Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Pregnancy: Episode 28987934

Gawd, are you sick of hearing about my pregnancy?  I'm a little tired of writing about it too.  Nevertheless, here's another post about pregnancy.

The doctor has recommended to me for quite a while that I needed to get a flu shot.  I found it odd that I needed to get a special one (preservative free) and yet my doctor didn't carry or administer it.  I thought I needed a prescription for this special one and kept waiting on her to give that to me.  Again last week she asked me if I had gotten my flu shot, then mentioned the new study saying autism might be linked to getting the flue while pregnant, and insisted again that I get the shot.  I asked her where to get it and she gave me two suggestions: (1) one of the local grocery store pharmacies (we have mega-grocery stores in Columbus) and (2) my personal doctor. 

Over the weekend I went to this local grocery store and, of course, they were out of them and were not going to be getting another shipment.  They suggested another one of their stores, but I told them no thanks.  I wasn't going to be running around Columbus to different grocery stores.

Monday I called my personal doctor and they didn't carry them, of course.  Then I called the maternity line for the hospital in which I will be delivering my baby.  It was like I was speaking a foreign language to them.  They had no idea what I was talking about.  They gave me the phone number to the Columbus Department of Health. 

By this point I was pissed at my OB for putting me through this run-around.  If she was going to insist that I get the flu shot and it had to be a special one, then SHE should be either administering it or know exactly where I could go to get it.  Of course, though, I called and the effing office wasn't even open.  Good god!!!

At this point I posted my frustration to Facebook.  Many of my friends responded saying I didn't need a flu shot, that their kids turned out fine, yada yada yada.  While I appreciate their encouragement, I still felt like I should get the shot because the doctor requested it.  My doctor is super conservative when it comes to patient care, but this was one I understood. 

After work I stopped at the post office and then walked up to the CVS to see if they might have the shot.  Lo and behold, they did.  And then I had to wait 45 minutes from them to do god knows what before they administered it.  Luckily, though, it was completely covered by my insurance and I was given a 20% off coupon for my next shopping trip to CVS.  Oh, and, now I won't get the flu.

3 comments:

ADC said...

Not to scare you or anything but the only year I got a flu shot I actually ended up getting the freaking flu.

Unknown said...

I got my flu shot (although I was told to just get the regular one so it was easy to find). I always get one though. I don't know if it hurts or helps, but it's free (thanks to insurance). I haven't had the flu for years so I'm going with it working. Glad you were able to find it. And get a 20% off coupon. I'd use it on candy. To reward myself. :)

Betsy said...

I used to get a flu shot becasue it was required by the hospital I worked at that all employees get them. This year I did not get one and Neil got influenza (first confirmed case here!) on thanksgiving day and desipite being with him 24-7 except during the 14 hours of IM I did not get it. Weird. But...he was soooooo sick. I would not want it, espeically if pregnant!