the only thing i don't love about austin is ALLERGIES.

many have asked, so i feel it is necessary to update everyone on my health. about three days after moving to austin i started to feel a little tickly in my throat, which i immediately assumed was a sinus pressure/small allergy type thing, so got cough drops, took ibuprofen, maybe a little sudafed here and there, and assumed things would be fine. well, by last wednesday i had spent at least two sleepless nights due to coughing, so i decided to go see a doctor.

not knowing anyone in austin, a fellow seminarian (her name is joann - she's such a sweetheart and i LOVE her) recommended i go to a minute clinic, which is a small clinic inside of some CVS locations. i was down, so i went. (i should note, a seminarian named eric took me and he is a very kind person. we had great discussions about politics and austin, and he was very nice company. very appreciative to him.) i went to the minute clinic and the doctor there did a strep test and a flu test, both of which came back negative. she had seen many 5-day virus sorts of things going around, so she advised me to take mucinex, get rest, and that it should go away.

unfortunately, it did not go away. many sleepless nights later, the most recent sleepless night being last night, i realized something had to be wrong with me, because not only did i still feel bad, but i felt WORSE. constant throat pain, tickly throat, hurt to swallow, uncontrollable coughing sometimes, runny nose, mucus coming out of my eyes, blood when i blew my nose, ear pain, headache. there were just too many symptoms. so, this morning i went back to the minute clinic, with the help of kathleen who is absolutely sweet and compassionate and i am very appreciative of her. not only did she give me a ride, but she was really fun to have around when i felt like crap. :) anyway, the doctor (same one) told me she thought maybe it was a severe allergy infection. she referred me to a clinic that could give me better medicine choices, as apparently working at a minute clinic means hands are tied on some treatments.

so, off we went to bee caves medical. i waited about an hour to get to a doctor's office, but then once i was there i was treated REALLY well. the doctor believes i have a severe allergy infection that was bordering on bronchitis, as well as an ear infection. i was put on many medicines and i am currently taking mucinex, tussionex, singulair, claritin, and levaquin. i went to the store and got two bottles of pedialyte (one of which i have already finished), popsicles, oatmeal, lentil soup, black bean soup, chicken noodle soup, fruit juices, and sucrets to keep me nourished. the doctor and i discussed allergies generally speaking in austin, and it seems i'm going to need to pretty much always be on claritin and taking in a ton of vitamin c and basically ALWAYS be working on preventative care for my allergies. in truth, that works for me, especially since all that will do is make me more conscious of my health and will encourage me to be healthier as a person.

random note, but something i realized about myself today -- i am a huge proponent of using all natural herbal medicines, but i think (for me anyway) only as preventative medicine. once i'm sick, i want the antibiotic. but, that's just me.

on a very bad note, today's medical costs, which includes my co-pay, cost of medicines, and the foods i needed to feel better...... i shelled out $200. if you count what i bought last wednesday when i went to the minute clinic the first time, i am probably close to ALMOST $300 in trying to keep myself well. finances will always be bad, but this isn't making it any easier.

BUT, my new friend jessie has a mantra that i cling to: there is no scarcity, God will provide.

and i believe that. :) thanks for all the prayers, everyone. i'll keep everyone posted on how this sickness goes!