Tuesday, 7pm
"Sam, you okay?" Tom asked softly as he rubbed her arms gently. They were both cuddling each other on the sofa in front of the TV after a long shift at the ED.
"Fine." She mumbled.
"You just seem a bit quiet."
"I'm just tired, I'm going to bed." Sam said sleepily as she slipped out of Tom's arms and into her bedroom.
Tom was sure that something was off with her but he thought it was best to leave it for now as she seemed so tired. He turned the tv off and followed Sam into the bedroom. She silently got changed into her pyjamas, went to the bathroom and slipped under the covers. Tom got changed and slipped into bed next to her.
Wednesday, 6:30am
Sam's alarm went off and she slowly whacked the button to turn it off. Sam rolled over onto her side, facing away from Tom and laid still for a while. Sam's alarm as usual had woken Tom up. Normally, as soon as the alarm went off, Sam would jump up and go for a run. So Tom rolled over to face Sam's back.
"Do you want me to make you some breakfast?" Tom asked as he wrapped his arm around Sam's stomach.
"No thanks." Sam mumbled. She pulled out of Tom's grip and slipped into the bathroom.
When she came out, Tom was there waiting for her. "Let me see your nails." Tom whispered. Sam was confused but she raised her hands which Tom took into hers. He nodded his head and asked, "Have you been feeling run down?" Sam nodded.
"I think I just need to ease on the running a bit." She lied as she walked past Tom and picked out her clothes for the day.
"Are your periods heavy?" Tom asked quietly.
"Why?"
"Are they?"
"Why?" Sam repeated defensively.
"I think you're anaemic."
"No I'm not." Sam replied angrily.
"How do you know your not? Your tired, irritable-"
"Tom, just leave it please." Sam pleaded. Her voice sounded pathetic so Tom left it.
8am
Tom and Sam arrived at work in his car. Silently, they walked into work, got changed and set off for the day. Secretly, Tom snuck off towards the nurses station and logged on to the computer. He brought up the patient files database and typed in 'Samantha Nicholls'
He scrolled through her file until he reached an file that was logged 2 months ago and awarded important.
"Miss Nicholls was diagnosed 3 months ago with iron deficiency anaemia caused by heavy menstrual bleeding. She was prescribed iron supplements three times a day however against my recommendation, Miss Nicholls has stopped taking them due to severe side effects which includes nausea, vomiting and severe abdominal pain which could not be managed with pain relief. However, Miss Nicholls did not try all possibilities to relieve the symptoms. Currently, Miss Nicholls is still iron deficient and anaemic and is refusing treatment."
Tom took a deep breath. He quickly closed Sam's file, opened up the internet browser and began researching about treatment for Sam's condition.
1am
"Zoe, can I have a quick word in your office please?" Tom said as he and Zoe walked away from a patient.
"Tom where have you been all day? I've been trying to page you for a paeds case but you haven't been here at all." Zoe stated.
"Um, I was in cubicles with Ash." Tom lied. "How about that word?"
"Sure."
Once they were both in the office, Tom stood and leant forward on Zoe's desk.
"What's up?" Zoe asked cautiously.
"Can Sam and I have the next two days off? We've both got plenty of holiday left so it shouldn't be a problem yeah?"
"Er Tom, it's too short notice to have two doctors off just so you two can have a long weekend!" Zoe exclaimed,
"Please Zoe." Tom pleaded.
"Is there something wrong with Sam?"
"What makes you ask that?"
"She just looks run down and she hasn't been focusing properly." Zoe admitted.
"She's just... Oh look I'm sorry but if I tell you she'd probably kill me! She's just ill and she needs some rest to get better."
"Tom, if she needs rest then why do you need two days off?"
"Zoe please!" Tom pleased.
"No Tom. I can't give you both two days off if I don't know why." Zoe lied. Noseyness was getting the better of her. Tom was hesitant to tell Zoe and he paused for a few minutes before he explained.
"She's got iron deficiency anaemia. She's had it several times in the last few years and she gets really bad side effects of being on iron supplements so she stops taking them and never fully recovers from it. I just need a few days to get her into a routine and to help her relief her side effects so that I can get her better. I've rung haematology and I've got all the information I need to help her. Please Zoe." Tom explained.
"Right um... I'll sort out cover for the next two days. Do you know the cause of it?"
"Yes why?"
"Because if you don't sort out the cause, it'll just come back again."
"Right. Thanks Zoe." Tom said as he began to think about how he could help the cause of Sam's anaemia.
Thanks for reading, this was just an idea I had. please review if you want me to carry on :)
