Good but bad, Wrong direction

Yesterday I had my physical, a bi-annual requirement for our insurance plan. Like anything medical I was not looking forward to it, especially while I was carrying my blood test results which were ok except for a pretty significant increase in my LDL and total cholesterol numbers which I can only attribute to stepping off my pescatarian diet in 2024. I was prepared to be strapped up to an EKG and potentially get “the finger” which has happened at all of my physicals since I was 40, except my last one two years ago. None of it happened.

Instead my physical was very casual. There were a lot of Q&A about different aspects of my health but the actual exam was very minor. I removed my shirt but only to allow the LPN to listen to my lungs and heart. She recommended I do a follow up cardiac screening since my last one was roughly 5 years ago. The cholesterol she said I can address via my diet, which I already have started on since I got the bad numbers in June. Other than that it was wham, bam, thank you ma’am.

On the surface I was happy that the physical was “easy” and non-invasive. However there was also part of me that felt like at my age a more thorough exam would probably be a good idea. Regardless I was out of there in 15 minutes. I do plan to follow up on the advice to get another cardiac screening. With my mom dying of a heart attack at 67 and my younger brother already having had a mild heart attack recently I would be ignorant to not take precautions.

So I started feeling something in my throat Sunday evening. I have felt somewhat sick all week but my voice sounded worse than I felt overall. Well that changed overnight. I woke up this morning feeling worse with a clogged head, coughing and feeling warm. I was anticipating waking up today feeling better. I felt bad enough that I called off work. Not only because I felt like shit but I did not want to get others at the office sick. There are already a number of people at work that are sick. Maybe that is how I got it in the first place.

Regardless I am hoping for a rebound in 24 hours that allows me to go to work tomorrow. I hate wasting PTO hours on anything but vacation.