Just my random thoughts.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

The Tale of the Allergist and Total Effects

More than a week ago, I had a bad cough and a really sore throat. I went to my dad’s ear-nose-throat doctor who diagnosed me with pharyngitis and prescribed Augmentin. Three days after I drank the antibiotic, I started getting this awful rash on my upper body.

I didn’t want to go back to the first doctor (his clinic was so far, plus he didn’t accept health cards), so I decided to go to Capitol Medical Center and visit the ENT specialist I went to before. Angel tagged along.

After examining me, the doctor prescribed a new antibiotic and said I can visit a dermatologist if I wanted to get consultation on the rash. Since the consultation was free, why not? I went back to the Maxicare office and was told the dermatologist was in that same clinic. I went in and saw a lady doctor who happened to be an allergist as well.

She was a pretty strong-willed woman. She took a look at my rash, then took a look at the three-item prescription from the ENT I just consulted with. She had this stern look when she told me, “If I were you, I won’t take this (puts an ‘x’ on medicine #1) and this (puts an ‘x’ on medicine #3). You know what, can I change this prescription altogether?

I was caught unawares, but I said okay. Angel liked her feistiness, and told me she might as well get advice on how to deal with her recent acne breakout (she has a health card, too). The doc tells Angel, “We can make those pimples go away, but you have to be a good girl.”

A good girl? For a moment it seemed as if she were talking to a teenager.

“No chocolates. No coffee. No Coke or Pepsi (although other sodas are okay). No oily food.”

She starts prescribing a couple of medicines when I butt in, “Can she continue using her moisturizer?”

With a very accusatory face, she says, “I knew it! I suspected you were using something on your face. What is it?” When Angel told her she used Total Effects, we got a hilarious reply: “Ayan! Hence, the TOTAL EFFECT.”

An entertaining doctor she is. :-)

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