This story is fictional based on simple facts. All characters are at least 18 years old. This is a follow up story from Part one and Part two. They should be read to get the context of this story.
With recommendation from Dr. Jones to call when my symptoms showed up, I had a flare up two weeks later, so I called his office. Annie his receptionist said that the day was booked through the rest of the day, but would check with the doctor to see if would still see me.
I was on hold for a couple of minutes when Annie got back on the phone and said, "Okay Ken, the doctor said you can come in at 4:00pm and he'll see you."
I said, "Okay I'll be there."
I arrived at 3:45pm and checked in with Annie. She said, "The doctor is with his last patient now, so you'll be next."
I sat there in the waiting room for about a half an hour, when the last patient exited from the back of the office. She checked out with Annie and left. A couple of minutes later, Lori, the nurse came out to get me. She asked, "Ken, do you still have your symptoms?"
I said, "Yes I do."
Lori said, "Okay, I need to draw blood from you right now, come on back."
She sat me down in one of the exam areas and drew my blood. She said, "Dr. Jones will be here in a few minutes to examine you."
I said, "Okay."
A couple of minutes went by and Dr. Jones came in and asked, "So where are your symptoms showing up at?"
I pointed to my right ankle, and showed my right hand with the swollen fingers. He looked at my hand and palpitated my palm and inspected my enlarged fingers. He felt around and asked me to do some specific movements. Then he told me to take my shoes off so he could examine my feet and ankles.
After examining my inflamed body parts thoroughly, he came to a preliminary conclusion that I have Gout. He said, "I'll need to look at your blood results and see if I can make a proper diagnoses from that."
I said, "I hope it'll show something, as you can see I do have some type of condition."
Just then, Annie entered the room and asked, "Doctor, I'm finished up with my work, can I go home?"
Then, Lori chimed in, "Doctor, will you need me anymore?, I'm ready to go home too."
Dr. Jones said, "Yes, I won't need either of you, I just need to discuss a few items with Ken, the both of you can go home, good night you two."
With that, the two women said good night and started walking out. Dr. Jones followed them out and said, "Ken, I'll be right back, why don't you take a seat and sit down."
The doctor returned after seeing his staff off. He came up to me and said, "You know what Ken, let me take a closer look at your ailing body parts."
I said, "Okay, that would great."
Dr. Jones said, "Why don't you get in a gown so I can examine you easier."
I said, "Okay."
I got out of my clothes and put the gown on. The doctor said, "Let's start with you standing here in front of me," as he pulled a rolling chair up to me and sat in it.
He started with my feet and ankles and moved up my leg to my Achilles tendon, and asked, "Does this ever bother you?, as he stroked my Achilles.
I said, "No, that has never bothered me."
He then moved up to my knees and asked, How about your knees?"
I said, "I've had a little bit of tendonitis, but not the same symptoms I get in my feet, ankles and hands."
He said, "Okay. I'd like to check your back, specifically your spine. Turn around and bend over and touch your feet."
I turned around with my back towards the doctor and bent over to reach for my toes. He stood up behind me and untied the gown so it opened up so he could examine my back. The gown fell to the floor as it slid off my body. The doctor inspected my spine by running his hand up and down the center of my back. He pressed into my back as he felt the entire length of my spine. When he got to my sacrum, he pushed in and asked, "Is this tender here?"
I said, "No, it feels okay."
He said, "Okay, good."
Then he pushed on my tailbone and asked, "How about here, tender?"
I said, "No, that feels okay too."
He said, "Great."
