The flu shot

Who got their flu shot?

This year, I’m hearing the flu shot was only 10 percent effective. Not too great. I’ve already had some patients with the flu who were especially bummed because they got the shot.

I still personally always get it. But there is still a faction of physicians I work with who refuse, even if it means they are pressured to wear a mask in patient areas.

What do you think? Do you get the flu shot each year?

Mailbag: Smelly doctor

Sometimes I get emails from readers asking me questions.  This was one that the reader asked if I could post, so here it goes:

Dear Fizzy,

I was hoping I could get advice from your readers on a problem I'm having!

My problem is, quite simply, one of the doctors I work with smells really bad.  I'm not talking about coffee breath either.  I'm talking about a stink that's noticeable from three or four feet away.  If I see her charting in a room, I will try to leave the room.  When we have a conversation, I breathe through my mouth.

I'm not the only person who notices this.  I've heard other people comment, "Do you think Dr. K knows about her BO?"

Unfortunately, Dr. K is a pretty important person at our hospital.  She's been working there much, much longer than I have.  Furthermore, she's a consultant who is not employed by the hospital, so she doesn't answer to our HR.

I don't know what to do, if anything!  I can't tell her she smells!  But I feel like someone should do something, right?  If I smelled bad, I'd want to know about it.

Thanks in advance!

The good stuff

I've been struggling with sinus issues on and off for the last few months.  I took Sudafed a few times and it didn't help much, which is generally the case with Sudafed these days.

Then a friend of mine pointed out to me that I could get the "good" Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) at the pharmacy without a prescription if I show my ID.  So I did.  And poof..... the haze I've been in was finally lifted!

While I was happy to feel better, I'm also pissed off.  Sudafed (phenylephrine) is essentially USELESS.  I've taken it multiple times and it does NOTHING.  Why bother even selling it?  Pseudoephedrine is so much better!

Stupid drug addicts ruin everything.  Patients can't even get neurontin anymore without being made to feel like a criminal.  Neurontin?  Seriously??  That stuff is practically a sugar pill.  How do you get high off that??