Living on wheezy street

To go to the doctors over here, you need to register as a patient. As I ran out of my asthma medication two weeks ago, I phoned to register. Went through tedious registration process and confirmed I didn't have any godawful diseases.

I was then informed that I would need to see an asthma nurse. The next available appointment is in two weeks. Jaysus.

So with the cold and cough, the old lungs are taking a bit of a battering. I had to end up borrowing my flatmate's asthma puffer. How's that for being all grown up and responsible?

I saw the asthma nurse tonight. In and out, less than 5 minutes. She wrote me a prescription and I then had to wait outside a doctor's room so he could sign it. Which he did, without even reading it. Interesting concept.

I went to the pharmacy to collect my two different types of medication. I asked if I could just have one of the items and not both (like we can do back home). Of course I was told that is not possible. You have to get everything listed on the prescription. I am now mentally evaluating how much money I have in my purse. I say ok.

The bill comes to 12 pounds ($27). I calculate in my head that for 2 puffers back home, it would cost me approximately 21 pounds ($50). Quite happy with that saving. Until I realise, when I am given the bag, that she didn't just mean I had to get everything on the prescription, she meant all repeats as well. So I got 4 puffers for 12 pounds. Score!