Dr Blazing's Prognosis

I had a routine appointment with my primary care physician Friday past. I must not have looked at all well.

After checking with DUMC admissions and not finding a hospital bed available my doctor, told me to go to emergency room and stay until they managed to admit me. After four hours I was beginning to wonder if I should just give up and go home. Thankfully I finally heard someone call out for “Richard Evans Lee.”

The Duke ER staff was able and kind but I was really just in a holding pattern waiting to be put in the hands of the cardiologists.

Though a feat of biological legerdemain I hadn’t imagined possible. I’d put on twenty pounds in less than two weeks. Imagine how much food that would require. My body stores fluid with suicidal ruthlessness.

Dr. Blazing - the doctor in charge of me this time - was urbane, affable and with kind coolness frank. In an excess if sentimental folly I’ve greatly diminished my hope of being alive a year from now.

I haven’t broken down in tears. Yet. Listening to a favorite song from childhood seemed like it would summon them but didn’t. (Who knew young Andy Williams was such a cutie.)

Yes, thanks, I’m going to be as careful as possible.