Chapter 223: Psychogenic Fever
Chapter 223: Psychogenic Fever
Angelia
The night was a long one especially when we found out the medicine only helped with my headache but not with the fever. I kept waking up all disoriented with my body all clammy and I kept feeling either too hot or too cold, they hadn't let me tuck myself in with a blanket, so my temperature could stabilize quicker and it was hell.
The first time I woke up, Kingston had been there armed with the medicine and ginger tea. He had been sitting in a chair by my side and I wasn't completely sure but I think he had made sure the washcloth on my forehead was kept cool. The other two had been asleep next to me, but far enough away so I couldn't sneak some body heat from them. The second time I woke up, Riccardo was up too and from the nasty taste in my mouth, it wasn't the second time I had been up but the third, I just couldn't remember it.
Kingston was gone the next time I woke up, replaced by a woman and it took some waking up to recognize her as the doctor that conducted my text months back. She had taken my temperature along with several tests that I didn't bother learning the name of. I had been fully alert, I would have thought how strange it was to have a doctor by my side at home taking my blood but with the fever of hundred and five, I just wanted her to be done poking me and get away. She was gone the next I woke up and Kingston was back. Throughout the night, they made sure I was staying hydrated. Luckily, I hadn't puked again after the second time.
It was past morning and Marshall had gone to work. I had almost wanted to laugh at the absurdity that I wanted to join him at school today. It shouldn't surprise me that Riccardo had been right, he was rarely wrong. He decided to stay home while Kingston had a meeting he needed to be at but he hadn't left before making me some chicken soup which Riccardo had heated up for me when it was clear u wouldn't fall asleep immediately after waking up.
“Are you sure you don't want anything?” He asked standing by the chair at my bedside, at the ready in case I actually did need something.
“Riccardo,” I smiled, albeit weakly.
“I am good just like I was ten minutes ago when you last asked. You have already brought me salted potato chips and coke along with ice water, ginger tea and the children soup. I have all I need here.”
Although, most of it was untouched, it was sweet of him to make sure I had everything. Finally, he took a seat but it didn't look like he relaxed yet just because he sat down. If I could guess, him seeing me like this was stressing him out. I almost fell asleep again, but his phone buzzed not after the sound went silent but I could still hear the vibration.
“The doctor is back, I will go get her.” He informed me but didn't leave until I gave him a nod.
Who would have thought that Riccardo was the helicopter parents? If I would have placed a bet, it would have been on Marshall instead. Or on second thoughts, I would have chosen Riccardo, it made sense with how his brain worked, how he thought about every situation and every outcome. Marshall was much too relaxed to be so hyper aware. Kingston, though, I could see him being there, right alongside Riccardo, keeping a close eye on our children and making sure they were…
Holy shít, our children? Had I really just thought that?
My fever must have been messing with me, that has to be it because I had not envisioned little mini mes running around with a mix of hair and with shades of eyes that varied from their eye colors. I had to blame it on the fever, I wasn't in the right mind because that vision seemed almost too perfect and that was how I knew it was the fever. I was thinking of children with three men when I had never thought of it with even one man.
“Good morning, Angelia.” The doctor entered the room with a kind of sophisticated air around her that few could fake and I bet many were jealous of her.
She returned to the seat Riccardo had just vacated, her face showing no sign of having taken on a patient in the middle of the night as she rummaged through her briefcase, pulling out a sheet of paper. If we discounted tonight, then the last I had seen her was when she had visited my apartment for the testing. She seemed just as kind now as she had done then and even in my fever ridden condition, I felt myself relax in her presence.
“I have the results from last night's test. All the tests came back negative for any organic disease.” She informed us.
“I will leave the results here for you in case you want to look over them yourself.” She placed the documents on the nightstand not currently preoccupied with all the things Riccardo had gotten me.
“What does that mean?” I asked, my brain not catching up fast enough to follow along.
“It means your fever isn't caused by infection from either a virus or bacteria. Mr. Morgan was telling me you have been under a lot of stress lately?”
“Yes,” I murmured.
“Would you say the stress has been extremely on the point of being overwhelmed?”
“Yes,”
“He also told me that the medicine hasn't helped ease the fever?”
“That is right, it helped with my headache but nothing more.” she nodded like she had expected my answer.
“I believe you have something called psychogenic fever, it is essentially a psychosomatic disease caused by long term or acute exposure to extreme stress or trauma. We will give it a couple of days and keep a watch on your temperature. If your fever doesn't break on its own, we will do some further testing. For now, try to get as much rest as you can and keep hydrated.”
“I will do that.”
“Lastly, Mr. Morgan informed me that you will need a doctor's note as well for your school. I wrote one after my initial appointment with you early this morning.” She picked up her bag again and after finding the documents, she placed it with the other papers she had brought with her.
I thanked her before she left and I felt my body sag in my position on the bed the second she was gone. No matter where or how the doctor's appointment was, it was always just a little bit uncomfortable. They stressed me out.