How do you hit a moving target?

I have to admit that today was one of those days I dread. You know that feeling you get when you know you have to go to a DOCTOR (dunt, dunt, duh!). We go along day-to-day thinking we're fine but when that doctor appointment comes along we leap to all of these random and irrational thoughts. What if I have cancer? What if I have MS? What if I'm dying of some rare and strange tropical rain forest fever? Silly, right? But if you're anything like me, we can't shut our brains off to the "bad" behavior of last week, last month... the last several years.

Silly, you just have high cholesterol, high blood pressure and now that the standard of what is "normal" keeps changing over time, you're diabetic, or pre-diabetic (the newest major illness in America). Yep. My doctor declares it's so, so therefore it is. I feel like I'm in some strange version of the "Ten Commandments" movie.. "So it is written, so it shall be done!" Really people, come on! It was a very long time ago after a near close call at age 26 (heart attack, but alas story for another blog) I learned that doctor's don't know everything and most times they know little more than nothing. We know our own bodies better than anyone and I have to have a doctor that believes that too.

I interviewed many doctor's when I moved to Texas before selecting my doctor. Call a doctors office sometime and tell them that you just want an appointment to talk to them before you actually have an exam (yeah, sure that'll work). I want to assure you that it is nearly an impossible feat, so I'll save you the time. Getting back to the subject. Yeah, the moving targets. Two years ago my doctor, not usually an alarmist, did blood work that gave the result of a test called HC1A. You might have thought I had cancer they called within hours with the results "you must come in right away!"

I spend another $25 copay to learn that this is now the test used to make the diagnosis of diabetes. Oh, which by the way, was only a 1/10 of a point above the normal range and not yet in the high range. This test "determines diabetes, no matter what your sugar level is and it can magically tell your food behavior over the past several months." What the heck is that? If I wanted something to look at my "food behavior" over the last several months all I have to do is look in the mirror or get on the scale.

That brings me back to the present. Today, yes, today. In discussion with my doctor about my "food behavior" over the last several months we once again discussed the dreaded HC1A test (dunt, dunt, duh!). She kindly informed me that they moved the target again. When I first started having these tests, which "magically" became so effective over the last several years (kind of like "magically" delicious frosted Lucky Charms, which is what got me here in the first place) the desired "normal" result was 5.5 - 6.5 and if you go over 7.0 you're "magically" diabetic. Today I was informed the new "normal" is up to 5.5. When I first learned about blood sugar a really long time ago 90 - 120 readings were "normal" and I was/am "normal" (ask a diabetic they'll tell you they'd kill for a reading in that range). The new "normal" is 70 - 100. What? Cholesterol, too. When I started this journey they wanted me under 225 so I got there. Then they wanted it under 200, so I got there. Now the "normal" is 175 or under. What? I talked about this with someone very close to me who stated it best, "to meet the criteria for the perceived normal you best be only barely breathing". I couldn't have said that better myself.

So here's where I am. I read a sign once in someone's office that read "Normal is a cycle on a washing machine." I 100% agree with that sentiment and apply it frequently in my day-to-day existence. You should too!

In answer to the question, how do you hit a moving target? The answer is ...you don't. I'm not saying you shouldn't try but you need not dread it or obsess about it. There's always that "magical" pill the medical community is more than willing to give you (and get their kickback) to help cure what ails you. Remember, it's about how YOU feel not how someone else convinces you to feel.

~D