“Hello, General! Please, come in and sit down!”
Gath had admittedly arranged this appointment a little early, but their doctor had specifically said that Gath could arrange an appointment early if Gath wasn’t feeling right. So that was what Gath had done, and now they were anxiously making their way into Doctor Ekal’s office and sitting on the large stool.
“Hello, doctor.”
“Hello!” Ekal repeated. “Are you feeling well, Gath?”
“I… I am not sure…” Gath muttered.
“Understandable. Do you want to talk about how you feel or would you prefer me to ask questions?”
Gath thought for a moment, then shrugged. “I think your questions would be better. I cannot pinpoint what my problems are.”
“That is not a problem!” Ekal smiled. “First off, I want to make you feel more calm. Right now, just looking at you, while you seem nervous, you also seem rather healthy. I cannot see any obvious swelling in bad places, you seem no less mobile than normal and you generally seem fine.”
“I do?”
“Indeed!” Ekal jotted something down, then reached for several sheets of paper from a folder on their desk. “Alright, I will ask some questions. They may be a little awkward and private, but it is important that you answer truthfully. The more truthful you are, the better I can help you and the better you will feel afterwards.”
“I… I see…” Gath shifted in their seat.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“Good…” Ekal wrote down Gath’s name and some initial notes, then started with the first question. “Alright, first of all, are you in any sort of pain?”
“Like, in my stomach or in general?”
“Either.”
Gath shrugged. “I only have my normal aches from being so large. But I have been keeping myself rested, and my weekly swimming session has helped me a lot. My stomach and groin area feels fine.”
“Good, good. Have you been feeling nauseous at all? Any feelings of sickness or dizziness, particularly in the mornings?”
“No.”
“Have you had any particularly bad cases of prostaxia lately?”
Gath thought for a moment. “This… this sounds weird… but I used to get moments of blankness every few days. I have not had that since… The last time I had a moment of prostaxia was a few days before I discovered I was egg-ridden.”
“Huh… Interesting…” Ekal wrote something down on a separate piece of paper. “Prostaxia is caused by misaligned hormones, but perhaps… hm… maybe the hormones… I will look into this… But you otherwise have not had any prostaxia?”
“Not at all.”
“Good!” Ekal smiled. “Alright, time for some more personal questions. Have you experienced any bleeding of any kind? Either via the nostrils, the mouth, in your urine or between your legs?”
Gath shook their head. “No.”
“Have you experienced any leakages?”
“What… what do you mean?”
“Have you had any unusual fluids seeping from between your legs, particularly during the night? And, while we are on the subject, have you had any issues with needing the bathroom?”
“No, not at all.”
“Ah, good! That is great news! How have you been feeling, emotionally?”
Gath thought for a bit. “In all honesty? I feel fine. I am a little anxious, because of… what happened last time I was egg-ridden, but I am an older, wider person now. Things will go better. They have to go better. If anything, I am more worried about Relkir, as Relkir is starting to think they cannot be egg-ridden at all now, and they are scared they have harmed me by getting me egg-ridden.”
“I see…” Ekal made a note on another separate sheet of paper. “Has Relkir been avoiding you?”
“No, Relkir has been overworking, doing everything they can to keep me safe. I suggested I come to this appointment on my own so that Relkir could have a break.”
“That is a wise suggestion. Does Relkir have a personal doctor? Perhaps it is worth speaking to Relkir and getting them to talk to their doctor. Not because Relkir is ill, but they seem to have symptoms of infertility-based depression, and could do with a referral to a psychiatrist.”
“Relkir might not like that.”
“Perhaps not, but Relkir might just need someone to talk to, who will not judge them…” Ekal flipped through their sheets of paper. “Alright, we do not have much else to cover. I will want to do a blood test, a blood pressure test and an ultrasound at the end, but before I do that, do you have any questions?”
“I… I do, actually. I want advice.”
“About what?”
Gath frowned. “I was considering… I want to go and visit my parents on Thresisa, and I want to use a nursery there. Or maybe even have a home nursery. Because I want to have my parents around when the egg hatches. But also, I do not want vok from work pestering me. Am I safe to fly on a ship while I am egg-ridden?”
“You are, yes, but I recommend travelling with someone, to keep your stress down. I take it you have not told many people so far?”
“I have not. Because… last time, I told a lot of people I was egg-ridden. I… I do not want to make any big announcements until my kid has hatched.”
“That is understandable. I definitely recommend travelling with someone then. If Relkir is busy, then I suggest you take little Litvir with you. Cover it up as you introducing them to their adopted grandparents, if you do not want the public knowing, but at the very least, you should inform the staff, just in case you feel ill during the flight. There are no inherent risks, but better safe than sorry.”
Gath blinked, then grinned. “That is a great idea! And I am sure Litvir will enjoy the trip as well!”
“I am glad you like the idea. Do you have any other questions?”
“No, I think that is everything. Is it time for the ultrasound? So I can see how big the egg is getting?”
Ekal nodded as they got up, then helped Gath to their feet, leading them towards the bed at the back of the room. “Yes, yes. Come along now. We will not be long.”
Gath smiled, no longer feeling scared. “Thank you, doctor. I appreciate the reassurance.”
“Just doing my job, dear. Just doing my job…”