Didn't Need so See the Dr Afterall!

I decided that it's about time I visit the doctor, seeing as I haven't seen one in years, and I really just want to make sure all my bits and pieces are working properly. I have a whole list of things I want to get checked:
- Blood Pressure
- Cholesterol
- See if I have Parkinson's
- Acne
- Persistent cough
- Possible hair loss
- Dry skin
- Stock up on Paracetamol

I asked my mum to book an appointment with my family doctor yesterday, and she told me that we could just walk in this afternoon for an appointment. That was odd but...OK.

This afternoon we showed up and the nurse first called me over to get some details off me. She asked me what was wrong and I said there wasn't really anything wrong with me. When I told her I was here just for a check-up, she said today was more just for people who couldn't make appointments to see the doctor for a certain thing. Uh oh!

i decided just to focus on my persistent cough. I'm pretty sure it's a post-nasal drip! When I got to see the doctor, I told her that originally I was thinking of getting just a regular check-up and that there's not actually anything really that wrong with me, and she told me the same thing the nurse told me.

In the end, I came away with a steroid nasal spray for my persistent cough/possible post-nasal drip. The doctor also recommended I get regular exercise (is she implying something?) and despite trying to see if she could prescribe something for my acne, all she told me was that it's hereditary for some people and can persist into the 20's.

The nasal spray is only partially funded, and I guess I could've bought it without a prescription. Even though I know the pharmacist who works at the neighbouring pharmacy, I didn't let the other pharmacist know I was an intern, and just let her instruct me on how to use it. I suppose getting the nasal spray on prescription and buying it outright would cost roughly the same in the end anyway.

The doctor did give me a piece of paper that would allow for me to get some blood tests done if that is some consolation.

Timely Teeth Clean

This morning I got my teeth and jaw checked at Middlemore Hospital. It's my yearly check-up to see how my jaw is doing after I had surgery on it to correct it all those years ago.

Prior to getting this check-up, I was really worried that my teeth was so dirty that the orthodontist at Middlemore would be disappointed in me, so I was hellbent on getting my teeth cleaned by a hygienist. Because of full-time work though, I've never gotten around to getting it done, as I couldn't decide what was a reasonable price.

It was only yesterday, the day before, that I decided to do something about it. I tried ringing a couple of dentists in the city to see if they had any free spaces after work, but I found out that it would cost $260 for a clean! They had no free slots anyway.

The dentist in Henderson originally told me he could do mine for $150. From the free inspection he gave me, he also said I'd need two fillings which would cost $180 each as well! Aonghas tried calling them but they were all booked as well!

I asked my dad to try ring around while I was at work, and I was fortunate that a dentist in Glen Eden had a free slot after someone cancelled!

Straight after work, my parents took me to Glen Eden and I got my teeth cleaned. I have to say I didn't feel like eating after that, for fear of getting my teeth dirty again!

Today at Middlemore after inspecting my teeth, the orthodontist said my teeth were looking quite good! I had to admit to her that I just got them cleaned yesterday though. I got a few x-rays and photos taken.

I also mentioned to the orthodontist that a dentist said I'd need two fillings. She had a closer look at my x-rays and got some close-ups taken, and then concluded that I didn't really need them, not for at least another year anyway. That saves me $360!

Waste of a Day Off

So while yesterday was a good day, today was a not so good day.

It started off good though! I woke up early despite going to bed at 3am last night (it must be a habit now!) and contacted a few dentists to find out how much it would cost to get my teeth cleaned. It turns out it would be around the $150 mark. One nearby dentist said they do a free consultation and then give you a quote, so I booked an appointment for 6.15pm later tonight.

I then thought I better go return my library books since they're due today so I can avoid getting another massive fine. I'm pretty sure I've paid over $50 worth of library book fines in the past year! I decided to drive to the library just so I could practise my driving skills, as you do.

I parked the car in the West City carpark, locked the car and was about to walk off. That's when I realised I was missing something...the car keys were still in the ignition!! Unfortunately I locked the car good so there was no way in!

I called Aonghas to see if there was a spare key at home, but my mum had gone out and had taken the set of keys with the spare! I tried calling my mum but she wasn't picking up her phone. Aonghas decided to ride his bike down to the place he thought she'd be, but her car wasn't there.

While I was waiting for him, I was standing on the path at a distance away from the car just so nobody thought I was leaving and also...so nobody could associate me with my poor parking skills!

He then rode over to meet me in the car park. We decided the only thing we could really do was to wait till our mum came home, so Aonghas got an extended parking permit from Customer Services inside the mall just so our car didn't get towed away (I only parked in a 90 minute spot!)

We just went back home, hoping no one would notice the key in the ignition and steal our car!

I had to walk down to the dentist later on in the day to get my teeth checked. After five minutes, the dentist told me I'd need a clean and TWO FILLINGS! I asked how much and he said $150 for the clean and $180 for each filling = over $500!!! Boy are dentists expensive!

Self-Medication

A lot of the time I make recommendations to customers on which medicines they should take for minor conditions based on what I've studied or been told by others. I very rarely use OTC medicines unless I've been prescribed them by a doctor.

Well this weekend I started developing a sore throat! I didn't think much of it until Sunday when it started getting worse. I decided I'd finally try some sore throat lozenges and maybe some of those multi-vitamins that are supposed to boost your immune system and reduce recovery time!

I ended up going with Difflam (since that's the one I recommend the most) and Immunofort. Apparently Difflam can make your mouth numb (it has an ingredient which causes the numbing effect to reduce the pain). I was sucking on a Difflam lozenge at home last night and I could start to feel my tongue go numb! The raspberry flavour also started to wear off!

As for the Immunofort, I took my first tablet today. We'll see if that has any effect...but that may be hard to tell!