I was watering my mom's garden because she is out of town. LA county law stipulates that it is illegal to water during normal day light hours due to the drought. While walking through an area of dirt and weeds, I felt a sharp pain in my foot. I quickly raised my foot and a piece of wood came with it. I removed the wood and inspected the wound. It didn't look too bad. Then the blood started to flow. Crap. Ok, calm down...when was the last time I got a tetanus shot because I know that you are supposed to get them once every ten years. I remembered that I had a vaccination chart so I went and inspected. Get this...my last tetanus shot was on July 23rd 1999. Ten years to the day...
The phone rings and it's my friend Megan calling to say she will pick me up for the show in a few minutes. I tell her what happened and she says that I need to take care of it now and suggests I call an urgent care center. I look one or two up. And they all close at 7 pm. So it is Friday night, my tetanus shot literally just expired, and I have a possible infection incubating on the bottom of my foot.
Wait, there is the Emergency Room! I call them and they say they can help!
"Hello, I just stepped on a rusty nail, do you give tetanus shots?"
"Yes we do"
"Great! How much will that be?"
"I can't tell you"
"Why not?"
"You have to see a doctor, and it depends on how long he is with you and what he orders"
"Yeah, but you can ball park it right?"
"No"
"I stepped on a nail and it's been more than 10 yrs since my last booster, this is a pretty common ailment, not exactly rocket science"
"Sorry"
"Well is this something that can wait until the morning, or does it need to be dealt with immediately?"
"I can't tell you"
"Why not?"
"I am a nurse"
"Uhh, can you put me on with somebody who can?"
"No"
"Why not?"
"We don't give advice over the phone"
"Are you serious!?"
"Yes"
"Ok, thanks"
"You're Welcome"
How much could it be right? So I was about to walk out the door when my brother (I had previously informed him of my condition) tells me that he was looking up prices and that it can easily cost up to $700 for a tetanus shot in the ER.
Crap. I don't have insurance right now either. I decide to sleep on it and go to one of the weekend urgent care centers as soon as it opens. In the mean time I hear from my parents (currently in Europe) and they say to wait until monday and go to my former health care provider when I had insurance. I was not comfortable waiting until monday because after some internet scouring I found something from the mayo clinic that said to get the shot within 48 hours of the incident. I start price shopping the next morning and they are still expensive regardless (approx $200) due to some "new patient fees" and a $93 (minimum) "doctors visit" and $20 "office charge". I look at my former insurance providers website and find that they have an urgent care center in Long Beach. At least I could skirt the "new patient fee" if I go there. I go, check in, sit, wait, get called, meet the doctor, explain, meet the nurse, get poked with a needle, sit, wait, pay and then leave. Out the door, $110 (which seems like a screaming deal now).
Now I have a dead arm and small limp. But I am boosted and lock-jaw free!
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