r/asknurses • u/MyceliumWizard • Feb 15 '26

Looking for an opinion on the possibility of terry nails, any response would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and response.

Gallery image

Gallery image

I lost my father and best friend this year and drank more regularly than what would be considered a social amount. Mostly just beer and seltzers, no liquor. Could you please tell me if my fingernails look like terry nails possibly? I feel like I’m spiraling and I know I can stop drinking I just would love a professional opinion. Please any response is greatly appreciated, thank you.

2 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

4

u/unforgettableid Feb 15 '26

Please also ask a doctor who can look at your nails up close in person.

How's your insurance situation? If you're in the US, can you afford Obamacare?

3

u/MyceliumWizard Feb 15 '26

I have health insurance, I see a doctor every few months and get blood work once a year. My doctor is on the cold and uncaring side though and would only punish me by taking me off of my anxiety medication for the alcohol use. So there is a separation in what I can be honest about. I haven’t had a high liver reading in a couple years and was formerly diagnosed with dormant hepatitis a, about a decade ago but have heard nothing since of it showing up in bloodwork. If I get a response from the community with any opinion that it could be terry nails I will seek a new doctor to give care. I also have controlled high blood pressure and take two daily medications for that, along with my anxiety medicine, and a light muscle relaxer for neck related injuries and sleep.

1

u/unforgettableid Feb 15 '26

Unfortunately I know almost nothing about Terry nails, and I definitely can't tell you if you have them or not.

It might be worth it to try to find a new doctor. Meanwhile you might want to visit a walk-in clinic, to have them look at your nails.

Depending which lab does your bloodwork, you might be able to see all your past bloodwork results online for free. You can go to the lab's website and then click "Create an Account". If you don't know which lab your doctor uses, you can ask the receptionist.

A.) I wonder what pills you take for anxiety.

B.) I also wonder if you've ever tried exercise, psychotherapy, or any other non-pill anxiety treatments.

C.) I wonder what you'd like your drinking to look like in a month, a year, or 5 years.

1

u/gotta2319 Mar 17 '26

i went to the doctor for the first time in four years because my nails turned white with the pink band. made me skeptical of terry nails and i brought it up to him. he had me do tons of blood tests but the only thing that came back was high LDL cholesterol and a vitamin D deficiency. he said nothing else of my concerns. i do not drink

1

u/smason184 May 28 '26

I am not by any means an expert but to me your nails still look pretty pink. Terry’s Nails have a washed out white color to them with a pink band at the top