A few months ago, I experienced a troubling symptom, which led to a hospital stay, which led to the discovery of a problem, which led to surgery, which led to recovery, which led to I’m fine.
I understand that arrangement. You feel something, they find something, and they fix it. That’s clean. That’s simple. It’s not fun, but I get it.
As compared to this:
As a result of some blood testing, or, more specifically, the numbers calibrated and passed on the my doctor by some (hopefully focused) blood-testing technician,
I now take blood pressure medicine. Though I feel no external symptoms of high blood pressure.
I take Lipitor for my cholesterol, though I feel no indications of elevated cholesterol.
I take a pill for my thyroid, though I feel no signals of thyroid malfunction.
I take a fourth medicine of a more personal nature (I don’t tell you everything), though I’m not aware of symptoms related to that condition either.
I once said to my doctor, “When I’m waiting in the examining room, I get scared you’re going to come in here and tell me that there’s something wrong with me.”
To which the doctor responded,
“How do you feel?”
“I feel fine,” I replied.
To which the doctor replied,
“If you’re feeling fine, why would you think there was anything wrong with you?”
I had the “comeback” answer in my head, but I sighed, and let it go, because I didn’t want to take up too much of the doctor’s time (and I was afraid he might give me an illness just for spite.) You’re probably ahead of me on this, but I may as well wrap it up.
“Doctor,” I thought, but I didn’t say, “‘feeling fine’ seems to have nothing to do with anything. I feel fine now, and I’m taking four different medicines. And I was feeling fine before you prescribed them.
‘Feeling fine’ is nowhere near as reassuring as I’d like it to be.”
Once again, I’m going in for blood testing.
I feel fine.
And it’s really got me worried.
It will be fine.
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