Shakira
01-28-2008, 07:30 PM
I sent a toe nail clipping off for a possible fungal infection about 10 weeks ago. I phoned the doctors a week ago to see if the results had come back. They have and they couldn't give me the results on the phone, but they said if there was anything wrong, they would have let me know. So I'm presuming I don't have a fungal infection, as I haven't heard anything. I've made an appointment for next week, as I want to see if there is anything they can do and I want to send a clipping from my toe on the other foot, as that is turning yellow at the end.
But if I don't have fungal infection, what could it be? It looks like one - my toe is swelled below my nail, above my joint and I keep growing a new nail, which turns yellow soon after it grows and I've got about 3 nails at a time, growing over one another. The doctor says they usually drop off before you grow another, but not me, lol!
Every so often, my toe swells up even more, gets painful, then oozes pus, then the new nail turns yellow. Then after a couple of weeks, the swelling goes down, but not totally. What be wrong?
If it's not fungal, I'm glad I don't have to take Lamisil, but I don't really want to live with a nail like that. If I have it removed, I think it would still swell up and turn yellow, but I don't know whether I should have it removed for good, with the root.
But if I don't have fungal infection, what could it be? It looks like one - my toe is swelled below my nail, above my joint and I keep growing a new nail, which turns yellow soon after it grows and I've got about 3 nails at a time, growing over one another. The doctor says they usually drop off before you grow another, but not me, lol!
Every so often, my toe swells up even more, gets painful, then oozes pus, then the new nail turns yellow. Then after a couple of weeks, the swelling goes down, but not totally. What be wrong?
If it's not fungal, I'm glad I don't have to take Lamisil, but I don't really want to live with a nail like that. If I have it removed, I think it would still swell up and turn yellow, but I don't know whether I should have it removed for good, with the root.
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Marti
01-29-2008, 09:42 PM
It sounds more like a Paronychia infection of the nail folds. Fungal infections do not ooze pus. Paronychia is a fungal infection of the skin surrounding the nail unit and is treated with a prescription ointment/cream.
Shakira
01-30-2008, 08:35 AM
Before I sent the clipping away, another doctor said it was probably a Paronychia and he said the only thing I could do was take Lamisil, as the cream couldn't get in the nail fold around my nail. I wouldn't why my doctor hasn't been in touch? If it was a Paronychia, she still would have been. I'm going on Monday, anyway.
Marti
01-30-2008, 09:01 AM
The reason? Most doctors do not know much about nail infections. You might want to cancel that appointment and make one with your dermatologist.
Shakira
01-30-2008, 12:38 PM
We can't do that in the UK. I would probably have to pay to see a dermotoligist. That's if my dotor would even refer me to one. I could suggest trying a cream before Lamisil.
Marti
01-31-2008, 09:04 AM
Do a web search for treatment of paronychia. Print it out and take it with you to your doctor. From what I found, oral antibiotics and warm water soaks with antibacterial soap work best.
Shakira
01-31-2008, 12:10 PM
Thanks. I used to get antibiotics when it got infected, but the doctor didn't give me any last time I went with it like that. It just stopped oozing on it's own. But even if I do take antibiotics everytime that happens, it doesn't solve the problem of my multiple nails and swollen toe. She said my nail will probably always be deformed. Maybe I should have it removed so t doesn't grow back?
Marti
01-31-2008, 09:22 PM
There is always a reason why it gets infected. Do you have you rhands in water a lot? Do you work in a bar or tavern? Do you use strong solvents where you work? Anything you do that irritates the cuticles can allow the bacteria to get into the folds and turn into a full blown infection.
Shakira
02-01-2008, 10:01 AM
My hands? It's my toe nail. No to all of those questions.
Marti
02-01-2008, 07:20 PM
There is still a reason why the infection keeps coming back. It could be acute paronychia. Do a search for that.
Shakira
02-04-2008, 02:43 PM
I got my results today. It was clear. The doctor said that she really doesn't think an anti fungal medication would do anything and that it's probably a bacterial infection and it looks ingrown. Next time it swells up and oozes, I have to go back and she will give me antibiotics and she said something about sticking a needle in each side to numb it, but I can't remember what for. I don't know if she meant to treat it with something or remove the nail. Then she said I would have to go to a chiropodist for something. I've sent a clipping off from the toe on my other foot. But because that is just starting to go yellow at the end of my nail and not at the base and it's not swelled up or anything, it can be treated with a cream without having to take tablets.
I think part of my problem is that my feet never get any air to them. I always have socks on, as my feet are always cold. I might get some of those toe socks that fit like gloves and cut the big toe off, so all my other toes are covered, lol.
I think part of my problem is that my feet never get any air to them. I always have socks on, as my feet are always cold. I might get some of those toe socks that fit like gloves and cut the big toe off, so all my other toes are covered, lol.
Marti
02-04-2008, 09:45 PM
If your feet are always cold, you could also have a circulation problem to the feet.
Shakira
02-04-2008, 10:41 PM
I do have poor circulation. My nails turn blue. But I've had that all my life, so I don't think that's got anything to do with this nail problem.
Marti
02-05-2008, 09:09 AM
Actually, yes it could. Poor circulation can lead to the person easily getting infection and that infection reoccuring often. From what you described that your doctor said, they may be draining the infection at your next visit. If they pack the site after draining, it will help a whole lot. Why don't you try applying a drop or two of peroxide to the area twice daily to help dry up what is left of the infection. Did you look up 'acute paronychia' on the internet?
Shakira
02-05-2008, 03:10 PM
Hmm, interesting. Yeah, I have looked up that, thanks. I think mine sounds more like chronic than acute. I think it was trauma to the nail that caused it, but my circulation is preventing it from clearing up. I haven't told my doctor I have poor circulation, as I'm worried she might take me off the pill, as you're not really supposed to be on it with poor circulation and although I don't use it as a contracetion, I feel better when I'm on it and it helps keep my skin clear.
They say soak your feet in this, that and the other, but then in the next breathe, they say don't have your feet in water for long periods, so what do you do? Is it worth soaking it in dead sea salt or tea tree oil? Tea tree oil is meant to cause cancer, though isn't it.
What do you mean by packing it?
They say soak your feet in this, that and the other, but then in the next breathe, they say don't have your feet in water for long periods, so what do you do? Is it worth soaking it in dead sea salt or tea tree oil? Tea tree oil is meant to cause cancer, though isn't it.
What do you mean by packing it?
Marti
02-05-2008, 09:47 PM
Tell your doctor about your poor circulation!!!! There are vitamins you can take to feel better and products you can sue on your skin. You are risking serious health problems here! Some of this could be related to the pill AND the poor circulation.
Shakira
02-06-2008, 11:37 AM
I take a multi vitamin, plus extra B complex, vit C and zinc. I used to take Kwai garlic pills for my circulation, but stopped, as I thought it was giving me acid reflux (I heard it can cause that). Alot of my relatives have poor circulation and I don't think their doctor knows about it either, apart from one aunty who has diagnosed Raynaud's. But she is really bad - her hands are black even in summer and that is when she is on drugs for it. I'm nowhere near that bad. I just don't want to have to take drugs for it and have to come off the pill. But I will mention it to the doctor next time I go and ask her if that's got anything to do with my toe.