It's been a rough week around here. We got home from travels with the family on Monday evening. As I was reuniting with my buddy George, I noticed a lump the size of a marble on one side of his throat that was not there a week ago. So, we're on Round 4 with his "benign" tumors. He went to surgery yesterday and came home from the vet last night looking like Frankenpoodle with his neck all shaved and stitched back together. They sure gave us our money's worth on the incision length and sutures, and they damn better with what this is costing us. No wonder these people are so happy to get us right in there when we need to see them. They know every time we walk through the door with this poor lumpy dog that we're good for $1,000 and up.
Meanwhile, since Wednesday afternoon I have developed the sore throat from hell, accompanied by low-grade fever, ear pain, aggravated tonsils, and chills. Literally every swallow feels like I'm being stabbed in the tonsils, and trying to swallow anything besides my own spit is like being stabbed twice. I've tried every home remedy known to man. Hot stuff, warm stuff, cold stuff, carbonated stuff, fruity stuff, salty stuff, bland stuff, numbing stuff, and lozengey stuff are all painful to ingest. Ibuprofen and Tylenol are doing squat. Sleep is difficult at best. I got up at 5AM this morning of my own volition, wishing I had access to one of those dentist vacuums that sucks all the spit out of your mouth, just so I wouldn't have to swallow for awhile.
Of course things started to get really miserable today, when I was trapped in a hot van with a bunch of state DOT people doing a field view two hours from home. In 93-degree weather. At lunchtime, I snuck in a call to my doctor to see if I could get in there at the end of the day. But nooooo! They're taking a long weekend and the office has been closed since last night. I probably should have called the backup doctor at this point, but I had to attend to matters at hand.
So I finally get home around 7, decide the pain situation is now too much to handle, and call the backup doctor. After a good long wait, I hear back. He's all "If this is bothering you so much, why didn't you go see someone yesterday?" Um, because I work and had to travel? Because I thought I would feel better by today? Because I've never had a sore throat go on this long? Because I haven't had strep since I was probably 18, so why would it pop up now at 35?
He then cemented his membership in the Antibiotic Nazi Club and flatly refused to prescribe me an antibiotic for the strep throat or bacterial infection the Internet has convinced me I have. He did say there is this Minute Clinic at the nearby CVS with a nurse practitioner who might be able to see me.
(Note to self: Find a doctor like my mom's, who will write an antibiotic prescription at the slightest fever or cold symptom)
So I call CVS. Yes, they have a Minute Clinic. And it just closed. But there is hope - they reopen at 10AM tomorrow. I might not have to suffer til Monday and risk developing rheumatic fever, which the Internet warns might happen if you have strep and don't take an antibiotic right away.
So then DH demands to know whether this Minute Clinic takes Blue Cross, or will a visit there mean a hideously expensive non-covered and non-refundable bill. Having offended in this manner at least once before, I call Blue Cross to check our coverage. A voicemail sweetly apologizes that their entire system is being updated and is offline today and tomorrow, and thus the call center is not accepting calls. At all. Please try back on Sunday!!!
You've gotta be kidding me.
Current plan of attack is to somehow get through tonight, which should be doable if I can find that hidden stash of Vicodin I swear we still have from when Magoo was born. Then head to the Minute Clinic in the morning, and ask them if they take my benefits, and if not how much it will cost to pay off the nurse practitioner to get me drugs that will either get rid of this evil malady or at least dull the pain.
Moral of the story: Get sick at the beginning of the week next time. And ignore anyone who tells you it will probably go away in another day or two, and hie thee to the doctor.
Oh, and how I used to think I was so special growing up because I was the only person I knew who still had their tonsils? Not so much. I want those suckers out. OUT! I've now had 4 bouts with tonsillitis since last fall. Don't want any more.
Meanwhile, since Wednesday afternoon I have developed the sore throat from hell, accompanied by low-grade fever, ear pain, aggravated tonsils, and chills. Literally every swallow feels like I'm being stabbed in the tonsils, and trying to swallow anything besides my own spit is like being stabbed twice. I've tried every home remedy known to man. Hot stuff, warm stuff, cold stuff, carbonated stuff, fruity stuff, salty stuff, bland stuff, numbing stuff, and lozengey stuff are all painful to ingest. Ibuprofen and Tylenol are doing squat. Sleep is difficult at best. I got up at 5AM this morning of my own volition, wishing I had access to one of those dentist vacuums that sucks all the spit out of your mouth, just so I wouldn't have to swallow for awhile.
Of course things started to get really miserable today, when I was trapped in a hot van with a bunch of state DOT people doing a field view two hours from home. In 93-degree weather. At lunchtime, I snuck in a call to my doctor to see if I could get in there at the end of the day. But nooooo! They're taking a long weekend and the office has been closed since last night. I probably should have called the backup doctor at this point, but I had to attend to matters at hand.
So I finally get home around 7, decide the pain situation is now too much to handle, and call the backup doctor. After a good long wait, I hear back. He's all "If this is bothering you so much, why didn't you go see someone yesterday?" Um, because I work and had to travel? Because I thought I would feel better by today? Because I've never had a sore throat go on this long? Because I haven't had strep since I was probably 18, so why would it pop up now at 35?
He then cemented his membership in the Antibiotic Nazi Club and flatly refused to prescribe me an antibiotic for the strep throat or bacterial infection the Internet has convinced me I have. He did say there is this Minute Clinic at the nearby CVS with a nurse practitioner who might be able to see me.
(Note to self: Find a doctor like my mom's, who will write an antibiotic prescription at the slightest fever or cold symptom)
So I call CVS. Yes, they have a Minute Clinic. And it just closed. But there is hope - they reopen at 10AM tomorrow. I might not have to suffer til Monday and risk developing rheumatic fever, which the Internet warns might happen if you have strep and don't take an antibiotic right away.
So then DH demands to know whether this Minute Clinic takes Blue Cross, or will a visit there mean a hideously expensive non-covered and non-refundable bill. Having offended in this manner at least once before, I call Blue Cross to check our coverage. A voicemail sweetly apologizes that their entire system is being updated and is offline today and tomorrow, and thus the call center is not accepting calls. At all. Please try back on Sunday!!!
You've gotta be kidding me.
Current plan of attack is to somehow get through tonight, which should be doable if I can find that hidden stash of Vicodin I swear we still have from when Magoo was born. Then head to the Minute Clinic in the morning, and ask them if they take my benefits, and if not how much it will cost to pay off the nurse practitioner to get me drugs that will either get rid of this evil malady or at least dull the pain.
Moral of the story: Get sick at the beginning of the week next time. And ignore anyone who tells you it will probably go away in another day or two, and hie thee to the doctor.
Oh, and how I used to think I was so special growing up because I was the only person I knew who still had their tonsils? Not so much. I want those suckers out. OUT! I've now had 4 bouts with tonsillitis since last fall. Don't want any more.
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