Kaban ni Lino Labra: DOKTOR...DOKTOR... NASAKIT KO.

Since I have been dreaming bad things for several nights, I went to a doctor for medical check up. Bad because the dreams usually jolted me up in the middle of the night from a deep sleep to keep me alive in my dream from being devoured by a crocodile; escape from choking by a criminal or stoppage of breathing from somnambolism.

I thought something was wrong with my throat so I went to an EENT specialist this morning to check barriers on my respiratory system.  The lady doctor at her early 30's attended me after paying in advance their consultation fee even if I brought with me a fully-paid health card of a popular insurance company. She was beautiful from head to foot .  I did not see a wedding ring in any of her finger. But since she was not the talkative type, I did not open up a conversation without her asking a question. I remembered having been asked if I was married? I could not forget having replied to her if it is not obvious to her with a smile. She asked me many questions only to be told that nothing was wrong with my throat. But I told her that I had experienced difficulty in breathing for several nights.    So she referred me to a cardiologist in the nearby clinic.

Across the lobby,    the lady doctor was the cardiologist to whom I was referred for further examination. She was charming and conversant on many things under the sun.     I had my executive check up in 2009 and   every thing    was normal   and  in  the pink of health from sugar to cholesterol. But she told me that my HB pressure is alarming at 160 over 90 so she jutted down her recommendation for series of laboratory examination at High Precision.   I dont smoke.   I am a seasonal drinker with so much restraint. I am eating 70 percent fish and vegetables as my diet everyday. I walked and used stairs to reach a distance for daily exercise but why got a high blood pressure? I complained to her. Is it not that my blood pressure suddenly rise because I am attended to by pretty single lady doctors?  I jokingly told her in gist.

With her Monalisa  smile when she speaks, I was mesmerized by her medical expertise. Stress even if you are living a healthy lifestyle is number one cause of heart ailment. High blood pressure is deadly even to young professional at 30's like me, she emphasized. How much more for you at past 40, she added.

Without qualm and hesitation, I told the lady doctor that I hated very much going to a clinic or to a hospital all throughout my life.    My childhood experience must have something to do about this phobia.   While still young,   I was traumatized by the fact that my mother every now and then brought me to the Poblacion clinic with the smell of alcohol and the long syringe for an injection in the only medical clinic in our town in the 70's. I was sickly while still young that was why I oftenly brought to this clinic for fever and for any threatening illness that required medical attention from Dr. Santos.   When I passed the crucial age of being a healthy boy, I struggled not to be sick and hospitalized due to this fear. I don't smoke because I was told it is not good to health. But that is not enough, according to my doctor. Live a life free from stress and you will be safe and sound mentally and physicially. She asked me what do I do for a living? I told her that I live to lie so that criminal will not die in the Palace of Justice. She smiled with her dimples and told me that lawyers should be wary with High Blood Pressure with the kind of work you have in order to live longer as liar.   Maldita sad ning doctora ha dah.

In reaction, I shared to her my observation that if hospitals or clinics are staffed with pretty young and single lady doctors like her, I would rather be sick every now and then. Unlike the old apathetic doctor of the town in "ancient times" which caused me to hate getting sick at young age, the present generation of medical practitioners are therapeutic with their pleasant personality. Seriously speaking, I would be back this coming Saturday for another round of check up and with laboratory results for further examination. I wish and pray that nothing would be wrong with my heart because never in the past that this heart hurt me  ever  since  in my life.

(Bug-os ang  pasalamat sa KAHAYAG ngadto sa nagsulat niining  artikulo  nga si ATTY. PAULINO  B. LABRADO, Senior Partner sa P.B. LABRADO  and PARTNERS. Magsusulat  ug magpaambitan siya sa iyang mga  hunahuna mahitungod sa  nagkalain-laing hisgotanan nga makita sa  maukiton niyang mata ug mga kasikas nga madungog sa  iyang maabtikong dunggan.)