Well I just got back from the docs and have to go back again later in the day for more tests. What a pain. Basically my BP was 140/90 which is what it has been ever since I graduated college despite any BP drug the doc puts me on. So I have to go back this afternoon for an ECG. I feel just fine though. Matter of fact I feel better than I have in a long time. So even if my high blood pressure isn't fixed I am not worried. I seem to remember 140/90 was "borderline" from those walmart blood pressure thingys. I told the doc that but he said,"maybe 20 years ago now 115/75 is ideal and every 10 points off of that is a double the previous chance of having a heart attack. So since 140-115 = 25 and 90 - 75 = 15 which equals out 60 points divided by 10 means I have a 6 times greater risk of having a heart attack. Like if I had a 1% chance before I now have a 6% percent change because of the BP. Anyway, whatever the doc thinks is best. I would question his motives, but since I have a 10$ copay I guess it is no skin off my back. I often wonder what one should do before tests. I am thinking the optimum is to do whatever is normal. I've thought, what about getting a massage before going to the docs? Would that skew the tests. Or what about exercising before the ECG - would that make it appear better than it actually is. Should one start a diet and exercise plan right before getting checked? I usually drink a "No Fear" around the time of the ECG to wake me up, should I do that or would that show the doc my heart beating too fast? What about wearing relaxing clothing like sweats or something, would that skew his results? Then again I guess if you always wear sweats the test would be indicative of your lifestyle. Although none of it probably matters. I could be naked and my blood pressure would be the same (don't try this at home, well, try it at home, just not in public ;-) Anyway as I look at my past medical history I can see that most of my ailments have not had any doctor cure, but time. I am still feeling those medical bills from way back in April from that procedure where I paid $3,000 and the doctor told me I was fat. I remember that facial pain I had for 6 months. I went through all those facial x-rays and was told I had some kind of neuralgia and was given a weird drug. It turned out I had a botched root canal and the pain eventually went away when all the nerves died and I got another tooth pulled. Or when my stomach muscles were strained from lifting music equipment and the doc thought I had a hernia so I had to go in for more tests. Or when I had a "panic attack" and was given xanex only to find out years later that it was GERD. I guess though in the end the credo of all doctors everywhere seems to be "Better safe than sorry" Which is a good thing. Ooops forgot something funny. I was driving to work today and a big guy was in a car with a personalized license plate that said ,"AUTHOR". I thought about rolling down my window and asking for an autograph...

Thought of the Day
"Do I need a shot?"
"Not shot. Dog bite. Woof woof, not bang bang."
- Elaine and a doctor, in "The Glasses"