Ahhhhhhh Choooooooooooooo!

I FINALLY SNEEZED!!!!!!!!!

And I didn't even try. I was not in direct sunlight, I had not sniffed pepper or tweezed a single thing.

But it the best feeling ever.

Now for the story - and what a funny one it is.

Have you all seen the commercials for Claritan D or Advil Cold and Sinus? THe ones that go something like this?

" We are not in your drugstore aisles anymore because we chose NOT to change our formula. We can now be found BEHIND your pharmacists counter. Just ask. "

What they don't tell you is why.

This is where it gets funny.

I called Walgreens this morning to ask if they had Advil Cold And Sinus. I was met with a resounding yes. I turned the car right and headed straight there.

I got there, and had some prescriptions to pick up, so while the pharmacy clerk was busy dealing with that - I was scanning the drugs behind the counter that are no longer " found in your drugstore aisles". Quite a few actually. Claritan D, Claritan, Mucinex D, Tylanol Cold And FLU liquid, All Sudafed decongestant products and advil Cold and Sinus.

The clerk returned with my prescriptions and I asked for the advil. She returned with it and said

"I'll need a valid form of identification".

I must have looked at her strangely so she quickly explained that this is the new law. For OTC ( or as I like to call this new brand.... BTC) meds???? Seriously????

So I hand over my drivers license.

Then she says,

"Please sign this release form."

Release form? what am I releasing? I don't have to go through this much to fill a script for a steroid or Vicadin.

"Yes, I'm sorry, But you have to sign this release form promising that you won't use the drug to make Methamphetamine. "

Crystal Meth in short.

I burst out laughing and the clerk starts looking uncomfortable. I tell her not worry and sign it away. Then I say - Do I look like someone who uses crystal Meth? Do I look like someone who would even recognize it if I tripped over it in the street??

The clerk looks at me, jeans, Fleece sweat shirt, shoe boots, leather bag, chenille scarf, hair in a ponytail, and joins me laughing.

"Unfortunately its the law now. " She points to the bottom that refers to fine print.

I got in the car, took two an went to my lesson. By the time I had gotten my coffee and arrived at my coaches home, I felt unbelievably good. I was surprised in fact at how good I felt. My sinuses were clear, my jaw and teeth were no longer hurting and the swelling that I systematically get with each sinus infection was going down.

Now that was at10:30 this morning. I haven't taken a second dose yet and it's worn off by now. But I don't feel any pain - and I started to sneeze again!!!! That released a whole lot of pressure in my head.

If any of you are familiar with pain management techniques, my pain threshold was at a 7 this morning. Within 20 minutes it was down to 1.5. I was able to sing through my lesson, really well actually. I had planned on going home after that and taking a nap until my nail appointment. But I didn't and I didn't need it.

I'll take it before I go to bed to make sure that I don't wake up in pain. But things are going much better.

What I have discerned from this experience is something that I have been thinking for the past 6 months. Phenylalamine is not a reasonable replacement for pseudoephedrine HCL. It takes much longer and more of the meds to recover. The reality is that while I recognize that anything can be abused and transmutated into somethind else that may or may not be legal, the removal wasn't due to FDA requirements as we were made to believe at first. This is all about illegal drug use.

I hate the hassle. You guys who read me know how I feel about that. But this is an active ingredient that I am finding necessary so it's worth the hassle ( and the laugh that it gets) in order to get it the one or two times a year that I need it.

I probably made the pharmacy clerk's day.