The Enhanced Doctor-Chapter 646: Don’t underestimate yourself, you can do it.

"Why are you back again? Is there a result yet?" Wang Xiaoyan asked curiously when she saw Liu Banxia and Wang Huan both rushing over.

"Nothing much. This is Doctor Wang Huan from our internal medicine department. I asked him to come over and help with a consultation," Liu Banxia said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Wang Huan was stunned but still put on a smile. "Hello everyone. I also know a bit about this patient's condition."

What else could he say? He had come to see the result; who would have thought Liu Banxia would say that? He wondered what tricks Liu Banxia had up his sleeve.

"Liu Lu, do you usually eat more at dinner?" Liu Banxia asked.

Liu Lu nodded.

"How's your teeth brushing effectiveness at night?" Liu Banxia continued to inquire.

This puzzled everyone. What was he trying to do? Was he going insane? Why would he care about someone's teeth?

Although Wang Huan still had a smile on his face, he was feeling a bit flustered inside. He knew Liu Banxia wouldn't talk nonsense, but he was afraid he wouldn't be able to handle what was coming next.

It was just like a crosstalk comedy. The comic lead kept talking, but if the straight man went silent, it wouldn't work. He had already said he was called over for a consultation; this situation was getting challenging.

"I always brush my teeth normally, morning and evening," Liu Lu said, also somewhat confused.

"Well, let me take a look. Open your mouth. Ah..." Liu Banxia said, taking a tongue depressor from a nearby drawer.

Liu Lu didn't understand but opened her mouth anyway.

Liu Banxia carefully examined her for a while, his brows furrowing deeper. Liu Lu's gums showed some recession, and there were mild scars on the posterior wall of her throat.

The current situation confirmed the suspicion that had just arisen in his mind.

"Come with me to the consulting room; we need to do another check," Liu Banxia said, hesitating slightly.

"Comrade Old Liu, is it severe?" Wang Xiaoyan asked, worried.

"Hmm, the situation is a bit serious, but we need to go to the consulting room for the examination. You all wait out here; the equipment here isn't sufficient," Liu Banxia said casually.

Wang Xiaoyan and the others believed his actions and words. They didn't know any better and assumed the equipment in the consulting room was surely more comprehensive than what was available by the beds outside.

But Wang Huan, Xu Yino, and the others weren't thinking the same; the outdoor equipment was more extensive. After all, in emergencies, surgeries were often performed on the beds out there.

Even though they were puzzled, they couldn't follow Liu Banxia now. As curious as they were, they decided to wait and ask later.

"Is your appetite normally okay?" Liu Banxia asked once they reached the consulting room.

Liu Lu, not understanding, nodded.

"During the initial consultation, I analyzed your condition and explained some possible causes," Liu Banxia continued.

Liu Lu looked at him, her expression turning anxious.

"You usually induce vomiting at home, don't you?" Liu Banxia stated suddenly.

"Uh..." Liu Lu froze for a moment. She didn't speak, merely lowering her head.

"This is the primary cause of your current symptoms. Don't worry, we won't disclose this to anyone outside, not even to Yanzi," Liu Banxia said softly.

DING! Task: Patient with Strange Mitral Valve Prolapse - Completed.

Reward: 300 Experience Points, 2 Glory Points (+1 Bonus Point).

Task Rating: Flawless. Reward: 300 Experience Points, 3 Glory Points (+1 Bonus Point).

"When we discussed your case earlier, we only considered issues with your digestive system and metabolism. We overlooked the possibility of induced vomiting," Liu Banxia continued. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Currently, your gums have receded, and there are scars on the posterior wall of your throat. These are likely from your earlier induced vomiting. Now, you might be using other methods. If I had to guess, perhaps a tube to induce vomiting? That method is more effective than others.

"And now, you might have developed a habit or a conditioned reflex. You feel the need to eat large quantities, and then induce vomiting within a certain timeframe.

"So, it's not that you're nauseated by the hospital's smell; you're afraid you won't be able to vomit. Medically, your condition is known as bulimia, and its consequences can be severe.

"When we induce vomiting, we don't just expel food; we also bring up stomach acid. If I were to perform an ultrasound on your esophagus right now, there would likely be some visible damage.

"If you continue like this, it will only get worse. You're already so thin, which indicates a degree of malnutrition."

"But Dr. Liu… I can't stop eating until I'm overstuffed," Liu Lu said, her head down, wiping away tears. "It wasn't like this before; I enjoyed it. They said streamers don't get fat, that you just induce vomiting and you'll be fine. Then you can eat whatever you want, satisfy your cravings, and not gain weight.

"But with the constant vomiting, now I have to eat until I'm stuffed. And within an hour, I have to vomit; otherwise, I feel like I'm going crazy."

"How long has it been like this?" Liu Banxia asked.

"Over a year…a little more than a year. It's gotten worse these past few months," Liu Lu confessed.

"I know it's not right, but... but I can't help it. If I eat too much, I have to vomit. Sometimes when I'm out and about, I even have to hide in the restroom to vomit."

"In your case, you've developed a conditioned reflex and psychological dependence," Liu Banxia explained.

"It's like how some smokers have to chew on their cigarette filters; without a few chews, they feel smoking is meaningless. You can only overcome this through your own efforts. No one else can truly help.

"Do you have a close friend, someone you can truly confide in? If so, you should confide in them and ask for their supervision.

"If not, you'll have to restrain yourself. In the early stages, you should stick mostly to liquids, like porridge.

"Frequent induced vomiting also affects your intestines' ability to absorb nutrients. You need to give your body time to recover. Even if you feel hungry, try to endure it. At least the sensation of hunger won't make you want to vomit as intensely.

"It will be tough initially because quitting any addiction isn't easy. Bulimia is a kind of addiction, and you need to overcome it.

"You've just never tried to resist and perhaps think... um... that vomiting brings a sense of relief. That's a misconception. Initially, inducing vomiting is extremely unpleasant; after all, it's a retching action.

"It's more like you see it as a task. So, even though vomiting is uncomfortable, completing it significantly alleviates the psychological pressure.

"You've sought help at a good time; it was caught early. Given your discipline in practicing yoga and maintaining your fitness, I believe you can handle this."

"Can I really do it, Dr. Liu?" Liu Lu asked, her eyes still teary.

"Why not? Don't underestimate yourself," Liu Banxia replied with a smile.

"Think about it: if you can endure the discomfort of sticking your fingers down your throat to induce vomiting, why can't you endure hunger? Although hunger is also uncomfortable, especially with bulimia, I believe you can handle it.

"You can also adopt certain strategies, like keeping less food in your refrigerator. That's why I recommended finding a good friend to help you through this period.

"I believe you'll see some improvement in about a week. However, the first few days will be very tough. But for your health, you really need to address this now.

"You're also lucky. Our Doctor Xu noticed something was wrong during the auscultation. Otherwise, you likely would have been discharged.

"Imagine if you went home and continued these habits. How dangerous would that be? In less than six months, your mitral valve could completely fail and require replacement."

"I... I'm just afraid I won't be able to persevere. I've tried on my own before, but couldn't even make it through a single day," Liu Lu admitted.

"That's because you don't know yourself enough yet," Liu Banxia encouraged.

"Just think: you essentially have two choices right now—to live or not. Once you make that decision, it becomes simple. We all want to live, don't we? Otherwise, how could you enjoy all the good things the world has to offer?

"Alright, it's not an insurmountable problem. Just don't underestimate yourself and have faith. Persevere for two or three days, and you'll discover it's not as bad as you imagine."

There was no other advice he could give; bulimia had a psychological aspect, and overcoming it required significant willpower.

Given her current situation, it was clear she didn't want others to know because she realized her behavior was wrong.

This involved patient confidentiality; he couldn't gossip about her condition—not even to Wang Xiaoyan. If someone else had been present during the consultation, Liu Lu might have left out of embarrassment.

"And don't forget, when you get home, start with porridge. Millet porridge is good—it cooks quickly. Steamed egg custard would also be suitable," Liu Banxia added.

"Thank you, Dr. Liu. I will try my best to overcome this," Liu Lu promised.

"That's not enough. With that attitude, you're already making excuses. It isn't about trying. You must overcome it," Liu Banxia corrected her.

"Again, don't underestimate yourself. You can do it. Come back for a follow-up in a week, and I'll see how you're progressing. I'm a doctor; I'm pretty good at judging people."

"Thank you. I am determined to overcome this," Liu Lu responded earnestly.

When the two emerged, the onlookers were incredibly curious. It was obvious Liu Lu had been crying. But now? She was thanking Liu Banxia profusely. The whole situation seemed very strange. Had he really diagnosed some terrible illness?