Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Natalie]

really sux......
headaches, exhaustion, scratchy throat, extreme congestion.

Anyone else come down with it?
Its going around where I live.....
Its weird coughing, sneezing etc when its so hot.

I blame it completely on the subway. That thing is a germ capsule.

[mikowee]

Is it me, or does anyone think summer colds are the worst kind?

[beachbumNC]

yes, summer colds are the worst! i can deal with a cold when it's nasty outside and wet and cold. in that case, i can wrap up in a blanket and drink hot tea and soup and blow my nose and look at the drab grayness outside and not feel so bad about it.

but in the summer...it's hot out, the sun's out! i feel like i should be outside too!

by the way, a summer cold just hit me like a train wreck. first time i've been sick in about two years. what fun!

[hossenfeffer]

Finally! A thread where I can tell my tale of woe!!!

I moved into a new apartment just as Spring was turning into Summer. When the weather started getting hot and humid, I started using the air conditioner in my room. To make a long story short...the filter in the a/c unit must have been filthy because I came down with a terrible cold.

The cold started in my throat, moved to my sinuses, and then into my ear. When my ear got clogged I knew that I had a middle ear infection. So, I went to the doctors. He didn't take my temperature, look in my ear, or explain the drugs he was giving me. He did, however, ask me if I'd like a chest x-ray.

I suffered with the pain and ringing in my ear for three days before scheduling an appointment at an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor. This guy seemed legitimate. He looked in my ear, took a picture of my ear canal, and, in fluent English, told me that I had a middle ear infection and that I needed to take antibiotics (duh). He gave me two days worth (?) and told me to come back when the pills ran out.

The second visit was equally professional. This time, in addition to more pictures, his assistant did a few hearing tests. His diagnosis was correct. A middle ear infection. He told me to take four more days worth of antibiotics and I'd be better within 12 days.

I was a little suspicious about the quantity of pills he wanted me to take. I've had middle ear infections before and was on antibiotics for ten days. Anyways...I followed the doctors orders.

I was actually starting to get better after a week. Then the ear infection came back. I went back to the doctor. He went through the same tests and gave me the same number of pills with the same promise that I'd be better in 12 days. I begged him to give me more antibiotics and he looked at me like I was a drug fiend. I told him that the first round of antibiotics almost cured me and that there was still a slight ringing in my left ear. Then, he looked at me rather somberly and said, "I regret to inform you....you have a permanent hearing impairment." I looked at him and said, "I didn't have this 'hearing impairment' before my ear infection. Are you sure they aren't related?" Scratching his head, the doctor looked me in the eye and said, "you've probably had this problem for many years and just have never realized it." Believe me, patient reader, this ringing is a recent development.

So....I've had an ear infection for almost two months. I hope Michael Moore brings his health care crusade to Korea next!

[philipjames]

Natalie, I used to suffer from one cold after another in Korea. Then I tried taking a multivitamin each morning. It made a world of difference. The brand I use is CENTRUM. Haven't had a cold in about 18 months.

[Natalie]

hmmmmm.
then i'm walking talking irony. I started taking multi vitamins for the first time in....well, ever, and I got sick for the first time in months not long after.

I don't think they make much difference and I think a bad cold like this is inevitable....
Mind you, I keep taking the pills

[I-am-me]

I lived in hell last year with the cold I had. I have it written down on my calender. Aug 15-17 was the worst, but I had that cold/flu for about 3 weeks. All that the hospital did was give me some shots and some syrup that didnt do crap. I actually thought I had TB! But I will never know; they wouldn't give me a TB test.

[stealth_fighter]

[lsrupert]

My coworker was hospitalized this past year for a wicked cold that she had. She could hardly breathe, much less stand and walk around. We have been going to the same general doctor for nearly 3 years, and he told us something surprising. The Korean government only allows doctors to give a limited amount of antibiotics per year. (to Koreans) We are lucky. Our doctor is fluent in English, and a great guy. (He studied at Ohio State University.) After telling us this, he said that he would give her as much of the antibiotics as she really needed.
Who would think of putting a limit on antibiotics?

[procrastinatrix]

i had a pretty nasty cold/virus thing a couple weeks ago
i went to a doctor and he told me it was tonsilitis! i said "are you sure? it's not strep?" and he said "well, to find out if it's strep, we'd have to do a strep test"
so i waited, assuming he was going to say "let's do a throat culture" but he didn't.
instead he just repeated that i had tonsilitis and gave me a prescription and gave me a prescription for a mere 3 days of antibiotics and some kind of gargle called clohexin. each packet contained 2antibiotic pills and a random assortment of other colorful ones.
imagine my surprise when....my symptoms came right back after those 3 days, and i went bakc to get....anotehr 3 days of antibiotics (except this time it was 1 pill of antibiotics per packet) and another bottle of clohexin

shrug. eventually my body fought it off I guess, but I really don't understand why he didn't give me 10 days of antibiotics..?
anyway, I hear it's pretty common for people to get sick during monsoon season. i can't remember the # of times i've been sneezed on/coughed on by people who don't cover their mouths, especially on the subway..

[I-am-me]

[billybrobby]

I'm going through one right now. I don't think I've ever had a summer cold in my life before. I was afraid my coworkers wouldn't believe me, but apparently the top boss man in the company has one too.

[IncognitoHFX]

[mrsquirrel]

All students at summer camp had one day off for the cold.

Finished camp today and what have I got sneaking up on me. Their bloody colds.

[jdog2050]