Tyson Garfield, DO

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Denver, CO
Tyson Garfield, DO

Helping adults 30+ build a longer, healthier, wealthier life. Geriatric physician • Financial educator • Healthy aging blogger at TheMedicineCheck.com.

Simple routines. Evidence-based habits. A better future for your health span and wealth span.

04/26/2026

New reel! Haven’t done any before, please forgive the amateurism.

Lauren’s experience with an ovarian tumor was quite the “usual” story. Vague symptoms including abdominal distention, pelvic pressure, and urinary changes.

If you start to have any of these symptoms, please ask your doctor about the next steps! (Usually an ultrasound)

***y

04/20/2026

This is a picture of a lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. This was one of the last hikes Lauren and I went on together before we knew about her ovarian tumor diagnosis (the photo is from January 1st, and her diagnosis was the 2nd). I see it and think of the bliss that I had and the hard things to come.

It's important for me to share because I think to the future. Often. "Pay yourself first" is a way of life for me. Save consistently. Invest for the future. We've done that. And we still do.

But Lauren's diagnosis and surgery forced me to rethink. After her diagnosis, my instinct was to do as I have always done:
Rebuild. Replenish. Optimize.

Instead, we made a different decision. We’re still paying ourselves first. But we’re also making intentional space to live now. For us, that means planning a return trip to the Alps, a place deeply meaningful to her, and finally building a covered patio at home where she can enjoy everyday life in Denver.

Before, these were “someday” goals. Now, they don’t feel like things to delay.

That experience reminded me of something I talk about often with patients: what matters most. It applies just as much to our finances as it does to our health.

Life doesn’t always wait. Financial planning isn’t just about building wealth for the future. It’s about aligning your resources with what matters, both now and later.

We still save. We still invest. But we’re also more intentional about living the life we’re building along the way. If this is something you’ve been thinking about, I’d encourage you to reflect on your own balance.

Are you only planning for someday—or are you also living today?

—

👉 Read the full post here: https://www.themedicinecheck.com/latest/pay-yourself-first-but-dont-forget-to-live

04/12/2026

Illness doesn’t just affect your health—it changes how you think about money.

When my partner was diagnosed earlier this year, we quickly moved from “having insurance” to actually using it. Within weeks, we met our out-of-pocket maximum on a high-deductible health plan.

We were fortunate. We had an emergency fund. We had savings in an HSA. Financially, we were prepared in ways we hadn’t fully appreciated before.

But even then, the experience changed how we think about insurance.

Most people don’t fully understand terms like:

Deductible
Out-of-pocket maximum
Coinsurance

…until they’re in a situation where it matters.

One thing that stood out was timing. This all started on January 2nd, which meant once we met our out-of-pocket maximum, the rest of the year’s care was covered. Had this happened in November or December, the financial impact could have been very different.

Health events don’t follow financial calendars—but our systems are built around them.

This experience reinforced something I’ve come to believe strongly:

Preparation doesn’t eliminate stress—but it reduces friction.

➡️ Get the details at themedicinecheck.com/latest

The path to health and wealth isn’t complicated — but it is hard.

04/08/2026

The time between diagnosis and surgery can feel like a blur.

Appointments. Decisions. Waiting.

For us, the three weeks between discovering an ovarian mass and getting a final diagnosis felt much longer than that. Much, much longer.

This “in-between” period is something we don’t talk about enough. It’s filled with uncertainty, and it’s often one of the hardest parts of the experience. Anxiety, difficulty focusing, disrupted routines. That’s all normal, but it was hard to accept.

Surgery brings answers, but recovery brings its own challenges. Healing isn’t just physical. It’s learning how to navigate a body that feels different, managing setbacks, and adjusting expectations along the way.

One of the biggest lessons we learned is how much small, practical supports matter:

A cozy blanket for the hospital
A walker for early mobility
A bed rail to help get in and out of bed
A shower chair to conserve energy and improve safety

These simple tools made recovery more manageable and allowed energy to go toward healing instead of basic tasks.

If you or someone you love is preparing for surgery, don’t just prepare for the procedure—prepare for recovery.

➡️ Read more at themedicinecheck.com/latest

The path to health and wealth isn’t complicated — but it is hard.

03/30/2026

Over the past couple of months, I have been quiet.

The reason is personal. Earlier this year, my partner was diagnosed with an ovarian tumor after experiencing symptoms that initially seemed minor—pelvic fullness and increased urinary frequency. What began as a routine ultrasound on January 2nd quickly became something much more serious when an ovarian mass was discovered.

Fortunately, the final diagnosis was a Stage 1A borderline mucinous tumor, which carries a very favorable prognosis. We are incredibly grateful for that outcome and for the physicians and care teams who helped guide us through the process.

But the experience reminded me how quickly health concerns can reshape everyday life. As physicians we often see illness from the clinical side of the exam table. Experiencing it as a partner brought a very different perspective—one that highlighted the uncertainty, waiting, and disruption that patients and families navigate.

Over the next several weeks, I’ll be sharing reflections on what this experience taught me about the intersection of health, uncertainty, and financial resilience.

Thank you for your patience while the blog was quiet.

You can read the full story here:
themedicinecheck.com/latest

The path to health and wealth isn’t complicated—but it is hard.

01/02/2026

Financial wellness doesn’t start with budgeting apps or cutting expenses.
It starts with clarity.

Most financial stress comes from uncertainty—not from the numbers themselves. When we avoid looking closely at our finances, stress stays elevated and decisions become reactive instead of intentional.

That’s why one of the most important wealthspan habits is completing an annual net worth statement. It gives you a clear snapshot of where you are today, helps you track progress over time, and creates the foundation for aligning money with what matters most to you.

Just like with health, awareness comes before change.

➡️ Read more at themedicinecheck.com/latest

The path to health and wealth isn’t complicated—but it is hard.

12/28/2025

January often comes with pressure to start over.

But healthspan doesn’t reset on January 1. It’s built by returning to simple, supportive routines—without urgency or guilt.

Extreme changes and all-or-nothing thinking increase stress and burnout. Consistency over time is what protects long-term health, function, and resilience.

👉 Read more at themedicinecheck.com/latest

The path to health and wealth isn’t complicated — but it is hard.

12/26/2025

The days after the holidays often come with financial fatigue.

Extra spending.
Disrupted routines.
That urge to “fix everything” all at once.

But wealthspan isn’t built through guilt or overcorrection. It’s built through recovery, reflection, and small, intentional resets. December doesn’t define your financial future—it gives you information.

A calm reset now can reduce stress and make next year easier to sustain.

Read more here: https://www.themedicinecheck.com/latest

The path to health and wealth isn’t complicated — but it is hard.
Recovery makes it possible to keep going.

12/21/2025

The holidays disrupt routines—and that’s normal.

Late nights, travel, shared meals, and busy schedules can make it feel like you’re “off track.” But healthspan isn’t built on perfection. It’s built on flexibility, recovery, and returning to supportive habits without guilt.

Protecting sleep, gentle movement, and consistency during busy seasons helps preserve long-term health and resilience.

👉 Read more at themedicinecheck.com/latest

12/19/2025

We often talk about budgeting, investing, and saving more—but rarely about financial recovery.

Financial stress behaves a lot like chronic physical stress. When money decisions feel constant and urgent, our brains shift into short-term thinking. This leads to decision fatigue, impulse spending, or avoidance—none of which support long-term wealth.

It’s not surprising. The average American with credit card debt now carries thousands of dollars at high interest rates, creating ongoing mental and emotional strain.

Wealthspan isn’t built by constantly tweaking or reacting. It’s built through simple systems, fewer decisions, and intentional pauses—especially at year’s end.

December isn’t about judgment. It’s a chance to step back, take stock, and reset with clarity.

The path to health and wealth isn’t complicated — but it is hard.
Sustainable systems make it easier to stay the course.

12/14/2025

We often think healthy aging means pushing harder—more exercise, more productivity, more effort.

But the science tells a different story.

Your body doesn’t get stronger during stress. It gets stronger during recovery.

Quality sleep, adequate rest between workouts, and proper nutrition are not signs of weakness—they’re the foundation of healthspan. Without them, stress accumulates and aging accelerates.

If you’re feeling constantly tired, sore, or stuck despite “doing everything right,” the missing piece may not be effort—but recovery.

The path to health and wealth isn’t complicated — but it is hard.
Sometimes the hardest part is knowing when to rest.

12/12/2025

As we approach the end of the year, this is the perfect moment to pause and look honestly at your financial picture — starting with your annual net worth statement.

This simple check-in isn’t about judgment. It’s about awareness.
Your net worth shows whether your money moved in the direction of your values, or whether it’s time to adjust course in the year ahead.

In this week’s Wealthspan post, I cover:

• Why an annual net worth snapshot is a critical part of financial wellbeing
• How it helps reveal your financial habits — the helpful and the harmful
• The updated 2026 retirement and HSA contribution limits
• And why catch-up contributions for high earners must now be Roth-only

If you want more clarity, more intention, and more alignment between your financial decisions and the life you want to live:

➡️ Subscribe at TheMedicineCheck.com to read the full post

Because the path to health and wealth isn’t complicated — but it is intentional.

Address

1580 N Logan Street, Suite 660 #686785
Denver, CO
80203

Website

http://themedicinecheck.com/

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