This and That and Talk - My Transplant

@hopeful33250 It's hard to say because with the old nail gone now and the new one already growing in it looks odd but not sure if that is from the treatment or just the way it would look regardless. Just above the new nail there is an irregular band of white, looks like a dead area, so maybe that's from the laser.
JK

@hopeful33250 @lcamino I am still a bit skeptical about all of this wondering if the drugs may have just weakened my toenails causing them to detach since another detached and the first podiatrist said that it definitely was not fungal. I didn't think to ask the second one. This one has now detached also. I never knew when it detached completely but it looked odd and sure enough I found the nail on my bedroom floor! I will continue with the treatment "just in case".
JK

@contentandwell I appreciate your update - we are all learning a lot about fungus from your posts. It sounds as if this doctor noticed something about the other foot as well. I realize that it will take several laser treatments, but I was just wondering if you could you notice any difference after the first treatment? Teresa

@lcamino Very well written! You provide a good perspective. Teresa

Honestly Lynn, @lcamino I really have to push myself. I enjoy the water class once I get there, there's a great group in there but it can be very difficult to push myself to go. If not for the great group of folks, mostly women, it would be more difficult to go.
I skipped today because I was going to a big outlet in the next town and knew I would be doing a lot of walking. I only hit about half of my daily goal on my fitness tracker but once in a while that's enough. I will go in the morning tomorrow. I try to get there at least five times a week because if I don't I make myself ride my recumbent bike and that is so boooooorrrrrrrring
JK

@lcamino Lynn, I understand, I never knew anything about how Medicare does a lot of stuff before being on it. I did know the basics because I was involved in writing computer systems for MEDEX, a supplementary program that BC-BS has or had and was part of a team writing a system for all of the Blue Cross plans in the country to use, but all of that was many, many years ago.

The Medicare site and the Mayo site both seem to advocate wellness visits. Medicare pays for those whereas they will not touch physical exams except for the first one when you initially get on Medicare.

My husband also had great insurance working for Raytheon. The Medicare supplemental is not great though. I keep trying to convince him to get a plan like mine but he thinks his is fine. Of course it's fine, he's never sick!
JK

@ contentandwell and @hopeful33250 - I completely agree with JK but I must add that sometimes even the best of doctors are going to struggle with issues. While I think there is a lot of benefit going to a teaching hospital, or hospital where the specialists will work together, sometimes things are just really difficult to determine. After my daughter died we were referred to a metabolic specialist and he said if he had seen our daughter in the ER he probably would have not put all the pieces together. I do not think he was just saying that to make us feel better. There were so many more common things to think were the problem that by the time he might have found the answer it would have been too late. The same thing happened when another family member was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis. The blood work was inconclusive so the most logical/common diagnosis was made and surgery was done to "fix" the hip pain and for awhile the pain was alleviated. When the problem reoccurred they realized their first diagnosis was incorrect but the second diagnosis was so much more rare that they did the most logical thing first. Sometimes doctors need to eliminate the most obvious solution when tests are not available or inconclusive. It is hard for us as patients, who want answers, to realize that being a doctor is as much an art as a science. I also find it eye opening when I learn that there is not a test for every diagnosis - there is so much doctors do not know. Having said that, you should never give up searching for answers, as JK put so well "You have to be your own best advocate."

@davebarnes, I hope that this week goes well for both of you. It is good that you have each other for strength and support. Rosemary

@contentandwell - Thanks for encouraging me to get back to exercising more regularly. I have been lax lately, only exercising once or twice a week. I need to make it more of a priority again so thanks for giving me reason to get back on track.

@davebarnes - I'm glad the chat is giving you some comfort. As much as I tell you to communicate with your wife I don't want to sound like I'm perfect. I had a recent ER visit for heart palpitations (all is well) and my husband was out of town running an important business meeting. I decided not to inform him of being in the ER until I had some answers and he was not thrilled when he looked for me on Find Friends app to learn that I was at the hospital. I think if I thought I had had a heart attack I would have informed him but I am aware that my health weighs heavily on his heart so I was trying not to unnecessarily stress him out. Your week at the Mayo Clinic should ensure that you are both fully aware of all aspects of your upcoming journey TOGETHER which it sounds like she is ready and willing to do with you. I'm so pleased to hear you will have the support you need and deserve at this time. Taking care of yourself, and keeping her in the loop, is probably the best thing you can do to let your wife know you love and appreciate her.