I’m honestly not sweating the fact that the little i3 laptop is a bit modest 😁. Like I mentioned before, a small portable machine doesn't need to be some high-octane powerhouse; the person using it has mostly been getting by on a Samsung Galaxy Note 🙂 . So, looking at your suggestion for a compact laptop, you're pointing me toward that Lenovo. (From what I can tell, it isn't a 2-in-1 and doesn't have a touchscreen. That's a bummer, but I think I can live without those features) . Do you happen to have any recommendations for something even smaller, maybe around 11.6''? Does anyone in the US even carry those these days? 😁
Moving on to the larger options—is the Dell Latitude actually the best bang for my buck if the price is right?
The runner-up would be the Dell 5559 (though I'm struggling to see any real difference between this one and this one from the link)? I have to admit, that one is currently my top pick 🙂 . After that, there's the Dell 5558 (I don't really get the distinction between this one and this one other than the color; this third option seems cheaper just because of the lower resolution, I assume) . I'm still mulling over the Yoga, too. It’s such a shame they don't offer it in a smaller size at a price point that actually makes sense 😁 . Right now, I'm just waiting to hear back from a few different vendors. Once I have some actual numbers sitting on my desk, I'll reach out again 🙂. Thank you so much for all your help and for helping me narrow down this list of possibilities .
darkowl72, first off, thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly!
Regarding the size of the laptops, we weren't really looking at the price tag first; we were focusing on what the actual users need. We have one person who’ll be using their machine for programming, so they’re looking for a standard-sized laptop. Then there's someone else who’ll be bouncing between meetings handling administration, and she really wants something more portable and compact—especially since she's used to huge smartphones, moving to a smaller device will feel like a massive leap forward 😁.
An SSD is definitely a "nice to have," but like you mentioned, we can always upgrade that later. As for the resolution, I think I'll just follow your recommendation. We aren't exactly picky about visual clarity.
Here are my thoughts on the laptops you suggested.
Out of the list you provided, the first one (Dell) seems solid to me. My only gripe is that it doesn't come with Windows, but I can easily pick up a license separately. The second one (Lenovo) feels like overkill for us. Since it's a larger laptop, I don't really see the point in paying extra for a touchscreen or a 2-in-1 hinge; those features are really only necessary for the smaller, more mobile units. The third one (Dell) looks wonderful. Honestly, I don't know enough about the technical specs to spot any potential flaws, but at first glance, it seems like an excellent choice. The fourth one (the small Dell) is great, but it's simply out of my budget. To be realistic, this specific machine might actually be more power than we need—we don't necessarily require that much RAM or an i7 processor. The fifth one (the small Dell) has a more reasonable price, but it's still pushing beyond what I want to spend.
I have to admit, this one is absolutely gorgeous for a small laptop, but I haven't seen anything priced this competitively here in the States before 😁. Beyond that, it's important to me that the smaller laptop stays under $1400 so I can write it off as an expense for this fiscal year.
The Acer is a good option, but it's pretty important to me that the larger workstation is either a Dell or a Lenovo. The smaller one could definitely be an Acer.
Speaking of the smaller laptop, what's your take on these: - Toshiba - Acer
I’m looking to pick up two laptops for our office before the end of the year. Following some initial research, I’ve put together a list of what we’re looking for:
0. We’ll be buying these in Washington, D.C., and we really prefer an option where we can actually get hands-on with the machines before pulling the trigger. We will need a formal business invoice for tax purposes.
1. Size - Laptop 1: 15.6'', Laptop 2: somewhere between 11.6'' and 13.3''.
2. Resolution - To be honest, I'm not tech-savvy enough to know exactly what specs we need here.
3. Both laptops must have anti-glare screens.
4. What will they be used for? Laptop 1: Programming (not web design or graphics), heavy VPN usage, and multitasking—we always have several apps running at once. Speed is our top priority. We need at least 4GB of RAM, though more would be much better. An i3 processor or higher. Laptop 2: Standard office tasks and everyday work.
We don't play any games.
5. Both laptops need Windows. We are open to buying the software separately if that makes more sense; it doesn't necessarily have to be pre-installed.
6. Brands Laptop 1: We lean towards Lenovo or Dell. Laptop 2: No specific preference, but we do prefer well-known, reliable brands.
7. Budget: Laptop 1: Up to $2500, but less is obviously fine. Laptop 2: Around $1000.
Naturally, we want to get the best possible quality for the money.
8. Warranty coverage is very important to us.
9. Other details: Laptop 1 would be happy to have a DVD drive. It should also have an SSD, or at least a very fast HDD. An HDMI port is a must. Laptop 2 is less demanding. It wouldn't mind a 2-in-1 foldable keyboard or even a touchscreen (kind of like this one).
I'm looking for recommendations for a solid private neurologist in Chicago. Here’s the situation: about three years ago, there was a stroke, and now we're dealing with what turns out to be herniated discs in the cervical spine. These discs are causing these absolutely unbearable bouts of pain all down the left side of the body. For the longest time, we mistakenly assumed this pain was just a lingering aftereffect of the stroke, but we recently discovered they are actually two completely separate issues.
We really need someone who can help us map out a plan for next steps and also perform a follow-up evaluation regarding the stroke.
Thanks to both of you. The doctor mentioned they’ll want frequent check-ups for now, and if things take a turn for the worse, we'll pick a treatment plan that fits the situation. Right now, it's not that she definitely needs chemo, but it's not exactly a "clear" case either—it's sitting in this gray area. That puts the weight on us to help decide, because there are no guarantees regardless of which path we take.
She made a miraculous recovery from the surgery and the physical decline that happened right before it (honestly, none of us realized those were tumor symptoms at the time; we just chalked it up to her existing health issues), which makes the decision about chemo feel even heavier for all of us. Of course, the final call is hers. She’s incredibly sharp and responsible, so she’ll make a thoughtful choice, but we’re doing our best to feed her as much solid information as possible to help her through it.
Could you go into more detail on that? How exactly do they manage the side effects? So far, all I've heard about is hair loss (which isn't our main concern), mouth sores, fatigue, weakness, vomiting, digestive issues...
The blood work looks fantastic. Even more importantly, the CT scan came back totally clear—the surgeons did an absolutely stellar job and managed to get everything out (it was a colon tumor, Dukes B stage).
Now, our oncologist has laid out two paths for us: we can go ahead with chemotherapy (Xeloda), or we can opt for a "watchful waiting" approach where she just goes in for checkups every three months without any active treatment. Since her results are so incredibly positive, the doctor actually questioned whether chemo would even provide much benefit, weighing that against the potential side effects. It’s ultimately our call to make.
To be honest, I’m feeling pretty torn. On one hand, chemotherapy feels like the "safe bet"—but then again, it’s going to take a massive toll on her body, and right now, she’s feeling wonderful. On the other hand, if we skip the chemo, she’ll have the chance to fully recover her strength and boost her immune system, which might be enough to keep the cancer from ever coming back.
I'm definitely not looking for anyone to make this decision for us; I’m just really curious to hear how others here have navigated similar situations or what your thought processes were.
Angela Wright said:...look, you really have to sit down with yourself and have an honest conversation with your own conscience first. The truth is, this isn't happening to you; this is happening to your dad. You don't have the right to act in a way that makes it seem like you're suffering more than he is. He’s the one going through the worst of it, and honestly, the reason he’s fixated on certain diagnoses is likely because he's terrified of how you're going to handle all of this. There are no shortcuts here, and there's no way to fast-track this process. It has its own timeline, and you just have to navigate the situation as it unfolds. Whatever you do, don't turn this into a drama—not for him and not for yourself—otherwise, everything is just going to spiral out of control. I know exactly what kind of movie you're starring in because I've directed that same genre myself, believe me. But trust me, this experience will change you in ways you won't believe by the end. So, you take it one day at a time and deal with things as they come. Don't try to plan too far ahead or obsess over the future beyond tomorrow! That is your golden rule, and you should hold onto it as tightly as the Holy Bible. That's the only way to stay sane and move forward healthily.
I second this completely. When our family went through our crisis (a perforated colon, a life-saving emergency, the sudden realization that a tumor had been there...), I was hit with pure panic. Eventually, I took a deep breath, pushed my own fears to the back burner, and focused entirely on caring for my patient. I didn't hide information from her; I shared everything with her (only verified facts, mind you, not wild speculation), but I made sure to read up on everything possible beforehand so I could present the facts calmly. What I noticed was that she mirrored my energy perfectly. If someone spoke to her with panic, she would panic right along with them. But when I delivered news in a calm, steady manner, she would settle down and try to stay optimistic. It reminded me so much of a child who falls down: they look at their mom first, and based on the expression on her face, they decide whether they're going to burst into tears or just laugh it off.
George Sullivan31 said:Dear all, I’m reaching out because I really need some guidance. A close friend of mine, who is about 60 years old, has been feeling incredibly weak lately. About ten days ago, we were just grabbing coffee when he mentioned he wasn't feeling quite right. Since then, things have taken a turn for the worse—today, he can barely even get out of bed and is struggling with this overwhelming sense of exhaustion. If anyone has any advice or could suggest a specific specialist we should see, I would be so grateful. We are currently in Rijeka, but we aren't opposed to making the trip over to Washington, D.C. if that's what it takes.
Sincerely,
If he doesn't have an official diagnosis yet, you really need to get him to his primary care physician immediately to get the ball rolling on some diagnostic tests. It could be anything, honestly, but you don't want to take chances.
On a side note, we actually have ourselves scheduled for blood work at Mercy Hospital soon. If anyone else here has dealt with similar issues, please let us know. 🙂
Well, here I am again! 🙂 Does anyone happen to know where in Washington, D.C. I can get full blood panels and tumor markers done using a specialist referral? We tried going to Mercy Hospital, but they turned us away. They said we could get the specific markers tested there, but for the standard blood work, we’d have to go back to our primary care clinic. For some very specific reasons, getting this done at our local clinic just isn't an option right now, so I'm trying to figure out which hospital would actually accept a specialist referral for everything at once. I already checked with the facility over at Šalat, but they don't even perform routine blood work there unless it's for highly specialized conditions.
Worst-case scenario, I'll just pay out of pocket and do it privately. But since we already had to pay for the CT scan ourselves (honestly, the wait times they were offering were absolutely ridiculous given the diagnosis), I’d really love to avoid throwing more money down the drain if I don't have to.
Angela Wright said:Sorry, I'm on my phone right now, so it’s a bit hard to follow everything 🙂
Avastin or Erbitux (assuming the KRAS test shows it will work on the wild type cells) is really the go-to therapy when dealing with metastatic colorectal cancer. But since everything was removed and there aren't any metastases, there’s just no clinical reason to use those two drugs. Xeloda is actually a solid medication that helps slow down the growth of malignant cells. So, if you ask me, he's basically keeping things under control while waiting to see what the exact situation is. The big thing you need to decide is where the actual treatment will happen. Oncology isn't something you can play "two sides" with—you really need a consistent plan. Personally, I would probably start with Medicare, but I would absolutely double-check the prescribed therapy with Smith first. It’s a good move that Smith started him on Xeloda; it keeps things from getting messy while you're stuck in this waiting game for more tests and specialist opinions.
I see. So, because there are no metastases, Avastin and Erbitux aren't necessary? We actually went to see Smith specifically to get a second opinion. Our plan is to stick with Medicare for the treatment, unless we decide that the quality of care there is significantly lower than what Smith offers. He explained everything so clearly and gave us such helpful recommendations, so at least now we have a reliable baseline to work from. Thank you so much 🙂
Angela Wright said:A PET-CT is basically a compact machine that combines two scans—PET and CT—just like I mentioned earlier. To be honest, looking at those high markers and that suspicious spot on the liver along with that questionable lymph node, if it were my call, I’d push for the PET-CT. I don't really get why anyone would settle for just a standard CT; it's much harder for that alone to catch anything new... but hey, I'm not a doctor, so 🤷 Ask the doctor about the PET-CT and specifically why it isn't an option right now given the uncertainty. It sucks because you can't just jump straight to a PET-CT immediately after a CT if the first one doesn't show anything concrete, mostly because of the radiation dose you've already taken. Ask them point-blank if the issue is cost; if it is, see if you can look into paying for it privately yourselves.
I think you might have mixed me up with someone else from a previous thread. 🙂 We actually just need to get our marker levels checked; the tumor was completely removed, and the initial results aren't showing any metastases in the surrounding tissue. Thank God for that. I haven't been pushing for a PET-CT because Smith told me it wouldn't make much sense to do one until a year after the surgery. Our social oncologist doesn't want to start any treatment until he has fresh results, so right now we're just stuck in this loop of trying to schedule all these scans and getting everything else lined up.
I have one more question. I noticed everyone here keeps recommending Avastin and Erbitux, but Smith recommended Xeloda for us. What exactly is the difference?
Angela Wright said:It’s actually the exact same thing (MSCT or just CT), but the full technical name is Multi-Slice Computed Tomography. PET-CT is basically a machine that combines two technologies: PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and CT. While the PET scan tracks metabolic activity within the tissue, combining them gives doctors a much more complete and detailed picture of what's happening inside the body.
In my view, a PET-CT is definitely a more precise diagnostic tool than a standalone CT scan. That said, it really all comes down to what specifically needs to be looked at and why the scan is being ordered in the first place; sometimes a standard CT provides plenty of information to monitor or diagnose a condition. Your doctor is the best person to suggest which specific path is right for you.
Thanks for explaining. It makes much more sense now. We were given a referral for a CT, and honestly, I’m feeling pretty lost in all of this—which isn't like me at all, so it feels even more overwhelming. 🙂 I’ve been reading that there’s a big difference in quality between different machines, and that it’s vital to get the scan done on a high-end model. This might sound like a silly question, but is a CT scan performed on the same machine used for a PET-CT? I read that the Mayo Clinic recently got a new PET-CT scanner, but I’m not sure if that matters to me if their standard CT machine is still an old one from ten years ago (maybe with fewer slices or something like that).
I’m assuming you all probably know this already, but I’m going to ask anyway (even if I end up looking a bit silly). What is the actual difference between an MSCT and a PET-CT? I’ve been staring at my referral, Googling things, and trying to figure out where to schedule the appointment, but I’m just getting totally confused because some places list MSCT, some just say CT, and others specify PET-CT. Thanks!
Does anyone know where I can get an MSCT scan for my thorax, abdomen, and pelvis done the fastest in the Washington, D.C. area? Is there a list of facilities that have the equipment and take Medicare so I can start calling around to check their availability? This is a mandatory prerequisite before we can actually kick off the oncology treatment, so getting this finished as soon as possible is incredibly important to us. Thanks! 🙂
Does anyone know where I can get the fastest appointment for a CT scan of my chest, abdomen, and pelvis in the greater metropolitan area? Is there a specific list of hospitals or imaging centers that have the equipment ready and take major insurance so I can start calling around for an opening?
Angela Wright said:Are you thinking about private clinics or a major hospital system? And what exactly is the diagnosis we're looking at?
Well, honestly, I’m looking at both because I really want to hear different perspectives. They’ve already removed a colon tumor, specifically Dukes B. The recovery from the surgery itself is going pretty smoothly, but we don't want to be in a position where we feel like we missed a step and end up regretting it down the road. That’s why I’m being so selective—I want to ensure the patient's ongoing oncological care is handled by a truly top-tier oncologist.