On & Off again Colds & Cough

For the past three months, I have been battling colds and cough.  It has come and gone.  I was well for a week and then something happens and I get sick again.  It has gone far too long that’s why I decided to consult a doctor.  I am one who avoids going to the doctor.  The only time I went religiously was when I was pregnant with Kailee and Connor, but those other times that I was sick – I self medicated because I knew what drugs are most effective for me.  I HATE going to a doctor – I hate the wait,  I hate they they’re almost always late, I hate that their consultation fee is expensive, I hate that they’re just *guessing* what you have based on your symptoms, plus – I hate going to hospital clinics – its so effing depressing. A few months ago, I was invited to see QualiMed in PGH.  I wrote about how I was impressed with their facilities and their work standards.  During the tour, I learned that they have a branch in Trinoma.  Lucky for me, Trinoma is nearby.  So this morning – after waking up with a weird sound to my breathing and coughing endlessly and hard to the point that I was almost gagging, I decided to go see a doctor.  I knew I had to do it.  I should have done it earlier but oh well.  Haha!  I honestly had two (2) options: Option 1:  Use our Valucare Health Card in St. Luke’s QC Option 2:  Use GC to visit QualiMed Trinoma. I chose Option 2 – why?  Because, I didn’t want to wait for forever for the doctor to show up.  ValuCare has two (2) pulmo doctors that day – one had clinic from 10am-11am while the other was 2pm-5pm.  I am one who likes to see the doctor in the morning because I don’t want to waste the whole day waiting.  So I called the 10am-11am doctor, I was able to speak to the secretary and was told that the doctor was running late, I then asked if they were extending – and she said *No*.  I didn’t want to waste my time an effort with waiting and then being told last minutes that I wouldn’t be accommodated.  Plus, I really found it ODD that this particular doctor only allotted one (1) full hour for his patients!  Anyway, I decided to go to QualiMed.  I called first and I spoke to Geraldine, she was very nice on the phone – very accommodating.  She told me to look for her and that she would assist me when I got to the clinic.

When I got to QualiMed Trinoma – the place was quiet, very well lit, cold and clean.  It didn’t seem like a clinic clinic.  It actually seemed like a very casual office!  Hahaha..  So when I got there, I asked for Geraldine and she was all smile, she gave me a small piece of paper with a number on it and I had to fill out some details like my name, age, and contact numbers.  After giving it back to her, I told her that I needed to see a doctor because I’ve had cough and colds for months and I needed a consult.  So, while waiting for my number to be called – I was looking around.  I thought to myself, that I didn’t mind waiting in a place like this because the aircon was cold enough, the staff was all smiles and the place was clean.  There were screens all over the clinic’s reception area – one screen was for the number sequence and all the other screens were for movies to entertain those waiting.  I was actually (happily) surprised to see Guardians of the Galaxy being shown!  Hahaha..  I loved that movie so much – it was such a feel good movie.  Anyways, I think I waited for about 20 minutes, but it didn’t feel like 20 minutes because of all the *observing* that I was doing.  In a hospital clinic – you would need to wait in a hallway – a dark hallway without AC, time moved ever so slowly when you’re there.  Do you agree?

I honestly didn’t notice the 20 minute wait – when I was called, a staff took my my vitals, my blood pressure and my pulse.  A few minutes later I was called in the doctor’s office.  I told her that I have been battling colds and cough for the past months, that 2 weeks ago – i took Azithromycin for 5 days and felt better and then after a week – Saturday night to be exact – I was sneezing like crazy and coughing every so often.  For the first time since I had cough and colds – yesterday, I felt very weak and my head was hurting.  While at Mass yesterday afternoon, I finished a whole pack of tissue!  She asked me what I was taking (if there was any) and so I told her that I was taking Loratadine as *allergy* medicines and I was taking this every night for the past month or so.  And that last Friday, I decided to try Benadryl AH and it helped (although I became sleepy).  She then took out her stethoscope put it on my back and asked me to breathe deeply.  I was honestly scared – because I hate diagnosis, any form of diagnosis for that matter.  So I was expecting the worse – (I was clutching my holding cross & rosary) after a few seconds that felt like eternity – the doctor told me *I don’t hear anything, your lungs are clear as far I’ve heard them*  I was surprised – so I asked her again if she was sure and she said she was.   She then told me that she would be changing my *allergy* medicines and that as a precaution, she prescribed an antibiotic.  But I wasn’t satisfied – I was thinking that since I was already there and I was already getting comfortable –  I told her what my doctor friend recommended that I do, and that was to have an X-Ray, just to check the lungs.  I think I surprised the doctor and she agreed – she told me that if I was comfy enough, that she would recommend it.  Since I was getting an X-Ray, she told me to also have a CBC if I was willing.  Everyone who knows me – know that I HATE needles – but I said yes.  SHOCKER!  Hahaha!  I was getting comfortable – the place didn’t look creepy and not very hospital-ish (which I liked very much) so I thought to myself – GAME ON!  And I was terrified – ask my Panget whenever we have our yearly blood tests taken – I always *need* to hold someone’s had but this time – I was just cool and relaxed.  Hahaha!  I swear – it’s the *I’m not in an actual hospital* feel that made the difference (even it I was in a clinic!  Haha!!)  I was done in an hour’s time – and I didn’t even notice the wait which was great!  I was told that my result will come within the day – and I was happy with that.  I was very much satisfied with my experience, it was so pleasant that I wouldn’t mind going back (if need be). I called at 4PM to ask about my results and was told that I could pick them up at 6PM.  My CBC results were ready but the radiologist was still looking at my film.  I asked them if they could email me my CBC results and they did – and everything was within range.  I was honestly scared because my last blood test, some aspects were off the charts.  But of this CBC, my results were all within range – mid range to be exact.  I was honestly quite nervous on the X-Ray.

I went back to QualiMed at about 6:30PM to pick up my result.  The clinic was empty except for the guard and a receptionist.  The clinic was quiet too!  I gave my name and within seconds, I was greeted with a smile by a doctor and she told me to wait because they were printing out my results.  After a few minutes the nice doctor hands me my result – she tells me that everything was clear.  I told her that I was prescribed to take antibiotics and I wanted to know if I still needed to take them.  She said that as far as her interpretation goes – was that I didn’t need an antibiotic.
 But as a precaution, she contacted the doctor I consulted with to ask a proper endorsement.  We had to wait a while for the reply, but the doctor told me that I didn’t need to take antibiotics.  She explained to me that my CBC was all in the normal range, and that the X-Ray result was also clear.  She then told me that asthma can’t be seen in an X-Ray because it was an upper respiratory thing.  She then explained that it might have been the weather change (sudden raining, hot & cold) or it was due to dust in the air.  Oh my…..  I was telling her that I was prescribed with medicines that Kailee and Connor were taking – the difference was the dosage!

So there – my results were all CLEAR.  But still – I have cough and colds.  Is this just allergies?  Sigh.  I hope so.  I hope that my *new* meds will make me well or just manage my allergies because it’s really getting to me.  I don’t want to seem contagious to people (even if I look it!) since it’s just allergies, but I know and see *judging* eyes – Hahahaha!! I have been neglecting this blog because I haven’t had the energy since I’m distracted with the on again & off again colds and cough (plus the kids have been sick on and off too!!) When I feel better, I promise to get back in the groove. Consult cost me P350.00  (I’m sure if I went to a clinic I would burn at least P600.00) X-Ray was P370.00 CBC was P240.00 I had to pay P150.00 for the X-Ray film (I wanted to keep it) Not bad right? — I realized that my kids are not actually sick.  They’re not contagious, they don’t have bacteria or viruses – they just have allergies.  And mucus production is the body’s way to protecting itself from getting sick.  I realized this because I was prescribed the same medicines – Cetirizine, an antihistamine and Fluimucil to to help expel mucus and Montelukast to manage the *allergy*