Today I went to see the nurse. She had look at my toe and decided that I have to go back on Friday so she can dress it again. No wonder the NHS costs so much to run. It’s a toe. It needs a plaster. It doesn’t need a whole appointment.
I hope that appointment runs better than it did today. I was there five minutes before my 8.45 appointment and had to wait until 9.10 to be seen. As far as I could tell the nurse had no patient in, she was just doing some admin. As a result, I ran late, was caught in traffic and ended up being late for work. It was only two minutes late, but I hate being late, full stop. I particularly hate being late because someone else has delayed me.
Wednesday should have been my day off but I agreed to go in because a number of things cropped up yesterday. It just goes to show that no good deed goes unpunished. You try to do a good thing and karma creeps up behind you with a sandbag.
We had an interesting conversation about health. I will paraphrase but give a general idea.
The nurse asked if I had thought of going onto statins then said:”Oh, you’re already on them.”
“Are you sure? Nobody has told me that I am.”
“You must be. Your cholesterol is only 3.7.”
In broad terms 3.7 is considered good, though it doesn’t do to get too smug about this stuff. After years in the poultry industry, and watching research and marketing collide, I know that cholesterol changes from good to bad on a regular basis.
“I don’t think I am.”
Clatter of keyboard
“Oh, you’re not, but you should think about taking them.”
“If my cholesterol is so low you think I’m already on them, why do I need to take them?”
“Er . . . well, your triglycerides are a little high and recent research shows that you’re more at risk of a stroke and heart attack.”
There is always some new research. I am actually at risk of a stroke and heart attack because I’m far too heavy and because I don’t exercise. I don’t need “recent research” to point that out.
Nor do I need more tablets. I currently take seven sorts of tablet. Two of them are to counter the effects of the other five. The last thing I need is more tablets.
This is probably a good place to leave it. I am going to give serious thought to lifestyle changes and new strategies for avoiding contact with this particular nurse.