Home » The Archives » Chapter 5 » Learning to Live in Paradise
| Re: Learning to Live in Paradise [message #1367 is a reply to message #1366] |
Thu, 26 July 2012 20:24   |
artisticrainey
Messages: 1228
Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Karma:
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Field Commander
Switzerland |
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Tracy Island, Monday, April 16th 9.30 a.m.
Kat looked at her watch; it was time to go. She made her way towards the villa, and paused outside the sick room's office door. She took a deep breath, wiped her clammy hands down her overalls and knocked at the door.
"Come in," Dr Tracy called.
Kat opened the door and entered, closing it behind her. "You wanted to see me, Dr Tracy?" she asked.
"Yes, Kat. Please, sit down," Dianne said with a smile, indicating a chair. She pulled out her data pad, which she had prepared with Kat's medical history. "I asked you to come to see me because of your fainting spell last week."
Kat looked surprised. She wasn't quite sure just what Virgil must have said. "I have a history of fainting, although I haven't actually passed out for a few years. When I was in my teens, I began to have these fainting fits. Mother was quite anxious and took me to see my GP. I had several tests, and the outcome was that I had a low blood sugar problem."
"So I see," Dianne said as she scanned the pad again. "Now, what was it that caused you to faint this time? Do you know?"
Kat looked down at her feet. She didn't want to let Dr. Tracy think that she was in any way irresponsible. "Well, my GP told me that as long as I didn't go too long between meals, and always kept something sweet on hand, such as glucose, I should be okay. There was a time a few years ago, that I went on holiday with my parents. It wasn't a long flight, and I didn't feel very hungry, but when we arrived it was so hot, I felt myself passing out. One of the Reps gave me Coke watered down. That certainly seemed bring me round. I guess that on this occasion in Thunderbird Two's hangar, it was a culmination of breakfast too early, no glucose to hand, and the heat in the hangar."
"Were there any warning signs? Did you know that the fainting spell was coming on?"
Kat looked unhappy. "Yes," she almost whispered. "I felt clammy and light-headed. Sometimes, when I feel like that I don't actually pass out, and that makes me feel worse. I was feeling clammy in the hangar, but I didn't like to stop Virgil and Brains. Besides it was very interesting." She looked at Dianne. "You won't send me home, will you?
Dianne took in a deep breath and let it out through her nose. "No, I don't think so. But you've got to make sure you're eating your snacks during the day and that you have your glucose on you. We can't have you fainting in the middle of a rescue or when you're working with some delicate equipment."
Kat looked relieved. "Dr Tracy, I promise that I shall eat small regular meals, and I will always make sure that I have glucose wherever I go. I admit that I was silly, having my breakfast so early, but I wanted to make sure that I arrived at the hangar on time. I guess I rushed out, not realising that I had no glucose with me. It won't happen again. But I think that I shall mention to Brains that maybe we should have a small break when we are working, at mid-morning and mid-afternoon so that I can snack."
"And I will make it a medical order," Dianne said, making a note with her stylus. "Now, you are aware that there are MRE's in the various Thunderbirds, aren't you?"
Kat looked a little unsure. "Sorry, I am not sure what you mean?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. MRE is the military term for 'meal, ready to eat'. There are some stored in every Thunderbird, particularly in Thunderbird Two. You should become aware of where they are so you can grab one if you need it."
Kat smiled. "That's good to know. Could I put my own meals there, along with some glucose tablets and sweet soft drinks? If I could, then I would know that I would always be okay."
"As long as they aren't too perishable," Dianne said, nodding.
"Oh no, they won't be perishable, I would just have some muesli bars, and biscuits and maybe some small packets of cereal. Maybe I could have small cartons of long life milk." She looked at Dianne. "Unless you that that would be too much, in which case I shall stick to the muesli bars and biscuits."
"That sounds feasible. Put them in one spot, and tell the pilots that those are your emergency cache." Dianne waved her stylus at Kat. "Now, if there is another fainting spell, I'm going to put you on glucose monitoring. Something I don't think you'll want to do. So, keep that blood sugar level up where it belongs."
Kat smiled, feeling more relaxed. "I will, I promise, Besides, I don't want to faint again. I shall arrange my emergency snacks in the appropriate Thunderbirds." She paused. "Dr. Tracy, do the others need to know about my problem? I know Virgil and Brains know, and I suppose, Gordon, John and Alan should be told and of course, Mr. Tracy, but somehow, if it is possible I would rather the others not know. But of course you feel that they should know, then would you be the one to tell them?"
"Truthfully, Kat, I really can't tell them," Dianne explained. "I'm now your physician, and I'm bound by ethics to keep your confidence. However, it would be wise for your teammates to know. That way they can help you when you need it."
"I can see your point, Dr Tracy, and I shall tell them, but can I tell them in my own time? I am not going to make an announcement. I shall just tell them as and when the occasion arises. Obviously I shall let them all know as soon as I can. Do I need to tell your sons as well? And I am not too sure when or how to tell Mr Tracy."
"Mr. Tracy is aware of your problem," Dianne said. "It was part of the information that Lady Penelope sent on. She wanted us to be fully briefed on the mechanic we were getting."
Kat smiled slightly. "Of course, you must be aware of my problem, and I promised myself that it wouldn't bother me again. I think I have been trying too hard, not wanting to miss any of my training, to the extent where I have overlooked my health problem. I know now that I have learnt my lesson. I hope that once my friends know, they will nag me to eat and remind me that I must carry my glucose tablets."
Dianne chuckled. "From what I've learned about this bunch, I'm sure they will. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
"There is one other thing I would like, a repeat prescription of my contraceptive pill. I have almost finished my last supply. It helps me to control my hormones each month. I used to have such pain."
Dianne scrolled down the pad in her hand. "Right. I see the prescription. I think I have it in stock." She glanced up at Kat. "I ordered more medications for those who are taking them as soon as I did the baseline physicals. Let me see..." She got up and went over to a cabinet that was locked with a thumbprint scanner. Putting her thumb up to it, the little machine scanned it and then a loud "snick" told those in the room that the cabinet was unlocked. Dianne rummaged around and finally pulled out a flat, foil-wrapped package. She compared the label on the package to the prescription on the pad, and then nodding, she handed it over to Kat.
"There you go."
Kat took the small package. "Thank you, Dr Tracy. I do feel happier now, knowing that there are things that I can do to help myself. And thank you for this new prescription."
"You're welcome, Kat. Come to me anytime you've got a medical question, or just need some advice."
"I will, and thanks once again." Kat left the office feeling secure that she wouldn't be going home, and that once her friends knew her problem, she would have a good backup from them.
Post by Tawnyangel22 and Tikatu on 11/06/2005
  
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