Biometric Screening 2-13-08

The nurse practicioner said, "Were you fasting?" and I thought, "Yeah, and there's a peanut butter sandwich in my car just waiting for this to end." It was about 9 in the morning, and the work health clinic had this free biometric screening. I thought I'd, to quote an old Kenny Rogers song, "see what condition my condition is in." It didn't sound promising. Heck, it was just a pin prick of blood. I mean, how bad could that have been? "We're going to do a fasting blood pull and send it off for some more tests, and then we'll set you up for a full physical."

That started this odyssey. Yuck.

Height: 5' 9 1/2
Weight: 264
Total Cholesterol: 166
LDL ("bad") 102
HDL ("g00d") 31
Total/HDL Ratio 5.4
Triglycerides: 166
Glucose: 107
body Mass Index: 38.5
Body Fat % 35.8
Waist Circumference: 50 3/4
Blood Presure: 134/81

As she discussed the items, she spoke pretty plainly. Such as the LDL isn't real high, but it's a bit higher, and coupled with high blood pressure. The high blood pressure isn't high, but there's also high glucose. The high glucose isn't real high, but it was sort of like hitting the trifecta. I had all of them.

When she got down down to Body mass Index, Body Fat, she just pointed to the word "obese" and said, "I'm not going to say that word." I smiled and said, "That word sounds so ugly." she said, "Yes, it does sound ugly. It is, however, the medical term." So we left the word unspoken, but it hung there just the same.

I didn't really change my ways yet. I figured if a full physical was coming, why not just ride out the next two weeks.

P.S. Yes, I ate the peanut butter and jelly sandwich as soon as I got in my car.