I'm a Target...

[BeeMused]

It's a great feeling, isn't it?

Thank Ceiling Cat I have no allergies! The doc told me to hit the inhaler again as soon as I get any cold, though.
Right now I am to test how low I can get the dosis, from 4 hits, to 2 hits, to just when you need it. My lung volume is up half a litre and no more wheezing sounds in my lung!

Is your inhaler just for widening the bronchial tubes? If it contains any steroids or corticoids, I highly recommend brushing your teeth after each use, or at least rinse your mouth with water. If you don't do that you can end up with thrush in your mouth. A friend of mine has allergic asthma and she learned that the hard way. And I'm a dedicated teeth brusher now.

No matter what, I'm very glad we have modern evidence based medicine. I might whine, wail, lament about lots of ailments, but just 100 years ago some of these things might have killed me.

[Halo_miles]

Quoth raudf

My inhaler is now my best friend. Just got it yesterday after going to the doc-in-the-box because my allergies moved into my chest. She prescribed the inhaler, amoxicillin (I'm allergic to erythromycin derivatives), a steroid shot, cough syrup and a stern warning to go to to my regular doc and discuss with him allergy asthma.

I had a lot of non-productive coughing.. like only 1 in 4 coughs would actually bring anything up and even then it was a yellowish color. I couldn't walk very far without darn near panting or wheezing. Sure, I had all the other allergy symptoms, itchy watery eyes, sneezing, etc.. but the breathing was what dragged me into see the doc.

One hit on that inhaler and ooooh, my the difference! I could BREATH.

Hey, if they think the Amoxi will work, then more power to them. If you start itching and feeling gross, I'll have to say, "I told you so". :P

[BeeMused]

Quoth Halo_miles

Hey, if they think the Amoxi will work, then more power to them. If you start itching and feeling gross, I'll have to say, "I told you so". :P

Side effects are different for everyone and sometimes the benefits outweight the side effects. And then there's the Nocebo-effect. I guess most people are familiar with the placebo-effect where a pill/tablet/whatever simply works because the person taking it believes it to work. The nocebo effect causes medidtion not to work or to have (stronger) side effects, when the patient believes it. Believing is not a conscious decision you make, studies have shown that a medication is more potent when given by a doctor, compared to given by a nurse. Some pill colours work better than others for certain illnesses, and size matters too.

[raudf]

I should clarify, it's not just amoxi. It was the generic of Augmentin. Amoxi doesn't bother me, even in high doses. A friend of mine would get yeast infections from every antibiotic out there, so she preplanned. Whenever she needed an antibiotic, she'd ask the doc for a scrip for the pill for yeast infections too.

Besides, I'd rather deal with an easily treated yeast infection than the hives that z-packs and biaxin give me. Or at least it was hives the last time I took either.. the docs won't risk any of the erythromycins anymore, because I could have a much worse reaction the "next time."

And I have to wait until after payday to go in to see the regular GP. By that time, this will likely clear up and I won't show a sign of it. Oh well, at least my doc will listen to me and make note of it. Although I am curious about whether I'd pass the test now or not.