Let's Play Doctor

I saw a new doctor today. Well, the doctor wasn't new. Just new to me.

My doctors drop off my health plan like it's on fire (pardon that mixed metaphor). So I'm constantly having to find new ones, or just end up going to the doc-in-the box if I actually need something (like an appendectomy, for instance).

But today it was time for a physical, plus that little episode of my heart running amok a few weeks back had me mildly worried.

So here's what the doctor said, as she listened to my heart:

"You are so fit, it's taking too long for me to hear the next heartbeat!"

Here's the stats:

HR: 48 bmp (we'll assume that's elevated since I was at the doctor's office where you know, you get nervous!)

BP: 108/68 (ditto)

Height: still 5'9" (being nervous makes me stand up straight!)

Weight 162.8 (I have officially lost 2.2 pounds since starting tri training. In FEBRUARY. That's insane.)

Temp: 97.6 (At 11 a.m. So it's not like I just woke up or anything. This is why I am ALWAYS cold, work people!)

Do you notice a trend here??? Low BP, low heart rate, low body temp? Either I'm ridiculously fit (NOT) or I'm barely alive.

I do think I have some kind of depressed metabolism and that's my story about why it's hard for me to lose weight. (My thyroid's been tested to death, it's fine. Also fine is iron. My cholesterol results are coming, and they will also be fine.)

My doctor was unhappy with my heart rate being that low. "You need to do less cardio," she said, "and add weights," which I agree with (the weights part) but probably? won't do. I might add yoga or pilates if someone will please loan me an extra day each week.

She was not worried about my elevated heart episode. She said it would have to happen again before she'd do anything about it. She did do an EKG and I guess everything was normal. Let's hope it doesn't happen again this Sunday while I'm busy with this.

Sidebar/Rant:
Wouldn't it be great to see a doctor who spent time talking and getting to know you? I mean I've had more substantive conversations about my health at cocktail parties. (I got mad conversation skillz!) I guess I'm just a cockeyed dreamer.

I felt like a piece of meat. The examining room I was in was colorfully decorated with a bulletin board titled "Patient Information," papered with no less than six notices to patients about what this doctor's office would no longer do for them (no longer call in prescriptions to mail-order pharmacies, no longer give vaccines, don't even think about walking in here to see us, and if you get billed for blood work, don't call us, it's not our fault, and other rules I've forgotten. Real homey feel.) Here's what I'm no longer going to do: return.

So there you have it folks. Please weigh in with your diagnosis, if you have one. Not that I have any acute problems at the moment.

Well, except for, you know, the fact that I'm nuts.