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

[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).

[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?

[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.

[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.

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

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

[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.

[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.

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Wait, is that the one on 26 Central Street? Those were the ones I talked to.

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

The one on 26 Central Street? Those were the ones I talked to.

[delahk.livejournal.com]

Seconded.

[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.

[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.

[kalliejenn2.livejournal.com]

no, they're on 1020 Broadway. phone # (617) 628-2160

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

No, they're on 1020 Broadway. (617) 628-2160

[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!

[kalliejenn2.livejournal.com]

LOL! apparently, great minds think (exactly) alike

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I am still considering it.

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

lol, we posted the same comment a minute apart. wow. :)

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

APPARENTLY

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Will try now!

[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

[dianamp04.livejournal.com]

I used the allergist at the Harvard Vanguard at Davis Square and was really impressed by them. I mean, it did take a few months for them to get me in (I think they can sometimes sneak you in via cancelled appointments), but they did a full workup. You'll come out looking like you had chicken pox, but they'll figure out whats the problem. You may have to get a reference or um..whatever it's called from your doctor, but I bet your lady doctor could do it I think. Heck, at HV, my main doctor IS my lady doctor. (I am evidently allergic to trees and grass...like...all of them)

[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