Meeting the RN

I had a meeting with an ER nurse named Rich.  He was very nice.  We had an hour for our meeting, and he had all the lab results,  and had read through the my 100 question questionnaire!  Well, I was prepared!! I had my paperwork, my blood work results and an index card with my questions for him.  I was on the mission to find out about my C Reactive Protein and the inflammation going on in my body.  I was armed with the tests you thought I might consider and my friend Leigh had suggestions too.

I launched into my questions.  Rich was thoughtful but found a way to get me centered and not so overly focused on my lab results.  He also spent time talking to me about the additional blood tests I thought could help me in my quest for a lower CRP.  In short, Rich was concerned that the tests I thought could help, would be non-specific tests and that if I did have them I still might not find out why my CRP is 9.5.  Of course he also mentioned that I should talk to my doctor, but what he was trying to do was shift my laser focus on these tests.  He mentioned that lab values change all the time, that laboratories can show different results.  And what if I did take a test and a new health concern was uncovered, I might be chasing a rabbit into a hole.

What I really discovered when I think about the hour visit, is how I am not a relaxed sort.  I could hear myself babbling and racing ahead with questions, and statements and what I've been reading, and what I've been discussing.  It all really started to seem obsessive and anxious and not at all calm.  Probably everyone in the study has the same mental state.  I mentioned about the food, food, and more food,  what I think is really out of whack is my mental state.

In the tire metaphor for this program, the tires needing the most inflating this week and maybe forever is the MIND and FEELING.

I want this program to go faster, "just cut to the chase" kind of deal.  I have a lot of thoughts on a whole lot of healing...and I'm using my good buddies like you to supplement my rapid improvement.  I'm heading to be a poster child for wellness, I'm on the fast track.  But.....I'm not calm, not peaceful, and my behavior shows my possible attention deficit disorder.  (I'm diagnosing myself here).  My mind scrambles, flitting from one new source on wellness to another.  I scared myself by watching a  Dr. Oz youtube video of his health show focusing on the CRP and how I was heading for a coronary heart attack.  I then looked at a site about knowing the symptoms of having a heart attack.  ownahealthyheart.com   oh good God!  Well, I didn't get a good night's sleep that night.

Rich did his best and was very, very good and bringing me back to the integrative approach.  Setting small goals was better than just saying "I want to lose weight",  that's too vague.  It might be an ultimate goal but setting mini-goals will help make the ultimate possible.  We came up with strategies and and a longer time frame with which to reach goals.  He was glad L and I are working on the exercise portion by walking nearly every day. He suggested that I meet with the nutritionist next. So that meeting will be set up soon.

I think if the MIND and FEELING tires can get some inflating, the BODY tire will come along maybe easier, and the SENSE OF PURPOSE tire will have room to inflate.  It sounds corny but I think this is a program that came into my life at the right time.