Chapter 42

Episode 42 Migraine (1)

The next day.

I opened my eyes before the Alarm Sound even went off.

Although the aftermath of the Horrible Muscle Pain still lingered throughout my body, strangely, my body felt light as a Feather.

Was it thanks to the Relief of having survived?

I took a Shower and spent five minutes longer than usual drying my hair.

And then, I picked out my cleanest clothes to wear.

Today is a good day.

Because it is the blessed first day that extended my Doctor's Life.

My footsteps toward the Emergency Room were incredibly light.

The Automatic Door opened, revealing the Familiar scenery of Hell, but today, even that scenery felt welcoming.

Even the rotten, dead-fish Eyes of my colleagues, who were walking around like zombies from doing All-night Work, somehow seemed to sparkle today.

Unable to contain the positive energy welling up inside me, I loudly called out toward the Nurse Station, which was the first thing that caught my eye.

"Haha! Hello, Nurses! Good morning!"

At my boisterous greeting, all movement at the Station ground to a halt. The Nurse who was doing the backlogged charting from overnight, the Nurse preparing medications, and even the Nurse getting ready for the handoff—everyone stared at me with an Expression that said, 'Has that Crazy bastard finally lost his mind?'

Despite those Chilling glazes, I remained utterly unfazed.

I continued my march.

Passing by the lab, I smiled brightly and waved at the medical technicians who were moving specimens with exhausted faces.

"Haha! Good to see you too, technicians! Let's power through today!"

The technicians stared at me blankly, with expressions that looked as if they were about to drop the specimen tubes they were holding.

"Oh! Good to see you too, administrative staff! And to the security guards who firmly protect our Emergency Room, isn't the weather amazing today? Haha!!"

I gave those gentlemen a thumbs-up.

The administrative staff member almost slapped the Face of the Patient they were checking in, and the mouth of the security guard, who always stood with a expressionless Face, parted slightly.

"…."

And that way, I leisurely Disappeared into the Doctor's office.

It was only after the door to the Doctor's office closed and Han Hyeonjae (Male) completely Disappeared from view that the frozen Time of the Emergency Room Started to flow again.

"……Hey."

The person who spoke up First was the veteran Nurse.

With a look of disbelief, the Nurse stared down the Hallway where Hyeonjae had just Disappeared and whispered to the Colleague next to her.

"What's up with Dr. Han? Did he eat something bad? He stayed up all night writing an explanation letter last time, and did a fuse finally blow in his brain?"

"I know, right… Wasn't he walking around practically like a Corpse until just yesterday?"

"The Dr. Han Hyeonjae I know is not the type of Person to smile so brightly like that. Why is he so hyped up like a Crazy guy today?"

"Exactly. It's my first time seeing someone in such a good mood from the morning. At least among doctors. No, among humans."

Just then, a medical technician chimed into their conversation.

"Hey, didn't you know?"

"Know what?"

"That thing came out."

The veteran Nurse's eyes narrowed.

"What? Oh, that? The Disciplinary Action about cutting open the belly?"

"Yes."

The technician lowered their Voice while scanning the surroundings.

"A Rumor spread completely through the education training department and the administrative offices this morning. A reprimand and a one-month salary reduction. It ended with just that. It wasn't even referred to the formal Training Committee."

At those Words, the young Nurse's mouth fell wide open.

"What? Really? He caused that massive uproar, and it just ended with that?"

"Ah~"

The veteran Nurse let out a long sigh of admiration, as if she finally understood Everything.

"I wondered why he was so excited. I thought he'd get fired, but since it ended with just a slight pay cut, it makes sense that he's running around like a Crazy guy."

With that, the veteran Nurse turned her gaze back to the Monitor.

"Leave him be. He hit the lottery. At this rate, it's not guilty even if he lives as a Crazy guy for just today."

With that conclusion—that 'Han Hyeonjae hasn't actually gone Crazy, he's just in a great mood because he survived a near-death situation'—the Emergency Room Started to regain its usual busyness.

As soon as I entered the Doctor's office, I tossed my Bag into the worn-out Locker with my name written on it.

Tearing open a packet of mix coffee and emptying it into a paper cup, I became immersed in a profound contemplation of how to endure the day. Just then.

Slam!

The door to the Doctor's office Opened with a force that made it seem like it would break.

Standing there was Lee Minjae (Male), the living disaster of the Emergency Medicine department and my archenemy, the Head of Doctor's Office.

"Is what I heard… true, Han Hyeonjae?!"

I put on the most innocent, 'I don't know anything' face I could muster.

"Yes? What do you mean, Teacher?"

"What do I mean? Is this guy playing dumb right now?"

Lee Minjae came over With strides and grabbed both of my shoulders tightly.

"You! Dared! In the Emergency Room Resusc! To do a Resusc Laparotomy, is that true?!!!! A guy who hasn't even properly gone through a trauma resuscitation course yet!!! This is a miracle! A divine revelation! And this is precisely the reason why you have no choice but to bury your bones in this Emergency Medicine department without running away anywhere else!!!!!!"

Argh, Teacher, I get it!!

Please stop burying bones! I'll take care of burying my own bones!

My Head was shaking from that passionate rocking, and I felt like I was going to get a concussion.

He Finally let go of my shoulders, took a step back, and looked at me again.

"Anyway…."

He spoke.

"Let's clear our heads and talk again. Han Hyeonjae. I sincerely compliment you."

"I'm not saying this just looking at the result. That process and that Judgment. From what I heard, you didn't make a single mistake in that chaos. And… you didn't hesitate at the most critical Moment. That's not something a 1st year can do. It was Really amazing."

As I scratched the back of my head in embarrassment, Minjae's gaze turned sharp again.

"But."

Lee Minjae looked straight into my eyes.

"Weren't your hands clumsy?"

He hit the nail right on the head.

"I remember clearly, until just a few months ago, you couldn't even catch a single Blood vessel and turned arms black and blue. When suturing, your hands trembled so much that it wasn't just once or twice that I had to finish it for you."

His gaze was full of suspicion.

Breaking out in a Cold Sweat, I pulled out that absurd excuse I had used at the Training Committee once again.

"Uh, I mean… I'm still inexperienced with things like an IV line or simple suturing, so I can't do them properly. But in a special Situation like this time… uh… for surgical procedures that I have simulated countless times in my mind… I instantly exert a Tremendous amount of concentration…"

Lee Minjae listened to my miserable excuse without saying a word.

"Hmm… Is that so."

His gaze was still suspicious.

Lee Minjae probably didn't believe my excuse. Right at the Moment he was about to press me further.

Creak.

The door to the Doctor's office Opened cautiously, and an Intern poked their face in.

"Ah, Dr. Lee Minjae. You need to do the Shift for the Pediatric Emergency Room, but the Baby Patient is a bit unstable right now…."

"Ah, has it already Been that time?"

Lee Minjae stood up from his Seat and looked at me with a meaningful gaze.

"I'll be going now. Let's talk again later."

Lee Minjae squeezed my shoulder firmly once.

"Make sure! You absolutely must stay in EM! Got it!"

With those final Words, he left the Doctor's office without any lingering attachment.

Let's never see each other again… please… stop overlapping shifts with me….

Talking to that Person consumes more energy than performing CPR on an average cardiac arrest Patient.

After the commotion in the Doctor's office ended, I returned to the Station with an Empty soul.

I mechanically moved my fingers while processing charts.

Patient Hospitalization, discharge, transfer.

This Tedious and draining labor felt rather comforting instead.

At least here, there were no unpredictable variables.

About an hour passed that way. The Nurse at the Triage desk called me via the intercom.

"Dr. Han, please take a look at a headache patient in Area B."

"Yes, alright."

Finally, what was bound to come had arrived. A headache.

Along with colds and abdominal pain, it was a Tedious regular guest that occupied the TOP 3 of non-emergency patients in the Emergency Room.

'Well, it's not like the Emergency Room is always filled with patients whose bellies are split open and blood fountains are erupting from their throats.'

I actually felt relieved as I rose from my Seat.

Heading toward the Triage desk, I glanced at the Chart the Nurse had just finished entering.

[28/F. C.C) Headache, Nausea. V/S : 125/80-88-20-36.8-99%]

A 28-year-old female.

Chief complaint was headache and nausea. Vital Signs were stable.

The Patient was Sitting on a chair in front of the sorting desk, pressing hard on her Temple.

She was a young woman.

Dressed in a comfortable-looking Hoodie and sweatpants.

Her Face was pale, and dark circles were heavy under her eyes, looking as if she had stayed up for at least a few nights.

Even at a single glance, she had the haggard appearance of a typical, overworked Korean office worker of this era.

Her occupation was said to be a web designer.

Hearing her say she had stayed up for a few nights chasing a deadline made me feel a sense of camaraderie.

Upon seeing me, the Patient spoke with a look of near resignation.

"Doctor… I think I just have a severe Migraine. It happens occasionally. I didn't even have time to come to the Hospital so I endured it, but today it's too severe… Can't I just get an Injection of painkiller and go?"

"Patient. First, would you mind lying down on that bed over there for a moment? I will go Check a few things and then give you the injection."

I guided the Patient to an empty Bed in Area B.

Once the Patient lay down on the Bed, I drew the Curtain and began the medical history and physical examination.

"When did the headache start? Does your entire Head hurt, or is it only on one side?"

"Since yesterday afternoon. My right Temple throbs and rings painfully. I feel like I also have a somewhat Dazed feeling."

"Do you feel like you're becoming sensitive to light or sound?"

"Yes. Even now, I feel slightly dizzy because of the fluorescent lights."

"By any chance, have you recently hurt your head, had a Fever, or experienced a stiff Neck?"

"No. Not at all."

Every answer perfectly matched the typical symptoms of a Migraine found in a Textbook.

Lastly, I performed a neurological examination.

I checked her pupillary reflex with a penlight, checked the muscle strength of both Limbs, and examined if there were any abnormalities in facial sensation.

Everything seemed fine.

Her pupils were symmetrical, and there were no signs of muscle weakness or sensory loss whatsoever.

There were no red flags to suspect horrible diseases like Stroke or Meningitis anywhere.

The Diagnosis became almost certain. Acute Migraine exacerbated by overwork and stress.

I returned to the Station and sat in front of the computer.

Now, all that was left was the prescription.

'First, what IV fluid should I give?'

It would be fine to just give her a shot of painkiller in the Buttocks like she wanted and discharge her immediately.

Since that was the fastest and most efficient method.

However, to a Patient who had stayed up for a few nights, that felt like too cold-hearted a treatment.

She must be somewhat dehydrated too.

'Let's give her a bag of IV fluid.'

I opened the order window.

IV fluid, 1 liter of normal saline.

And what should I mix into it?

The painkiller Ketorolac and Macperan to reduce nausea would have to go in.

'…Vitamins?'

The thing commonly referred to as a nutritional IV. A yellow-tinted fluid mixed with all sorts of minerals like Vitamin B complex, C, and magnesium.

I clicked on the Vitamin B complex medication and added it to the IV order.

'Now, this is a special cocktail for the Korean office worker.'

I chuckled softly and Pressed the enter key for the final prescription.

Now, that Patient would hit a sweet sleep for about an hour while receiving the yellow IV fluid, and then get discharged with a refreshed Face.

It was a perfect scenario that was incredibly Peaceful and completely routine.

After pressing the enter key, I Leaned my body against the back of the chair.

Phew.

Finally, I can catch my breath.

Just as I was thinking about grabbing a cup of mix coffee while enjoying this Peaceful Moment, I heard a Familiar Voice from the Nurse Station.

"B-09 28-year-old patient, NS 1L with Ketorolac, Macperan, and vitamin mix, right?"

"Yes, yes."

It was the order I had just placed.

The Nurse headed toward Area B holding a tray containing the IV bag and medications.

As it happened, my path to go to the restroom overlapped with the Nurse's path.

Because of that, when the Nurse drew the Patient's Curtain, I inadvertently glanced Inside.

It was a normal scene where the Nurse wrapped a tourniquet around the Patient's right forearm and wiped the area with an alcohol swab to find a Blood vessel.

The Patient turned her gaze to the opposite side, as if she was scared of the needle.

I was about to pass right by.

Just then.

A faint blue bruise situated on the inside of the Patient's right forearm, which the Nurse had wiped down, caught my eye.

Uh… there's a bruise on her arm?