Hello everyone, here is another One Shot, this one from the story Roses in the Waves
This will be a bit about Ann's recovery with the early starvation and making her eat healthy again, as well as some issues with that
Hope you enjoy
Read and relax
Ann smiled at Thatch, the chef placing a plate of food in front of her. Today would be the first day she actually ate solid food, not the drink she had gotten. She had eaten a bit now and then, just bananas though, but Thatch believed it was time to try this. She was supposed to start in the morning, but things had come in the way and Luffy has been fidgety, so it wasn't until the evening they could do it, Thatch telling he didn't want her in any kind of stress. It wasn't anything big she got, just some bread without the crust, bland food, and a sugar kake piece if she wanted something sweet.
It all tasted really good, and she ate a bit now and then as she was feeding Luffy his evening meal, Ann managing to eat almost everything, just half the sugar kake left. It had Thatch happy, so Ann was sure she was doing fine. She had managed to get it all down in just 10 minutes.
She didn't stay out too long and headed to her room, placing Luffy down in his crib, Ann needing to rock him some to make him go to sleep. As Luffy was asleep, she stayed a bit up, having told she could help around with small things, and had been handed some paperwork, just easy things to look over to get a feeling on how things were on the boat. She was really enjoying it here and overjoyed she was allowed to stay, and she wanted to help around the best she could. It was a bit harder because of Luffy, be she was sure it would go fine.
But, after reading things over for about 5 minutes, Ann moved a hand to her stomach as it was starting to hurt. Just a dull pain, which she tried to ignore. It had been a while since her stomach hurt, and told herself it was normal, she had just eaten not long ago. It had been a bit more than she usually ate the last days. But, when the pain didn't subdue and only got worse, starting to really hurt, she moved to stand up, thinking of lying a bit down in bed, that had helped before. But, as soon as she stood up, the pain got more intense, Ann moving a hand to her mouth as she felt nauseous. That was something she hadn't before.
Before she could think of what to do, she felt her stomach churning and she ran outside, now thankful her door was almost next to the railing, moving her head over it as she threw up, hands clutching the railing. Oh how she hated throwing up. As it subdued quickly, she barely managed a breath before she felt her stomach churning again, pulsating and throbbing in pain even worse than before. When she felt bile starting to from and churn in her stomach as she was sure she would throw up again, she felt hands move to her head and moving her hair out of the way, holding it up as a hand started to stroke her back, trying to comfort her as she lost her stomach contents, the pain not letting up in her stomach and abdomen.
When she managed to breathe again, she used one hand to hold on the railing as the other went to her stomach, hoping the pain would go away. "Ann, are you okay?" Ann shook her head, looking at Haruta who had a worried look. "N-no. My stomach really hurts." Ann closed her eyes and felt a whimper leave her as her stomach felt like it was being ripped apart. She felt Haruta move to stand beside her with an arm around her. "Let's get you to Bay. This can't be good." Ann agreed, but still. "B-but Lu-" Ann cut off with a groan, feeling herself wanting to just curl together as her stomach throbbed. "Luffy, h-he's alone." She saw Haruta shaking her head. "No, let's get you to Bay first, I will tell a nurse to watch him." Okay, she could go with that.
Ann leaned on Haruta walked, sometimes stopping as her stomach just throbbed in pain. When they got to the infirmary, she could hear Haruta yelling something out, before helping her lie on a bed, Ann instantly laid down, hands on her stomach as she did her best to curl together, just hoping it would help, she just needed something to stop the pain. She could faintly hear Haruta and Bay talking, mostly hearing blood rushing in her ears and head. Her stomach hurt so bad. She opened her eyes, not sure when she closed them, when she felt someone holding on her shoulder, seeing Bay there. "Is it your stomach?" Ann just nodded, closing her eyes as her stomach throbbed, and she gave a whimper. It was only a few seconds later when she felt arms helping her sit the best she could up, seeing Bay in front of her, holding something. "This will be a bit uncomfortable, just bear with me. When I say swallow, you need to swallow." She didn't know why, but just wanted the pain away and nodded; she was sure Bay knew what she was doing.
She felt shocked when she felt a the doctor put something up her nose, before she felt something going down her throat as she coughed, before she heard Bay tell her to swallow, her doing it, and the coughing feeling disappeared. She was then let back down, curling together as she saw Bay using a few things with whatever was in her nose and down her throat. She did feel worried when Bay got a look of shock on her face, before she injected something into the thing in her nose, Ann just hoping it would help. "Just do your best to breathe, Portgas. I will give you something more soon, this first one just need to work." Ann just nodded, just hoping the pain would go away.
-x-
Thatch sat in the meeting room, enjoying a calm evening as he was due on the night shift in three hours, from midnight and out, and a few was up with him, which was a few from here and there, Pops, Marco, and Izou. It was nice, and he had the nightshift with Marco- the most boring one to have it with- but it was fine, Haruta was out too, although she was off at 3am. As he was about to maybe grab a small snack for them, the door burst open and Whiskey stood there, looking out of breath and Luffy in her arms. "Thatch, Bay wants you in the infirmary now." He was about to ask why, when the nurse motioned to the door. "Now! She said NOW!" That had him moving, understanding it was serious.
He did notice the nurse moving Luffy to be with Izou, before running with him. "Whatever Portgas ate, no matter how small, Bay needs to know what." He wanted to ask why, but decided to try and remember it as he would ask Bay. When they got to the infirmary, he noticed Haruta sitting on a bed that Ann laid in, looking to be in pain, curled together and groaning at times, as well as whimpering, really sounding to be in pain. What had happened? "Commander Thatch! Here now!" He walked over, seeing the doctor preparing different syringes, before she gave a serious look to him, handing a paper to him. "I just took this from her stomach." When he read what it said, he felt his insides go cold.
Her pH level was way off, way too high; her stomach was eating itself, her stomach lining was fading. He had thought the woman's stomach didn't suffer too much from not having food, but this was serious. "What did she eat?" Thatch used a second, just shocked. "Light bread with butter, no crust, bland food, and a bit of sugar kake. Nothing big or tough." This was the worst thing that could have happened. He heard Bay give a swear. "I hope it's only acute, not chronic. This was her first time with actual solid food?" Thatch nodded, helping the woman prepare neutralizing fluids, the doctor preparing intravenous fluids, to help make the pain go away.
He moved first with the neutralizing fluids, him knowing how to deal with that. The Iv stuff Bay needed to do. He could see Haruta trying to comfort the woman, who was writhing in pain, curled together and eyes shut close. He was glad to see the woman had the nasogastric tube still in place, making so he could just inject the content directly into her stomach, hoping it would work fast. "What's wrong with Ann?" Thatch shook his head. "Her stomach is damaged from early and drown out starvation. It can't handle the food she got." He saw Haruta moving a hand comfortingly on Ann's back who whimpered. "Was that why she threw up too?" Thatch blinked at the female commander. "She threw up?" Haruta nodded. "Yeah, twice. That was how I noticed. She looked just sick, but when she threw up the second time, it looked like she was in pain."
That had him give a breath. "Yeah, that's why, and that's good, that she threw up. Had she not, the acid in her stomach would have been even worse." It was a good sign, her stomach tried to defend itself. When Bay was next to him and dealing with the Iv things, he was glad to have somewhat good news. "She threw up, twice, before the pain." That had the doctor give a breath too. "Then it's thankfully just acute." It was, which was great. "But," Started Haruta, "Isn't acute usually bad?" As Bay went to do some things, the chef gave a smile to the twelth commander. "Usually. Acute just mean it happened fast and will pass fast. This would either be acute or chronic, which would have meant she would be like this for a long time." That had Haruta smile. "Oh, that sounds good. That she will be fine."
It was good and Ann would be fine. The young mother just needed help for a week or so to make her stomach slowly correct itself and getting used to process solid food. He would be sure to watch the woman the next days, just to make completely sure she was fine. For tonight, she would be here to settle her stomach and make sure this didn't make any injuries. It could have made ulcers, but he hoped not. He hoped her stomach lining was just inflamed from suddenly being overwhelmed.
The chef moved a hand to Ann's arm, giving a comforting look. "Feeling better, Ann?" The woman was still curled together, but her face looked calmer. Ann nodded, opening her eyes and looking at him with somewhat bloodshot eyes. "Yeah. Thank you. It's still hurts, but not as bad." That had him smile. "That's good. Did the pain come suddenly?" Ann nodded, her body relaxing more. "Yeah. It was just a dull one, then it felt like it was just churning and feeling like my entire stomach rolled around. I barely managed to get to the railing before I threw up. Then the pain really started and I threw up again." That fit with this being an acute incident. Thatch stroked the woman's arm, smiling at her. "Then you will be just fine, I promise. Just, less solid food for a few days, back on the drink, and a couple tablets before eating. I also want you to stay in the galley for an hour after eating, to just make sure you're fine."
The woman gave a smile, giving out a breath. "That's good. I was worried. Is Luffy fine?" Thatch gave a chuckle, glad to see the woman feeling better. "I can imagine you were. And he is fine, he's with Izou. Now, Bay want you here for the night. Just in case. Izou and I will make sure Luffy is fine and we'll come tomorrow as soon as Luffy wakes, I promise." Ann gave a nod. "Okay, that's fine. As long as Luffy is safe." The chef smiled, clapping the woman on her arm. "He is. And you just relax, okay? Haruta can stay a bit if you'd like." The woman smiled. "I would like that. But… isn't she on watch?" Thatch nodded. "She is. But, I can start mine earlier. You shouldn't be all alone, and she can make sure you're fine as Bay can't be at your bedside all night." Ann gave a smile, clearly wanting that. "Of course I'll stay," Said Haruta, moving her hand on Ann's back. "I had planned to either way. You shouldn't be here alone." Ann gave a thankful look to the female commander, staying half curled together. She felt better obviously, but the pain would last some hours.
Thatch gave a pat to Haruta's shoulder as he left, glad the commander would stay. As he moved away from the bed, the two females starting a chat up, he went over to Bay, telling what Ann had said, making the doctor glad this wasn't chronic, before she gave a stern look to him. "I have told you to always check the pH! This is why! The damage sometimes won't show before they get solid food!" Thatch nodded, holding his hands up. "I know. I just thought since she reacted well to the nurturing drink, although she needed to take that slow since her stomach ached when she ate- or drank- a lot." Bay sighed. "I understand. I would have thought she was fine myself, but this is why you should always check before you turn to solid food. Just in case." Thatch nodding, agreeing completely with the doctor. This was on him, he should have checked and also notified the doctor before she let the woman start on solid food.
He then headed out, going to the meeting room and hoping the ones there hadn't moved in worry and asked around. It had probably looked serious when the nurse had yelled for him to just go. And this was serious, the doctor didn't know what she had ate, and that was crucial to know to neutralise the acid in her stomach, making sure it wouldn't make any permanent damage. When he got to the meeting room, he was glad to see everyone there still, Luffy sleeping in Izou's arms. As he opened the door, all eyes fell on him. "Thatch, what happened? Is Ann fine?" Started Izou, looking concerned, as everyone did. The chef nodded, moving to sit down next to his boyfriend. "She is now. I thought her stomach wasn't damaged from her being malnourished and starved. But it was, so her stomach started to eat itself, which is extremely painful. But, thankfully, no matter how bad it sounds, it was just acute, and Ann will be fine. It could have been chronic and lasted for forever."
That had Marco and Pops nod, them knowing about Ann having been at an early stage in starvation, but the rest looked shocked. "What?!" Started Izou, quickly quieting a bit down as she didn't want to wake Luffy. "She has been starved?!" The chef nodded. "It happen often with mothers who have just enough food for their child, and they feed them, and not herself. I just thought it had been more extreme the last weeks, but it have just been drawn out for months, making this happen. But, she thankfully ran outside to puke over the railing, alerting Haruta that took her to Bay, and everything is now fine. Haruta is staying with Ann in the infirmary though, as Bay wants Ann overnight, just in case."
All of the occupants nodded, Izou giving a breath. "I want to be told these things. If anyone has been starved or anything. So we can help keep an eye out. But, will we have Luffy?" Thatch nodded. "We will have Luffy. I promised Ann we would go to her the moment he woke tomorrow. And you know we can't disclose information like that. It's private." Izou knew and sighed as she nodded. Marco then spoke up, keeping his usual bored look. "I will have someone step in for your night watch, Thatch. Stay with Izou and just be available in case you're needed in the infirmary again, yoi." The first commander then looked at the others that wasn't a commander, asking for a minute of privacy, looking at him when they were out. "Will Ann really be completely fine, yoi?" Thatch nodded. "She will. She will go back to her drink for a few days, and we need to do the transition to solid food slower, as well as she needs to take a few tablets before eating for about two weeks. She will make a full recovery and be even better than she was." He sighed. "I should have checked though, if her stomach was really ready for solid food, but thought it would since she didn't have issues with the drink anymore. But, that wasn't the case."
Izou frowned. "What do you mean? Have she had any trouble with the drink?" Thatch really needed to shut his mouth at times, he couldn't back out now. "She did. The first glass she had two weeks ago, the medium one. One full glass like that was too much for her; her stomach ached. So, I started with less and she reacted really well, the reason I thought it would go just fine. Bay has already lectured me. She has told that I always should check." That had the others nod, Pops looking at him. "Is there anything we could keep an eye out to know if she's not ready?" Thatch sighed. "Not really, not by just looking at her. To know if her stomach can handle it, we need to test her stomach acidity. If one has been starved, the acid will slowly make the stomach more fragile as the lining is damaged over time. And when she then eats solid food that needs to be broken down by acid, much more and denser than what it has been in long, the strain makes it worse, and the acid is slowly eating away her actual stomach." He then sighed. "But, she will stay extra long after eating, just so we can be sure it is fine. Her stomach will cramp, churn, and just be painful if it can't handle it, as well as she will throw up, her body trying desperately to save itself. Any signs of it going bad will be visible within an hour, usually after half an hour."
That had them nod, Thatch glad they would help keep an eye out. Izou then stood up. "We should probably put Luffy in his bed; he's tired." Thatch nodded, and a last look at Marco had him leave, sure he could and that things will be fine.
When morning came, they went to the infirmary with the baby when the clock was just past 7, Ann still asleep with Haruta in the bed too. Neither him or Izou had the heart to wake them, so they just stayed a bit away until they woke, which wasn't long. Ann looked much better and was fine, also glad Luffy was fine. Bay did one last check on the woman before she let Ann out, them heading to breakfast. Thatch told the woman that for today, she would not eat anything solid. They would slowly start tomorrow, and he would give her a couple pills before she ate, which helped the acid to be kinder on her stomach lining. And, that if she had any pain, no matter how weak, in her stomach, that she needed to tell. The woman agreed and they slowly started to introduce solid food back to her.
After 4 days, after she had had dinner, which consisted of some solid food, she had suddenly gotten an unsure look on her face, making those at her table react, Izou being the closest and asking if she was fine. Ann had shook her head a bit, before slowly answering with a hand on her stomach. "I don't know. I feel nauseous." It had him move to check on the woman, seeing Izou getting his attention as his boyfriend moved closer to the woman, Marco and Pops also looking worried. As he was just a few feet away, on his way to ask if the woman was fine, when she gagged as she turned away from the table, Izou quickly moving Ann's hair away as she vomited, making everyone on the tabe much more worried. As she had retched, she coughed a bit and Marco clapped her on her back, just telling things were fine, keeping their calm and not panicking.
When the woman calmed down, getting her breath back, Thatch made a motion so a couple on duty started to instantly clean the puke up, before the smell got too bad or it made any marks on the floor, him moving a hand to Ann's shoulder, Izou just keeping his hands in her hair in case, stroking it a bit. "How do you feel, Ann?" He asked with a comforting look, Ann giving a nod as she drank some juice to get the taste away. "I feel fine. I was just nauseous. I feel fine now." He clapped her on her shoulder. "That's good. It can be a side effect from the pills; they can make your body be on alert and just panic and overreact. If you feel no pain you're most likely fine." That had the woman take a breath, moving her hand through her hair. "That sounds good. I feel no pain, and I'm not nauseous anymore."
That was good and it had him look at the others on table the table. "She's fine. Just a side effect. No pain means her stomach just overreacted." They all nodded and looked revlied, but Pops still asked the woman to see Bay, just in case, and not taking no for an answer. She went and Bay said the same. Ann was fine, her stomach overreacted. It was good to be sure, and calm everyone. Pops was glad she was fine and told the woman he just needed to be sure she was fine. They didn't want any more incidents like the one earlier and have her stomach almost damage itself badly. Ann understood it and just waved it off, glad to be sure herself.
They didn't have issues after that, and after 2 weeks, Ann could eat solid food as an entire meal. Thatch did say that if she would eat heavy things, meaning rich in protein or any citrus rich food, to take a couple tablets in case, at least the first months. Ann had nodded and said she would, also mentioning she was sure they all would help her, which they would.
Things had gone fine, thankfully, and things seemed fine now. He would still keep an eye out, as well as all of them in case the woman's stomach reacted again, which could happen. But, for now, Ann was fine and Thatch would make sure to always test and keep Bay updated when dealing with anyone that had been in a situation they were starved, all of the other commanders and Pops' agreeing too and would help keep an eye out. Things were going fine for them and their new addition to their family. Still a lot to work on, the woman had such big burdens, but they were doing their best and she was settling perfect with Luffy.
He was sure everything would be fine.
And that's the one shot, hope you enjoyed
This was just an update on how starvation, even if a mild but drawn out one, on how it could have a serious effect. Many people with anorexia unfortunately damages their stomach completely and they do small steps to get used to solid food, but some never able to eat protein rich things, just able to eat mild and bland food
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