than a week, it's sounds like a virus. Flu shot should clear you up.
But...try going to the sauna for 3/4 days in a row. Sit in the sauna for a few hours. Rotate back and forth between the sauna, cold and hot pools but spend more time sweating it out. Stand it as long as you can and then some. It'll loosen up your sinus, etc. Just going for 30 minutes won't help. You got to sweat it out. Finish...go home and sleep. Of course....drinking a gallon or two of water will really help....the more you drink...the more you pee and flush out you system. Sounds corney and something grandparents say...but...it works. Unless it's a virus. But...you're hanging with your buds who are sick...that's the worse thing to do! All you're doing is passing the bug to each other!

paperbag princess · Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Location: veggie hell

i use otrivin to get through my classes when i'm sick and otherwise try to steam my head frequently and sleep lots and lots. invest in a humidifier if you haven't yet!

i like the vitamin drinks that have 1000mg of vitamin c in them, but i think they also have tons of sugar, so i don't know how good for you they actually are.

in my experience, the doctors here abuse anti-biotics, so be careful that you aren't perscribed anti-biotics if you don't need them. even colds can last many weeks, if the mucus isn't bright green than you probably don't need antibiotics.