Toenails. Icky.

[Backroads]

So... I have been dealing with unhealthy toenails for awhile now. I have not yet been to see a doctor, will be seeing one this week. For awhile the nails seemed a little brittle, nothing major. A few weeks ago, both big toenails randomly fell off. One seems to be growing back okay, but on the other only the lunula seems to be alive--any nail growing beyond it is dead.

Any ideas what's wrong?

[pam]

Even the title of this thread is icky.

[Backroads]

Originally Posted by pam

Even the title of this thread is icky.

I could increase the ickiness by posting a picture.

[pam]

Please don't.

[beefche]

Nail fungus. I had nail fungus in one of my big toes. The nail became really brittle and broke off about 1/2 down the toe. The doctor prescribed some kind of prescription, but I can't remember the name of it. Be sure and get the generic. The brand name one was....wait for it....over $1,000 for a 30 day supply. I had a prescription for 90 days, so you can imagine how badly my head hurt when I woke up from my swoon. The generic was still spendy, but much more doable.

And the prescription had some risks for your liver. Good idea to get blood drawn to check your liver levels before and after.

[pam]

I know of two prescription medications. Lamisil and Sporanax.

You can get Lamisil OTC but it's a stronger one that requires a prescription.

[Eowyn]

Both of those can be bad on your liver, but they've both been around for a long time, too. Lately I've heard about treating them with lasers. That sounds interesting.

[pam]

One of my pinky toes has problems. But instead of brittle it just keeps getting thicker. I think the next step is to use pruning sheers to cut it.

[Gwen]

My husband's toenails were bad (thick, brittle, flaky and yellow) when we got married, I told him he had ogre toes. He avoided taking the meds for it because of the risk of liver damage. However, after doing more research (and my refusing to touch his feet, blah) we decided his risk was rather low. He would not be taking it more than a few months and he never drank or other substances that would leave his liver weak. He had a nice strong liver and it was temporary so it would get the chance to heal. It's been almost 12 yrs since and his nails have been fine, no need to repeat. I think if you asked him he would do it again (I'd have him do it again. lol).

[applepansy]

backroads, get into your doctor. Its likely a fungal infection and you've let it go a long time. Lamisil is the one I took. Its prescribed for 3 months. You only take it for the first (brain fog) week or so and then skip until the next month. It works. Since you've let it get so bad you will need to be checked at the end of 3 months and might need another round.

Lamisil worked for me in two months... I didn't need the third. There are worse things for your liver, such as, over the counter Tylenol.

Good Luck!