I had the earwax problem once when I was a kid. I don't remember any vertigo, but I remember it hurt, a lot. (It was on Purim, and I skipped the Purim carnival, which was always one of my favorite things of the year, in favor of staying home, lying on my side, with a pillow pressed really hard against my ear, and whimpering.) Went to the doctor, and she pulled out a ball of wax at least an inch in diameter. (Which she then wouldn't let me keep, which 10-year-old Hil was very upset about. I wanted to take it home and cut it open and see what it was like inside, whether it had layers or anything, and if there was something in the center that it had built up around.)

The insurance company had denied it.

OMG, I hate that! Hubby keeps wanting to sue them for practicing medicine without a license, for second guessing the doctors.

This is why he's on so many samples, because the insurance companies don't want him taking the expensive drugs that work, they want him to run through all the other drugs that don't work first.

I remember once having vertigo with headache and earache. Went to the doctor where they flushed my ear. Felt like a jack hammer in my head and a rather large ball of wax was extracted. Started to feel better at once. They discovered I also had an ear infection behind the wax creating a leathal combination for pain.

the only two clinics in town here no longer give samples. They claim the bean counters say it's too time intensive to monitor the dates and they might be liable. Personally I think it's so they can make more $$ at the pharmacies attached to the clinics.

Teppy, do you have any Dramamine handy? I know that a couple of times Lewis has been hit with vertigo and someone suggested Dramamine

My internet research and self-diagnosis suggested dramamine for vertigo, but I have none. It also suggested benadryl and ativan (not together), both of which I have. I took one (1) benadryl about 2 hours ago, with no real improvement. I'll probably take another in a little bit to see if a larger dose helps, since you can take 2 together with no problem other than sleepiness.

I'm just pissed because this is a gorgeous fall day, sunny and 75 with no humidity and a slight breeze -- and I'm stuck in bed because moving makes bad things happen.

This is why he's on so many samples, because the insurance companies don't want him taking the expensive drugs that work, they want him to run through all the other drugs that don't work first.

My dad's cardiologists routinely pack up bags of samples for many of their patients who are in the same situation -- either their insurance won't approve the newer (effective) drugs, or they just can't afford them (Plavix, I am looking at you).

Every month, the receptionist just calls the patients and tells them when their bag o' drugs is ready. Every month. That impresses me so much, that they give that much of a damn about *true* patient care, that they have a list of who gets which samples, and they bag them up every month and then call the patients to come pick them up. That's awesome.

Hubby has to call every month. But he gets them. So it's good.

But he gets them. So it's good.

See, that's actual patient care. That's the way it should be.

Thanks, Shir! Sympathy always helps.

I love the samples, but your Dad's cardiologist is the awesome, Steph.

Stephen Colbert gaining ground in Marvel™ universe presidential bid.

your Dad's cardiologist is the awesome, Steph.

She kicks ass. And is brilliant. And looks kind of like Charisma Carpenter. I told Dad to marry her.

(He didn't.)