‘Are you sleeping?’ Dr Stratton continues, keeping her focus on the patient.
She shakes her head.
‘Is that a no, Lauren?’ Dr Stratton’s tone is kind but firm.
Lauren mumbles ‘no’.
‘I can see this is difficult for you, Lauren, but I’m here to help. Are you struggling to get to sleep or are you waking up and finding it difficult to get back to sleep?’
‘Both,’ Lauren replies.
‘Are you worrying at night?’
‘Yep.’
‘Is anyone at home with you?’
‘Fourteen men and me.’
The doctor looks thrown. ‘Goodness.’
‘It’s a homeless shelter,’ Lauren explains.
‘Right. I imagine that’s a stressful place to live.’
‘It’s all right, but I don’t like being around men.’ She turns to Angus. ‘He’s not bad.’
Angus and I can’t help but smile. Dr Stratton’s expression softens too. ‘Looks like you have two good friends, Lauren.’
She shrugs as if we’ll do. ‘I keep my door locked at night.’
‘Your home life doesn’t sound easy,’ Dr Stratton says with concern.
Angus leans forward in his chair. ‘It’s easier than maybe…’ He turns to Lauren, as if realising it’s not his story to tell. ‘Do you want to—’
‘Being homeless was fine,’ she insists. ‘Well, it’s not fine, but… having a bed, that’s what’s weird. I can’t lie down too long, hurts my back. I can’t turn over or lie on my side ’cos it’s painful.’
‘Where is this pain?’
Lauren stands up. ‘Here,’ she jabs her back and hips, ‘it aches all the time.’
‘How long have you had this pain for?’
‘A few years. It was better when I lived on the streets.’
Dr Stratton doesn’t bat an eyelid at Lauren’s past. I imagine she’s seen and heard it all before. Unlike me. I hadn’t considered how strange it must be for Lauren to be homeless and then suddenly have four walls around her and a bed. While it seems much safer, and you’d think more comfortable, I can imagine a mattress feels alien. ‘Is the back pain worse lying down?’ Dr Stratton asks.
‘Yep.’
‘How many hours sleep do you think you’re getting?’ the doctor asks.
‘Two or three, four is good,’ Lauren replies, seemingly warming to the attention.
‘And what about your mood? If you’re tired all the time, Lauren, how does that affect you?’
Lauren looks unsure.
‘Have you ever struggled with your mood in the past? Is it something you’ve seen a doctor about before?’
