Korean Job Discussion Forums

margaret · Joined: 14 Oct 2003

The last time I was here ( 3 years ago) I developed bad asthma, which was later complicated by a sinus infection. I ended up in the hospital, where some of the medicine I was given made me think I was going to die. I lived through it but when I got out of the hospital the sinus infection was gone but the asthma was as bad as ever. My boss sent me home, which I was happy to do as I couldn't work and was scared as hell. As soon as I arrived in Florida I felt better, but it took me almost a year to completely regain my health.
So after a couple years of great health in the U.S. I came back here, and it's happening again! 10 days ago I started getting an asthma attack. I also seem to have flu symptoms but they might be part of the asthma. My boss took me to the Dr and I'm taking some medicine. I start to feel better and then feel worse. I missed 2 days of work--one day last week and one day this. The simplest things that I was doing OK with before now seem almost impossible--staying warm (I'm always freezing at school), eating food, sitting up in a chair (my lungs or back hurt), going to the freezing bathroom out in the stairwell.
I'm just wondering if I'll actully get better, especially before my boss loses patience with my missing classes. I'm the only foreign teacher--it's a very small school--so if I don't teach she just has my classe watch movies. I want to keep my job, and get well again. I only have 3 months to finish my contract, but right now I don't know if I'll make it.
Margaret

canuckistan · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 9:27 pm Post subject:

Poor you, that's an unfortunate situation to be in.
Are you living in Seoul or another city where the air pollution is bad? Think that could be what's aggravating it?

Really hope you get better and make it through to the end of your contract.

margaret · Joined: 14 Oct 2003

No, Im living in Jeomchon. The air has been particularly good lately. I chose this part of the country partly for that reason. Even my regular allergies had dried up now that it's dry and sunny most of the time. I was feeling great and then suddenly--bam. I started coughing last Weds. night. I thought maybe it was because the gas man had spilled gas and it was lying around on some papers around the heater. I thought it was strange because I've never had that bad a reaction to gas. Then I came down with flu-like symptoms. (I had my flu shot). I seemed to get over the virus thing in a few days but the asthma is hanging on.
Margaret

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

Wow. I think if I would have had the first experience you had three years ago, I would have avoided Korea like the plague in the future. I think just about anyone who has ever been in Korea realizes it's not exactly the cleanest air in the world. I got back to Canada a week ago and I was breathing easier the minute I got off the plane.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Korean winters can be very very dry....sometimes the dryness causes cracking in the nasal membranes and inflames them.

I would recommend getting a humidifier and sleeping with that on at night(some of the smaller ones you could even carry to class)It might help. Also try the mask. It also helps keep your nasal passages moist and filters out alot of the pollution.

Do you suffer from nosebleeds? If so then my money would definately be on dryness.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

Sympathies...it is quite simply..the air. I'm sick fairly often in korea. Climb a nearby mountain and you will soon see why! A layer of pollution lies over every town and city!

This what happens when a nation is hellbent on industrialising and simultaneously wrecking its environment for short term profit.

Margaret: might a regular exercise regime help? I know that a jog every day makes your lungs more efficient and helps clear them, for example.
Drinking a lot of water will clear your system of toxins very effectively.
perhaps...try to reduce the stress in your life as well.

I've never trusted modern medication, and will avoid any pills or unnatural chemicals at all costs. they make the problem worse.
The body is more than capable of healing itself when given a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

Get yourself to a ��ǿ�, An Oriental Doctor. Many speak English, even in a backwood town. After that medicine I didn't get the flu for 3 years!
Do it!!! I can't stress it enough.

margaret · Joined: 14 Oct 2003

moptop · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Location: Gangwondo

I just recovered from what you are experiencing. I'm about a 1/2 hour from Seoul, and when I came here to the slightly more "rural" area, my lungs improved. (I was near Yeouido last year, and my asthma was bad). I was feeling good for most of the year, working out, feeling strong, few lung problems, and then I got the flu.

I could not recover from this thing. I had the flu for about 2 weeks really bad, and then most of the symptoms went away, but would occassionally return. I was so confused! I would be fine one day, and then the next day I would exert a little more energy and get flashes of fever, stuffed up nose, and coughing fits. My co-teachers thought I was either schizophrenic or faking it. I went to 4 different doctors, took 3 different sets of antibiotics, and I could not get 100 percent well. I went to traditional Korean doctors for accupuncture, etc. and it helped a little, but I was still experiencing crazy backaches and sore muscles. I thought it was from coughing so much...

Finally after getting off work and wanting to do nothing but sleep for 15 hours, and having a particularly bad night of my lungs making crackling noises, I went to the local hospital and (luckily) was only able to see a pulmonary specialist instead of a regular doctor. He took an x-ray of my lungs, made me do a peak flow test and announced I had pneumonia, which was aggravating my asthma. They had to clear up the pneumonia first before they could deal with the asthma. After almost 3 months I am finally starting to feel human again but it takes a long time to recover if you don't have the right doctor and the right medication. Don't settle for just feeling OK. Make sure you keep bugging them until you find the proper treatment. If I had done this in the beginning I wouldn't have become so seriously ill.

I also recommend the humidifier, the medical mask (especially when you go outside), and the traditional medicine. The medicine seems to boost your immune system a lot. I plan to take it when I finish my current medication. (don't want to mix and match!) I wish you luck and speedy recovery with your illness...

margaret · Joined: 14 Oct 2003

I just wanted to let everybody know I'm gradually feeling better. Last week I was able to work all my classes without feeling miserable. Today I actually enjoyed work and wasn't tired at the end of the day.
The only big pain in the butt left is that it takes me a long time to get a night's sleep. I have to sleep propped up on pillows or I cough constantly, and I often cough or thrash around uncomfortably in my contrived sleeping position. Hopefully the medicine is doing the trick and soon I'll be able to sleep better.
Margaret

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Y'know, this has happened to my friends a time or two.

Find a place on your wall where the wallpaper is peeling off and look behind it. I'm willing to bet it'll be moldy.

billybrobby · Joined: 09 Dec 2004

I would totally recommend a humidifier. Maybe not for this person, but in general. Even if you can't set one up at your work, having one running while you sleep really helps. Korea is cruelly dry during the winter.

I used to get this big nasty boogers in my nose last year from the dryness. I'd be blowing snot rockets on the street and stuff, which is grosser than even the old adjosshis spitting. but what could I do? a dude's gotta breathe.

I think what sometimes seems like a cold is really just the dryness interfering with your breathing which in turn interferes with your sleep and makes you feel tired and sick.

humidifiers. god bless them.

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

I got sick as soon as Autumn turned to winter.... went to the doctor 7 times with different pills, and diagnosis. After 5 weeks of being constantly sick I was lucky enough to have a trip planned to go home for christmas. I was sick for another week after seeing my doctor at home but finally I am well again.... he was smart enough to know I didnt infact have the common cold (which is what the Korean doctors said) and actually do some tests and give me antibiotics that actually helped. (When I got my tests back, the doctor said I was sick enough to be admitted to hospital - which they definately dont do as casually back home as they do here!)

I blame the climate, lifestyle (eg the change in diet and working conditions would have some consequences on my immunity and general health) and the medical system here (honestly, how do they expect me to get better with only 2days of pills!?).

God bless my family doctor.