Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fizban]

Today was my first day teaching. After the 3rd period I started having this pounding headache. This was followed by nausea and dizziness. I got what I think was an aspirin from the school nurse. Taken to a "rest" room. Where I laid down under a blanket with the heat turned up. Where I proceeded to freeze my ass despite all the heat. I pretty much lay comatose for 4 hours. Waking up, a slight headache. But I feel fine.

Talk about a very weird first day of teaching.

I think some of the teachers thought I was going to die. Thank good ole American stubborness on my part when they wanted to take me to the hospital. "No I'll be fine. I just need to lay down."

Sheesh.

On retrospect that wasn't bright of me.

[Demonicat]

sounds like some hella jet lag, compounded with the stress of a new environment

[TiGrBaLm]

i had some freaky thing going on with my hands, where my fingers would swell to double their size and became very tender. Lasted for around 2 weeks and seemed to have started after I started eating kimbap. Stopped eating kimbap and in general improved my diet and haven't had it since (knock on wood)

[fizban]

Though it's hardly a good thing, I am oddly comforted to know that I am not alone in bizarre wtf health moments in Korea.

[Novernae]

Since you say it's your first day teaching, maybe you're not aware of the lack of ability of Korean to distinguish between "Going to the hospital" and "Going to the doctor." The former is all they ever say despite my repeated efforts to break the country of this habit after being shocked and overly concerned by being told my students were going to the hospital, when they were only getting a check-up or had the flu.

[oneofthesarahs]

Sounds like a migraine. I used to get stress-induced migraines back in the day, and that's exactly how they'd pan out: throbbing headache followed by dizziness and nausea followed by total coma for a couple hours. Then I'd wake up and be totally fine.

[Sine qua non]

It might be a tumor.

[EH]

Article in the NY Times Sunday Magazine a couple weeks ago:

New teacher, first day on the job, sudden onset of chills, sweating, dizziness, and severe shortness of breath. Turned out the guy had a major blood vessel that became constricted when he held up his arm to write on the blackboard for long periods of time. It's most common in people with extra muscle (or fat) around their shoulders, upper chest, and neck. Guy got surgery, and went back to teaching.

...probably not you. But something to consider if it happens again.

-EH

[fizban]

Migraine sounds bad.

Constricted blood vessel sounds worse.

Uhhh...hope it was the migraine?

[the eye]

[fizban]

I thought it could've been food poisoning too, except the only thing I'd eaten beforehand was a bowl of cereal.

[kimchi_pizza]

Water, man. Drink plenty of water. Even if you find yourself constantly going to the john at all hours of the night. Stress of teaching, jet-lag and getting acclimated is a huge stress on mind and body so gotta take care of yourself. Maybe try to eat foods you're familiar with as well for now.

[the eye]

[Ryst Helmut]

[caniff]

Eat some kimchi, you'll be fine.

(sorry, someone had to say it).