Tuesday Vent. . . May I?

I'm a little peeved with the healthcare service we all experience at the moment. No kidding, you say.

Anywho, the allergies this lovely spring season are driving me insane, worse than before. I mean, the pollen is abominable! I've been taking my prescription pills to alleviate the symptoms for a couple of weeks now, with a smidgen of relief. I called for new scrip last week so I have enough for this allergy season (which they filled).

I've awakened in the wee hours of the morning about 4 times so far this year wheezing. This morning, I woke at midnight and I'm still wheezing. It's stinkin' 3:40 p.m. I called the doctor's office this morning to ask for a new inhaler. I've since discovered mine expired 01/01. Could be why it's not so effective. I usually have an inhaler for exercise-induced asthma. They say they'll look in to it and call me if there are any questions. Naturally, the hour I'm out of the house just before lunch, they tried to reach me. Unfortunately, our answering machine refuses to work, hence no message. Well, SuperDad stops by the pharmacy to see if it's ready and it's not. I call the doctor around 2:30 p.m. and tell them my plight, ask if the scrip has been processed yet. "Oh, yeah, I tried to call you earlier," says the nurse. Turns out, since they haven't seen my in a while, I need to come in before the doc prescribes the inhaler. What? Like I've taken to snorting albuterol lately. Please! I didn't want to spend the $20 on an inhaler, now I have to spend $35 on top of that for a flippin' "Well Mom" check-up.

The nurse said she could get me in this evening or I could come in tomorrow to see our regular doc. I said no to tomorrow's appointment, and that I'd really like to breathe! I even asked if they could just refill my inhaler for my asthma. Anything. Nope. Gotta go in.

So. Here we are. Waiting to exhale. Please! I feel like my air supply is from a sauna and the only way to breathe is through a straw.

Oy.