Having visited the same doctor since I was a child I knew inevitably the day would come that he would retire. The letter in my hand confirmed my thoughts. I never contemplated all the intimacies that patients and doctors share until the prospect of finding a new doctor was upon me.
I wasn't having any medical issues, but it was 3 months past my annual exam. I knew I had to find a new doctor just to make sure nothing was wrong. I decided to go to another gentlemen I heard about. He was about 50 years old so I felt safe and confident in his abilities.
I'm the last appointment of the day. They are running behind for various reasons, as most Doctors offices are. Sighing, I looked at my watch... 6pm. I watched several clinic employees walk out and bid goodbyes to other personnel. It was finally my turn. The nurse came to the waiting room and called my name. The lone occupant, she didn't have to wonder who I was.
She took me into a room, handed me some new patient paperwork to fill out and left. She seemed a bit brisk, almost rude as she told me to fill it out. I wanted to tell her that I wasn't any happier than she was to be here so late, but held my tongue. She walked out while I started on the pile of bureaucratic paperwork that would alert my new doctor of any previous ailments.
The minutes ticked by slowly while I waited, then the doorknob turned. The doctor walked in and apologized for such a long delay. He may have been in his 50's but he had aged very well. Thick black hair covered his head with a hint of gray at the temples. His dark Caucasian complexion told me he enjoyed the sun. He towered over my short 5'4" frame when he extended his hand to shake mine while introducing himself. He had large hands. I noticed the hair on his knuckles when he held my smaller hand. Without realizing it my gaze lingered on his hand a moment.
He pulled away and reached for my papers. Leafing through them he asked me a few questions before proceeding.
"Unfortunately, I will only be able to have a consultation with you today."
"What?"
"I can't do your annual examination today because of the time."
"You mean I waited for nothing?"
"I'm sorry."
"Why can't you just do it and get it over with since I'm here?"
"Legally I can't do it without my nurse present due to the possible legal ramifications."
"Can I sign something saying it's ok?"
"I don't know I have never had this issue before." "I'm willing to sign a paper saying that I consent to the exam with no one else present. I just want to get it over with and I sure don't want to wait for 2 hours on another occasion."
He looked at me and quietly said, "Ok." Handing me a paper I scrawled a quick note regarding the situation, signed it and returned it to him. He glanced over it, placed it in my file and closed the folder.
"Please sit on the end of the examination table."
I boosted my butt onto the table. He checked my reflexes then listened to my heart and felt my neck for lymph nodes then had me lay back. He raised my top a bit and pressed against my abdomen asking if I felt any pain. He found a spot that was very sensitive when I yelped.
"When was the last time you had a bowel movement?"
"Ummm, probably 4 days."
"Is this normal for you?"
"Sometimes, but usually I give myself an enema to remedy the problem."