episode_0099

Episode 99. A disease that gets better, a disease that doesn’t get better (2)

****

I placed a pill and a glass of water next to the patient’s bed. It was an ampicillin pill, to be administered as a preventive antibiotic when the patient woke up.

The patient was still in a sedated state and didn’t react at all. He just half-opened his eyes and stared blankly into space.

I wanted to explain when the anesthesia would wear off. Did you overdose by any chance?

“Is the patient okay?”

The patient did not respond.

Is this okay? Did I misjudge the dosage? While I was thinking about taking out the naloxone, the patient made a noise.

“Ugh.”

“Are you feeling better?”

“No.”

“Move your toes.”

I pricked the patient’s sole with a toothpick. There seemed to be a reaction, but it didn’t seem conclusive yet. Let’s wait a bit.

“Do your feet hurt?”

“Yes.”

“Move your toes whenever you remember. The better the blood flow, the faster your recovery will be.”

The patient wiggled his toes a bit. But it seems he’s moving well, so that’s good.

“Okay… … .”

“Take a deep breath.”

I looked around. The patient took a few deep breaths, then raised his head and blinked a few times as if he had come to his senses.

“The surgery went well. I think the patient can be discharged after checking if the wound is healing well and if there are any other complications.”

The patient nodded.

“Take your medicine as soon as you feel like it.”

“Yes.”

****

The surgery and the cleanup took about an hour. The morning outpatient clinic was packed. This time, Dr. Bernard came to visit.

Who is this… … .

A few days ago, a patient was admitted to the hospital with fainting and auscultation revealed a heart abnormality. A student at the Academy’s Pension Department. I thought he had been discharged safely.

“Are you Bernard, student?”

“Yes.”

“What brings you here?”

“I’m just really worried.”

Let’s review.

Bernard was hospitalized with a faint.

The cause of the syncope was thought to be nitrogen oxides discovered in the alchemy laboratory. Auscultation of Bernard’s heart revealed mitral regurgitation as the underlying condition.

It is not yet known what symptoms mitral regurgitation is causing, but it seems quite possible that it contributed to the fainting.

The problem is this. Mitral regurgitation is not a disease that can be solved by this world’s standards. That’s why I explained to you last time that there was nothing we could do… … .

Looks like he’s still anxious.

“Um… …. The patient doesn’t have any problems to solve right now. I think it would be good if he just took care of his daily life.”

“Yes.”

“If you assume that fainting is due to the toxin, there is no evidence that mitral regurgitation is causing the symptoms. So don’t worry too much.”

“Is that so… … ?”

It’s time to take it out.

“I’ll give you some nutritional supplements.”

“Would that help?”

Since I have carefully selected the right supplements, there will be no adverse effects. Of course, you shouldn’t expect supplements to cure heart disease.

The most important thing for this patient is to resolve the anxiety. It is not the structural abnormality of the heart that may or may not be causing the symptoms.

“I hope this helps.”

I didn’t lie.

The patient who received the supplement looked much more relaxed. I thought about what to say. Something that could ease his anxiety…

Oh, I remembered.

“There are also medications to prevent complications of mitral regurgitation. You don’t need to start taking them yet, as you have to keep taking them.”

“But there isn’t?”

“Let’s work together to control the situation. It won’t be too bad for a while.”

“Ah. That’s fortunate.”

Bernard nodded, as if he was finally relieved. Worrying is not good for your health. It is even worse for a patient with a weak heart.

In the first place, it seems that informing this patient that his aortic valve was regurgitating was wrong. It was not helpful.

“Thank you for your hard work. I think you’ll be okay for a while. If you’re sick, come to the hospital right away. If not, come back in two months. Take your medicine well.”

Bernard’s treatment was over. Bernard said goodbye to me, grabbed his medicine bottle, and left the examination room.

****

I sat down in the examination room with my legs stretched out. Istina was gone, replaced by Amy. Are there any more patients?

I looked at Amy.

“Are there any more patients?”

“There was one more person.”

“What kind of patient was it?”

Amy tilted her head.

“I don’t know. It looked perfectly fine.”

You wouldn’t know just by looking at it. No, of course he came to the hospital because he was sick. He looks fine.

“Go out and tell the next patient to come in. Dr. Amy, you’re leaving now.”

“Oh my, thank you!”

Amy left the examination room. A moment later, brisk footsteps were heard walking toward the examination room.

The treatment is different from that of graduate students. I haven’t even seen the patient’s face yet, but for some reason, I feel like I know exactly what kind of person he is.

I have a feeling there will be a lot to talk about.

“Come in-”

Before I could even finish telling them to come in, the next patient opened the door to the examination room and came in. I looked up and looked at the patient.

“Patient No-”

“Hello!”

I kept my mouth shut. What the heck, this guy.

This person is clearly a bit crazy.

****

I took some time to look over the new patient who came in. No matter how much I looked at him, I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him.

An academy student with a very bright expression that doesn’t match the hospital. Dark blue hair cut roughly short and unique golden eyes.

The fact that the hair was roughly cut short meant that it looked like it had been cut directly with scissors.

She was wearing the academy uniform, but her tie was roughly tied around her neck, her shirt wasn’t even tucked into her skirt, and she was sitting with her legs roughly crossed, her posture also crooked.

“What is the patient’s name?”

“My name is Natalia Nachtigal. By the way, I heard that many people can’t pronounce my family name? So, you can just call me Natalie, whatever you want.”

I nodded.

“What hurts and why are you here?”

“I have a cold. But I think my cold is a bit bad? My throat hurts. You know, it’s different from the cold you usually get.”

This patient is very conversational. If you ask him one question, he will give you ten answers in return.

“I see. Did you have a fever?”

“There was a little bit. Now it seems to be gone, and I’m not sure. I’m still a little dizzy.”

I had a really sore throat and a fever. It seemed a bit too severe to be just a cold. It seemed different from a common cold. What could it be?

There are many diseases that are similar to a cold but a little more severe. Like the flu, or even pneumonia. I nodded for now.

“Since when has it been like that?”

“Two days. Two days ago, I saw a white cat in front of the dormitory. But the cat that originally lived in front of the dormitory was black. So the original cat got kicked out… … .”

I raised my hand and interrupted Natalie.

“So?”

“Ah. So that means I clearly remember it was two days ago! Because of the cat.”

I briefly checked the clock hanging in the examination room. There was more time left than I thought. Should I just let them chatter? I have things to check.

“So. What happened to the cat that used to live there?”

“Oh, yes! I thought the black cat got kicked out because the black cat was yelling at the white cat, but it turned out that the white cat was walking around with it. I guess they became friends.”

I took out the patient’s medical records.

– Inability to focus on one topic in conversation. Difficulty completing thoughts.

– Lack of awareness. That may be the case, but there is no awareness of this fact. Seems to lack the ability to analyze social cues.

“Do you usually study well?”

“Yes? I’m pretty much in the top ranks. But my throat hurts these days, so I can’t focus. So I wish I could get better soon. It’s hard to study when you’re sick.”

“Right.”

I looked up from the medical records and looked at the patient again. There were only so many unusual things, but I think I need to check to see what the illness is.

You said you came because you had a cold.

“Would you like to cough?”

“Uh, how do I cough?”

“Just gulp, gulp a few times.”

Natalie was thinking about something.

“That’s amazing. They say that skilled doctors can tell what disease someone has just by listening to the sound of a cough, and you said that you are the best doctor in the empire-”

“Cough.”

“Oh, right.”

Miss Natalie coughed a few times.

I listened to the cough. The cough was completely normal. When I think about it, it was. He didn’t cough when he came in.

If it was a cold or pneumonia, he would have come coughing, so there would have been no reason to ask what to do about coughing. It means that he hardly ever coughed while he was sick.

It seems more likely that it’s not a cold.

“Do you have difficulty swallowing food?”

“Yes.”

“Have you ever had hives?”

“A little bit on the neck. It fits well… … ?”

I think I know what it is. It’s similar to a cold, but there’s no cough, hives appear, and it’s hard to swallow.

On the one hand, and in a way more importantly, you can’t focus on the topic of conversation, you’re not tactful, and you only say what you want to say.