Posted by Lieutenant John McCandless (Head Nurse) in Primary Sickbay- Private Consultations

Posted by Captain Dira Myqian (Commanding Officer) in Primary Sickbay- Private Consultations

Posted by Lieutenant Solal Segal (Oncology and Immunology) in Primary Sickbay- Private Consultations
Posted by… suppressed (14) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

John nodded and made a note.
“I’ll go and get that search started. I’ll report back on my findings. If any.” He replied leaving Solal’s Office and making his way towards his own. He had a computer there where he could search the system discretely.

He got to his office, entered and sat at his desk loading up the computer. He entered all the Captain’s symptoms and asked it to search for any symptoms affecting both Halians and Betazoids.

Lt. John McCandless, Head Nurse

There were some similar conditions between the two pis-positive species, but nothing that directly matched her symptoms. Like her very general symptoms had been suggesting, there were a variety of things it could be, which made it harder to narrow down.

However, as he delved he would note that her weight had also dropped by 9% from her baseline, which was an unusual change for Myqian, who generally remained within a tight range. If anything, her recent lack of intense physical exercise after Franks’ abduction and now due to her symptoms, she should have gained weight, not lost. It was like something was happening metabolically at a smaller level than they had been looking so far.

Captain Myqian, CO

John frowned slightly as he noted the weight loss. He entered the 9% weight loss into the search criteria filtering out all the conditions that didn’t include the weight loss and filtered specifically to search for anything that happened metabolically. He doubted that it would narrow it down much but he just wanted to cover all of his bases before reporting back to Doctor Solal. He suspected that they would have to do more tests and scans.

Lt. John McCandless, Head Nurse

OOC: Her symptoms and initial test results for reference in case we need them:

Symptoms: fatigue, brain fog, aches (especially in the areas that were dislocated), insomnia (difficulty falling asleep), unexplained dizziness, weight loss.

Test Results:
Out of the series of tests (Complete blood panel, white cell count, standard hormone levels), everything was normal compared to Dira’s baseline except for:

• White Blood Cell count: slightly elevated
• Albumin: Slightly Low
• Total Protein: high globulin (resulting in an abnormal albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio)
• Liver Enzymes: Normal, except very tiny increase in ALT, but still within a normal range
• Thyroid- Low thyroxine (T4)
• C-reactive protein test- moderate elevation

Cancer markers: negative
Antibody test results: negative for all the conditions they were testing for. Whatever it was, it wasn’t a specific autoimmune disease, even though it was making her body react as if it was.

IC:
Factoring in the weight loss, there was no one condition that popped out, but it did reduce the list to a few broad issues:

-adrenal insufficiency (though her cortisol levels are high rather than low)
-Hypothalmus dysfunction
- underlying systemic infection

Captain Myqian, CO

Bump

John drummed his fingers on the desk as he looked at the results of the search and blew out a breath. It seemed like he had been staring at the computer screen for hours. He rubbed his eyes and looked over the results again. It seemed like the issues were too broad. He yawned and stretched, he was ready to discuss the findings with Dr Solal. He tapped his comm badge. =^=Lt. McCandless to Dr Solal, please meet me in my office. I have some updates about those results you wanted. =^= He stated keeping it vague.

Lt. John McCandless, Head Nurse
<Bump>
<Bump for Lucas>
<Bump>

<Bump>

=^=On my way.=^= Solal appeared in the office door way shortly after. A single brow arched, “you have found something.”

~ Solal

John looked up from the computer screen as he heard the doors open.
“Come…” He began but noticed Solal had entered anyway.
“....in” He finished and nodded gesturing to a chair opposite.
“Please have a sear.” He spun the computer around so that Solal could see the results.
“I noticed that our Captain has lost weight, rather than gained. 9% compared to her baseline to be exact. Its odd because she should have gained weight. Its not an autoimmune disease, the results came up negative. And negative for all the other conditions we’ve tested for. It seems like something is happening metabolically. But I’m just speculating at this point. I’ve been able to narrow down to a few broad issues, notably, Adrenal insufficiency (though her cortisol levels are high rather than low), Hypothalmus dysfunction and or an underlying systemic infection.” John reported back.

Lt John McCandless (Head Nurse)

<Bump>

“We tested for infections previously, however I see no logical reason not to check again.” Solal said after some thought. “Adrenal insufficiency also has a diagnostic blood test. Hypothalamus dysfunction will be a detailed brain scan while triggering hypothalamic functions.” Solal considered silently another moment. “The Captain will want us to try everything. Run the blood tests. The brain scans must be performed by a doctor.”

~ Solal

John nodded in response.
“Aye, I’ll call the Captain back in and we can run the blood tests. Might as well do the brain scan while we’re at it. You’d be best placed to do that Doctor.” John stated with a smile then pressed his comm badge =^= McCandless to Myqian. Captain, please meet me in my office as soon as you’re able. =^= He stated, keeping it brief and vague.

MCcandless Head Nurse

=/\=Be there in fifteen,=/\= Myqian said before closing out the call.

Sure enough, the door to his office slid open and Dira stepped in, looking more fatigued than earlier, but also rather curious. She eyed both Solal and McCandless. “Where are we at?”

Captain Myqian, CO

Bump

John smiled as the Captain entered the room.
“Please have a seat Captain.” When she was seated he continued.
“I’ve had a look through all the results and completed an indepth search of what this might be in our extensive database. The symptoms are too broad to pinpoint a specific condition I’m afraid. We’ll need to run further tests.” He paused again, sipping on some water.
“Its not an autoimmune disease, the results came up negative for this. They were also negative for all the other conditions we’ve tested for. It seems like something is happening to you metabolically. At this stage its purely speculation though. I’ve been able to narrow down to a few broad issues, notably, Adrenal insufficiency (though your cortisol levels are high rather than low), Hypothalmus dysfunction and or an underlying systemic infection. Doctor Solal thinks it would be best to run a detailed brain scan, this will need to be completed by a Doctor though. I will also run more blood tests to rule out an underlying infection.” John paused and let the information sink in, he looked at the Captain waiting to see her reaction.

McCandless, Head Nurse

Having pulled the chair over so she could face both John and Solal, Dira tapped her fingers on her thigh and then nodded. “At this point I’m not surprised. Broad symptoms tend to be problematic to diagnose until there is some sort of key component found. So, we keep searching.” She spread her hands out. “So, do what you need to do. I’m here, so we can do the scans and what not you need.”

Captain Myqian, CO

“Let’s head out to a biobed,” Solal said.

Dira sucked in a breath and nodded, following him out. She could feel the fatigue deepening, but it was like most days now where she just pushed through. Right now they needed answers, she needed answers.

John heard the breath and gave the Captain a reassuring look. He was sure they would find something.

As soon as she was ready, he started running detailed scans of her brain, every kind of scan he could think of.

~ Solal

OOC: Just a heads up, we’re in John’s office. Do we think there would be a biobed in there?
Tom

OOC: edited :0

~ Solal

What was very clear that was that in general Dira had a very healthy telepathic brain. Her psilosynine levels were a touch low from her usual baseline, but given her obvious fatigue that wasn’t unexpected since even her general telepathic awareness of the crew used up energy.

But a closer look with a Level 4 neurographic scan did reveal some mild inflammation to her overall cortex.

Captain Myqian, CO

John looked at the scans and had no idea what he was looking at. He had picked up lots of things over his career, just by osmosis. A deep in depth brain scan and one of a telepath and not a human, was beyond him.

Lt. John McCandless, Head Nurse

<Bump>

Solal spent some time looking at the results, to be sure he was correct. “There is subtle swelling of the paracortex.” He said at last, to John and the Captain “It would not account for all of the symptoms, however, it is a much better clue to an overall condition.” He said.

~ Solal

Dira shook her head and pushed herself into a sitting position, damn the fatigue. “There aren’t any telepathic illnesses that are so generic as my symptoms. Everything that either of my genetics are prone to usually have much more obvious symptoms or are more specifically telepathic in nature.” She might not have been a practicing physician, but she did have not only a medical degree, but a very healthy understanding of her own physiology and its failings.

“So what next?” she said, looking between the two of them expectantly.

Captain Myqian, CO

“I only meant it is a better clue than a handful of nonspecific symptoms, Captain.” Solal replied. “We can investigate causes of cortex swelling that are more systemic.”

~ Solal

OOC: I fixed the one detail as discussed.
IC:
Myqian blew out a breath. “Okay. So what now? Are there any more tests we can run right now? If not, I should return to the bridge , but I can come back later.” As much as she wanted answers she also had a ship to run.

Captain Myqian, CO

John felt like shrugging but resisted the urge. He had a thought and spoke it out loud not anyone in particular.
“Could it be more than one illness, or disorder? The symptoms are so generic. If the cortex swelling accounts for some, but not all the symptoms. Could it be logical to conclude that there is something else going on as well?”

Lt. John McCandless, a truly stumped Head Nurse

“The simplest answer is usually the correct answer,” Solal replied, “Occam’s razor. I’m disinclined to believe it is more than one disorder that hasn’t shown up on any tests.”

~ Solal