No One Wants A Doctor Who’s Confidently Wrong
This happened before the global health crisis. I ended up with bronchitis which progressed to pneumonia. I went to urgent care, and the doctor on call gave me an antibiotic and a prescription non-narcotic cough suppressant that came in tiny circular gel caps. I cannot take traditional cough medicine or decongestants due to medication I’m on for a chronic condition, so I was thankful to finally get some relief.
A year later, I start to feel the same symptoms again. I call my regular doctor immediately and leave a message with the nurse. I tell her exactly what worked the last time, and she says she’ll pass the message on. About one hour later, she calls back.
Nurse: “[Doctor] called in the antibiotic.”
Me: “And the [cough suppressant]?”
Nurse: “He said he’s not calling in a narcotic.”
Me: “Huh? It’s not a narcotic.”
Nurse: “Just take [traditional cough medicine].”
Me: “I can’t take that. I’m on [medication]. They interact.”
Nurse: “Well, you’re not getting a narcotic from us.”
Me: “For the love of… It’s not a narcotic!”
Nurse: “[Doctor] says it is.”
Me: “Is he there?”
Nurse: “Yes, but—”
Me: “Do me a favor. Tell him to Google [cough suppressant].”
Nurse: “It’s not going to help.”
Me: “Humor me and ask him. I’ll wait.”
Nurse: “Hold on.”
I hear muffled voices and a keyboard clicking. The nurse comes back on the line.
Nurse: “We have determined that [cough suppressant] is not a narcotic. I will call the prescription in. It should be ready in one hour.”
When I got to the pharmacy, I discovered that they’d ordered half a normal prescription’s worth, but it was just enough to get me through, so I took my win and didn’t push it. I have a much better doctor now.
