"Good morning. Please have a seat. Tell me, how are you feeling?"
"Well, not so good. Actually I'm feeling a little off."
"Oh? What are your complaints? What is bothering you specifically?"
"Sometimes my heart hearts. Especially at night when I'm in bed."
"What kind of pain? Is it a stabbing pain? A muscle type of pain?"
"I would say an ache. It aches."
"For how long do these aches last during a given episode? Does it worsen if you get up, or if you do a lot of physical activity?"
"They come and go. Usually only when I am laying down before bed or sitting down and thinking, No connection to physical activity."
"I see, what else has been bothering you? Do you have a fever? Nausea? Diarrhea?"
"No, no fever last I checked and my stomach is fine. I've lost my appetite though. I just find it hard to concentrate on the food and my stomach feels like it's churning. But not exactly in an unpleasant way."
"Okay... does this happen when you are interacting with any specific people? Perhaps in stressful situations."
"It really only happens when I talk to one person."
"I see. Have you had any headaches? Been experiencing any dizziness or lightheadedness?"
"Now that you mention it, I haven't exactly felt lightheaded but I've been finding it very hard to focus and my friends and family keep telling me that I'm zoning out and I've gone to space. They often say I have a goofy grin while I'm doing this. Doctor, do you think something is wrong with my face?"
"Hmm, let's do the physical exam. Here, let me listen to your lungs. Breath with your mouth open please. Okay, and now let me hear your heart. Okay very good, stand up please, take a few steps. Okay very nice. Now follow my finder only with your eyes without moving your head. And now take your pointer finger and bring it to your nose, while your eyes are closed. And now the other side. Lay back done and let me feel your stomach and tell me if you feel any pain. Okay let me just feel your legs and jaw. Okay, we're all done here. Let me make sure I have all your symptoms down before I go type it in my computer: you've been feeling off, experiencing a loss of appetite but without pain or diarrhea and find yourself 'zoning' out a lot and sometimes smiling while doing this. People say you seem far away and you're having a hard time concentrating. You feel 'churning' in your stomach but haven't throw up at all. Have I got it all?"
"Just about. I also have been having a hard time sleeping. I can't seem to nod off and I find myself sighing a lot. Sometimes just in the middle of the day."
"Okay, let me summarize in your file for a moment and then I'll tell you what I think is going on."
On the computer screen the doctor writes;
Subjective: 23 year old male. Usually healthy with no noteworthy medical background. Complains of malaise, trouble sleeping, trouble concentrating, occasional chest 'aches' at a time of rest and 'churning' stomach (i.e. he has butterflies). No signs of infection or inflammation and clean diagnostics.
Objective:
Lungs: Completely clean with good air flow from both sides.
Heart: Regular rhythm and clean systolic pressure.
Stomach: Empty and without any sensitivity. No noticeable blockages.
Basic neurological check completely clean.
Legs: No edema on either side.
Assessment: No need to seek further consultions from any specialist. Patient should be given a reality check and asked who the girl is. There is no indication for blood tests or images to be ordered. Patient is love sick.
Plan: Explain to patient that he is completely healthy and ask what her name is.
"Alright listen up. Your physical exam is totally clean and you are healthy. Nothing is wrong with you and although your are indeed suffering from symptoms. It is a bug that people catch, especially in your age range. You have this bug and it may pass or it may persist. The fate is in your hands."
"Doctor? I don't understand what you're saying. I have a bug? Like a stomach bug??"
"Yes. You have the love bug."
"...."
"Son, you're love sick. What's her name?"
"I...uhhh, Her name is Noa."
"Well? Are you gonna tell her or what? If you don't do anything one of two things can happen. Either the symptoms will go away and everything will pass with only minimal scarring, or it will persist for a long time after and you'll start to feel feelings of regret and have even more trouble sleeping."
"Doctor, isn't there anything you can do? Anything I can take? What do I do."
"Go ask her out, That's the best treatment. Good luck."
The End
I remain yours,
Shira
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