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 Just Breathe
Thursday, December 6, 2007
I've been coughing for three weeks and today I decided to see a doctor about it. I wasn't going to, as the cough had actually started clearing up this week, but yesterday I woke up with an ear ache and I was afraid the two might be related.
Turns out there's a little bit of fluid in my ears, but nothing serious. For that I get Claritin D (or the generic equivalent) and if it doesn't clear up in a couple of days, I have a prescription slip for an antibiotic called Zithromax (though my doctor doesn't think I'll need it).
The cough is totally unrelated. Apparently (and I kinda already knew this) I haven't been managing my asthma properly with Flovent. Instead I've been sucking on my albuterol inhaler almost daily for the last 3, maybe 4 weeks...a gross misuse. See, without insurance the Flovent inhaler is almost $200, and I was being cheap.
Now I have health insurance so I got all my meds filled today and paid a $40 co-payment for everything, including the visit. A steal! I love having health insurance.
But then I remembered an email I received a couple of months ago and it instantly killed my joy.
I really hope my insurance claim slips through the cracks. Otherwise I'm going to giftwrap my two inhalers so my friends and family will have something to open on Christmas morning.
That only works for, like, 30 minutes.
Living in Oregon has given me "aggravated asthma" - I feel your pain. Even with insurance Advair is $65 a pop and I hate that I have to pay so much for something I need TO BREATHE!
Thats some expensive medication!
It's ridiculous to have to pay the health insurance companies so much money, only for them to be able to turn around and exclude you for pre-existing conditions. Uh... isn't that what we get health insurance for? To help defer the cost of being sick? Drat them!
P.S. I know your cough is related to your asthma, but to soothe your throat honey works really well. Some medical experts are even recommending a teaspoon of honey rather than cold medicine for children. Guess Mary Poppins was right.
Why are asthma and headaches written exclusions for you? Anyhow dear, hang in there with the flovent.... that will really decrease your albuterol needs in the long run.
Asthma and migraine are pre-existing conditions, so they're excluding them for 12 months. I don't know if that means a year from now they'll cover asthma and migraine. I doubt it.
Had the same symptoms as you...My Doc prescribed the Allegra generic called "Fexofenadine"...costs something like $50 (maybe even less) in the Chicago area...luckily all covered by ins for me....here's the good part....i think it also works for my asthma...haven't used an inhaler since
have you watched (micheal moores SICKO? its a must. it makes me want to leave this country ASAP.
i paid $160 for my advair with my guam staywell insurance....saved me like $30 dollars! woohoo
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Ouch! Nothing comes easy for that Josie Moyers girl.
Damn the man, Save the Empire!!!
Said Daggz on 12. 6.07 at 1:15 PM