Check-Up

Posted on 09 Jan 2016 @ 9:53pm by Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen M.D. & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Chief Warrant Officer 3 Greg Mitchell

1,831 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 3 - Sickbay
Timeline: MD 22 - 1100 hrs

[ON]

Having finished his meeting with his CO and the unexpected meeting with the counselor, Greg approached the Sickbay doors. He hated check ups, but had been ordered for a physical when he arrived. Better to get this out of the way. Either way, its better than being on another Starbase for Lord knows how long. Just need to be cleared and I will be set to get to work. he thought to himself.

Grudgingly, he walked through, knocking on the door frame to announce himself.

"Hello?" He asked.

Emerging from the office, Tuula rolled herself towards the new entrant. Looking up, she smiled at him from behind her dark makeup and freshly-dyed green hair. Not recognizing the man at the door, she figured that he must be one of the new crew members.

"Hello," she called out, her accent betraying her Nordic heritage. "Welcome to sickbay! Do you have an appointment?"

Allyndra had been doing a bit of assessment of how far the Akkadians had gotten with Tuula when the sickbay doors had opened. She nodded to Tuula to go check on that while she hastily put away the results.

Greg smiled at the young doctor who rolled into the room. She appeared to be friendly, which was great for him, but he didn't expect the exotic hair color. This was the first Starfleet vessel he saw such a style on. He decided to chalk that up to this being a science vessel, and thus more lax on the regulations.

But, she was a superior officer so it wasn't his place to question. "Yes, ma'am. I'm Chief Warrent Officer Second Class Greg Mitchell. I'm a new Security officer aboard. I was told by the CO to report for a physical. I guess everyone has to take one when they first come on board."

Allyndra put things away and got up and went out. Tuula was already handling the patient but she would both observe but really act as a second pair of hands or anything else as needed. Besides when new recruit meant someone she should meet at least once. She butted in only briefly. "I tend to avoid ranks here Greg Mitchel. I am Allyndra the chief here and this is Tuula a very competent doctor." She smiled. "If you hear ranks spoken here then you know you are in real trouble."

Greg let out a small laugh. He was EXTREMELY used to rank structure and strict protocol. It did seem as though the ship was more laid back in regards to structure. Still, it was hard to drop the way he had been trained. Especially when you aren't an officer. But, that's what happens when you don't go through the academy. he thought.

Smiling, he said, "Pleased to meet you ma'am. Both of you in fact." The "ma'am" was more out of respect then attention to rank, "And don't worry. If you're an officer in sickbay, I assume you are fairly competent. I'm just not a big....check-up kind of guy."

"Well, this shouldn't take long," replied Tuula. "Take a seat on an empty biobed and we can get started." As she pushed herself towards the medcart to grab a tricorder, she continued. "These check-ups are totally harmless. I've even left my bone saw in my quarters, so you have nothing to worry about."

Greg laughed at the joke and hopped onto the biobed. "As long as I never have to be knocked out.....I hate surgeries. I had my medical records forwarded here, so hopefully nothing new comes out." He thought about all the things he would be allergic to that were relevant to sickbay. Cats....no. Peanuts....no. Mold.....not going to find any on a starship. I hope. "I do have a fairly severe allergy to amoxicilin but I don't think you all use that much anymore."

While Tuula conducted the interview, Allyndra went ahead and got a PaDD to pull up medical history. She briefly reviewed it.

"No, that hasn't been standard medication since the 22nd century, replied Tuula, returning with a tricorder. Pressing a button, she lowered the biobed down to a more appropriate height for her. "Funny, I love surgeries," she mused as she calibrated the tricorder. "Of course, I think it helps when you're on the other side of the laser scalpel."

"Looks here that you have had several injuries in the past. How long have you been taking celecoxib?" Allydnra asked. It was a fairly potent anti-inflammatory but there were known side effects as well.

As the check up continued, Greg thought back some more. "A little over ten years," he resonded.

"Tuula if you don't mind take a look for signs of ulcers along with cardio vascular problems. Let me guess sir that some of your muscles hurt." The last was a flat statement not a question. "Previous record shows that you have some muscle adhesions that have not been resolved."

"Initially I pulled a shoulder muscle back on the police department while lifting weights. Grabbed a too heavy weight and the muscle just collapsed. Was in recovery for about a week." But it hurt like a son of a.....he thought. "Doctors prescribed that medicine to kill the pain. It's pretty good. Especially when I accidentally pulled a leg muscle while in a fist fight with a suspect. That man was a monster. Why do you ask?"

"I am concerned that taking too much or taking for a long term the anti-inflammatory celecoxib has the side effect of resulting in gastroesophageal reflux disease." Allyndra explained.

"Sooo...." Greg began.

"I'm detecting something," called out Tuula, tilting the tricorder so it i was visible to the chief medical officer. "This," she said, pointing towards the screen, "looks like damage to the stomach lining. Could be an ulcer."

Allyndra nodded. "I think your right." She turned her head to look at the man. "Have you noticed any of the following lately dyspepsia, vomiting, abdominal pain?"

"Yes. Well, mostly pain, but I chocked that up to a good days work out." He joked, "My dad always said it's good to feel sore after a trip to the gym. Of course my brother always said my dad could be full of sh...." he stopped, remembering the women in the room, "stuff. I also thought it was just nerves."

"I think for right now we are going to switch you to rofecoxib but that may also be problematic in the long run. Tuula I think perhaps we might also consider some proton pump inhibitors as well. I am not sure about H2 blockers what do you think?"

"Hmmmm," Tuula leaned over in her chair and looked at the readings once more. "Let's wait and see; it might not be necessary. Follow-up in a week, perhaps?"

"Very well," Allyndra responded. She was not so sure but then it did not hurt that much either.

Greg's head swirled with all this medical lingo being passed around. All he ever learned was basic EMT training to become an officer, so most of what they were saying was gibberish to him.

"Umm, ladies, I'm just a street cop. Is something going to have to be cut off?" Greg jokingly asked.

"I don't know..." Tuula looked up at Allyndra and smirked. "Should I get my antique bone saw from my quarters, while you prepare the restraints?"

"I think you are just looking for an excuse," Allyndra replied. "No nothing right now but we need to get to the source of problem before something does have to have a surgical intervention." She brought a portable monitor down and tapped spots on it. "You have muscle adhesions here that have not been taken care of properly which in turn are causing you stress which in turn taking pain medication is causing the beginnings of an ulcer. Normally I would recommend surgical intervention here.....bone saw or not." She spared a glance at Tuula. "However, I think with physical therapy that we can avoid that. You are going to have to be religious about it though."

"Oh thank goodness. I hate getting knocked out for procedures." Greg smiled, "Alright, if it would get rid of it. I'm on Beta shift so it would have to be either before or after."

"Tuula would you be so kind as to set up a schedule for our patient?" Allyndra asked standing up again.

"Of course." Tuula gripped her wheels and pushed herself towards the terminal. Flipping through the touch screens, she pulled up their calendar. "Next Thursday at 1400 okay?" she asked.

"Yes, that works perfectly." Greg smiled.

"And you are going to have to really work at it. Otherwise it is going to have to be surgical. We need to wean you off those medications before you have another serious problem, got that Chief?" Allyndra added and the tinge in her voice meant that and if he remembered her bit about the use of rank meant she meant it.

"Uh...yes ma'am." Greg hesitated. He had to admit, with the long hours he pulled in the past, the painkillers were a lifesaver. "Are you sure there's no less powerful substitute I can use. You know, good results but less the.....stomach ulcers?"

"For the short term these will work, but we are only treating symptoms right now and not the underlying problem. We need to have a longer range outlook. If things continue as they are, not only will we have to do surgical for the adhesions we will have to do surgical intervention for the ulcer," Allyndra smiled and put a hand on Tuula's shoulder. She winked as she said, "And Tuula is just dying to try out her antique bone saw."

Greg chuckled, "Well, there's no need for that. I think I'll do anything possible to avoid surgery." He looked at Tuula, "Sorry ma'am."

Tuula sighed in disappointment. "That's too bad. I was looking forward to cutting you open."

Allyndra laughed lightly, "And if you do not get those PT exercises and appointments I am going to let her. Anything I forget doctor?" Allyndra asked Tuula.

"No, I guess he's free to go," replied Tuula. "Though I suppose we could keep him for observation if we don't want him to leave quite yet..."

Greg's eyes widened, "Uh, no. I've got to work today. You know, pay the bills and everything." he joked, "No observation is necessary Doc." He said to Allyndra.

"Well your physician says you can go, then you can go." Allyndra replied.

"You can go," replied Tuula.

Smiling, Greg stood up off of the biobed. "Well then I won't keep you ladies any longer." He made his way to the door. "It has been a pleasure to meet all of you!"

[OFF]

Lieutenant (J.G.) Tuula Voutilainen
Medical Officer
USS Galileo

CWO2 Greg Mitchell
Security Officer
USS Galileo

LCmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

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