NOVEL NEXT Chapter 84 - It's Okay to Be in Pain
In contrast to Bri, the man’s voice remained calm.
“I’ll explain the diagnostic process from the beginning. Since you said your recent
gynecological exam was normal, I’ve ruled out secondary dysmenorrhea. Ah, secondary
dysmenorrhea refers to menstrual pain caused by organic factors like uterine fibroids or
endometriosis.”
“Yes, I was told there were no such issues.”
“Pain starting a few days before bleeding and sharp, stabbing pain are also characteristics of
secondary dysmenorrhea. Since you don’t have those, we can further rule it out. That leaves
primary dysmenorrhea with no specific cause, which responds well to traditional Korean
medicine treatment.”
Lee Seon-Joon paused for a moment before continuing his explanation.
“Next, we need to distinguish between deficiency and excess. This means determining
whether the menstrual pain is due to weakness or due to blockage and poor circulation.”
“Deficiency and excess?”
“Your menstrual blood is bright red, thin, and heavy in flow. This indicates a deficiency pattern.
I also consider complexion, body type, and other factors to make a comprehensive
assessment of deficiency versus excess.”
“Ah, is that why you wanted to video call?”
“That’s right. It was to see you directly. Ideally, we’d meet in person for abdominal and pulse
diagnosis as well. As I remembered, your complexion is pale and you’re thin. However,
Gyejibongnyeong-hwan is better suited for people with medium to strong builds and ruddy
complexions.”
“!”
Bri’s eyes widened in surprise. According to his explanation, Gyejibongnyeong-hwan was
completely unsuitable for her.
“The medicine probably worked well at first when you took it. After all, Gyejibongnyeong-hwan is a good blood stasis remover that helps blood circulation and has anti-inflammatory,
anti-lipid, and anti-thrombotic effects.”
“That’s right. My menstrual pain improved the first month. But after that, it actually got
worse.”
“That’s because you took medicine that didn’t suit you for too long. I mentioned that ‘blood
stasis’ refers to a state with excess waste products or poor circulation. But it’s not just about
waste accumulation blocking circulation.”
“What else is there?”
By now, Bri was completely absorbed in the doctor’s explanation.
Her earlier thoughts of ending the call quickly had long since disappeared.
“Circulation can also be poor if there’s not enough blood. You mentioned feeling dizzy and
your heart pounding. When there’s not enough total blood volume but the body still needs to
send blood everywhere, the heart has to pump more frequently. Your pale complexion also
suggests blood deficiency.”
“That’s right. I feel especially tired and weak during my period.”
“Since you’re not eating properly while being very active, you’re likely in a state of both qi and
blood deficiency.”
“Ah…”
“Your menstrual flow is also excessive. Normally, there shouldn’t be blood clots. When the
flow is heavy, it doesn’t evacuate quickly and clumps form clots.”
“I see. I had no idea.”
“Rather than Gyejibongnyeong-hwan which removes blood stasis, you should have taken
medicine to tonify qi and blood deficiency. Gyejibongnyeong-hwan isn’t meant for long-term
use by people with weak constitutions.”
“…!”
Now she finally understood what he was saying.
Somewhat shocked, Bri listened as Lee Seon-Joon posed a question.
“Bri, why do you think menstrual pain occurs?”
“Um, well…”
“Menstruation is the process of uterine muscles contracting to expel the shed uterine lining. So
what happens to the uterine muscles when there’s more to expel?”
“Ah. They have to contract more.”
“That’s right. So to alleviate menstrual pain, it’s important to reduce menstrual flow.”
“I see…”
No doctor, Western or Eastern, had ever explained things in such detail.
Western doctors just prescribed birth control pills and painkillers.
At Hwalin Hanbang Hospital, they just told her to keep taking herbal medicine without explanation.
“We need to start by examining your daily habits. Avoid sweet foods, fatty foods, and red
meat. The female hormone estrogen isn’t only produced in the ovaries. It’s also secreted by fat
uterine lining.”
Bri flinched. Though she looked thin, she had little muscle and high body fat, closer to “skinny
fat”.
“And your period is due in a week, right? From now on, apply a hot pack to your lower
abdomen for 10 minutes daily. Keep your lower abdomen warm during menstruation too. I
noticed your stage outfits expose your midriff – you should change those.”
“Ah… You even checked our outfits.”
“During menstruation, press the Sanyinjiao acupoint. It helps relieve menstrual pain. It’s
located on the inner ankle, at the height where your four fingers (excluding the thumb) meet
when placed against the ankle bone. Also, if possible, it’s good to get acupuncture starting a
week before your period.”
After hesitating for a while, Bri asked a question.
“Doctor, if I were to receive treatment, how long would it take?”
“Menstrual pain treatment usually takes about 3 months. But after 3 months of treatment, the
effects typically last for 6 months before worsening again after 12 months, so it’s good to get a check-up every 6 months after treatment ends.”
She gradually made up her mind.
It was quite different from the under-one-minute consultations she’d been getting.
She’d never met a doctor who explained the reasons for illness and lifestyle habits in such
detail.
“Doctor, I’ll come to the hospital tomorrow.”
* * *
The next day, a slender blonde woman visited Professor Bu Yeo-jung’s outpatient clinic.
Though her face was hidden by a hat and mask, she exuded a celebrity-like aura at a glance.
“Who is that?”
“Professor, don’t you know Purple Angel? They’re a super famous girl group.”
With a smiling Bri in front of them, Professor Bu and Lee Yi-won whispered to each other.
“Ahem, Miss. What brings you here today?”
“I had a phone consultation with Dr. Lee Seon-Joon and felt I could trust him, so I came.”
Suddenly struck by an idea, Professor Bu’s eyes lit up.
“Dr. Lee. Call intern Seon-Joon to the outpatient clinic now.”
“What? Professor, you don’t mean…”
“That’s right. I want to let him try outpatient care.”
To Professor Bu, interns were just beings who hopefully wouldn’t cause trouble, and were
admirable if they showed a willingness to learn.
But what kind of intern was already bringing in outpatients?
Professor Bu became curious to see how far this intern could go.
“You called for me?”
Soon, Seon-Joon appeared at the outpatient clinic. But the consultation desk was empty, and Bri was sitting in the patient’s chair.
The desk’s owners, Professor Bu and Lee Yi-won, had stepped back.
“Don’t mind us, just do the consultation.”
“…Yes.”
It was a nerve-wracking situation with a professor and resident watching his consultation.
But he sat down at the desk without much change in expression.
Professor Bu listened intently to the conversation between the intern and patient.
It seemed to be a continuation of their phone consultation.
“Does acupuncture a week before menstruation really help? Can it be effective with just a
week?”
“Of course. Acupuncture treatment is most effective when done every other day starting 5-7
days before the expected menstruation date. Especially on the day when menstrual pain is
strongest, coming in for electroacupuncture at 1Hz for 20 minutes on the Guanyuan and Qihai
points of the lower abdomen is very effective.”
“Then I’ll come for acupuncture every other day starting today. And since my pain is worst on
the second day of menstruation, I’ll come that day too.”
“That’s a good idea. Pain can be learned, you know. As painful menstrual cramps repeat every
month, it becomes learned and you feel more pain. We need to break that vicious cycle.”
“Pain can be learned. I see that’s possible.”
How could an intern give such high-level explanations?
This was beyond even second or third-year resident level, let alone Yi-won beside her.
Professor Bu watched the consultation with surprised eyes.
Now the two were looking at a calendar as they talked.
“When is your expected menstruation date?”
“This day.”
“Ah. So that means…”
“Yes, the second day of my period happens to be the day of our live performance. The stage is in the evening, so I’ll come get acupuncture early that day.”
“Yes, you’ll be busy but it’s good to come for acupuncture before going.”
“I should. It’s much better than being in too much pain to perform.”
“I’ll prescribe Seongyutang herbal medicine. It’s Samultang, which tonifies blood deficiency,
with the addition of ginseng and astragalus to tonify qi deficiency. As I mentioned yesterday,
you seem to have the qi and blood deficiency type.”
Professor Bu almost nodded without realizing.
The traditional medical diagnosis, prescription choice, and explanation to the patient were
perfect.
“Then let’s go to the treatment room for acupuncture.”
The intern carefully selected acupoints and began inserting needles.
Professor Bu didn’t miss the intern’s momentary actions.
‘Did he just check the length of the patient’s finger joints?’
When explaining acupoints, the unit ‘cun’ is used.
For example, the Guanyuan point is 3 cun
below the navel.
And 1 cun is based on the width of the patient’s thumb.
This is because everyone’s body type is different, so the standard is based on the patient.
But most of the trainees Professor Bu had seen roughly measured using their own fingers.
They may have found it bothersome to check the patient’s hand or thought the small difference wasn’t important.
‘To find acupoints so meticulously and accurately. And he’s still just an intern…’
Professor Bu recalled what other professors had said.
She thought they were exaggerating when they praised him, saying “That intern seems naturally gifted with his hands, his acupuncture and chuna skills are like those of a doctor
with decades of experience.”
Unaware of Professor Bu’s thoughts, the intern continued explaining to the patient while
inserting needles.
“This is the Sanyinjiao location I mentioned yesterday. There’s research showing that
electroacupuncture at Sanyinjiao increases the number and diameter of capillaries in the
uterus and improves microcirculation in the uterus, alleviating menstrual pain. On days you
don’t get acupuncture, press it with your thumb.”
“I understand, doctor.”
“I told you to keep your lower abdomen warm, right? If the lower abdominal temperature
drops, it can trigger reflexive contractions of the uterine smooth muscle and worsen menstrual
pain.”
“Hehe, my coordinator said they’d change my clothes.”
The conversation paused briefly.
The patient was the first to break the silence.
“Doctor. As you know, ‘King of Singers’ has high ratings and is important.”
“I imagine so.”
“A lot of people worked hard for this comeback, and I’m worried I’ll ruin it. I shouldn’t be in
pain, even for the fans’ sake…”
The intern suddenly stopped inserting needles at the patient’s rambling words.
“No. It’s okay to be in pain.”
“…!”
“I have a Purple Angel superfan around me, and fans don’t get angry when singers are in
pain. Rather, they’re more upset when singers endure pain. So don’t force yourself. It’s also
good to say you’re in pain and rest when you are. Stress can also worsen menstrual pain.”
“…Thank you.”
Professor Bu finally understood clearly why other professors praised him so much.
Lee Seon-Joon had far surpassed intern level, and sometimes seemed like a resident or even a
specialist.
‘This intern… He’s really no ordinary person.’
Plus he had a warm heart that cared for patients.
She almost wanted to kidnap Lee Seon-Joon to the obstetrics and gynecology department when he finished his internship.
Professor Bu turned to Lee Yi-won.
Yi-won also seemed quite shocked.
“Dr. Lee. What do you think?”
Suddenly Lee Yi-won burst into dejected laughter, making Professor Bu’s eyes widen.
“Ah, sorry Professor.”
“?”
“I was secretly looking down on him at first because he’s an intern and wanted to discipline
him… But now I’m embarrassed thinking about how much that intern must have been
laughing at me inside.”
Yi-won spoke with a bitter expression.
“Professor. I need to study hard.”
“What’s this all of a sudden?”
“I’m a resident after all, and I don’t want to hear that I’m worse than an intern. You said my
strength is honestly admitting my shortcomings and trying to learn. Now that I’ve admitted I’m
lacking, I want to study more and improve.”
“…”
Professor Bu looked at Joon and Yi-won with fond eyes