Up The Farway Tree

Back to Miami Beach

We moved back to the hotel at Miami Beach today so at least we are no longer in an industrial estate!  The staff at the hotel were lovely and although our rooms aren't like the ones we originally had (apart from mum and dad who always seem to be getting upgrade!) they have said we can have breakfast included for no extra charge which is really helpful. However  I am not sure if it was amusing or just plain mean that they are offering a free 'volcano cocktail' today!

The CF nurse never called back yesterday so I went to a pharmacy for advice and they gave me a list of places to try.  She suggested a primary care doctor first and we headed over there but they refused to even see someone they didn't have on record which wasn't very helpful.  I called my insurance company to check if their was a specific procedure and they advised I try and see a doctor but would have to pay upfront and then claim back on return - but they have noted that I called.  So today we tried an urgent medical centre with a walk in clinic and they were helpful as a lot of holiday makers are finding themselves in the same position.  I had a letter from my CF unit detailing my history and medication which was helpful, as was the fact the letter also said I was a medical doctor.   It was $150 to see the doctor and he gave me scripts for my anti rejection drugs, the antibiotic and my main painkiller  - he wrote them for 7 days but with a 'refill' which means I can pay for another 7 days supply if we are still here.   Of course if we are still here in another week I will run out of other medication that I really need, like my enzymes and insulin but will cross that bridge when we come to it,   I went directly to the pharmacy after seeing the doctor and the medications themselves have cost me over $300 so far, on top of the doctors fee ($200 of that being for 7 days of one anti rejection which they have had to order for me). There were a couple of mistakes on the scripts - the doctor had written 1g instead of 1mg for one drug and 4 tablets instead of 14 for another and bizarrely they took my word for it that this was wrong and dispensed what I said was correct!  I was glad at the time although found the whole experience very odd as in the UK an incorrect script would always need to be rewritten.  Some of my other medications are non essential and a couple I managed to buy over the counter so I am getting by at the moment and just really keeping everything crossed that the insurance will pay out on my return!

Although the medication search took up most of this afternoon we did spend the hour before hand watching the Gay Pride parade ;-)  It is a big Miami festival and they have a parade along Ocean Drive something along the lines of the Mardi Gras with lots of floats, people dressed up and handing out freebies.  It was really well done with people having a great laugh and a good atmosphere.  Mum ended up with several pairs of beads, a sun visor, two neckerchiefs and a water bottle.   I also managed to catch a beach ball which is now deflated and in my case ;-)   It was certainly an experience and I can safely say that anything goes on Miami Beach.

Tomorrow we will just chill out and maybe plan something for Monday.  Tuesday will definitely be spent checking up on flights and keeping everything crossed that things start moving in time for Wednesday.  It doesn't look good at the moment as the volcanic ash is spreading with no sign that the weather will change any time soon.   Just keep praying that the wind starts blowing in the right direction very soon....