Picking at fingernails.......help - Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Message Board

DrewsG · 10-20-2008, 09:15 AM

Good Morning Friends, Mom has been picking at her fingernails for the last 3 months. It wasn't this bad at first. Its now so bad they are bleeding. I mean there is almost no nail left. Its pass the quick. Down into the nail bed and into ther skin. Her fingers are so very sore. The Dr. has no idea how to stop this mindless picking. We always put acrylic nails on her and she loved them. But to be honest its just not sanitary now. She forgets to wash her hands after using the toilet and her nails were always gross. She has Chrohns disease and therefore always has diareah. Also grosses me out when its all over her hands and under those nails. Anyway we changed her anxiety meds but it hasn't helped. I tried to keep cotton gloves on her, forget it.
Anyone else have this problem? Any help would be appreciated.
Mom is on zyprexa and lexapro. If I increase those she is like a zombie. If I change meds its NEVER a good thing for Mom.
Thank you,
Chris

Martha H · 10-20-2008, 02:37 PM

Sorry this is happening to your Mom. How can she pick at them with no nails? If her nails are kept so short that she can't pick, would that help?

Or is she biting them?

I know you can buy something to put on nails when a kid is biting them . It tastes awful so they stop. But picking at them with their nails is another problem. I hope someone on this Board who has solved it will write.

love,

Martha

DrewsG · 10-20-2008, 10:20 PM

I don't know how she does this Martha. Its the most awful thing. Its hard to explain. She will pick at her finger nails until there is nothing left. She does this with her thumb nail..........or whats left of her thumb nail. Its just the most awful sight to see. I can't figure out what to do. I know its anxiety. I just don't know how to help her stop.
I guess no one has had this problem. Thank you for your concern.
Love Chris

Gabriel · 10-20-2008, 11:28 PM

I am not sure what to tell you Chris. My sister returned Dad's fingernail clippers and he clipped them to the point they were sore before I arrived but I just took away the nail clippers and he left them alone. You might want to check and be sure there are no nail clippers available. You can put "nuskin" on the raw areas to keep them from being so sore but that won't help much if she picks it off. You might also try lotion. Dad picks his skin and I have found that if we keep enough lotion on his favorite spots it makes them slick enough that he can't pick them. Perhaps giving her something to occupy her hands would be helpful as well.

I do hope you find a solution.....

Love, deb

DrewsG · 10-21-2008, 07:01 AM

Thanks deb, I've been thinking about this problem and I may have found the solution. Moms chrohns disease is an ongoing cronic condition. A few months back her Dr. started giving her a very small dose of steroid daily to combat the constant inflamation. I'm thinking that this may be causing the anxiety. We have had to increase the steroid because right now her condition is severe. But only for one week. On the other hand if I stop this med she will get worse and be completely unable to leave her apartment because of the swelling in her colon. She takes 16 pills a day for this one condition. She has COPD, CHF and a host of smaller problems.
I'll call the Dr. today and take her in. I think she may be dehydrated. Or starting down that path. I can't handle another hospital stay. Its pure hell when she is there.
Thank you and wish me luck,
Chris
deb, What is "nuskin"?