Assisting Old Motoyama has become quite the parttime job he had now. Aside from his regular visits to the hospital and brushing up on his knowledge with the books and medical records, Kiri was getting the hang of working with scalpels, needles, threads, gauzes and doing sutures at least once every week. This particular week, however, he would have to take the main role as Old Motoyama had suffered a terrible cold. As such, he would man the small clinic that the old physician owned while the kind old doctor was resting in his room on the second floor of that humble little building of his.
As such, Kiri had brought with him a bag with a few shirts for changing and had slept over. Before the sun could even rise the next day, however, there was already a knock on the front door. He quickly opened it to find a father and son under an umbrella as they seemingly were in a hurry. Led inside, Kiri would prop the young boy on the clinic’s bed while the father would explain the situation.
“He suddenly complained that he couldn’t breathe properly,” said the father, visibly worried as he would not even sit when given a chair. Instead, his eyes were on Kiri who was now examining the boy with a stethoscope.
“Any other symptoms he told you?” asked Kiri as he then placed the stethoscope aside and went to feel the boy’s pulse, counting it as he watched the clock on the wall.
“Well, he was restless during sleep. H-he was… uh… he couldn’t finish dinner as well, but I thought it was just because he was too tired that he wanted to sleep early.”
“Hmmm, lost of appetite but there’s a deeper cause if he was restless,” said Kiri as he then placed a hand on the boy’s head and tried to take a feel for the temperature. “What about his activity? Was he energetic or was he lethargic all day?”
“He seemed fine all day long. He was with his friends enjoying a few games at the park. When he returned home in the afternoon, he was sort of quiet.”
“Hmm… it could very well be over fatigue since all of his vitals are normal and even his temperature is still normal, though it seems likely to climb.”
Just as he was about to suggest that the boy be given ample rest for the time being and perhaps prescribe some medicine in case the fever does break through, the boy squirmed on bed and curled as he began to sob while clutching his stomach. Kiri quickly went to examine him while the father became anxious.
“What’s wrong? Is he alright?”
A few more examination, laying the boy flat on his back and pressing against the stomach, Kiri would recall the position of the organs inside. By memory, he was visualising the appropriate scale for a boy this young and gently pressing along the skin. He was very meticulous to note any reaction from the boy as he did so.
Just then, the doors from the inside of the house slid open and Old Motoyama came out. “Is everything alright here?” he asked.
“Doctor, good timing. I believe this boy has an acute case of gastroesophageal acid reflux. One of it’s symptoms can lead to loss of appetite and anxiety, which may lead to thinking one can’t breathe properly,” said Kiri as he pressed on the diaphragm area and the boy made a face that seemed to be in pain.
“Oh dear. It’s normal for adults because of busy schedule but unless the boy has been skipping meals or eating too much acid-inducing food, he may have contracted it,” said the doctor.
“Is it curable, doctor Motoyama?” asked the father.
“Don’t worry. He’s still young. I’ll prescribe you some medicines to help with lowering the acid but you’ll have to keep an eye on his food intake and remind him to avoid eating certain things.”
“Thank you, doctor.”
“I also suggest that he’d relax for the next couple of days. The body can heal naturally since there’s no sign of internal bleeding or severe inflammation,” added Kiri as he ruffled the boy’s hair. “Don’t worry too much, okay, kid? Oh and when he sleeps, please elevate his head or let him lie on the right side so that there won’t be any acid build up. The reason he could be uncomfortable during his sleep is the acid slowly rising. Normally, this is a heartburn but for a kid his age, it can be scary and painful.”
“Of course. I’ll remember that. Thank you very much.”
Kiri was yet to be a full-fledge doctor, so Old Motoyama was the one who gave the prescription. Then they waved farewell and watched as father and son left the clinic. It was already dawn by then.
“Sorry if we ended up waking you. I wanted to let you rest a bit more. Oh but I may still have ended up to ask for your help on the medicine part since I can’t really give out official prescriptions yet,” said Kiri.
“No, it’s alright. You’re a big help as is. Today’s gonna be another long day and it’s just started. I look forward to your manning my clinic,” answered the doctor with a laugh.
“Yes, I’ll do my best.”
“Well then, I shall go and prepare for breakfast. If you’re done with setting the clinic for the day, come and join me quick before patients start coming in. You’d be surprised at how time will fly bya and before you know, it’ll be nighttime. So best to have a heavy breakfast.”
“Yes, doctor.”
[MFT WC: 952]
As such, Kiri had brought with him a bag with a few shirts for changing and had slept over. Before the sun could even rise the next day, however, there was already a knock on the front door. He quickly opened it to find a father and son under an umbrella as they seemingly were in a hurry. Led inside, Kiri would prop the young boy on the clinic’s bed while the father would explain the situation.
“He suddenly complained that he couldn’t breathe properly,” said the father, visibly worried as he would not even sit when given a chair. Instead, his eyes were on Kiri who was now examining the boy with a stethoscope.
“Any other symptoms he told you?” asked Kiri as he then placed the stethoscope aside and went to feel the boy’s pulse, counting it as he watched the clock on the wall.
“Well, he was restless during sleep. H-he was… uh… he couldn’t finish dinner as well, but I thought it was just because he was too tired that he wanted to sleep early.”
“Hmmm, lost of appetite but there’s a deeper cause if he was restless,” said Kiri as he then placed a hand on the boy’s head and tried to take a feel for the temperature. “What about his activity? Was he energetic or was he lethargic all day?”
“He seemed fine all day long. He was with his friends enjoying a few games at the park. When he returned home in the afternoon, he was sort of quiet.”
“Hmm… it could very well be over fatigue since all of his vitals are normal and even his temperature is still normal, though it seems likely to climb.”
Just as he was about to suggest that the boy be given ample rest for the time being and perhaps prescribe some medicine in case the fever does break through, the boy squirmed on bed and curled as he began to sob while clutching his stomach. Kiri quickly went to examine him while the father became anxious.
“What’s wrong? Is he alright?”
A few more examination, laying the boy flat on his back and pressing against the stomach, Kiri would recall the position of the organs inside. By memory, he was visualising the appropriate scale for a boy this young and gently pressing along the skin. He was very meticulous to note any reaction from the boy as he did so.
Just then, the doors from the inside of the house slid open and Old Motoyama came out. “Is everything alright here?” he asked.
“Doctor, good timing. I believe this boy has an acute case of gastroesophageal acid reflux. One of it’s symptoms can lead to loss of appetite and anxiety, which may lead to thinking one can’t breathe properly,” said Kiri as he pressed on the diaphragm area and the boy made a face that seemed to be in pain.
“Oh dear. It’s normal for adults because of busy schedule but unless the boy has been skipping meals or eating too much acid-inducing food, he may have contracted it,” said the doctor.
“Is it curable, doctor Motoyama?” asked the father.
“Don’t worry. He’s still young. I’ll prescribe you some medicines to help with lowering the acid but you’ll have to keep an eye on his food intake and remind him to avoid eating certain things.”
“Thank you, doctor.”
“I also suggest that he’d relax for the next couple of days. The body can heal naturally since there’s no sign of internal bleeding or severe inflammation,” added Kiri as he ruffled the boy’s hair. “Don’t worry too much, okay, kid? Oh and when he sleeps, please elevate his head or let him lie on the right side so that there won’t be any acid build up. The reason he could be uncomfortable during his sleep is the acid slowly rising. Normally, this is a heartburn but for a kid his age, it can be scary and painful.”
“Of course. I’ll remember that. Thank you very much.”
Kiri was yet to be a full-fledge doctor, so Old Motoyama was the one who gave the prescription. Then they waved farewell and watched as father and son left the clinic. It was already dawn by then.
“Sorry if we ended up waking you. I wanted to let you rest a bit more. Oh but I may still have ended up to ask for your help on the medicine part since I can’t really give out official prescriptions yet,” said Kiri.
“No, it’s alright. You’re a big help as is. Today’s gonna be another long day and it’s just started. I look forward to your manning my clinic,” answered the doctor with a laugh.
“Yes, I’ll do my best.”
“Well then, I shall go and prepare for breakfast. If you’re done with setting the clinic for the day, come and join me quick before patients start coming in. You’d be surprised at how time will fly bya and before you know, it’ll be nighttime. So best to have a heavy breakfast.”
“Yes, doctor.”
[MFT WC: 952]