Swimming Leads to Sickness

Writers: Ames, AL
Date Posted: 20th March 2011

Characters: Vandor, C'jex
Description: C'jex awakens feeling ill and gets treated by Vandor
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 12 of Turn 5
Notes: Note: Follows 'Transport Duty'

Vandor

C'jex awoke with a start and a groan. He'd felt a bit off after the flight
back /between/ to the Weyr, but _nothing_ like how he felt now. If it hadn't
been for those rock hunters, he wouldn't even _be_ in this predicament.

He sat up and wished he hadn't. His head ached something terrible and it
felt like someone had stuffed something in his head, making him groggy and
almost disoriented.

}:You are not well, mine. You should see the healers.:{ Ohoneth spoke to his
rider, which almost felt like a hammer in head. He knew Ohoneth was right.
Dragging himself out of bed and pulling on his pants, which _now_ were quite
dry, C'jex stumbled his way to the infirmary. It seemed rather quiet at this
early hour. He looked around for someone who could help him.

"Well hello there." C'jex didn't have to wait long. Vandor stepped into
the area that was reserved for those who were waiting. Some were waiting to
be seen. Others were waiting for others who were being seen. Vandor arched
his eyebrows upward. The fellow who had come in didn't look good - it was
obvious he was a patient. "I'm Vandor, journeyman healer. And you, my
friend, don't look like you feel well." He motioned with a finger for the
dragonrider to follow him and headed toward the back area, rooms curtained
off allowing for a semblance of privacy.

"Vandor. Yes. I've seen you around, but you haven't treated me before,"
C'jex let out a breath as his forehead seemed to tighten at the same time.
"Mind if I sit down?" He asked, taking one of the cots before the healer had
even replied. "You are correct. I am not feeling too good at the moment."

"Indeed." Vandor had planned on going to a room further back, but if the
man felt that bad, no need to make him walk. "Can you tell me _how_ you are
feeling bad? Nausea? Pain?"

"My head feels as though something is stuck inside making it hard to think,
and if I didn't know better I'd think someone was pounding at the very stone
next to me. It has made me feel a bit dizzy," just then C'jex also sneezed,
the held his head in his hands for a moment to stop the pounding and the
dizziness that accompanied it.

"How long has this been going on?" Vandor turned and picked up a glow that
was settled in the corner, covered. "is this a recent event or has this
occurred before?"

"Just a day or so." C'jex actually looked a bit sheepish as he said the
next, "Might have something to with a little swim in the lake and then a
ride /between/ shortly after that."

"Ah, yes, that would have something to do with it." Vandor nodded and came
around to lift his hands to the man's through, just beneath his jaw,
palpatating gently. "Any other symptoms? Coughing? Sneezing? Aches in
places other than your head?"

"A little achy, yes," C'jex replied. "It just feels as though someone
stuffed
something into my head, and even though I feel exhausted, I cannot seem to
sleep well. Just then, C'jex had to look away as he was hit with a bout of
coughing. "I guess some coughs, too," he managed in a hoarse voice after
he'd finished.

"Lymph nods are swollen." Vandor commented, though the words were more to
himself than to the man who was his patient. He held up a finger, then
turned to bring a contraption out of a large drawer. A bell shaped end
tapered into a long too. The fluted part was pressed gently against C'jex's
chest and the other against Vandor's ear. "Just breathe normally." The man
listened a moment, then instructed. "Breathe in deeply. Then out. Again."
More listening. A moment later, it was put away. "Sounds like there's a
bit of congestion developing. "I would say you probably shocked your body
with that trip which made it susceptible to catching something. Which it
has. A moment, please." Again Vandor turned, this time to take a parchment
and a quill and began writing.

C'jex did as he was instructed. When the small contraption touched his body
he felt a little jolt as the cold of the instrument on first contact was a
bit shocking. He frowned as he listened to the healer, hoping whatever it
was that was bothering him was not going to keep him out of commission for
long. He turned his head and coughed a bit while Vandor was busy writing.
The coughing only seemed to make his headache worse. "Please tell me it's
something that will go away after a good night's sleep." C'jex could hope,
couldn't he?

"That depends on how serious it is. I have a feeling, though, you'll need
to take a couple of days to rest." Vandor finished the note, but did not
pass it over to the rider. "If you'll excuse me a moment, I'll be right
back. I'm going to mix up something for you to take that will help." Then
slipped out of the room. It did not take him long, the healer returned with
a small packet and held it out for C'jex to take. Boil water and steep a
spoonful of these for a quarter hour, then drink. Do this three times a
day. It should help relieve some of your symptoms and help your body fight
off the infection. You may begin to run a fever. This is not necessarily a
bad thing, the fever means your body is fighting, so let it be. I want you
off drills for three days. No flying, no going /between/. Feel free to
bathe but do so in warm water and stay out of the lake or the sea. I would
suggest you refrain from getting too close to anyone else as well.
Understand?" Once the packet was taken, Vandor took the piece of parchment
and passed it over. "This should be given to your Wingleader."

C'jex listened closely, trying to recall to memory everything Vandor told
him. "Okay, wait, let me make sure I got this straight. For three days I'm
supposed to put this stuff," he held up the packet, "into water and drink
it. I think I got the rest of it. At least I hope so." His head hurt so he
really wasn't sure if he'd heard everything correctly. "How do I know when I
can get back to work?"

"Three times a day, steep for fifteen minutes before drinking. And it will
last you about a sevenday. Finish the entire thing, don't stop even if you
feel better." Vandor warns with a quirk of his eyebrow. "Come see me in
three days and I'll re-examine you and give you an answer then."

"Thank you Vandor. I think I'm going to go back to bed now." C'jex said as
he slid off the medical bed ready to follow the healer's instructions.

Last updated on the January 28th 2012

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Swimming Leads to Sickness