Posted by Lieutenant Commander Alexis Bonner (Assistant Chief Medical Officer) in Side Sim: The Confounding Symptoms

Posted by Lieutenant Solal Segal (Oncology and Immunology) in Side Sim: The Confounding Symptoms

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Alexis Bonner (Assistant Chief Medical Officer) in Side Sim: The Confounding Symptoms
Posted by… suppressed (71) by the Post Ghost! 👻
It was a few weeks after Solal had asked Alexis every question about pets and why people have them as well as his meet and greet with Frigga. Several more letters had been exchanged with V’alura, not that he spoke much about that, though he had mentioned she was sick lately. His tiredness had gotten worse since then, now he wasn’t making it through full workdays without a large amount of caffeine, considering because of his Vulcan biology, caffeine had little effect on him. Even the placebo effect was better than nothing.

That day, he was working in his office. He’d woken that morning with a temperature of 93.5… a two-point-two-degree raise from the Vulcan ‘normal’ temperature of 91.3. His throat was scratchy but he’d just taken an over-the-counter cold medication to hold himself over through his shift and taken himself off patient duties. The cold meds were only a six-hour remedy though, and already beginning to wear off, so as he worked, he tried to hide a cough he could not get to go away, on his sixth cup of caffeinated tea, which he usually never, ever drank. Caffeine kept one from being calm and relaxed.

~ Solal

Alexis was always aware of things going on around her. It was just a matter of whether or not her brain deemed those details significant. So at first she didn’t notice that Solal was acting different. They spoke frequently about patients and duty rotations and various things work related. Once or twice he mentioned his sibling and that she was ill. Somewhere in the caverns of her brain she registered he was drinking a lot of tea more tea than usual and he seemed…tired. They were similar that way, on duty anyway. However it was Solal taking himself off duty that drew her attention. There was a shuffling around of assigning appointments. It wasn’t a problem, but when Alexis checked the reason and it was because Solal had taken himself off patient rounds because he was feeling unwell she got up from her desk and went to see him.

She found him in his office and knocked on the door frame. “Dr Solal.”

Bonner

Solal thought he was doing a decent job hiding his symptoms. The tiredness could be explained away. But he wouldn’t risk paitent health, if he had an unknown infection he could absolutely not be around potentially immunocompromised patients. So he had taken himself off duty. It was the logical thing to do. He was surprised to see Bonner at the door to the office, knocking on the frame. “Doctor Bonner? Did you need something?” His voice was level as ever, but the dark, green-tinted circles under his eyes gave away his tiredness, his face flushed lightly green with fever.

~ Solal

“I saw you took yourself off patient duty because you were feeling ill. Protocol requires I come to take a list of your symptoms incase it’s something that spreads.” Alexis’ gaze traveled over him and her brain quickly took in the data. The flush told her a lot. The dark circles that his body wasn’t getting enough sleep to heal. “You are feverish.”

Bonner

“I cannot risk patient contact until I know what it is and if it is contagious.” Solal was familiar with the protocol, though he had entirely forgotten she’d have to take a list of his symptoms. He considered his options. Clearly, she had already gathered his fever, and it would not be difficult to check ship logs to see he’d had to request the cold meds - he didn’t bring any and he didn’t know anyone to ask personally. Honesty it was. “Fever of 93.5, general malaise and fatigue, cough, nasal congestion, headache. I can do paperwork and officework, but with those symptoms I knew I could not be anywhere near my patients.”

~ Solal

Alexis gave a firm nod. She wasn’t worried about Solal breaking protocol or putting patients at risk. This was simply a formality. She jotted down his symptoms on a PaDD that she never seemed to be without. “Have you taken anything for the symptoms? Would you like me to do an exam or have you conducted one yourself?” That was frowned upon but was expected. Doctors made the worst patients as the saying went and they all thought they could diagnose and treat themselves. Even Alexis.

Bonner

“An over the counter cold medication containing Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin, and Phenylephrine.” He listed the quantities of the ingredients per dose he had taken, a standard adult’s dose. “The claim of non-drowsiness always lies.” Then he shook his head. “I conducted no examination besides taking my own temperature. I did not think it necessary. However, if you request I have one, it would be preferable if you did it.” No, Solal was not immune to being a terrible patient either, both because doctors were the worst patients and because, often, so were Vulcans. He had often done his own exams, but he was telling the truth when he said he hadn’t done one.

~ Solal

Alexis continued to tap the details into the PaDD. “I am here, I see no reason not to do an quick scan. It will save time later if Dr Walker insists on it.” She pulled her tricorder out and flipped it open as she stepped around the desk. She pulled out the scanner and with Solal’s permission she ran a very quick scan and added the information to the PaDD. “If you get worse let me know. And do remember, even Vulcan bodies need rest in order to recuperate from any illness.”

Bonner

Solal nodded and sat up and back so Bonner could have her scans. His vitals were normal, for a Vulcan. There was nonspecific inflammation, possibly explainable by his illness, the scan identified it as a virus derived from Earth’s Influenza virus family. His temperature agreed with what he had told her. “Understood, doctor.” He did not plan on mentioning unless it was worse enough he could not hide or ignore it. Then he let something slip, “I have been sleeping and resting.” And still he did not feel rested nor very awake.

~ Solal

Alexis read the scans, “You have influenza, which is why the extra sleep doesn’t seem to be working. The body needs extensive sleep to fight influenza. I can give you an antiviral that will clear it faster.”

Bonner

“It’s the 23rd century, you’d think by now they would have cured that.” It was delivered with the level tone of a Vulcan but the annoyance was clearer than he’d like. He needed to meditate. Being ill always made his mind feel foggy. Meditation would help. He coughed lightly, bringing up his elbow to cover, and then nodded to the antiviral. It would help shorten the length of the illness, perhaps also help keep the symptoms more mild.

Alexis shrugged, “We have cured many things and inoculated for others. As you know quite well, though, viruses and bacteria are quite adept at adapting and surviving.” She left and returned a moment later with the hypospray of Zanamivir. “You will need one more dosage in two days.”

Solal nodded. “Alright.”

He continued to feel worse throughout the day, and by the end of his shift he was unintentionally dozing in his chair, the illness and his general fatigue making him tired.

~ Solal

Alexis had passed by his office and had to commend him for working despite obviously being ill, but when she caught him sleeping…she knocked in the office door. “Dr. Solal. Go to your quarters and take tomorrow off if you need it. You need rest.”

Bonner

Solal jolted awake at the knock and then stood, a little abruptly. A quick breath helped let go of those pesky emotions. “Understood, commander. Sorry.” He closed out and finished up what he was working on. Then he left, back to his quarters. He did need the next day off, and by the day after that, he seemed a little better, his fever lower and his cough not as bad, but he still looked exhausted.

~ Solal

When Solal arrived for his booster, Alexis waved him into her office. “You still look a bit feverish. How are you feeling?”

Bonner

“Fever is down to 92.8, cough has improved somewhat, however muscle aches and fatigue persist,” Solal replied, listing symptoms very matter-of-factly as if he were speaking about a patient rather than himself. “The contagion period should be over, however I believe I am still not well enough for patient contact.” Which was unfortunate, he didn’t like having to reschedule so many days worth of patients. He was going to be behind for weeks.

~ Solal

Alexis nodded, “We just got a new NP on board. En Fargo. She can help pick up the slack for a few days. Better to have you completely well than have a recurrence. ” She stepped around her desk to grab the hypo and administered it. “You should feel much improved tomorrow. If not we will need a blood test to see if this is a mutated strain.”

Bonner

Solal nodded. “Thank you. I think I am well enough for office work, but if you’d rather I stay off duty one more day, I will do that.” Solal would prefer working, he always did. He was fairly sure Bonner knew that. But it was a sickbay. It was no place for sick people who weren’t patients.

~ Solal

Alexis considered. If it was a mutated strain then the contagion period could be longer. However Solal had passed through the asceptic entry with no alarms. If it was unknown one though that didn’t mean much. Solal had still caught the virus. “I have no objections to you doing desk work, however we should err with caution. You can log into sickbay’s files from your terminal in your quarters.” That would also allow him to rest as needed. “Then return tomorrow.”

Bonner

Solal nodded, content with that compromise. “Thank you.” Then he turned and left, returning to his quarters to work. The next day when he returned, he looked better. No longer flushed with fever and he did not seem to be coughing. There was still a light scratchiness to his throat and the fatigue had not lifted. Before getting to work he reported directly to Alexis’ office.

~ Solal

Alexis looked up as he entered. “Solal, you look much improved today. How do you feel?” She asked as she stood and grabbed her tricorder.

Bonner

Once again listing symptoms as if speaking about a patient instead of answering the question he replied, “Fever is down, coughing has stopped.” So, better. “My throat is still a little sore.” He didn’t mention the fatigue. Nor the lightheadedness, which he had assumed was because of the general illness and coughing.

~ Solal

Alexis nodded and began another scan. “Your scan is much better. You would benefit from an electrolyte infusion in your drinks. Pace yourself today. We do not want a relapse. En Gargo is at your disposal today.”

Bonner

Solal nodded. “I can add an electrolyte mix to my tea.” He was careful for the duration of his duty shift. Ensign Gargo on the other hand, did not particularly like working under Solal. In typical Vulcan fashion he was nitpicky, held high standards, and was inconsiderate toward ‘emotional’ reasons for actions. By the end of the day Solal was exhausted again.

~ Solal

Alexis only comment to Gargo’s comment was that all species came into sickbay and she would have to learn to deal with it. It was about medicine and science and the patients. Everything else belinged outside of sickbay.

Alexis checked in on Solal 2 days later to make sure the antivirals had completely rid his system of the influenza.

Bonner

His scans showed the influenza was gone, yet the dark circles under his eyes persisted. His heart rate was slightly high. He was still drinking way too much caffeinated tea, though. When Alexis had completed her scans, Solal asked, “Am I clear for patient duty or do I require additional desk days?”

~ Solal

Alexis nodded slowly. “Your system is clear, so you can return to patient duty if you feel up for it. However, your scans show signs of fatigue and an elevated heart rate. Is there anything else going on or just poor sleep from the infection. You could use calibrated Delta waves to help you get a more productive sleep cycle.”

Bonner

Solal nodded. “I feel up to it.” The fatigue… It had been going on longer than the illness. Weeks. “Poor sleep from the illness certainly contributed, however, lately, I do not feel rested no matter how long or well I sleep.”

~ Solal

“Let’s run a blood test and see if perhaps it is a hormone imbalance or a vitamin deficiency. No need to suffer fatigue if we can fix the problem.” Alexis turned to a cart she kept in her office, full of different equipment and picked up a phlebotomy hypo and took a blood sample. “I will have the lab run this and send us both the results.”

Bonner

Solal let her take the blood sample. “It isn’t a problem. I’m doing okay. I have made no errors in my work.” He nodded, “Okay.” Then he went to work for the day. The results came back and showed a little high on one of the hormones responsible for regulating heart rate. But it just on the line of out of normal range. He had a deficiency in vitamin b12 as well, a mild deficiency but it was known for causing fatigue. He was Vulcan and followed the Vulcan teachings, that meant he ate an entirely plant based diet, typically preferring to avoid even replicated animal products. If he wasn’t watching his nutrition well enough, it was a possible cause of that deficiency. B12 was an animal product based vitamin. However it wasn’t the only possible cause of it.

~ Solal

When the lab results came back later that day Alexis reviewed them and then went to see Solal. She was sure that they could handle this through a memo, but Dr Miller had drilled into her, all those years ago, face to face was always better. She found him leaving the main medical area after seeing a patient. “Dr. Solal, do you have a moment?”

Bonner

Solal was efficient but refused to churn out patients too quickly without being sure all their concerns were addressed. So he was quite behind. He would typically prefer a memo, face to face discussions could be… Rather awkward. However he, like Bonner, had been taught quite thoroughly to deliver medical news in person. Especially bad news but in good practice any news. He paused when he heard his name and then nodded, “I do.” He paused again, “What is it about?” Was it something private, or something that could be discussed here?

~ Solal

Alexis waved toward his office, “Your lab results.” It wasn’t bad news, but Alexis was quite the stickler for patient privacy. Once in his office, “You have a vitamin B12 deficiency, which could explain your fatigue, which in turn would cause the elevated heart rate. I recommend taking a daily B12 infusion and see if your fatigue improves.”

Bonner

Solal followed her into the office and then turned to face her, listening. He nodded. It was low effort and worth trying, all the better if it solved the problem. B12 supplements were supposed to take a few weeks to work, a week at least before there was a difference in how the patient felt. By the time about a week and a half had passed however, the fatigue had gotten no better. In fact, he was getting worse, a new symptom had shown up: he had a low fever of 92.9. The Vulcan equivalent of a 99 degree low-grade fever. When he scanned himself to see if it was a reoccurrence of the flu he’d had before, he found no infections at all. Odd, but a one off wasn’t cause for concern so he went for his duty shift like normal that day.

~ Solal

There was no reason for Alexis to follow up for at least two weeks. The first improvements were usually hard to notice. But 2 weeks after his first supplement Alexis stopped him at the beginning of their shift before rounds. “How are you feeling now?”

Bonner

Solal stopped. The dark exhausted circles were not gone from under his eyes. Often he got off duty and went directly to bed. “I’m… still tired. No improvement.” He tried to wake himself up a little. “It needs more time. Vitamin supplements can take several weeks to make a difference.” He had another low fever, but, again, had found no infections.

~ Solal

Alexis shook her head staring at the readings. “You have another fever, which means your immune system is fighting something. I don’t see any known infections. We should run some autoimmune tests to see if we can determine what it is that is making your body work so hard.”

Bonner

Now they were talking about Solal’s own specialty. It was easy to divorce himself from who they were talking about, and speak as though discussing a patient. “I agree the repeated fevers are indicative of autoimmune, however, the symptoms are far too broad. More or less every autoimmune condition that does and has ever, existed, causes fatigue. We can’t test for all of them.” He thought a moment, “Typically the only way to narrow it down would be to wait until more symptoms express themselves… That was why, in days past of Earth, so many people had so much trouble getting these kinds of conditions diagnosed.” Solal’s humanness made him a little more likely to think outside the box than other Vulcans, and he had come up with one idea. “We could test for the more common ones.... Of course the issue is, we would have to test for both Vulcan and Human conditions.” He looked to her for her thoughts and opinion.

~ Solal

“Of course. The more common ones, all told, will take at least a week to run the tests. Allowing for incubation. Let’s start there and in a week if there are more symptoms we will have them. We can also test for any illnesses that have been reported in board.”

Bonner

Solal nodded. The ‘more common ones’, could still be hundreds of tests. Especially because he didn’t know what part of Vulcan he was from - like Earth, certain diseases were more common in different populations. “I’ll give you a list of which ones I would start with… I’ll keep it to about a dozen.”

~ Solal

If Solal had mentioned not knowing what region of Vulcan his family was from, Alexis would have suggested a genetic analysis to determine that. Or to look at the genetic results of the study he participated. “Make 2 dozen. Sickbay and the labs are quiet right now. Might as well get as many of the more common out of the way while the labs are not backed up.”

Bonner

He couldn’t tell her what part of Earth he was from, either. He was raised in France. It was a logical assumption his mother might have been French. But there was no confirmation on that idea. And for him, it was difficult, he did not want to know. He had never imagined it would be relevant. It was now, but he couldn’t bring himself to mention it. It was the logical thing to do. Not mentioning it was an emotional reaction. The conflict made his head hurt. Forget it. “A dozen human and a dozen vulcan, then.”

~ Solal

Alexis nodded, “It’s a good place to start. I will put the order in and tell them to wait for your confirmation if the panels you want run.” Alexis took 4 vials of blood so the lab would have enough for all the tests. Then she requested juice from the replicator and gave it to him. He was already fatigued. She didn’t want him getting lightheaded from the blood draw. She labeled the samples and sent them off to the lab.

Bonner

Solal drank the juice and then rested for an additional fifteen minutes before going about his work. He made up a list of twelve common auto-immunes, Addison disease, Graves disease, Hashimoto’s, MS, myasthenia gravis, pernicious anemia, Sjorgen syndrome, type 1 diabetes, systemic lupus, a few other common ones newer than those. Some of them were extremely unlikely considering the age of onset or current symptom list but it seemed like Alexis was going for a “throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks” approach, so he’d give her that. He also made up a list of twelve autoimmune disorders in Vulcans, and then sent the list on to the lab.

When Alexis saw the list of autoimmune diseases Solal had picked she was confused. Many of these would not apply to him at all. There was a chance, but…it wasike Solal had simply threw whatever was in the pantry in a pot and hoped to call it goulash. Her mind, running on hundreds of tangents jotted this....unfocused hodgepodge as a sign of a new symptom. The inability to concentrate and focus clearly.

The results came back with twenty-four negatives. Twenty four “No”s. They’d asked what 2+2 equals, and come up with twenty four numbers it isn’t. In a week, when all the tests were back, Solal’s symptom list had come to the fatigue, the fevers, lightheadedness, and headaches, both of which he had reported to Alexis only when they’d become troublesome enough.

~ Solal

Alexis and Solal were sitting in her office, again. “The results are all negative. I want to fit you with a monitor band so we can get a look at your biological data over the course of several days and see if we can determine a pattern as to when the fatigue a d headaches are worse. Also I think we need to scan your quarters to determine if there is any compound you are being exposed to that is causing these symptoms.”

“My quarters may be scanned at any time.” Solal said, giving his permission for Alexis to run whatever scans of his quarters she wanted. “Will I still be able to work?”

“I’ll get that done today while you are on shift. None of your tests show you are contagious. If it is autoimmune or a reaction of some exposure, you can’t pass that on. As long as you don’t feel the fatigue will cause you to endanger yourself or the patients, I see no reason to take you off duty for now.”

“Now, tell me about these headaches. Severity, location, type of pain, time of day.”

Bonner

“Time of day is inconsistent, I have yet to find any discernable pattern. Location, typically on one side, along the side of the head, severity…” He considered a moment. “I can still work and focus, but I can’t always ignore the pain.”

~ Solal

“What is the pain like? Sharp, pounding, slicing, fast, prolonged, throbbing. Fades and returns?” Details were important. The location and type and severity of a headache told a lot about what was causing it. Headaches were mostly non-existent these days, so it was important to get all the details. Details were data, and data was essential to finding a diagnosis.

Bonner

“Faded and returns.” Solal replied with a slight sigh. Headaches were rare for Vulcans, and in this era people didn’t usually get them without reason. And that reason seemed too elusive.

~ Solal

“They could be Exertion headaches based on how you describe the pain. Have you been engaging in intense exercise routines before or while you were ill?” Alexis doubted it, but good diagnostics meant that she must ask and not assume. “Hemicrania Continua sometimes goes on for months and is usually on one side of the head, but the pain is different. Same for cluster headaches. I know caffeine doesn’t affect Vulcans like it does humans, but have you increased or decreased the amount you intake?”

Bonner

“Intense exercise? No.” Solal said, shaking his head. Then he shook his head again, “No… They aren’t as constant as those in hemicrania continua. Nor do I have the other symptoms that typically go with it.” He nodded, in a fashion that might resemble sheepishness. “I have increased caffeine intake.”

~ Solal

“What is your preferred intake medium? It could be a reaction to the caffeine or possibly a reaction to the medium.”

“Tea. I simply switched from a calming herbal or Vulcan tea, to one from earth which contains caffeine.” Solal replied. “I don’t see how it would be a reaction to…” He thought a moment, “Unless I had a reaction to something else in the tea.”

Alexis nodded, “Which type is it? From the replicator or fresh? We will test it to find out. When did you switch teas?”

Alexis folded her hands into her lap and stared at him. “Solal, I want to do a genetic study. We have very little information about ancestral genetics. It is possible that the answer is quite simple, but because of your mixed genetics we are over looking something. Quite often people with genetics from different species have anomalies from the way the DNA blended.”

Bonner

Solal shook his head. “I don’t want to know.” There was more emotion than usual in his voice. His genetics and genetic family were one of his few weak points. He had to take a breath and focus himself. Genetics were not his specialty. “If it were a genetic incompatibility… Can’t that be fatal?”

~ Solal

“An incompatibility is fatal, yes. But I am not talking incompatibility, but just the way the DNA mixed creating interesting results.” She leaned forward, resting her forearms on the edge if her desk. “If you don’t want to know that is your decision, Solal. However, ignoring an avenue of diagnosing what is going on with your body is ill-advised. What are your reservations?” Alexis thought he was being illogical and unscientific. He would order the same tests for his own patients.

Bonner

Solal hesitated a long moment and then shrugged awkwardly. The truth was, it was a bunch of emotional reasons he wished he could let go of but had never been able to. His biological family, whoever they were, had left him on the step of a house in a basket, alone. Finding out about V’alura had only cemented his convictions. Whoever his biological father was, he had abandoned more than one child. V’alura was just lucky her mother had actually wanted her. Solal had decided long ago never to go looking, not for anything about them.

His adoptive parents had made the choice to keep him. They had done their best with a child they didn’t know how to raise. They had given him everything they could and left him with no need to go looking for information about his biological family. He had never felt… Just French, which was what his adoptive parents hoped for. He was just too different. He wasn’t Vulcan either, not really, instances like this proved that. But he couldn’t get passed the idea of a genetic test, like a Pandora’s box of information he didn’t want but wasn’t sure he could resist knowing if it existed. In the end he came up with an awkward, “Personal reasons.”

~ Solal

“Alright.” Alexis thought his decision was wrong, but it was his choice. “Alright. We will need to take another blood sample to continue testing to eliminate auto-immune deseases. And I will complete the environmental evaluation of your quarters, office, and labs.”

Bonner

Solal nodded. He knew it was wrong and he knew she thought so too. She was too logical not to see it that way. It was an illogical, emotional, and stupid decision. He would suggest any of his patients in his position do the test because it was the logical thing to do and provided the most relevant information given the current situation. It was frustrating and disappointing that he couldn’t do it. As if he were failing as a Vulcan. “Okay.” He said, agreeing to further autoimmune testing and environmental testing.

~ Solal

Alexis stepped out of her office and returned to take the blood samples. “Would you like to be present when I examine your quarters? I ha e time at 1000 hours to do it.” She labeled the blood samples and handed them off to a nurse to take to the lab. Alexis would choose the tests this time. She might even do the lab work herself.

“I can be there if you need me to be, if you don’t, I would rather continue working.” Solal replied after letting her take the samples.

Alexis spent the morning conducting the environmental evaluation and sending the samples to the lab to test and ordered allergen scratch tests for Solal. It was time consuming but needed to be done.

Bonner

There was nothing unusual in his room. No toxins or unusual compounds, nothing that didn’t make sense for what was in his room. His work area in the office was spotlessly clean. There were a few potential allergens in the lab, but when the scratch tests were done, Solal came back with allergies to nothing that was tested for. It was probably not environmental.

~ Solal

Alexis did an inquiry of the computer for all known compounds on the ship that might cause such symptoms. She also went back through the external sensor logs, starting 2 weeks before Solal reported symptoms to see if something they passes by might be making him ill.

Bonner

There was nothing that was known to cause these symptoms in the ship logs. In addition, no one on board was showing similar symptoms, nor had they anytime recently. The blood tests, if a blood panel was also run, showed a low number of the Vulcan equivalent of white blood cells. While the tests for specific autoimmune conditions were negative, there were nonspecific indicators of immune activity: nonspecific inflammation and presence of antibodies.

~ Solal

Alexis chewed on a stylus in frustration. There were simply not enough symptoms to go on. The only thing that could be done was wait and continue to do periodic blood panels.

Bonner

During the next couple of weeks, Solal was not getting better. The current symptoms were still happening, the fatigue, the lightheadedness, the headaches, the coming and going low fevers, the lack of focus and concentration, which were beginning to interfere with his meditation. There were also sleep disturbances happening, Solal was unable to fall and stay asleep at night and it was contributing to the fatigue. He’d been writing V’alura when he could, and from what he’d heard from her she was not doing well either. Her symptoms were worsening too.

~ Solal

Alexis shook her head, “Solal, I am going to have to restrict you to desk duty. Your fatigue is starting to affect your work, and the fevers are a risk to the patients. I am going to fit you with a continuous monitor, and an alpha wave inducer to help you sleep.”

Bonner

Solal had found himself in her office again. He was not surprised he was being pulled from patient duty. He hardly had the energy for it anyway. The trouble meditating made him irritable and it was frustrating. He nodded to acknowledge the restrictions and then asked, “A continuous monitor? Why?”

“Because I need to exhaust all avenues of aquiring data. We must have more data if we are going to discover what is wrong…” Alexis’ eyes narrowed, and she stood walking around her desk.

It was also becoming increasingly clear as he sat there in front of her that a new symptom was presenting itself. He sat hunched slightly forward, his breathing a little fast, breathing through his mouth in order to try and get more air. Classic signs of shortness of breath.

~ Solal

“Devick I need a respiratory kit.” She called out her office door while flipping her tricorder open. She placed a hand on his shoulder pressing him back. “Hunching will not make you breathe easier.” She pulled out the scanner focusing on his lungs.

He hadn’t realized he was doing it. “It is an instinctual reaction.” Pressing him back helped some, but he still seemed to be having trouble. Her scans showed no structural issues with his lungs, however there was evidence of another infection setting in.

Devick entered with the kit. Alexis placed the mask over Solal’s mouth and nose and grabbed a canister of ipatropium bromide and popped it into the mask. The mask filled with the aerosolized medication. “Try to relax and breathe as deep as you can.”

Bonner

The mask pressed uncomfortably into his face despite being designed to be as comfortable as it could be while still being airtight and practical. It was filled with oxygen rich air at first, and then he could smell the medication after he heard the click of the canister popping into the mask. After a few breaths the meds eased the tight feeling in his chest as his breaths came easier and began to naturally deepen. It was embarrassing to him, in a way, to need this. Nobody wanted to be a patient at their own hospital, and by Solal’s standards this certainly counted.

~ Solal

“Devick prep biobed 15.” It was the furthest away from all the commotion typical in sickbay. When the medication had been totally dispersed into his system Alexis had Devick help Solal to the biobed. She adjusted it to make him comfortable. “You have another lung infection.” Alexis called down to the lab to run tests to identify what he had caught. Then she started him on an antibiotic, and oxygen support. “Devick I want a full monitor of his lymphatic system and scans concentrating on his white blood cell concentrations. I want to know what his body thinks it should be fighting.”

Bonner

When the medication was fully delivered, Solal did not feel he needed a biobed, but he would not disobey, so he went with Devick without trouble. He lay down on the biobed and let himself relax and it was clear how tired he was. The biobed’s monitors read a slightly rapid heart rate, regular breathing, good blood pressure, and a slightly low but climbing with the meds and oxygen support blood/oxygen level. “I’m not staying here, am I? I have work to do.”

Alexis looked at him calmly but clearly she couldn’t believe he actually asked. “You aren’t leaving.”

The initial tests came back, showing a bacterial pneumonia, figuring out which bacteria caused it would take days and would not change the treatment plan. But bacterial pneumonia meant he was likely to get worse before he got better. They’d caught it early.

Scans studying his white blood cell concentration and immune and lymphatic systems showed a number of white blood cells on the low side of normal… Which would be quite low considering with an infection, the number should read high. It seemed his body was fighting the infection, but healthy tissue was being damaged as well, and likely not just around the lungs.

~ Solal

Alexis looked over the scans, “You have pneumonia, in the early stages. You will get worse and your body is not fighting the infection like it should. You will stay. I will not risk you becoming exposed to another infection. This is the second respiratory infection in 6 weeks. You will stay here where we can monitor you. If you must have something to do a computer console can be set up attached to the bed for you.”

Bonner

“No… Actually, yes.” He could use it to write to V’alura. He knew she was right, that her actions were logical. Early stage pneumonia meant he could get a lot worse, especially with his system apparently weakened. This was his own specialty… But he had no answers either. He gave a soft sigh. “Thank you.”

~ Solal

“We’ll get that set up and see how you do over the next couple of days.” Alexis kept constant scans of his lymphatic and neurological systems and the rate at which the infection spread. She even allowed him access to his scans and data, when he wasn’t too ill to do more than lay on the biobed and try to breathe.

Bonner

Solal’s focus issues were getting worse, which was partly the infection, and partly the underlying condition. He tried to write his letter as soon as the console was set up for him but grew frustrated and had to quit. By that afternoon his mild fever was rising higher and he had begun to cough. By the next morning he had chills and aches and suddenly wasn’t so opposed to being in sickbay anymore. He slept part of both days. By afternoon of the third day, his cough had worsened, his fever was high enough he was on a fever reducer, and his breathing was getting worse so he’d spend time just resting with his eyes closed. The afternoon of the third day, after resting in such a way, he was trying again to write his letter.

~ Solal

Alexis had just retrieved Frigga from an appointment in psychiatry. The pair made their way over to Solal. Alexis was checking his vitals and Frigga took it upon herself to hop onto the end of the bed. She stared at Solal wagging her tail, tongue lolling out.

Solal pushed the computer console out of the way when he saw them. Before he could say anything to Alexis, the dog had leapt up onto the end of his bed. He coughed into his elbow and leaned forward to scratch her head while Alexis noted his vitals off the biobed monitor.

Alexis checked the time if his last breathing treatment. “Hello Solal. Did the last breathing treatment make a difference? It’s time for another one.” She didn’t like his O2 levels, but considering the infection it wasn’t surprising.

Bonner

Solal nodded to answer the question. “Felt less like cough, cough bubble wrap in my lungs-” he wasn’t quite able to finish his sentence because a fit of coughing came over him, causing him to lean forward unable to get a full breath in between coughs, straining with the effort. When it was finally over, he gasped for air and reached for a glass of water on his side table.

~ Solal

Frigga whined as he struggled to breathe through the coughing. Alexis patted her back letting her know the warning was heard. When he stopped coughing Frigga moved onto his lap and laid still. “Alright, let’s try this. It is a combination bronchodilator of albuterol and ipratropium bromide, to help you breath, and an antitussive - dextromethorphan - to help ease the coughing.” Alexis helped fit the mask over his face and then popped the canister in place. “Breathe as deep as you can but don’t force it.” While they waited she looked over the latest scans of his lungs and lymphatic system.

Solal nodded and breathed as deep as he could, the breath interrupted by a couple of coughs. As the meds got into his lungs it was easier to breathe and he leaned back, one hand remained on the dog whose warm body now rested over his legs.

As requested, a continuous monitor had been set up to keep a log of his condition. The antibiotics she’d put him on the first day were helping keep the infection in check, but as expected he still wasn’t doing well. Immune scans showed antibody concentration fighting the infection, it could be traced back to when his fever picked up that was when his immune system seemed to recognize the infection. But his white cell count was still lower than would be expected.

She knew he had been attempting to do some task on the computer but often had to rest. She removed the mask when the treatment was done. “Have you had any success with your tasks?”

Bonner

Solal shook his head and gestured at the computer. “Can’t focus. Too tired.” The tone of his voice have away his frustration which was unusual for him. “I’m cough trying to write a letter cough to V’alura.” He took a sip of the water and then, “She had been unwell lately.”

~ Solal