Urgent, but non-ER options for terrible allergies?

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

(I'm really taking advantage of the "whine locally" slogan.)

ETA: You guys are awesome! I have an appt. Friday morning at Somerville Family Health, and the lady was, indeed, super-nice.

I don't yet have a primary care physician here, but I figured when I needed to go to the doctor for something then I would do it then. All of a sudden, I've been hit with the worst allergies I've ever had, like barely-breathing, body and eyes itching, huge throat swelling, etc. etc. etc. I called the place where I was going to get a doctor and (Mass natives probably see where this is headed) was told I have to make a special first-time appointment, which isn't available until the middle of September.

"September?" I asked disappointedly.
"Well, it is almost August," the nurse said as if only waiting a month and a half to breathe wasn't so bad.
"I'm just in a lot of pain," I said. "I can come back in September and do the physical and full history or whatever you need me to do, but my symptoms are really severe now."
"It's just seasonal allergies," the nurse said, clearly frustrated with me. (Where do they get these people?)
"Yes, but I'm having a lot of trouble breathing, and the over-the-counter medication isn't helping that much."
"Why don't you call your old doctor and ask him or her to prescribe something?"
"I can't do that. It was a student health center and I'm not a student any longer."

So then the nurse ends up giving me this obnoxious and probably totally bullshit sob story about how long she has to wait for her own personal appointments too and says they have their hands full with their "real patients" (she actually said that).

I have decent insurance so if I have to go to the ER, it won't ruin my nonexistent kid's chances of going to college. But I'd rather not.

Does anyone know of a way I can be seen by a doctor/nurse practitioner/allergist in the next few days? I know it's just allergies and I'm not a real patient, but just maybe some doctor will overlook that and actually treat me like I'm a real human in pain.

Comments

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, should've clarified that it was a nurse. I tried to make an appt. and they put me through to a nurse, who kicked me back to the receptionist, who kicked me back to the nurse. Good to know about the urgent care, though. I might end up trying that. But if they send me to the ER for allergies, I'll officially declare them useless.

[kalliejenn2.livejournal.com]

don't know who you called for your appt, but i find that the somerville family practice is generally awesome, and i get appointments the same day i called (even the first time i went, when they weren't even my pcp yet).

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

Ditto, I absolutely love Somerville Family Practice and have always found them kind and responsive.

[kalliejenn2.livejournal.com]

also, and this may be a dumb question, have you tried something like zyrtec in the meantime to dull down the symptoms?

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Not a dumb question. I've already taken 4 24-hour claritin D's since last night, plus 4 sudafed and two ibuprofen. And I'm still just barely functionally breathing.

[belladonna.livejournal.com]

I had something similar recently and I called Harvard Vanguard. I got in for a same-day appointment even though I had never been a patient before. Now I have a full physical and stuff set for September to get me set up with my new primary doc, but in the meantime I got my issue resolved right away. Best of both worlds, really.

I went to the PO Square location but I hear it's the same at other locations.

[delahk.livejournal.com]

Seconded.

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

I'll try them! I had been going through CHA, but I went through Harvard Vanguard for my lady doctor appt. and that was really quick, so t hat's a good idea.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

or you can go to any of the many walk-in clinics in the area. i know there's one at mt auburn.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I know you said you don't want to go to ER, but from what you describe, a trip to ER really wouldn't be unwarrented if you can't breathe. (And I'm a person who doesn't even go to ER for small broken bones, so I'm no ER frequent flyer myself). Getting a quick first-time patient with any doctor or nurse practitioner has been pretty impossible around here, in my experience. Only alternative health practitioners have been willing to see me within a week or two out of the goodness of their hearts.

Go to ER. They can at least give you something to keep you able to breathe until you can get an appointment somewhere.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Well, people have posted some possiblilities I hadn't ever tried, so you have more options to try. But you don't have to suffer waiting until September!

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I am still considering it.

[kalliejenn2.livejournal.com]

also, have you considered the option of it not being seasonal allergies? i have really bad seasonal allergies usually, and mine totally aren't acting up today...could it be a food allergy or even something asthma-like?

[kalliejenn2.livejournal.com]

especially because tree pollen counts today are low, and grass and weed pollen counts are practically non-existant

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the suggestion! I've had tons of tests run before because I get these weird things that are like asthma attacks but apparently aren't. I'm not sure what I'm allergic to, but it seems to be seasonal though the allergy tests I've had done didn't find any environmental allergens that were to blame. This all started after I worked around asbestos for a few months, so I have my suspicions...

Basically, nobody's been able to figure out what's wrong with me, but it feels allergy-like.

[panterka37.livejournal.com]

Walk-in Clinic in Mount Auburn Hospital is a good place to go if you want to avoid ER. They only charge a doctor's visit co-payment (~$20 with my insurance), rather than the ER co-payment (~$100). In particular, it's a good resource if you need to see a doctor on a weekend. I ended up going there when I needed a chicken pox vaccine. I called the Davis Square Family Practice, and they said that they didn't have the vaccine themselves and sent me there.

http://www.mountauburn.caregroup.org/body.cfm?id=77

I also was able to schedule a last minute appointment to see a nurse practitioner in the Davis Square Family Practice another time. They seem to be good about it, but they have mixed reviews on yelp, so I'd look around before actually selecting a primary care physician (something I still need to do myself).

http://www.yelp.com/biz/davis-square-family-practice-somerville

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

if the drugs you are taking over the counter, like say, zyrtec or pseudowoodophed, try another. i've found some of those are USELESS and some work like magic.

read the labels and collect different things. liquid benedryl for instance, tavist (Clemastine fumarate), or chlor-trimeton (chlorpheniramine maleate); generics are friend. collect the whole set.

#

for the nurses/hospital guys, the phrase is "i've been [having symptoms|sick|foo] for a week or so now..." a few days, they don't get uppity unless you are DYING RIGHT NOW. more than a week? they usually go "oh, come right in".

good luck

#

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'll try to get the full collection of generics.

And I'll use the magic word next time. Or I'll say I have a spouting headwound and some allergy symptoms. And when I show up, I'll say, "Oh, would you look at that? The head wound seems to be better."

[goremeister-666.livejournal.com]

tee hee - i work for the mega hospital conglomerate in boston and i resemble these comments.
it isn't bullshit that people have to wait months for appointments to see a GOOD doctor. if you are getting a mega expensive radiology test though, we will book you same day!
also, apologies for the nurse, many of us have seen too many smashed carcasses and dead babies so we are a little jaded!

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Haha! I thought of you when I was writing this. Well, I thought how you would probably be nicer than that lady.

I still think the sob story that awful nurse was telling me about her wait times was total bullshit.

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

Hey, I'm glad you got sufficient advice to take care of the urgent situation. It sounds like you'er in good hand for now.

I do hope, too, that you're no longer going to sign on for a PCP with someone whose own staff complains about how long it takes to get an appointment. There are better offices!

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Exactly! When they asked if I still wanted to make the September appt, I said no. Between that and their general unfriendliness, I didn't want them to handle my health.

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

I'd just like to slip in another plug (http://community.livejournal.com/davis_square/1310890.html?thread=14105770#t14105770) for acupuncture.

I've had sinus/rhinitis allergies nearly my entire life. I've tried nearly every allergy pill, spray, shot you can think of. Nothing provided more than temporary relief until acupuncture. I realize it doesn't work on everyone but if you're not having much luck with OTC medicine maybe it's worth a shot.

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

hah! I just realized you're the same person I recommended acupuncture to in the thread I just linked to. Ask Emily about it!!