I noticed a discolored place on my toenail a few weeks ago.  I figured I must have bruised it somehow.  However, rather than getting better, the discoloration grew.  I kept it covered with nail polish for awhile - out of sight and out of mind. 

This morning I noticed that even nail polish could no longer hide it.  This was no bruise, and I knew of only one alternative.  The idea of fungus growing under my toenail sent shivers of disgust through me.  How gross!

So I called the doctor this afternoon on my way to a meeting.  She could fit me in if I drove there immediately.  I weighed my options:  attend a textbook adoption meeting or take care of my toe before it fell off.  I went to the doctor.  My principal will understand - I hope.

The doctor confirmed my diagnosis.  Yep, it was some kind of fungal infection - likely caused by getting pedicures, she said.   I love getting pedicures and having pretty toes.  So, yes, it figures it would be bad for me.  The place where I get my pedicures seems very careful to me - keeping everything sterilized and clean.  But what do I know?

The doctor prescribed Lamisil which I must take daily for three months.  She warned me that it was expensive, though, and that many insurance companies required that a culture be done to verify the need for it.  Their office couldn’t do the culture - I would have to go to a foot specialist if necessary.

I took the prescription and headed to the pharmacy to see if my insurance covered it.  I truly did not expect it to be covered.  I figured I’d have to make an appointment with a foot specialist, get a culture done (which sounds painful!) and then go through more red tape before finally getting the prescription.  By then my toenail would be much worse - it would probably spread to other toes - my whole foot would fall off. 

Amazingly enough, my insurance covered it - although my part was still over $60.  I asked the pharmacist how much the medicine would be if I didn’t have insurance, and I learned that 30 little Lamisil pills are OVER FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS!  Yes, you read that correctly. 

By the time I finish three months of this, I will have paid over $180, and that’s not counting what the doctor’s visit will cost.  Maybe I’ll do my own pedicures from now on.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 28th, 2006 at 9:25 pm and is filed under Life's Absurdities, That's My Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.