Broken System

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am sick. It started with a runny nose and has made its way into my throat and somewhat into my lungs. Yesterday, I went to an after hours clinic, and was perscribed a few things to treat my symptoms, but my strep test came back negative so they didnt give me an antibiotic. This morning I woke up to find that the gland under the right side of my jaw had swollen to about the size of a golf ball. I decided this was worth a trip to the ER, so I got to deal with that. I dont know if you watch the news, or perticulararly CNN, but they reguarly have a segment by Dr Sanjay Gupta who addresses the fact that the health care system in the US is broken. I have to agree There were about 7 people in the ER, and I had to wait about an hour and a half to be seen. They even shuffled a few people in front of me who had come in afterwards. When I asked when I would be treated, they said that they were treating people in order based on severity. How do they know severity? Those people werent bleeding and I have no idea what is wrong with me, other than I look like Sick Boy off of Van Wilder.
After I finally got taken to a room (they told be several times "you're next," only to have other people continue to go in front of me) I spoke with a doctor who ordered another throat swab to check for strep, x-rays of my chest, and blood work. They had to do the swab twice. The nurse was told to do 2 swabs intitally, so she just used a swab with 2 sticks on it, thinking that would be sufficient. No such luck. The x-rays went fine, but I never saw the results. The worst part of the whole thing was getting blood drawn. When the nurse stuck me, a pain shot from my elbow to my thumb, and I was fighting back screaming. I told the nurse about it as she was drawing blood, and she just said that if I relax some it wont hurt. Well, I tried, and that definately wasnt it. About 6 hours later, it still hurts, and my whole forearm is very sore. She did something wrong.
After that whole experience, they couldnt find anything wrong. The doctor perscribed me an antiboitic, but he gave me the choice if I wanted it or not. I figured it couldnt hurt anymore than they already did, so I got that filled.
Long story, but in the end, I am going to fill my dedictuble on this ER visit, I am in more pain than I started with, and I am going to have to miss a day of work and had to move my flight because of the time it took at the ER. All this, and I have no idea what is wrong with me. It doesnt seem right.