I know the ER thing was a criticism of the episode when it came out, but I think it kind of makes sense. I ended up in the ER right before graduating from college because I had been really sick and was too busy with work and school and had bad student insurance and finally ended up with an insanely high fever on a Saturday and it was my only option. Urgent care twice since I moved to Montana 3 years ago because not very many doctors are covered by any insurance here and the ones that are covered are not taking appointments with new patients. Which isn't helpful when you need them right away.

So I saw it as reasonable, seeing as how they were trying to work one (or more) full time jobs and not having insurance- they weren't going to be able to get the preventative care and without insurance an urgent care facility is the best you can do. Or if you're in a smallish town like I am, sometimes insurance doesn't even help avoid urgent care if there isn't a doctor's office that can take you within 30 miles.

However when I got the DVDs of that season a few months ago I read the forums on TWoP and I think people fought about whether or not it was manufactured drama for at least 20 pages.

Bravo was re-running the first season of Top Chef yesterday and my Tivo picked it up. I forgot how much I freaking loved Harold. And Dave. If I were ever on Top Chef, I'd totally be Dave- babbling and crying and flipping out all the time.

I have to say I'm fortunate that I've never needed to use the ER for myself. Even without insurance, I've always been able to go the walk-in route. When I was in school, I could use the uni clinic. It wasn't free, but it was a reasonable cost for a college student. Plus, you could pay for limited insurance through the uni, if you wanted. So, I never had to wait until something got so bad, I had to go to the ER. Also, as a vet, having the VA to fall back on when I'm uninsured is a nice bonus. I've had to rely on them a couple of times.

Last time I went to urgent care was...last night, for vertigo that hasn't subsided after 2 1/2 weeks.

I was trying to get a proper appointment, but because my old doctor retired I hadn't established with a new one, so my first appointments were going to be from three weeks to two months out. Seriously, people, if I'm still dizzy after Christmas, I've got something wrong with me!

Anyway, finally found a med center that had regular doctors plus their associated walk-in where they could see me and, bonus, let me set up with their doctor so it won't be this bad next time. And the doc diagnosed probably labyrinthitis which is the coolest named thing I've ever had and said to rest up and let him know if it didn't clear up in a couple more weeks.

Okay, in other news, I think I hate this season's TAR. I only like Dallas & mom, and I think everyone else is just miserable and uninteresting.

I was trying to get a proper appointment, but because my old doctor retired I hadn't established with a new one, so my first appointments were going to be from three weeks to two months out. Seriously, people, if I'm still dizzy after Christmas, I've got something wrong with me!

That is the type of thing that pushes people to go to the emergency room. The one time I had vertigo, I had just moved and no doctor would see me right away.

I think everyone else is just miserable and uninteresting.

Seriously, if next season is this lame, I'm going to be really pissed that me and my partner didn't even get past the first round.

I went to the ER for vertigo!

What happened with all y'all's vertigo? 'Cause it's freaking me right out, I tell you what!

Anyway, yeah, you're right about the ER. This was so not an emergency, but I seriously could not wait till Christmas. Christmas! At that point I might as well wait and go to the free mission clinic in Indianapolis!

I'm already pissed that you didn't make it. You would have been SO MUCH BETTER!

As much as I hate to admit it, I let my (very young, very cute) upstairs neighbor do some New Age ear cleaning thing that his ex-girlfriend used to do. It involved holding a wax paper funnel to your ear and lighting it on fire. (Yes, I'm laughing as I type that). I do think it was complete bullshit, but, coincidentally, there was no more vertigo.

What happened with all y'all's vertigo? 'Cause it's freaking me right out, I tell you what!

Because I went to the ER, I saw a more senior doctor, who referred me to a fancy-pants ENT guy he knew, and the upshot was, probably a virus, wait it out, sorry. The ENT was super over-explain-y, but the upshot is, the only thing to do for inner ear issues like vertigo is surgery in your head, so that's pretty last resort. But some astronaut had it. I forget.

Yeah, okay, lighting my ear on fire and surgery on my head not options! Hee.

Maybe the paper fire cone thing did something with pressure differentials? Dunno.

Anyway, yeah, it's a virus wait it out is the advice I got. Oh well.