Chapter 2: The Good Doctor
As if on cue, a tall, pale, yet impeccably dressed man in a white coat pulled back the curtain.
"I'm Dr. Carlisle Cullen" he said, "I hear that you fainted today."
"Yes, I was walking to assembly with Seth. I started to feel a little lightheaded. Then I fainted. It isn't a big deal. My last doctor said it was just low blood pressure."
"It was weird. One minute she was talking and the next she is on the floor." I said
"I'm fine, really, I am," said Katie
"No, you aren't" I said, "Dr. Cullen, tell her this isn't normal."
"No, I wouldn't say it is normal," he said.
"Katie, tell me a little more about this- if for no other reason than to calm Seth down. Do you have any other symptoms when you faint? Do you get dizzy or nauseated? Any headaches? Has anyone diagnosed you with seizures?" He reached out his hand to check her pulse and began examining her.
"I have pretty bad migraines and I'm a little nauseated." Said Katie
"Do you have a headache now?" he asked
"Yes," said Katie, "but it's nothing. I just get migraines. And before you ask, I'm not pregnant."
"That's good to know. If I asked you to rate the pain on a scale of one to ten, what would you rate it?"
"It's about a seven" she replied, "but I'm fine."
Pain. I don't want Seth to think I'm a wimp, thought Katie. I couldn't believe it. The imprint bond is forming. The stories of telepathy are true.
"The good news is that I can do something about that. I'll give you some medicine for the headache and something for the nausea, too," said the doctor.
I watched as Carlisle gave Katie a neuro exam.
"Really, Katie, how is a seven out of ten fine? Why on earth didn't you tell me or anyone?" I said
"I honestly thought it would go away," said Kate, sometimes it does. I took an Excedrin at breakfast. If that doesn't work, I have some medicine my mother gave me. I'm fine."
"Methinks the lady doth protest too much" said Dr. Cullen.
"Shakespeare," said Katie
"Ten points if you can tell me which play," said Dr Cullen
"Macbeth" I replied.
"Correct," said the doctor.
"Really, I've been to the doctor for this before and they said it was just low blood pressure You can look at the notes. I've been here before for this problem. The doctor didn't do anything- just gave me fluids, told me to take it easy, and that everything was fine. I don't think he believed me. He probably thought I was making it up to get out of things. I'm not."
"I know. I've read the chart- you were six months ago. It is quite possible that something else is going on now or the same thing. I won't know until I run the tests," he said.
"They'll come back fine," said Katie with a downcast look.
"Humor me," he said, "after all, it is possible for doctors to miss things."
It's funny. Carlisle has a knack for putting people at ease, calming them down. It's a surprising quality to find in a vampire, but he is one heck of a doctor.
"Katie, lie down for a few minutes," said Carlisle as he put the head of the bed down, so it was flat.
"I'm going to check your blood pressure lying, sitting, and standing."
"I can tell you it will be fine," said Katie
"Well, let's just see." He said.
Katie's right- it is fine sitting and lying down.
"Katie, stand up and don't move. Tell us as soon as you feel lightheaded or dizzy or like you are going to faint. I'll stand here and Seth, you come and stand beside her. This way, she either falls on us to on the bed."
"I'm one lucky girl- at least I get to faint in the arms of someone handsome," said Katie.
I felt the blood rushing to my cheeks. Carlisle had the devil of time trying not to laugh
After a minute, I noticed the strange, salty smell- the same one I'd caught just before she fainted. "Dr. Carlisle, check her now." I tried to push him aside so I could catch Katie, but only ended up bruising my wrist when I encountered the solid iron wall of vampire. He held me off.
"No, your blood pressure is starting to drop. 90/60" said Dr Cullen
In the next minute, Katie started to crumple to the floor, He inflated the cuff, but then caught her, preventing her from hitting it. I tried to push him, but just made my hand sore. Vampires have super strength.
"Let's get her back on the bed," he said, scooping her up and placing her on it.
"Katie are you ok?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm fine," said Katie. Well, I'm not totally fine, but I'll be better soon. This just happens sometimes. In fact, I'm glad you saw it, You can't brush it off now."
Katie sounded like she was trying to convince herself of this as much as she was convincing the Doctor. She is failing at both.
"How many times have you fainted?"
"Today, including that one, twice. But I've probably fainted three or four times in the last few weeks." said Katie, "It has been getting worse lately. I've been to other doctors and they don't know what is going on or they say that I'm making it up to get out school. I'm not. I love school. Right Seth ."
"I don't think you are faking. Your blood pressure dropped to 70/50. It isn't something you can control. In fact, if I didn't know your BP was 105/70 now, I'd be worried. Your blood pressure really drops significantly, which will cause you to faint. I'm going to get a head CT, EKG, and I want you to have a liter or two of fluid. I'll send the nurse in with something for the headache."
"Seth, how on earth did you know that I would go down when I did? How did you both know?
"I'm just really observant." Said Seth
"So am I," said Dr. Cullen, as he left the room. He is observant, but I'll bet he caught the change in her scent as well. He winked at me as he left the room.
"Seth, I know you can always tell. What happens? Do I turn green or something?"
"No, it isn't that dramatic. I just have an excellent sense of smell. Did you know that people's scent changes during the day? Sometimes, I can pick up on changes."
"I've heard of dogs that can do that, but never people. At least, not any normal people. Superheroes might have super smell." Said Katie.
"Super Smell would not be high on my list of superpowers."
"It is actually very useful," said Seth, "I can tell when people aren't being honest or if something is off, or even when it is going to rain."
"Cool," said Katie, "What superpower would you want besides super smell?"
Just then the curtain opened and a nurse carrying a couple of syringes and a bag of fluids came it.
"I'd want to fly." Said Katie
"Hey nurse, what superpower would you want?"
"I'd want x-ray vision or the ability to leap over tall buildings," said the nurse.
"Now this medicine might make you a little sleepy. But it should help the pain. I've got another bag of fluids for you. Someone from radiology Will be up soon to take for your scan."
"Great," said Katie. "Seth, do you know Dr. Cullen. Is that why you use his first name?"
"Yes. My parents are old school and so I just call him Dr. Carlisle." I didn't say that he has been around forever. I've only known him a few years. But it is said that he was the signatory of every agreement between out tribes and the first was over a century ago.
I found the remote and started flipping through channels. I could see that Katie's body was slowing down- the meds would probably knock her out.
"What do you want to watch? Animal planet, Friends is on, or do you want news."
"I really don't care. The meds are kind of making me sleepy." Said Katie
"It's fine, I'll find something interesting."
"You know this is not how I imagined our first date. Why did you tell the EMTs you were my boyfriend?"
"I said it because I couldn't let you go alone, and I wanted to get out of that quiz. I've been working up the courage to ask you to the movies." I said.
"So, you have trouble with asking me to the movies, but bluffing your way on to an ambulance and spending the day in an ER is easy."
"Yes, it makes me want to go to the movies with you even more."
"Let's go this weekend. You pick the movie, I'm starting to get a little sleepy," she said.
Just then, someone from radiology came in and got Katie to take her for her scan. I wanted to go with her, but it was against hospital policy. I didn't like being away from her- it is like some strange part of me is missing. How on earth did Jacob do this? I picked up my phone to text Jacob. Then Dr. Carlisle came in.
"How is it going in here?" asked Carlisle\
"Fine," I said, "but Katie is getting her scan"
"I know," he said, "I need to talk to you."
"Is Katie alright? Did you find something bad on the scan?"
"Katie is going to be fine, Seth. But she will need a good friend. Seth, I normally wouldn't ask this, but I'm curious. Did you imprint on Katie?"
I was stunned. It only happened this morning. I hadn't told anyone- not even Katie. How on earth could this vampire know this?
"Yes, but how did you know? It only just happened." I replied
"I saw the way you looked at her when she fainted. It is the same look I see when Jacob is with Renesme. There isn't a lot that happens that I haven't seen. But I'm glad. Katie is going to need a good friend"
"Are you sure Katie is going to be ok, that she isn't dying?" I asked
My voice got a little louder. My mind didn't want to comprehend losing her.
"No, she's going to be fine. This isn't a terminal diagnosis. But it is difficult to treat. It is different in every patient. It is hard to detect and there isn't a magic bullet or cure I can offer. I'm glad you are with her because you can tell when it Will happen, but I know you can't be there all the time. However, you are probably one of the kindest people I've ever met, so you can help her."
"Hi, Dr Cullen," said Katie, "Is everything ok? I feel a little better."
"Great," said Carlisle as he began checking her vitals.
Katie did look a lot better. She had color in her cheeks now.
"Hey, Seth, " she said, "Thanks for staying with me."
"When can I go home?" she asked
"In a little while," said Dr Cullen, "The good news is that your tests are fine. The bad news is that your tests are fine."
"Really, Dr Cullen, how can that be good and bad?"
"It is good in that it means there isn't anything life threatening going on. But it means that it is a little harder to pinpoint why you are fainting. I'm about 99.9 percent sure that you have Dysautonomia- or Neurocardiogenic Syncope. It is just that it happens so quick it is hard to detect. The good news- you can go home. But, take it easy. Drink lots of fluids- Gatorade, or anything with electrolytes is good. Exercise is also good but stick to something low impact. If the fainting gets worse, let me know. I do want you to come in for some tests next week- I want to do a Tilt Table to confirm and a Thirty-day Halter monitor to make sure nothing is wrong with your heart. (I think yours must be more neurological) . In the meantime, be careful. Get some rest. Seth, make sure she rests this weekend.
"Thanks," said Katie, "It is nice to know that I'm not losing my mind."
"Well, please take it easy. Also, I want you to keep track of these episodes. I want to know how often this happens. Keep a log of them and bring it to your appointment. I will see you in the clinic on Wednesday."
"I can do that. Thank, Dr. Cullen." Said Katie
"You're welcome. And call me Carlisle," he replied
The curtain opened, and a very tall, very handsome man walked in.
"Jacob, this is my friend Katie." Said Seth
"Hey," said Jacob, nice to meet you."
"Carlisle asked me to take you both home," said Jacob
"Katie's parents are out of town, so she is staying with us." Said Seth
"Great, are you ready to bust out of here?" asked Jacob
"Yes."