All We Leave Behind

All We Leave Behind - Chapter Eleven

Eleven

“John if you’ll come with me.” I put down the magazine I’d been reading when the receptionist called on me.  I had been in the waiting room for nearly an hour. I wish for once an appointment at one in the afternoon would actually mean an appointment at one, not two. The worst part is the nurse just led me to one of the examination rooms where I would possibly have to wait another half hour before the doctor would actually join me there. Thankfully I only had to wait ten minutes.

The doctor entered, a spectacled heavy set man with a grayish white whiskered beard and a plump reddish face. I was wondering if a doctor that appeared less healthy than me could be trusted to give sound medical council.

“John Morgan?” He was peering down at his clip board as if trying to place the name.

“I haven’t been here in five years.”

“Five years.” He smiled. “That’s some time. You haven’t needed a doctor in the past five years?”

“I went to a walk in clinic three years ago with pink eye.”

He nodded. “Well let’s take a look. Roll up your sleeve and we’ll check your blood pressure.” I could hear his breathing. It was slightly labored sounding from just talking and operating the blood pressure test. “Did you know your blood pressure is high?” I shook my head. “Well it’s a little high, you may need medication but I’d like to see if we can’t control it with diet and exercise.”

“Ok.”

“So it says here..” He was eyeing the clipboard again. “that you were in the hospital for a bleed in your stomach.”

“Yeah.”

“Scary stuff, huh?”

“Yeah.” I nodded.

“It also says you voluntarily checked yourself out early.”

“Yeah.”

He cleared his throat rather loudly as if phlegm had been caught in it. “Excuse me. Well I’m going to schedule a gastroscopy. I want to see how your stomach is healing since the operation.” He started writing a note on his clipboard. “Any pains?”

“No, it’s been fine.”

He nodded. “I want to put you on a medication to reduce your stomach acid.”

“Ok.” I hated going to the doctors.

“Don’t drink any alcohol until after the results are back on the gastroscopy, also no coffee, citrus fruits, sodas, teas.” He lifted his arm up to cover his mouth while he cleared his throat again. “Avoid eating out. No fried or spicy foods.” I decided I wouldn’t tell him about the Chinese I ate last night. “We should schedule a physical as soon as possible since it’s been five years and here is a list with the complete foods you shouldn’t be consuming.”

“Ok.” I said taking the list.

I left the office with a prescription in my hands, an appointment in three days to have the gastroscopy done and another appointment in two weeks for the physical. I guess this was what happens when you ignore your health for as long as I had, it catches up with you.

I had my prescription filled and went grocery shopping. I made sure to dodge the items he’d listed. I’d never been much of a cook. Kraft Dinner and microwavable meals were my staples. I headed down the frozen food aisle and tried to find as many non fried options with lower sodium. It was more challenging than I’d expected. I’d settled on a few that seemed ok and headed for the cash.