-by Beth C
Summary: Bo visits Doc Applebee and gets a diagnosis that he doesn't really like. Then disaster strikes. What does the future really hold for poor allergy-ridden Bo? This is the fourth installment in the Bo's Allergy Series.
Rating: PG
Feedback: Yes, Please.
Disclaimer: Not mine, sure wish Bo was though. They belong to WB, I'm pretty sure.
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"I'm sorry, Bo." The apology was short and curt. Dr. Applebee let his sad eyes travel over his young patient. He had watched this one grow since he had been a wee lad, and it always been a struggle. At one point, Bo's allergies had all but vanished, and the good country doctor had thought the boy had finally outgrown them. It did happen sometimes.
He placed the stethoscope down on the counter next to his jar of tongue depressors and the blood pressure cuff. "If those prescriptions didn't help, there really isn't much else we can do." He nodded towards the young man that it was okay to get dressed again. He then picked up the chart labeled 'Beauregard Duke' and made a few notes before placing it back down.
Bo pulled his light blue T-shirt over his head and down, messing up his already untidy blond locks that were way beyond needing a trim. He stuck his hands in the holes and then pulled the shirt down. Reaching up, he smoothed the wayward tresses until he was partially presentable. Presentable enough as he could be sitting on an exam table with watery eyes and a runny nose. He sniffed once and ran the back of his hand under his nose. He trusted Dr. Applebee's opinion as the man had been there for every one of Bo's many scrapes, bumps and bruises. "What do you mean by that?"
He sniffed again and felt his breath catch in his chest as the all too familiar feeling of a building sneeze overtook him. His eyes squeezed closed as he raised a fist and ducked his head down towards the floor. "Eh-he EhhShooo!" He took a quick breath and sneezed again. "EKKT-Shhhh!" He sniffed sharply to stop any more sneezes from coming and looked back up to where the doctor was standing. "I don't want to spend the rest of my life sneezing like this."
"Bless you, Bo." Dr. Applebee said as he reached over and picked up the tissue box that he kept on the counter. He passed it over to Bo, and waited for the young man to take a few of them to wipe off his hand and his still running nose. He then returned the box back to its customary place.
The elder man then placed his hands in the pockets of the lab coat he was wearing and took a couple of steps towards the door then turned and came back. He did have one option open to him, but he was reluctant to suggest it and raise the boy's hopes. Even at 19, Bo still seemed young enough that dashing his hopes was almost certainly going to be the result. He sighed and looked up to where Bo was waiting. "Well, there is one form of treatment we can try, but I'm a bit hesitant to suggest it, and I'm not sure you will even like it."
Bo pressed the tissues tightly against his nose and tried to fight the next oncoming sneeze. Unfortunately, he didn't win. His eyes closed again in anticipation as he gave up and released the sneeze into the slightly soggy tissues. "HahChuhhhh!" He sniffed again then wiped his nose and sighed. "Anything has to be better than this."
The doctor nodded. "Well, we can try to desensitize you, Bo." At the look of incomprehension on Bo's face, he tried to explain. "Desensitizing is a two step process. The first step is injections and the second step is exposure. The injections are done in your upper arm, and you are given doses of whatever you are allergic to in order to make your body learn to accept them as normal and reduce your allergic reactions to them." He walked over and placed one hand on Bo's arm and lifted the sleeve a bit. "You would be injected right about here." He pointed towards a spot in the inside of the upper arm. "However it's not without risks, as some people have bad reactions from the shots, ranging from hives, to rashes, even anaphylactic shock to the first dose which is known as the boosting dose." He let go of Bo's arm and placed his hand back into his pocket. "You would have to come to me twice a week for the shots."
Bo looked from his arm to the doctor, then wiped his running nose again. "Twice a week? For how long?"
Dr. Applebee shrugged. "Six months or more. It all depends on how many things you are allergic to, because we have to desensitize you to each one."
Bo felt his heart sink. "Shoot, that's just about everything. From pollen, dust, and fragrances, to animal hair and feathers." He sighed miserably. "Even grass gets to me." He crumpled the well used tissues into a ball then dropped them into the wastebasket at the foot of the table. "Ain't there anything else you can do?"
The elder man shook his head as he watched the crestfallen boy. It was exactly this reaction that he had been trying to avoid. "Not, really, Bo. Allergies are very limited with treatments. Which is why so many people have them."
"Well, dang it, Uncle Jessie can't afford that." Bo now picked up his faded yellow shirt and put it on over the T-shirt, buttoning it up slowly.
"I understand, Bo. That's one reason people learn to live with them rather than pursue the treatments that are available. Mostly they can be time consuming and very expensive with only minimal results. Even with the 'desensitizing' process, people can still remain allergic to certain items." Dr. Applebee explained while stepping back to the counter and picking up the box of tissues again, seeing the pre-sneeze expression crossing Bo's face. He passed it over to the boy.
Bo managed to grab two tissues and bring them to his face just in time. "HahChuhhh! Ehh-KEHHTchhh! Heh-EKKT-chooo!" The sneezes burst out of him harshly and made his head ache. He wiped at his nose and took another tissue to dry his streaming eyes.
"Bless you," Dr Applebee said and pulled two more tissues from the box. He placed them in Bo's hands after the boy had tossed his used ones away. "Give your nose a good blow and it should help you some."
"Thanks," Bo said, both for the blessing and the tissues which he promptly put to good use. After blowing, he did feel the need to sneeze lessen. "So what advice can you give me, Doc?"
Dr. Applebee picked up Bo's chart and read it over quickly before giving his answer. "The best advice I can give you is to try to avoid the allergens if at all possible. I know it's hard, especially with you living on a farm, Bo, but try the best you can. Always keep aware of what is around you, and if there is anything you are allergic to, try to keep a safe distance from it. The closer you are the more exposed you will be. Also, drink lots of fluids to keep you hydrated." He stopped his speech to smile slightly. "I don't mean beer either, young man. All the sneezing you do, does drain your body of fluids and beer is not a good replacement for them." His eyes twinkled slightly knowing that Bo, like any other farm boy, loved a good drink at the Boars Nest after a long day.
"I also want you to check back with me if you experience any really bad attacks. Some allergies can develop into asthma, so keep that in mind." The doctor then sighed and patted Bo on the shoulder. "I know these aren't the answers you wanted to hear. I've known you just about all your life, Beauregard Duke, and I know you want this to just go away." He caught the blue eyes of his patient with his own bespectacled ones. He paused before continuing. "Don't be shy to pick up the phone and call me if you have any questions, no matter how silly or stupid they may seem to you. Your allergies are different now than when you were a child. The only stupid questions are unasked ones."
The edges of Bo's mouth quirked up in a slight smile. It was as if the doctor was reading his mind. "All right, I'll do that." He tossed the crumpled tissues into the pail.
Dr. Applebee returned the smile. "Good. I'm glad to hear it." He patted Bo one last time then turned and picked up the chart. "Take care, Bo."
Bo watched him leave, and called out to his retreating back. "Thanks, Doc." He then took a deep breath of air and closed his eyes. He let it out slowly and released his frustration of his allergies with it. After a moment when he felt calmer, he got up off the table and left the office to return to the farm.
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