Blood Test Galore

Posted on Mon Dec 18th, 2023 @ 8:56am by Warrant Officer Iryna Voznyuk & Lieutenant Avira zh'Kenarh M.D.

Mission: Contagion
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Day 366 10:00
1512 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

Iryna strode down the sterile corridor of deck E, her boots echoing with each step. She could not ignore the persistent throbbing in her shoulder any longer. The dislocation from falling in the shower had left her grimacing through every mission briefing and she needed to get it followed up especially now that she had not been cleared to go across to the other vessel.

As she entered Sickbay, the soft hum of medical equipment surrounded her, providing comfort in the otherwise clinical environment. The ship's chief medical officer was standing there as if waiting for her. “Um hello, Doctor.”

Avira had been about ready to quickly dip out of the sickbay and get a PADD she forgot on her quarters. It would've only been half a minute since the Chief Medical's quarters were just across the way from the sickbay, that way she'd always be able to be the first responder in case of emergency. As the doors parted a little too early for her approach she stopped in her tracks.

"Miss Voznyuk," The Andorian physician dipped her head a little in greeting. "What can I help you with?" She noted the sagging shoulder and the clear facial expression of discomfort but always preferred to let the patients tell their ailments unguided, since it gave insights into how it came to pass and did away with any assumptions and bias she might have.

"My shoulder is still uncomfortable from a few days ago." She admitted taking a deep breath before going into how she had ended up in sickbay and how she had been resting where she could but she was not feeling much better despite Nate's care after Hughes had fixed her up. "So yeah this is how I ended up here Ma'am." She finally finished with.

Avira motioned for a nearby medical bed and stepped around it to give room to the woman to sit on it. "A bit of discomfort is to be expected." The medical staff always discussed the trauma's they'd encountered during their shifts and she'd heard and read about Voznyuk's injury. "Let's take a look and see if it's recovering." There were a great many reasons why trauma like hers didn't quite recover the way they'd expect it to. "Are you getting plenty of rest?"

"I can handle discomfort but this feels a little more." She stated as she slowly sat down on the bio bed relieved that she was at least a lot more clothed than she was last time. She was deeply aware of how her body moved and felt but this was more than that in her opinion so for one instead of being like an Emu she was actually getting help. "I am trying to. Not exactly easy with everything going on." She said thinking of the base.

"If you're not taking the rest, you might be aggravating inflammation." There wasn't really much to do about that from the Doctor's perspective, a tale as old as time with people not wanting to put in the time and effort to give it proper time to recover. "perhaps it would be good to do a blood test, see if there's something we can prescribe to help alleviate the paint and improve recovery time."

Iryna sighed softly as the doctor commented. She was trying but it was hard to have complete rest when they were trying to sort out the barracks and moving MACOs into the main ship. “I am at your mercy doctor.” She assured responding to the command like a good MACO.

It was good to have a patient that would comply with requests, but the Andorian doctor already knew that it was an empty promise. At least the humans had that impatience in common with her more hardheaded blue skinned peers. "Just sit there for a moment, let me get the necessary equipment."

“Of course Doctor.” Iryna nodded sitting down on the bio bed and looked around. It was very quiet in sickbay despite how busy she suspected everyone was but if people were going to the base she needed to get all of it sorted now so if there was problems she could go across.

As Avira rolled the tray of equipment closer to the biobed, her antennae twitched just a moment before the doors opened. She looked up to greet whomever was joining them.

Beth had not expected anyone else to be in sickbay that early or when everyone was gearing up to go on a mission. “Oh… pardon me Warrant Officer… doctor. I can come back later on.” She quickly said stopping in her tracks.

"No need." Avira waved her over, "what seems to be the problem, Commander?" She'd be able to triage while she drew blood for the tests on the Warrant Officer. The process was painless and quick for the marine as the vial filled with enough blood to do the different tests with.

Beth smiled and nodded as the Warrant Officer nodded and indicated it was acceptable for the other woman to come in. “I need to get my anaemia levels checks Doctor I have had some symptoms.” It was not too unusual of a request so Iryna just offered a comforting smile. She knew some people suffered more with iron deficiency than others.

Avira gave a nod, "luckily I have the kit out." She motioned for the available bed and pushed the tray a bit closer to her. "I'll have to put these on a culture, Sergeant, I'll let you know when something comes up." She turned to the Captain and "Now then, Commander, can you please roll up your sleeve?"

“Thank you Doctor!” Iryna said sharply taking the conversation as a dismissal and with a quick nod to the Captain she made a quick exit. She did not want to intrude on the Captains privacy anymore than she already did.

“Is she any better?” Beth asked watching the woman leave as she rolled up her sleeve.

"According to the Starfleet Medical instructions I've been given, it's unwise to comment on an officer's health and wellbeing outside of official reports, Commander." Avira remarked dryly before pushing the needle against her skin. "But I'm sure she appreciates the concern." The small vial quickly filled with the Captain's blood, it was virtually painless. "May I ask what symptoms you are experiencing that prompted you to come visit today?"

Beth found herself smiling at the woman but said nothing else in the subject of the MACO. She suspected the MACO would not appreciate it as much as she did not like people giving her concern. It was just how strong women were, they cared about everyone else and not quickly enough about themselves. Beth winced at the sensation but it was not painful just a strange sensation. “Exhaustion to the point I have slept in my own bed instead of the couch. And I am a little sluggish which is no good for the captain at the moment.”

There was a bit of a moment where Avira considered who Beth had meant with 'the Captain' before realising that she was talking about herself. "I can imagine. Depending on the cause, I'm sure we can find a quick solution to whatever ails you. Let me just take enough to run all the tests we need." She filled another vial with the Captain's blood and motioned for her to stay seated. "Just take a moment, getting up too quickly will make you dizzy, I wouldn't want to have to pick you up from the floor."

Beth stayed seated and offered a small smile. She was learning take care of herself which was a big change from how she would have been a couple of months before. She would have just kept it to herself without comment until she was too sick. “I would hate for you to have to do that too.” Beth assured.

"Back on Andor we used to give kids sweets to perk them up after such a procedure. Would you like a cookie?" Avira was offering but there wasn't really a guarantee that they had something edible laying around the medbay.

Beth raised an eyebrow and laughed a little but shook her head. “No I think I will decline that offer. We do something similar on earth though so something else we have in common.” She admitted slowly shifting off the bio bed to get back to her duties now she had done the thing that she needed to get off her plate. “I will let you get back to better things like preparing to go across to the base.”

"The health of the Commander affects the health of the ship." In Avira's mind the health of the entire crew was important, but the Captain held a very special spot in that crew, without the trusted person at the head of the crew there was a risk of the crew falling apart, or swim around the unknown without direction. They needed unity and direction, it seemed that after 12 months that was true now more than ever.