Medical Follow-Up

Posted on Sun Jan 8th, 2023 @ 5:03pm by Lieutenant Ashev & Lieutenant Rose Kersey

Mission: Lower Decks
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Before “Stalled Beginnings”

ON

It had been a long day in sickbay, appropriate given it was Ashev's first day as Chief Medical Officer. Later he would have the opportunity to do management tasks -- inform the team, make plans for sickbay operations to his own liking, etc -- but today it was about practising medicine

The last appointment of the day was for one Rose Kersey, and he could sense her in the corridor.

Rose smiled as she was told she could go in to see Ashev by one of the nurses, she hadn’t long had a check up with the ship’s prior CMO but she wanted to speak with Ashev about a problem. Walking in she smiled warmly as she greeted him even though he couldn’t see it. “Good afternoon Doctor.”

"Counselor," he said, his antennae pointing toward her. "Come on in. Sit on the biobed and tell me why you requested an appointment."

Rose took a seat and made herself comfortable. “Given I haven’t long had a medical, I’ve since started having a few headaches, that and muscle cramps, though the cramps are more at night when I’m trying to sleep.”

The doctor nodded as he began to scan her with his tricorder, the data feeding into an ear piece. "This late into a pregnancy it's good to look into any cramping issues, so let's start there. I'm not reading any problems, but do you mind if I touch your abdomen? I'm good at sensing issues this way."

Rose went to nod before realising that wouldn’t do. “Of course, I’ve no problem with being touched.”

He lifted his patient's shirt and touched her abdomen with his bare hands. Her stomach involuntarily twitched at the cold touch. "Sorry," he said with a wry smile. His senses opened and he could sense mother and baby together. "As a person from two telepathic peoples, I'm sure you can appreciate this. I can feel your little one. Have you been told the sex yet? I don't want to ruin the surprise by using a gendered pronoun if you want to wait."

“To be honest I haven’t asked up until now” Rose smiled warmly “but given the late stage of my pregnancy I would like to know. I’ve got a sense that I’m carrying a boy, but I’m not sure whether my sense is right or not.”

“Well in that case I’m happy to report that he is doing very well,” Ashev said.

Rose let out a relieved breath that she hadn’t realised she was holding. “That’s good to know.”

“The tricorder picked up a bit of high blood pressure,” Ashev continued. “We’ll monitor that. Lots of things can cause it and only some of them are worrying. Any issues with your vision? Any nausea or vomiting?”

Rose shook her head. “Err... no, I did have one small bout of seeing stars but I think that was due to my sitting up a little too fast one morning.”

“Let’s pay attention to that,” Ashev suggested. “Come to sickbay right away if it happens again, and come back in a week regardless for a follow-up. We might follow the last months of your pregnancy more closely than normal just in case.”

Rose nodded. “I’ll do that. Thank you Lieutenant, it puts my mind at rest knowing my son is in good hands.”

“All right, up you go,” Ashev said, stepping back. “By the way, do you have any availability in the next day or two? I’d like to stop by your office if I can. Talk a bit.”

Rose smiled and nodded. “I have appointments available, feel free to drop by when you’re available and I’ll fit you in.”

“Sounds perfect, Counselor,” said Ashev. “Until then.”

“Until then Doctor” Rose nodded politely and headed on her way.

OFF