I have had a persistent cough for a couple of months now, and it can really be quite serious at times. I have been known to cough myself to the point where I pass unconscious and even had minor seizures from coughing so much.

I have been to the doctor several times regarding this, and have tried many courses of action to resolve this such as antibiotics, steroids, nasal sprays and a plethora of other items. I have had three hospital appointments for things such as chest X-Rays and scopes down my throat by the E.N.T. clinic, but as yet nothing has been successful in finding the cause of the issue.

As a stop gap treatment my doctor prescribed me codeine linctus about 6 weeks ago, which would at least quell the cough somewhat whilst they found out what the cause was and decided upon a treatment for that. Whilst this is a controlled medication, it is not prescription only so I am able to buy a bottle as and when needed, but no more than one bottle at a time due to the codeine content of it. I have been using this cough syrup reasonably effectively to control the cough in the six weeks since it was prescribed, going to the chemist once a week or so to pick up a bottle while I await for my appointment at the thoracic medicine (respiratory) clinic on the 14th of this month.

Today when I went into my local Lloyds Pharmacy the security guard at the door instantly went over to the pharmacist at the back of the store and gestured towards me, so I knew there was going to be some difficulty today in getting a bottle of the medicine. Sure enough as I got to the front of the queue the pharmacist came to stand by the till and took the person serving me aside, and advised her not to serve the bottle to me, telling her to inform me that it was a temporary solution and not to be relied on long term. I explained the fact that I could not help it was long term, I have no control over the waiting times for the thoracic clinic and as such was simply using the codeine until that appointment on Monday. Knowing this was likely to happen at some point I make sure that I have the appointment letter for the clinic on me every time I go to collect some of the medicine. I handed the letter to the assistant and explained the situation and asked to speak to the pharmacist to explain. She took the letter back to him, showed him it and then came back saying, and I quote “This means nothing to him, you are going to have to see your doctor first”

So despite having an appointment letter for a hospital appointment in 5 days for the very department that deals with ailments helped by this medicine, I am not able to buy any without seeing a doctor first as apparently the pharmacist is not skilled enough to understand that the thoracic clinic is a respiratory clinic.

Ok, I guess I have no other option than to arrange an unnecessary appointment with my G.P. simply to get a prescription for a non-prescription medicine to last me 5 days till I can see the clinic on Monday. Walking out of the pharmacy I call up my doctors surgery and ask for an appointment with my usual GP, to be told they operate a same day policy on appointments and as such I couldn’t make an appointment as the surgery was about to close. I asked if I was able to make an appointment for tomorrow morning, to be told no.

So, I have to get up an hour early tomorrow to call the surgery to try and get an appointment I don’t really need, take time off work to get to the doctors and back in the morning, and waste the doctors time to get a prescription simply because the pharmacist is unable to understand the appointment letter and was unwilling to speak to me directly about the situation. What an absolute farce this is.

Tomorrow I am going to present the prescription to the pharmacist as proof that I have been to the doctor and am actually allowed the medication, but I am not going to use the prescription as I refuse to pay £7.10 for medication that is on the shelf for £2.50 after all of this jumping through hoops to get it. No doubt he will insist that I have to use it, but that’s just going to lead to quite an argument I can imagine.

~Shepy