Today's Doctor Visit

Doctor visits are usually the same every time. I enter the office with a sense of uncertainty- how long will the wait be, what will the diagnosis be, will there be lab work? You know it.

Today was no different. The wait in the initial waiting room was very long and very cold. There were odd conversations between an older gentleman with his meds in a plastic tackle box and a twenty year old army dude w/ flu-like symptoms. The older gentleman just knew he wouldn't be infected by the army guy but was quite taken aback by the intensity of my cough and backed away. So, to oblige him, I huddled in the corner coughing into my sleeve which is proper cold etiquette at schools nowadays.

After the older gentleman and the army dude were led to the back, it was my turn. The scale looms in the dark.... no comments here. The small sterile waiting room in the back became sort of a haven for me in that it was darker and much, much warmer than the previous room. The People mags were from April and August of this year (there were no New Yorkers) and were ratty and worn especially on the corners. All I learned was that Melissa Gilbert and Rob Lowe had dated after her Little House days and that Kate ( John and Kate plus Eight) spent $128 on a bathing suit during her beach vacay this summer. All of this information helped me to realize that I really didn't feel well and was still very cold. So I pulled my arms into my sleeves and curled up on the table. Sleep came quickly.

The doctor woke me with the usual pleasantries, asking how I was, how was my family, etc. He did seem to be surprised that I was asleep; however, I can sleep almost anywhere. He looked in my ears, nose, throat; listened to my chest and back and decided that I am suffering from "asthmatic bronchitis". He informed me that had I waited a day or two, my condition would most likely have deteriorated into pneumonia. The proverbial bullet had been dodged!

Now, after a list of prescriptions and a shot in my backside, it was off to the same old check-out desk. After my quick trip to the restrooms, I looked at my watch and realized that this doctor visit had been the same as all the others- uneventful (except for the nap).