Good Doctors

About 5 days ago I noticed that my fourth toe on my right foot was just not happy. With every step it would complain. So I tried walking without putting pressure on it. Tricky if not downright impossible.

Since I needed to be on my feet, including that toe, to prime the kitchen and bathrooms and strip the window over the sink, I decided decisive action was called for. No procrastinating as I usually do with all things medical. There was no ignoring this pain.

My Sweetie had an appointment with our primary care physician, Richard Lawrence Stein, who is without doubt the best doctor I have ever had. His bedside manner is one of caring with a great sense of humor thrown in.

I called the office the day before the appointment to see if they could fit me in. I suggested that if he couldn't see me around the same time (10:15), I could come back later. Quickly she said that he could fit me in at the same time.

Yesterday my Sweetie, who has been battling this virus that is laying people low, decided that he was too sick to go to the doctor so I had the appointment to myself.

Richard, as he wants us to call him, comes in and stretches his arms wide and says, "It is so good to see you. It has been too long." After our customary hug, he asks, "How are you?" After a bit, we get around to my problem toe. He takes my foot and props it on his knee to examine it. He asks the typical question about whether I stepped on anything. He looks puzzled and then says, "Wait a second." Then grabs the otoscope, remarking about how this is a weird way to use it. Then proceeds to shine it on the sore spot. "Nothing in there," he reports. "Doesn't look like a wart."

He looks as me, "I have no idea what is wrong with it. I am going to send you to a podiatrist."

I get home and shortly thereafter, I receive a phone call from the doctor referral service that he uses. But the podiatrist is not in the system so the woman gives me his office number. When I call and explain about Richard and what he said about not knowing what is wrong with it, she laughs, asks me to hold a second, comes back, and asks if I can come in at 12:30 the next day. Ah, the power of Richard's name.

Today when I arrived at Michael Singerman's office, I apologized for being a couple minutes late, explaining that I had not counted on the lunch time traffic and that I caught almost ever light red. The receptionist laughed and said that is wasn't a problem and that the patient who had just arrived before me had the same experience.

After completing the patient information sheet and giving her my insurance card, I settled down in a surprisingly comfortable waiting room chair with the newspaper. I had barely read a couple of articles when a young woman called my name. I began to ask if there was anything to read in the exam room when she said, "You's better take the paper with you."

I had just begun reading an editorial by Connie Schulz when the doctor came into the room, introducing himself as Michael Singerman. Looking at the patient information sheet he says, "I didn't know Richard's middle name was Lawrence." For the next couple of minutes we talk about how he knew Richard from his internship at Mount Sinai. He told me about Richard winning all the awards. They all called him Red. Yes, he does have red hair.

He also told me about Richard asking him not to send him the annual gift card for referring patients. Richard told him that the only gift he wanted was for Michael to take good care of the patients he refers.

Michael laughs when I tell him what Richard said about not knowing what was wrong about my foot. He replied, "Yep, that sounds just like him."

With all of the stories told, he asked me what is wrong with my foot. Upon examination he identifies it as a seed corn. Who knew I could grow crops on my foot.

After ascertaining that I had not changed footwear or done anything unusual lately, he began scraping it off. Apparently they are tricky things to get rid of. So I will put an antibiotic ointment on it for three days and hope for the best.

I now have another good doctor.