Chapter 12- Is this worth it?
It is Robin's crossroads moment. How much does she want to say? She figures she might as well start with the things that she told them over the phone.
"I've been feeling nauseous and tired for about two weeks now."
"Is that all? Was there any vomiting?" the nurse inquires.
"A few times. I don't think there is anything else." Robin thinks about what else she could say. There really isn't anything else. "Unless being bloated counts?"
"I'll make a note of that here. Can you tell me when your last menstrual period was?" She honestly has no idea. When she found out about her infertility, it seemed useless to continue keep track.
"A while ago? I don't really know." The nurse wrote down a note.
"Has any of your medical history changed since you saw us last?"
"I don't think so."
The nurse quickly goes through her medical history. When the nurse mentions her infertility, she shudders a bit. So much for her trying to put last night in the past. Something would always come up to remind her, no matter what she did to forget. There isn't anything that the nurse missed, and soon she is out the door telling Robin that the doctor will be in shortly.
Robin wonders just how long she is going to have to wait for the doctor to come in. She had already been here close to 45 minutes, and this doctor was never particularly fast. She hops down off of the exam table to skim the small magazine rack hanging on the wall. She examines the contents: Parenting, Parenting, Highlights, Pregnancy, Pregnancy and Diabetic Living. It is like the world is trying to laugh in her face. It's not like she is even at an OBGYN, she is just at her family doctor. Why did she have to get stuck in the room with the parenting and pregnancy magazines? Just so she can have what she now wants most rubbed in her face?
She returns to the table and jumps back up, hoping for the doctor to come in soon. Fortunately, at that moment, the door opens and the doctor strolls in. He isn't her normal doctor, but looks to be about her age and he is quite attractive, someone that she would have dated in the past.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Blasio. How are you feeling today?"
"Not bad." She isn't lying when she says that. She is feeling well, for the first time in a while.
"So what brings you in then?"
"Well, actually, my husband told me I needed to. I have been feeling sick for the past week or so, and he told me that there is something wrong and I should come in."
"It seems like he really cares about you." He looks at the chart and the notes from the nurse. His brow furrows questioningly. "Have you been having any other symptoms? Maybe mood swings, food cravings or frequent urination?"
She thinks for a moment. She had all of those recently. How did she not notice them?
"Yes, actually. I didn't realize I had them though."
The doctor nods and glances back down at the chart. "Hmm. I am going to send you for some lab work to confirm a suspicion."
"Ok..."
"I will have a nurse call you in the morning with the results and to schedule a follow up appointment with one of two other doctors that I will refer you to. Do you have any other questions for me?"
"No." So the doctor knew what was wrong? Why wasn't he telling her right away? "What is wrong?"
"I don't think there is anything wrong. I just don't want to give you answers until we know for sure. I will send the nurse back in with the prescription for the lab work. We work well with the lab right downstairs. You can stop on your way out. Good luck. Also, I would like you to avoid alcohol and medications for the night."
"Ok." Avoiding alcohol? That just makes no sense. "Thank you."
She waits for the nurse to return with her prescription, and eventually makes her way out of the office and down to the lab.
As she waits her turn for the lab work, she texts Barney.
-Went for a blood test. No idea whats up, the doctor said he wanted some further tests to confirm a suspicion that he had. He wouldnt tell me what tho. -
He gets the text in the middle of the meeting. He hopes their isn't anything serious that she needs blood work. That can't be a good thing. And why wouldn't the doctor tell her about his suspicion? So much for keeping his mind on the meeting. He quickly texts her back.
- Good luck. hope everything is ok. Dont know how much longer this meeting is going to last. hope to see you soon. Love you so much. -
When Robin receives the text, she instantly calms. She didn't realize how stressed she had gotten today. The doctors nonchalance to her diagnosis was doing anything other than keep her calm. She even tried to interpret the prescription in her hands, but she really couldn't understand anything noticeable on it. She knew the basic tests like cholesterol, but that was it. She wonders if she should ask the technician when she gets called back, but she ends up deciding against it, because what if the test is for something bad? She would just as rather put it off today and enjoy tonight, well, as much as she could without alcohol.
Soon, she is interrupted from her thoughts, and is being called back for the tests. The technician draws the blood first, which is less painful than she thought it would be, and then sends her to the bathroom with a cup. In all honesty, she hates this part more than the needle, but she wonders if anyone really enjoys it. She really just hopes this all ends up being worth it.