Medical Imagines

Doctor Swap

 I checked into my normal doctors office for my preoperative appointment. My surgery isn't for another week or so, but they wanted to see me early. I loved my surgeon, as he is someone who had been my doctor for a long time, so naturally I trusted him. This was a pretty simple surgery, but nerves were always going to be there.

"Y/n" I heard Kaley, my favorite nurse, call. I quickly got up, ignoring the dizziness that surrounded me, and followed her back. She took my weight, which had stayed stable, and the rest of my vitals. We made small talk, about school, work, and boys (which I had none in my life). I had been through this process so many times, it just became routine.

"How is Dr. B today?" I asked, referring to my doctor. "Is he on time, or running late, as usual?" I chuckled, as that was normal for him to be running about an hour or more late. I definitely didn't mind it anymore, as I know that he spends more time with his patients than the average doctor, and I now know to bring other things to do to fill the time.

"About that," Kaley said, seeming a little nervous, "Dr. B won't be doing your surgery. He thinks that there is a better doctor to do it, so you will be seeing Dr. C today, but he is running behind, like most surgeons are." She told me cautiously, trying to gauge my reaction.

Let's just say that I wasn't thrilled. I don't understand why I was not told. I think it is brave of a doctor to understand that they are not the best ones for the job, I just wish he would have told me.

After talking it through, I still decided to meet with Dr. C, and just hope that I liked him. After about an hour of waiting, I heard a cautious knock on the door. And in comes the last person I thought would be here. My crush from high school, Sean.

"Y/n?" He said, shocked.

"Sean. . ." I said, trying to decide if I was happy or upset to see him. Sean I don't think knew that I had a crush on him. I was not popular in school, but he was one of the most popular jocks in school. He had everything a girl could want, and I had nothing to offer a guy like him. We weren't necessarily friends, but we were definitely friendly with one another throughout high school.

He burst into a big smile. "I was hoping it was you. I'm sorry we lost touch over the years. How have you been?" He asked, still trying to keep up light banter.

"I'm good, and how are you?" I replied, trying not to show how nervous I now was and how I frankly was not feeling good.

"Well I'm well, but I have a feeling you may be lying to me. I can read you better than you know." He said, confusing me all the more.

"I've known your opinions about me for a long time. I was just too scared to act upon them. So I have a feeling that you are super scared, and that I did not help the cause by walking in today. And, I'm also pretty sure that you are in a lot more pain than you are letting on."

My initial thought was that he was right on. I was already nervous, and then my high school crush walks in, saying he's my surgeon. Not the way I thought today would go. And yes, I haven't been feeling well, but that is par for the course.

"I don't mean to be rude, but why are you here? Why are you going to be my surgeon next week?" I asked him, feeling completely overwhelmed.

"That's not a rude question at all. Your other surgeon did not feel comfortable doing your surgery, because he thinks a more intensive surgery plan is going to be more desirable. I worked under him, and he thinks that I am the best person for his favorite patient. Except maybe that you have two doctors for which you are the favorite now." He said, smiling at me.

"However, if you want another surgeon, we can try to arrange it, but we will have to push your surgery back, because it is probably too soon for us to find another one who is up to par." He told me, seeming completely comfortable if I wanted something different.

"If you are ok to do it, I want you to do it." I told him quickly. "I want someone that I can trust. And I maybe did have like the biggest crush on you ever in high school, so I guess I can trust you. But, I'm super nervous, so on the day of surgery, I may be a mess. Especially if it is more complicated than we thought it would be." I told him matter of factly. It kinda felt like I had confessed to him, even though that was never my intention.

"Sounds good to me" He replied. "And I can be with you when you fall asleep, and I'll make sure to have my favorite anesthesiologists and nurses, who are my friends, so that you are taken care of the whole time. I'll also be admitting you to the hospital for a few days, just to make sure that you are good to go home. So let's talk about this surgery plan, shall we?"

Over the next hour or so we go through everything that he is going to do during the surgery. He was right, it's a lot more intense than the other plan, but it also has a higher chance of success. He wants to be the one to take care of me after the surgery too, but only if I'm comfortable. I thought it was so sweet of him to offer, and most importantly, offer it as an option. I told him that I would let him know for sure on surgery day, but as of right now, I have no problem with him helping out. I live alone, so it was going to be a struggle to recover anyway.

"So I'll see you next week, Sean said, smiling a little bit."

"Yup, next week. For the big day." I said quietly, all of this sinking in.

"If you have any questions, and I mean any, text me. Before I do any notes or charting from today's appointment, I'll text you so you have my number. Remember, no eating or drinking past midnight, and please try and get some sleep. I know it is easier said than done, but please try for me." He said, attempting puppy dog eyes.

"I'll see you next week Sean." And I walked out of the office.

And another one done! Obviously a little bit different than the previous one. Should we do a part 2? And Also, are you good if I put names into imagines, or would you prefer y/n? Let me know what you think!

Ash