medication
Sick and Scared
I've been sick with a cough and severe congestion for over a week now. I don't want to schedule a doctor's appointment because it's always a pain and they may not see me until another week or so ... but I don't know if I can last that long. I'm miserable. What can I do? -- Ill Ashley
Dear Ashley,
My poor poppet, as Dr. Laurie would say, "You have to be your own, fiercest advocate!" If you're extremely low on energy, enlist the help of friends and family.
Forget your perception -- call the doctor's office and succinctly explain your misery. See if they have an emergency slot you can slide into today or tomorrow (many doctors secretly keep slots open just for this reason).
If not, get yourself to an urgent care center -- Promptcare and Medcheck are popular here in the Midwest, though names vary region to region. Find them in the phone book, online, or by asking your doctor's office and local hospital.
As long as you're miserable, you won't be able to concentrate on anything else. Be brave and take control of the situation.
-- M
The Winter Blues
As the weather turns colder, I can't help but feel sad. This happens every year, and I don't know what to do. -- Nikki in Naperville
Dear Nikki,
If you find yourself severely incapacitated in daily activities, you may be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) -- also known as "winter depression."
There is nothing to be ashamed of if this is the case. It's a matter of your brain's chemicals getting out of whack.
Pay a visit to your primary care physician or seek a referral to a psychologist -- a professional with whom you can discuss your experiences and plan a strategy to better manage them.
-- M
Anti inflammatory.
