'Tis the Season to Score a #Free Dr. Visit from Amwell #MomsLoveAmwell #ad

DISCLAIMER: Thanks to the folks at Amwell for sponsoring today's post. I was provided a free consultation with an Amwell provider as a part of a social media campaign to spread the word about their services. All opinions and experiences are my own. Yours may differ.

Let's face it, short of placing your kids (and yourself) in a germ-free plastic bubble, there's no foolproof way to avoid the funk this Winter. It's almost inevitable. It seems like every year, usually right around the holidays, someone gets sick.

Be it the kids with a stomach bug or Mom and Dad with the general crud, odds are, someone will get sick and the only thing worse than being sick around the holidays is... going to a Doctor's office and sitting for an hour or more to be seen... when you're sick around the holidays. *insert Debbie Downer music here*

It's a fact; being sick is not fun. In all honesty, it sucks. You're snuffly, sneeze-y, tired, grumpy and the last thing you want to do is put on clothes, get behind the wheel of a car and drive yourself to the Doctor. (where you're subject to pick up a really nice case of pink eye)

Wouldn't it be nice if you could just call the Doctor (whilst still in your cozy, germ covered jammies) and be like..."Look, Doc, I've caught the funk, I feel like I'm dying, could you hook a girl up with some meds that will make me feel like a human again?!"  Why can't there be an app for that?! Oh, but there is!  Say "Hello" to Amwell.

Click this picture to begin your free visit. Coupon Code: BEWELL16

Amwell is the nation’s largest telehealth company, connecting you with board-certified, licensed doctors, dietitians and psychologists, in 46 states, for immediate and live, online visits—day or night, using your mobile phone or desktop computer. Amwell doctors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, rain, sleet, snow, hail, zombies, no matter what, you have a Doctor, right in the palm of your hand.

While you would probably want to see your local Doctor for stuff like... broken bones, sharp instruments stuck anywhere in your body, profuse bleeding, gun shot wounds and motor vehicle accidents, the Amwell docs are here to help you with more common ailments and issues, such as...
•             Bronchitis
•             Cough
•             Sinus infection
•             Sore throat
•             Urinary tract infection
•             Vomiting
•             Diarrhea
•             Fever
•             Pinkeye
•             Flu
•             Sprains and strains
•             Cold
•             Respiratory infection
•             Headache
•             Depression
•             Anxiety
•             Weight concerns
•             Smoking cessation

Finding a provider is easy, just login on your PC or even better, use the app. Choose the type of practitioner you are looking for.  Depending on the issue at hand, the doctor can diagnose, suggest follow up, and prescribe, when appropriate.

I know you're wondering if this is legit or what, right? It seems too easy to be true, right? Wrong!  Amwell takes your privacy very seriously. Your visit with the doctor is secure and HIPAA compliant.  Amwell is accepted by many major insurers, with more added every day, but for a limited time, you can claim a FREE visit with a Doctor or Nutritionist or Psychologist, by using coupon code BEWELL16 at Amwell.com or on the app.

I recently had the opportunity to check out the services Amwell provides, when I had a consultation with a Doctor, to discuss ways to control my fasting blood sugars.

A couple of months ago, I was advised that my blood sugar was way out of whack and I needed to get it under control, so for the past 2 months, I have been on a low carb diet and closely monitoring my sugar and I am proud to say I've lost about 20lbs and I am no longer in need of meds to keep my blood sugar under control.

While my numbers are excellent after I eat, my fasting sugar has been a bit higher than I want it to be, so I consulted with the Doctor for some advice on this issue and here's what happened...

After realizing my PC was not going to cooperate, I decided to use the Android app, which is what I should have done to begin with. It was super easy. It took about a minute to install the app onto my phone, then I was set to login, using the info I supplied, using my PC. (Name, date of birth and preferred password for logging in, nothing invasive)

After logging in, I was asked what type of practitioner I was looking for, then I was brought to a page where I was given several choices of available Doctors, with a little blurb about them. I was asked a couple of basic medical history type questions... allergies, heart disease, cancer, etc; the basics, then I was asked about any meds I currently take and I was on my way to seeing the Doctor.

After reading a little about each one, I chose a Doctor based on the issues I wanted to discuss. I was then put in the queue. I was informed I was second in line and given the choice to wait or choose another Doctor. Since this Doctor matched best with my concerns, I chose to wait.

While I was waiting, I was shown a short video explaining what to expect from my visit and I was urged to write down any questions I had for the Doctor.

About 4 or 5 minutes passed before my practitioner appeared on the screen. I, of course, was like a 65 yr old granny who has never used video chatting before (I Skyped my daughter from across the room once, on accident) and was like... "Can you see me?" "Can you hear me OK?" then I tapped on the thing. It was awkward and I was really glad I could use the "selfie angle" to finish my visit and hide my third chin.

Jokes aside, it was really easy and even though I didn't like the way I looked on video, I got the answers I was looking for and my health concerns were put at bay. 

Between you and me and anyone who knows me; I have a huge fear of Doctor's offices. It causes me a ton of anxiety just thinking about it.  You won't catch me in one, unless I'm literally bleeding to death or giving birth to a child, so for people like me, I can see how this would be an amazing asset.  Lucky for me, I don't have to see a Doctor often, but when I do, I'm glad I have the option to use Amwell from now on.

Want to check out Amwell for yourself? You can, for a limited time, score a free visit by using coupon code BEWELL16 at Amwell.com or on the Apple store, or the Android app.  You can see an Amwell doc for lots of common ailments as well as routine medication refills. (in most states, some limitations apply)