opinion
For many Australians, going to the doctor has become time consuming and expensive.There is a decline in the number of medical centers offering Bulk billing Online prescription services are very convenient for people who are busy and don’t have time.
I developed a urinary tract infection and thought it would go away in a few days, so I decided to use an online scripting service for the first time in 2022. I never thought that within a week I would have sepsis and be taken to the hospital.
fast and easy
I had never used an online scripting service before, but when the familiar pain of a urinary tract infection (UTI) set in, I decided it might be okay this time.
The website was easy to use and provided standard information about my infection as well as information I thought I needed. After a $17.50 fee was debited from my credit card, my prescription was sent directly to my inbox.
I stopped by my local pharmacy on my way to work and was simply asked if I had used the antibiotic before and if I needed instruction on its use. I said no and left thinking about how quick and easy the process was and how I wanted to take advantage of it.
Something is wrong
As many women who have had a urinary tract infection know, symptoms usually begin to subside within a few days. That wasn’t the case for me. I wondered why the antibiotics weren’t working, but this time I thought it might just be a particularly serious infection, so I left it alone.
I went to work and worked my shift shaking. It was Mother’s Day so I thought everyone else would be with family, but my parents live in another state so I brought one for the team and… , I decided I just had to get through the day. My lips turned blue and no matter what I did, I couldn’t keep myself warm.
Since it was a Sunday, I knew something was wrong and went to the hospital emergency room to seek medical attention. After waiting for almost 8 hours and taking several blood tests, I was told to go home as my white blood cell count was fine.
Just 24 hours later, after experiencing chills, fever, and hallucinations of my dead Nanna, Pop, and my first boyfriend, my housemate took me to the emergency room, where they told me I was developing sepsis. I got it. The infection spread to his blood and he was hospitalized on the spot.
wrong antibiotic
After 4 days of treatment, lots of tears, and hours of sleep, the infection was finally cleared and I was told what was wrong. Before I was discharged from the hospital, the doctor explained that the bug in my body was E. coli, a common cause of urinary tract infections that was resistant to the antibiotics they had given me. No wonder my infection didn’t go away after taking it.
Since this ordeal, I have talked to several women who have gone through the same thing or know someone who has.
The price of convenience
While convenience is often cited as a reason why people use online scripting services, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) says a face-to-face consultation is still best. “If a patient has a health problem that requires follow-up, such as a complicated urinary tract infection, they can receive safe treatment from a GP who knows their medical history,” said Nicole Higgins, chair of the RACGP. The doctor admitted.
“There are clinical issues that are difficult to detect even through telehealth services, so face-to-face is always the best option,” she explained.
If you’re too busy to see your doctor in person, it’s best to schedule a telemedicine appointment with your primary care physician. Higgins added: “It’s better to receive telemedicine from your regular GP or from another practice in the same practice where you can access your medical history and link up with local services.”
never again
It has been a year since the infection, and although my health is not what it used to be, it is gradually starting to improve.
Based on my experience, I no longer use online prescription services at all. These days, if you’re feeling unwell, you make an appointment with your local GP and take the time to take a look at your medical history.
Online scripts may work in many cases, but I don’t want to go through what I went through again.
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