Martin: The Man Who Felt Too Good to Be Sick
A 48-year-old professional whose annual physical revealed a problem he couldn't feel
Martin had always been the picture of productivity. He worked long hours, traveled frequently for business, and prided himself on never missing a day of work due to illness.
His annual physical was a formality—something his wife insisted on and his insurance incentivized. He expected the usual lecture about losing ten pounds and maybe cutting back on coffee.
When his doctor called three days after the blood draw, Martin assumed it was a clerical follow-up. He was at his desk, halfway through a conference call, when he saw the voicemail notification.
The message was brief but unsettling: 'Your liver enzymes are elevated. We need to discuss next steps. Please call to schedule a follow-up.'
I hung up the phone thinking there must be a mistake. I felt completely normal—better than normal, actually.
