Inara Serraonly_fellDecember 22 2009, 05:38:28 UTC
[Inara shows up to her appointment alone this time. She is shown to a waiting room where she settles into the chair with a book and waits. She's not in a particular hurry to see Dr. Chase, although it's nothing to do with him. It's more of a reflection of the dread she's feeling. She knew this day would come; even before her arrival in the city. Medication was always going to be a stop gap. Although she had hoped that somehow the City would make her disease null and void but she knew it was unrealistic to think so. Honestly, nausea isn't even the first sign of the cancer's return. She's been losing weight and battling with fatigue as well not to mention the bruising]
Inara SerraworksmartDecember 22 2009, 22:59:18 UTC
[The hospital's clinic is busy today, full of people getting their last minute prescription requests in and praying someone's come up with a cure for the common cold before Christmas. Patients sit with tissues and bags bursting with seasonal shopping, waiting to bore their doctor to tears with trivialities. At least that's how it feels for Chase by this point in the day. And now he's working through his lunch, although admittedly it's a time he scheduled himself and only because the case sounds interesting. Or, it sounds like House should find it interesting. What else is he going to get his boss for the holidays? If it can improve the quality of hers, too, so much the better.
A few minutes after the last patient evacuates exam room three, Chase pokes his own head out, looking around the mass waiting for medical attention.]
Inara SerraworksmartDecember 22 2009, 23:32:28 UTC
[He nods, stepping back to hold the door open for her.]
One of the pitfalls of the job, I'm always meeting people at a bad time. If you'd like to come on through? You can take a seat in the chair or on the bed, whichever's most comfortable.
Re: Inara Serraonly_fellDecember 22 2009, 23:41:35 UTC
[She murmurs a thank you as she steps through the door and chooses to sit in the chair. The bed feels more 'sick' to her and she tries to avoid things that make her feel sick. Yes it's denial but Inara does denial very, very well.]
I suppose it is. No one comes to see their doctor when they're healthy.
Inara SerraworksmartDecember 23 2009, 00:11:18 UTC
If they did, I wouldn't get paid.
[He closes the door behind her with a quiet click, aware that it's all just smalltalk. An attempt to make her feel just a little more at ease with the situation. He file is on his desk already, pulled out from the last appointment, though the medical history within is fragmented and thin. Still, he flicks through as he sits opposite her.]
Re: Inara Serraonly_fellDecember 23 2009, 00:28:10 UTC
[She appreciates the small talk none the less but it is time to get down to the brass tacks so to speak. She cross her legs at the ankle and folds her hands in her lap, back ramrod straight. It is on the tip of her tongue to dismiss the question and tell him she is fine. That's not why they're here.]
Tired. A little nauseous but I haven't eaten anything today. My appetite is...quite poor right now. I was told that would be normal given my disease.
Inara SerraworksmartDecember 23 2009, 00:41:46 UTC
It's normal given that you're nauseous, but not something I'd like to let get out of hand. All I'm going to do with you today is draw a little blood and book you in for some scans, hopefully find you a temporary way of coping with your surface symptoms. When I've got the results back we can talk about what you want in terms of continued care.
[Pulling a pen from the top pocket of his coat, he flips a new page on her chart.]
First, it would be helpful if I knew what you know about your illness.
Re: Inara Serraonly_fellDecember 23 2009, 01:39:51 UTC
Thank you. It would be nice to not be nauseous.
[It also makes her illness easier to hide from everyone else. Inara smoothed her hair away from her face then puts her hands back in her lap. Her fingers tap against her thigh softly. It's one of her few nervous tells. She clears her throat before she begins.]
In 2515, there's a proviral cure for cancer. It was an amazing discovery for medicine. I was diagnosed with a cancer similar to Leukemia shortly after the cure and I thought I was very lucky. They gave it to me and eight months later we find out that in rare cases the virus can mutate within the cancer cells to form a super cancer cell. Those cancer cells required a massive dose of chemotherapy. The injections I took every three months were meant to boost my healthy cells so that I would survive the mega-chemotherapy. I was twenty-two when I was diagnosed with it. I'm 24 now.
[She takes a deep breath before continuing]I had checkups every six months. The last time I was there, my healthy cells were making good progress. I
( ... )
Inara SerraworksmartDecember 23 2009, 02:00:33 UTC
[He's jotting as she speaks, shorthand interspersed with words like chronic and later lymphocytic? Rituxan. Thalidomide? Order CT, FISH. It makes sense to him, at least.
He looks up as she mentioned her age of diagnosis, nodding slightly when she says she'd been expecting therapy.]
Well your timing sucks, but I don't think what's been holding you together is unachievable, in some form. It sounds like you were on an advanced form of immunotherapy, which should be something we can replicate here. Do you find you catch infections easily? Bruise or bleed easily? Any symptoms other than the ones you've mentioned to me?
Re: Inara Serraonly_fellDecember 23 2009, 02:14:55 UTC
[As long as it makes sense to him, she's happy not understanding it]
That's better news than what I expected. I've been very careful about the infections and so far, I haven't caught any. As for the bruising easily, yes. Very easily. Any bump or brush against something. Even someone grabbing my arm. I woke up with a nosebleed the other day. It took me a half an hour to stop it.
Inara SerraworksmartDecember 23 2009, 02:24:48 UTC
Stay careful. You're going to be immunocompromised for a while-- You'll feel like you could catch a cold just from hearing someone sneeze, and any infection's going to make you sicker than it should.
[He sets pen and paper down, resting his elbows lightly on his knees.]
Would you be comfortable letting me examine you? I'd have to ask you to undress and change into a gown.
Re: Inara Serraonly_fellDecember 23 2009, 02:35:59 UTC
[She nods listening to him, making a point to continue to be vigilant about washing her hands, disinfecting everything and staying away from people she knows have colds. It's something she's been doing for a little while now, so she's accustomed to it.]
I'd be comfortable with it. I know it's necessary for you to give an accurate opinion. I did ask for it anyway.
Re: Inara Serraonly_fellDecember 23 2009, 02:51:54 UTC
It's not necessary. I'm perfectly comfortable.
[Or as comfortable as one can be in that situation. Inara slips behind the screen. It doesn't take long to remove her dress, hang it up and slide into the gown folded on the small table there. She emerges a few minutes later, barefoot, one hand held to her chest. There are bruises on her arms and one on her hip, another on her knee.]
Inara SerraworksmartDecember 23 2009, 03:31:06 UTC
[He waits with eyes carefully averted, finding a particularly interesting corner of ceiling and sticking with it. When she emerges the bruise on her arm is the first thing to note, though he barely spares it a glance.]
And the bed, please? I'll talk you through what I'm looking for, you can tell me if you find anything intrusive or uncomfortable.
Reply
A few minutes after the last patient evacuates exam room three, Chase pokes his own head out, looking around the mass waiting for medical attention.]
Ms Serra?
Reply
Dr. Chase. It's nice to see you. I wish it were in more pleasant circumstances.
Reply
One of the pitfalls of the job, I'm always meeting people at a bad time. If you'd like to come on through? You can take a seat in the chair or on the bed, whichever's most comfortable.
Reply
I suppose it is. No one comes to see their doctor when they're healthy.
Reply
[He closes the door behind her with a quiet click, aware that it's all just smalltalk. An attempt to make her feel just a little more at ease with the situation. He file is on his desk already, pulled out from the last appointment, though the medical history within is fragmented and thin. Still, he flicks through as he sits opposite her.]
How are you feeling today?
Reply
Tired. A little nauseous but I haven't eaten anything today. My appetite is...quite poor right now. I was told that would be normal given my disease.
Reply
[Pulling a pen from the top pocket of his coat, he flips a new page on her chart.]
First, it would be helpful if I knew what you know about your illness.
Reply
[It also makes her illness easier to hide from everyone else. Inara smoothed her hair away from her face then puts her hands back in her lap. Her fingers tap against her thigh softly. It's one of her few nervous tells. She clears her throat before she begins.]
In 2515, there's a proviral cure for cancer. It was an amazing discovery for medicine. I was diagnosed with a cancer similar to Leukemia shortly after the cure and I thought I was very lucky. They gave it to me and eight months later we
find out that in rare cases the virus can mutate within the cancer cells to form a super cancer cell. Those cancer cells required a massive dose of chemotherapy. The injections I took every three months were meant to boost my healthy cells so that I would survive the mega-chemotherapy. I was twenty-two when I was diagnosed with it. I'm 24 now.
[She takes a deep breath before continuing]I had checkups every six months. The last time I was there, my healthy cells were making good progress. I ( ... )
Reply
He looks up as she mentioned her age of diagnosis, nodding slightly when she says she'd been expecting therapy.]
Well your timing sucks, but I don't think what's been holding you together is unachievable, in some form. It sounds like you were on an advanced form of immunotherapy, which should be something we can replicate here. Do you find you catch infections easily? Bruise or bleed easily? Any symptoms other than the ones you've mentioned to me?
Reply
That's better news than what I expected. I've been very careful about the infections and so far, I haven't caught any. As for the bruising easily, yes. Very easily. Any bump or brush against something. Even someone grabbing my arm. I woke up with a nosebleed the other day. It took me a half an hour to stop it.
Reply
[He sets pen and paper down, resting his elbows lightly on his knees.]
Would you be comfortable letting me examine you? I'd have to ask you to undress and change into a gown.
Reply
I'd be comfortable with it. I know it's necessary for you to give an accurate opinion. I did ask for it anyway.
Reply
[Standing, he gestures to the screen in the corner.]
If you'd like to do that for me and lie back on the bed? I'll step out for five minutes. Would you like a nurse present?
Reply
[Or as comfortable as one can be in that situation. Inara slips behind the screen. It doesn't take long to remove her dress, hang it up and slide into the gown folded on the small table there. She emerges a few minutes later, barefoot, one hand held to her chest. There are bruises on her arms and one on her hip, another on her knee.]
Reply
And the bed, please? I'll talk you through what I'm looking for, you can tell me if you find anything intrusive or uncomfortable.
Reply
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