OOC: First part is mostly character development, but feel free to pop in!
IC:

“Doctor Byrd,” Haadok rose to greet the owl-eyed physician. “How is Lieutenant Hrelle?”

“Better,” Byrd donned a tentative smile in memory of his patient. The poor Caitian presented with scaly patches of reddened, itchy skin that matted his beautiful tawny fur with dandruff—eczema. The itch alone would vex the kindest of folks. But for dapper fellows such as Hrelle, the diagnosis was a travesty that warranted acerbity and outrage. “The corticosteroid injection and ceramide lotion have done wonders for his skin… and his attitude.”

“I see,” Haadok hummed. A trace of amusement touched her eyes, crinkling the skin around them, but she banished it before it could betray her. “I doubt you came by to apprise me of the good Lieutenant’s condition. What can I do for you, Doctor Byrd?”

“Guilty as charged,” he laughed and fumbled with a PaDD that she assumed contained patient records. “I was hoping for a second opinion on a patient of mine. Do you have a moment?”

“Of course,” Haadok peeked curiously at the PaDD and accepted it when offered. “Have a seat,” she gestured to a chair while skimming over the patient’s file, “and tell me about your patient.”

“Sure,” Byrd took in a soft breath. “Crewman Romero came to sickbay complaining of lightheadedness, headache and blurred vision that worsens when standing. We tested her RBC and iron, blood sugar, and electrolyte levels. All are within an acceptable range excluding minorly low potassium and sodium levels.” He hesitated, concentration wrinkling his forehead, and blinked. “But not low enough to cause the symptoms she described.”

“You clearly have speculations,” Haadok raised a pestering eyebrow, glancing briefly at Romero’s file. “I see you conducted an active stand test. Why?”

“Bloodwork suggests it isn’t hypoglycemia, anaemia or an electrolyte imbalance. Scans show no sign of bodily trauma. So, I thought it might be orthostatic hypotension.” He frowned and waved a hand at the PaDD. “Her blood pressure didn’t change enough to constitute an issue.”

”…but her heart rate did.” Haadok slid the PaDD back to Byrd and tapped a finger emphatically on the results. “Her heart jumped from 79 BPM resting to 112 BPM sitting and 125 standing. When you conducted this test, did she mention any symptoms?”

Byrd furrowed his eyebrows in thought, “she mentioned feeling ‘fuzzy’ and nauseated.”

“I see,” Haadok leaned back and watched as those metaphorical wheels began turning in his mind. Byrd knew the answer—she saw it in his tests and line of reasoning—but he needed a small nudge to trust the results, to trust himself. “Did you check her feet?”

“Her feet, Doct—” he halted, a sudden ‘flashbulb’ warping his chapped lips and nervous glances into a smile. “Are you thinking it’s an autonomic dysfunction? Like POTS?”

Haadok tilted her head, “what do you think?”

“I think…” Byrd snatched the PaDD from the table and jumped to his feet, “…I’m going to re-run the active standing, get a complete metabolic panel, and check her circulation.”

“I think that’s a veritable plan, Doctor Byrd.” Haadok rose and snaked her hands behind the small of her back. “Alert me when you have a diagnosis and treatment plan.”

Byrd stared at her, lips parted in the makings of a response, but he resolved to flash an excited grin and bimble out the door.

Haadok turned to her computer terminal, debating whether to submit to file updates and incident reports or to partake in the ever entertaining sickbay shenanigans. Ping! She shifted her gaze to the pathology report tempting her from the task bar. Decision made. Rising, Haadok went about preparing a cup of chai before diving in to whatever pathology and the day had to offer.

— Haadok, CMO