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I drink a lot of coffee during the day," I said. "Could that contribute to the problem? I'm a freelance writer." I added this last as an excuse, but Dr. Barrasso remained his old clinical self.
"Coffee is a diuretic. Anything with caffeine. Tea. Soft drinks. They will contribute to your problem," he said, with some finality.
I had the feeling I was close to exhausting Dr. Barrasso's patience quotient for dealing with otherwise healthy middle-aged hypochondriacs.
"Okay, thanks Doc," I said, as I got up. We shook hands again, and he handed back my test results. Dr. Barrasso smiled and said: "You'll live to be a hundred." He was already looking over my shoulder at the next person in line, an elderly woman clutching her handbag and medical paperwork. There was a trace of anxiety on her face.
"Hi," smiled the cheerful Dr. John Barrasso.