day's dose

Five to eleven in the morning, twenty four hours later, climb the stairs to the doctor's practice. Just press the door this time, it is open. There is no need to make noise.

Inside, the assistants on reception duty look up, and one waves the patient over. Explain that the blood pressure monitor installed and started yesterday has to be removed today. Today they are immediate and fast, a young woman leads the way into one of the side rooms in the practice.

Take off the jacket, take off the shirt.

The trainee removes the pressure band from the arm, unwinds the tube that runs over the back and over the right shoulder, and takes the small device out of the pocket on the web belt. Then the web belt is undone and put onto the table with the other parts. The written notes are asked for, and the measuring device is attached to the computer and the data transferred.

In the waiting room there are few other people, sit there and wait until the doctor calls.

In another room the doctor interprets the data, and advises as to the necessary medication, sixteen milligrams a day.

It is because of increasing age and weight 

this is all rather depressing

this is all most depressing

Thank the doctor for her time.

Go home, take the other eight milligrams to make up the days dose.