Year: 2013

So, my last 15 days have been fun:

• Day 1—Very sporadic light coughing
• Day 2—Sporadic light coughing
• Day 3—Sporadic light coughing
• Day 4—Consistent light coughing
• Day 5—Consistent coughing
• Day 6—Consistent coughing
• Day 7—Consistent hacking; hoarse
• Day 8—Consistent hacking with phlegm; hoarse
• Day 9—Consistent hacking with phlegm; hoarse
• Day 10—Sporadic hacking with phlegm
• Day 11—Sporadic hacking with phlegm; NyQuil
• Day 12—Sporadic hacking with phlegm; NyQuil
• Day 13—Consistent hacking with less phlegm but adding snot; NyQuil
• Day 14—Hard hacking with lots of phlegm and snot; NyQuil
• Day 15—Hard hacking with lots of phlegm and snot; NyQuil even though it hasn’t really been working (I’m up at all hours of the night hacking)
• Day 16—The day before I leave for Myrtle Beach…I figure I’d better get checked out just in case it’s something more serious. Also, a friend who recently had the same thing for three weeks said a hydrocodone cough syrup was the only thing that let her sleep…so I wanted that.

Of course I couldn’t get in to see my regular doc so they suggested Urgent Care next door. I’d never been there…and after today, I remember why I hate walk-in clinics. There were only five people ahead of me…but I waited almost 2.5 hours to get into a room. And then another 20 minutes to see the doc.

And I didn’t really like her.

One, she didn’t even listen to my chest! She just asked me questions and watched/listened to me cough.

Two, I had to argue with her about the cough syrup and practically had to BEG for it—she didn’t want me to suppress my cough because I “have to get the crap out.” I said “BUT I NEED TO SLEEP.” She says “Well how will you hear them [points to Owen and Katie]?” Um, excuse me, but THAT’S MY BUSINESS, THANKS. I did tell her I’d have grandparents around to help out, and it seemed to sway her. But I literally argued with her for three minutes about it. In the end I still don’t think she gave me cough syrup, but some type of tabs (?). I’m not sure yet but that comes later…

Three, she heard me wheezing a little and asked if I ever wheezed before. Huh? I said like ever in my life, when I’m sick, or what? She says ever. So I say of course (thinking DUH—every time I get a chest cold?!) so she says she wants me to use an inhaler. Huh? Okay, whatever, on Day 16 I’ll try anything.

Four, I never even got a diagnosis. Which I didn’t even realize until after I got home and Tom asked me what I had. 😐

So I pack up and walk across the hallway to the pharmacy (well, I had to walk outside, but it’s literally 10′ away under the same awning) and since the scrips are all electronic, they already had them. I waited less than five minutes (which is why I use this pharmacy) and I was on my way.

So I was almost home (15 minutes from the pharmacy, 25 minutes if you count the walk out to the car and getting both kids buckled in) when I get a phone call from the pharmacy saying the doctor just sent over one last prescription.

Ugh.

I didn’t pay close attention before I left the pharmacy so I missed that she only gave me two of the three she mentioned (I noticed there were three line items but I had bought something else but obviously it didn’t click). So I had to turn around and go all the way back for that one last prescription that I had had to fight for. 😐

I was pissed. In my mind, there was no good reason it didn’t come over with the other two, but a friend later told me that since hydrocodone is a narcotic, it requires an actual written prescription (not electronic). That said, she should have made sure I walked out with it.

Owen asked what was wrong and I said I was mad at the doctor and he said I shouldn’t be mad at her because she helped me. I hate when he’s smart. :p So I said he was right, and that I was frustrated (one of his favorite words). And he says “Word of the day! Frustrated!” I said yes, it certainly was the word of the day.

I called Tom to see if he could get it by chance, and he called back when I was about halfway there. I thought he had to work late but he said this could be a good reason for him to leave early, so I said yay and turned around.

So here’s hoping I actually sleep ALL through the night tonight…and get healthy soon. I’d much rather knock down drag out flu for two days than this semi-sickness for three weeks.