I went to the doctor a few days ago, one that specializes in allergies. We really want to get a dog later this year, kind of like a present to ourselves for the past 10 months, but I was pretty sure that I’m at least somewhat allergic. My cousin used to have a Boxer that I loved playing with, but I had to make sure I washed my hands and face afterwards otherwise my eyes would get red and itchy and I’d start sneezing a lot, etc. So I wanted to get tested and find out what I can do to minimize the effects once we actually go get a puppy (hopefully a boxer).

Now I generally regard myself as pretty healthy. I’m not in the best shape, and I no longer regard myself as near invulnerable, but generally healthy. I’m not against taking a whole bunch of medications, if they’re necessary, but I’m not a fan of just taking a bunch of stuff if it isn’t actively keeping me alive. I go in for the testing and find out that I’m allergic to dust mites, mold, and dogs. I tell the doctor how I had asthma as a kid and that I have some dry eye stuff I’m dealing with now. I thought it would be a quick convo with her — I say I’m kind of allergic to dogs, she says here, take this medicine and do these things to minimize it, boom, we’re done.

I was incorrect.

It’s all still kind of a blur, but somehow the doctor ended up writing 2 or 3 prescriptions and giving me three different samples of products that she had written the prescriptions for. Apparently she expects me to use some nasal spray once per day, take Claritin, and use an inhaler 15 minutes before I go play ball. And this is in addition to getting dust-mite repellant sheets and covers and a HEPA filter when we get a dog. There’s no way I’m going to take most of that stuff, even if I was ok with spending that much money, there’s no way I would have the patience for it. The Claritin, filter and dust-mite stuff, sure. The prescription medications? Not a chance.

It just seems a little wrong that a healthy person can go in for a specific purpose and end up with a cornucopia of medications like that. Why is all of that necessary? I felt like she was just throwing a bunch of stuff to me that I would have to take for the rest of my life. Not interested. Not at all.