Allergic Cold? Rush not to the doc

Rain. Sun. Rain. Clouds. Tricky weather this.

A trip to Bangalore and back. And it's enough to give you that cold and cough you dread. Unlike at Bangalore where working while cursing the weather and using hankies is a done thing, Mumbai's cold and cough bouts drain me out. Living on a hill with passing rain clouds waiting to pour, worsens it.

Hubby and I head to doctor. General Physician. I narrate my cold symptoms obediently. She knows what antibiotics to prescribe already. I tell her anyways. And add for conversation's sake, that Bangalore tends to cause me some wheezing, but not so now that I live in Mumbai.

What does she do? Goes on writing on that prescription slip, scaring me outright. And adds an asthma inhaler prescription. Why on earth an inhaler when my wheezing is history (it vanished two years back), and for mere allergic cough and cold that only need some intervention?

``You have to take it as a precaution. If you don't use it, I may end up not treating you in OPD (as an outpatient),'' she retorts.

``But...'' I shut up. No use arguing with doctors.

Inhalers for Asthma are Schedule H drugs. Side effects of these could range from some psychiatric troubles to bronchospasm. Read about these side effects.

``Doctors are so prescription-happy!'' I tell myself as hubby and I walk out of the physician's room.

``I am not going to use that inhaler if you buy it,'' I declare.

``I won't let you use it even if you want to. Don't worry,'' says he.

Relief. I dread allopaths. Such prescriptions only enhance that dread.

As for my cold, it got cured. Only for a few days. It returned promptly after the next round of 24/7 rains last weekend. I have not gone back to the doctor. Water boiled with cumin seeds and crushed Tulsi (Basil leaves) is doing the job. And better.