antibiotic junkey

I reached the point yesterday in my cold where I felt I earned the right to walk into a doctor's office and expect some remedy! It's been the usual slow progression from scratchy throat to runny nose to full out body ache and head throbbing over the course of a week.

That is the magic number you know...seven days! I learned that the hard way too many times before so now I know exactly what to say to the nice doctor to get what I want.

Yes, I'm an antibiotic junkey. I admit that I need help. I actually was doing better with my addiction when I met the 'witch doctor' (aka: holistic medicine woman) and started taking all the herbal remedies for my ailments. And believe it or not they worked if you caught the cold in the first day or two. But I ran out of my herbal magic and let the cold develop into what I thought was worthy of an antibiotic.

So, I spent the $25 copay on the walk-in clinic and was sitting in the waiting room mentally writing my next face book status update: "walk-in clinic + antibiotic = one happy momma!" Sounds good doesn't it?

I made sure to not put on airs and act tough (you know the way you do around everyone but your husband when you are sick) so I coughed loudly, held my head and closed my eyes plenty. When the doctor walked in I told her the magic number and all the right symptoms...but this is what followed:
Me: "I've been sick for about 8 days now."
Doc: "Do you feel a trickle in your thought? It sounds like you are clearing your throat a lot."
Me: "A trickle? Well, my throat really hurts and my cough is working its way down into my chest now. But it's my head that really feels the pressure."
Doc: "Is your mucus green or clear?"
Me: (I knew she had me then...I paused too long and gave in to pressure) Well...I haven't really looked. I don't know but I'm blowing it a lot.
WRONG ANSWER...IT HAS TO BE GREEN TO GET THE MED'S.
Doc: (looking up my nose - as if she can really see anything!) You don't look like you have a sinus infection. I've seen a lot of this lately and it usually lasts 3 weeks. Why don't you come back after next Wednesday if you are still sick and I'll give you an antibiotic.
SHE COULD TELL I WAS A JUNKY! SHE KNEW WHAT I WANTED!!!!
Me: (trying to act like of course I don't want an antibiotic if I don't need one. Why would I want to hurt the American population by watering down the effectiveness of antibiotics...) "Oh, sure..." I was speechless. I tried to just hold my head up as I walked out of the office while all the nurses stared at me knowing I was leaving empty handed.

I have given myself a pity party for the day and seeked friendly support from others in my right to have be given an antibiotic but now I must move on.

I guess I will pull out the Netty pot and saline spray and go buy a new bottle of herbal medicine! Sniff, sniff, cough, cough...stay away from me for one and half more weeks (until I rightfully earn my right to a bottle of antibiotics).