walk-in clinic

I went to the walk-in clinic at First Canadian Place yesterday morning. I had to fill out a registration form and show my OHIP card, then waited 45 minutes before I was called. The waiting room was pretty packed; I tried not to imagine what kind of germs were floating around, what with all the unwell-looking people. Have to wonder how many people come away from the clinic sicker than they were before.

After my name was called, I was brought to a small examination room and asked to wait. A few minutes later, a nurse came in to ask some basic questions about why I was there; she seemed to be in a hurry. The doctor came in a short while later; he also seemed to be in a hurry. I remember this from when I first used walk-in medical clinics shortly after moving to Toronto from the Hockley Valley, before I found a regular doctor. Walk-in medical clinics definitely have a "factory line" sort of atmosphere, as if they want to squeeze in as many patients as they possibly can.

My doctor looked as if he was in his early thirties. He managed to look bored and skeptical at the same time, but was polite as he fired off a volley of questions, poked and prodded me. His stethoscope felt as if it had been stored in an ice box until right before my examination.

Anyway, I'm happy to report that I don't have bronchitis after all. Apparently I have some kind of bronchial irritation that's causing me to cough; I think this happens with asthmatics sometimes. He wrote me a prescription for an inhaler (Advair, which contains a bronchodilator and corticosteroid, whatever the heck those are). Midway through writing it, he paused briefly and asked without looking up, "Are you on a drug plan?" When I said yes (Jeff and I had signed up for one last year), he finished writing the prescription.

When I went to pick up the prescription, I could understand why he asked. My inhaler cost $95!!! Yikes. Since I was covered by my drug plan, I only had to pay $5. I wonder what he would have prescribed if I had said no, I wasn't on a drug plan?

Since taking over the Market Watch column, I've been getting letters from people who knew me through Inkspot.

Sample letter:

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Dear Debbie,

You don't know me, but I was an Inklings subscriber from many years.

I just found out today from the Writer's Market newsletter that you are back! I sat up in my chair and cheered (I really did -- then I ran downstairs to tell my husband about it.) I was so happy and excited to read that you will be handling their market watch section!!! :)) I got really mad at Xlibris for buying Inklings just to shut it down. All the hard work you put into it to make it as good as it was.

Anyway, I hope Writer's Market will value your great contribution to the writing world, I know I sure will!!


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It's nice to know that people didn't completely forget about me while I was on sabbatical.

:-)

Today's Blatherpics:

- The first photo is of Alex Allcock during a swimming lesson last year (photo by his mom, Lissa).

Today's Poll:

Do you know how to swim?