Is There a Doctor in the House? (II)

Hmmm...

I had one of those milestone-moments today, of a medical variety.

I've had a sore shoulder for a couple of days, like you do, but this was a bit more annoying and inconvenient than usual, and to be honest I was just a bit concerned about the best course of action in respect of my gym sessions.

Should I work through the pain, or should I give it chance to settle down?

Well, on Monday, the ibuprofen wasn't really touching it, and I decided to make a GP's appointment... today being the first day available for an early slot.

When we first moved to our current address, and therefore had to move GP surgeries, it just so happened that my belle's sister's place of work (a local special school) were registered at the same practice.

So, she knew the senior practice doctor, one Mr. Dewar. He was referred to as "Mr." as his wife - "Mrs." was also a GP at the surgery.

She told told us he was "a lovely doctor", and sure enough he was, just about everything you could wish for in a doctor. A genuinely lovely man.

I say "was", not to indicate any particular sad demise, but simply because about six months ago, Mr. and Mrs. left the practice. Maybe they moved on... they didn't seem to be at retirement age... maybe they are now following another path.

Oh by the way, Mr. Dewar turned out to be Mr. Dua, and was (and doubtless still is) an Indian gentleman.

Anyway, I made my appointment, and being the first since the Duas left, I was scheduled to see one of the new doctors - namely Dr. Cameron.

Well that's what the lady on the phone said.

Turns out the practice seems to have policy of employing "Indian" doctors with confusingly Scottish-sounding names, as Dr. Cameron is actually a similarly southern Asian gentleman by the name of Dr. Kamran.

And I'll tell you what, he's from the same school of lovely doctoring as Dr. Dua, if this morning was anything to go by. Really impressed!

(By the way... do you suppose there's a surgery somewhere in Mumbai where Dr. McAgee practices?)

I did notice - maybe this will change - that he calls only the patient's surname when it is their turn, and he called mine...

...but I wasn't quick enough out of the blocks, as a fellow patient of the female persuaion beat me to it.

Anyway, shortly after she re-emerged, I was called by my full name.

Dr. Kamran introduced himself, shook my hand and apologised for keeping me waiting, and then set about the business at hand.

After a few questions, a bit of manipulation... of course things are never quite so bad as they were when you made the appointment... he gave his diagnosis and recommended treatment.

I'm having muscle spasms, which are the beginnings of an injury, but my treatment is fine as it stands... painkillers and rest - that way it should go away and not become a chronic problem.

He gave me a knowing smile as he suggested I avoid going to the gym for another week!

Mind you, none of that was the milestone-moment.

No... in spite of the millions of years of education and training doctors must undergo before they are let loose in the GP's surgery, Dr. Kamran is quite categorically, in fact undeniably YOUNGER than me!!!

Oh dear.

Anyway... he's a lovely young man... he'll go far.