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Toenail fungus (sorry)
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Anonymous
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Sorry to be so gross, but I am too lazy to do this research myself, and you all are often more valuable anyway.
I've had a fungus on one of my toenails for about 4 years. I was pregnant, nursing, pregnant, pregnant, nursing etc. for most of the time, so didn't want to take any medication. Also thought it would just fall off and I'd be done with it. It's still there. It's grosser. What's the worst that can happen anyway? Do I really need to find a time to go to the doctor for this? And what doctor do I go to, anyway? TIA. |
Anonymous
| Make an appointment with a podiatrist to have it checked out. |
Anonymous
| I think even a dermatologist could tell you. I have a damaged toenail that is dark and thick. Are you sure it's fungus? From talking to doctors, sometimes it's not worth treating fungus because it's so hard to get rid of, and the medication you have to take may be more damaging to your body (kidneys, liver) than just living with the fungus. |
Anonymous
| I think the worst that can happen is that it spreads to your other toes, and then to your fingers. Gross, but not life threatening. |
Anonymous
| How invasive is it? I've found vinegar soaks nightly gets rid of mild cases. |
Anonymous
| Apple cider vinegar and also tea tree oil (you can buy it at GNC) will also get rid of it. |
Anonymous
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OP - I recently read about a treatment that was noninvasive and more effective than OTC fungicide. Can't remember where or what.
My son has two toes with fungus. I don't think there's any larger harm in it, except he won't go barefoot and that is annoying. I can't imagine vinegar soaks would do it, but I'm not sure what non-invasive fungal infections are. I might try it. |
Anonymous
| Oh, and I don't know if you need a podiatrist or a dermatologist. My son's ped sent us to the latter. So, when you make the apt, ask questions to be sure you end up at the right place. |
Anonymous
I'm the one who said vinegar soaks work for me. I get a touch of fungus under a nail every so often. The whole nail is "not" infected, it's not green or otherwise seriously discolored. Just thickened nail at the end. I keep them cut as short as possible (clipping almost daily) and soak in vinegar 10 minutes a night. By the time that bit of the nail has grown out, the fungus is gone. Having said that, I don't think a child would stand for it very well. |
Anonymous
| TMI alert - I had a pretty bad case of onychomycosis (fungal toenail infection) and I just dealt with it for years - covered it with dark nail polish, avoided wearing sandals or going barefoot, never had pedicures. No over the counter treatment ever worked and I tried pretty much everything. Finally, after my son was born and I was finished nursing him, I bit the bullet and went to my family practitioner to see what could be done about it. He took one look and said it was the worst case he had ever seen, and prescribed Lamisil. He also suggested that I get rid of all my shoes and buy new ones, and use the topical over-the-counter Lamisil between the toes as well. I took Lamisil for 12 weeks and had bloodwork done periodically during the course of treatment to monitor liver function, etc. I had no side effects or problems with the medication whatsoever. Healthy nails started growing within a couple of weeks. It took some time for everything to fully grow out, but now you'd never know I had this problem. Once my toenails were healthy, I celebrated by having my first-ever professional pedicure. I am now a pedicure addict! Lamisil was a godsend for me. |
Anonymous
| There was another thread on this topic. Here was one solution, that has worked for me (I have a mild case): Clip the nail as short as possible. Put Vick's Vapor Rub under the nail, making sure that you apply it under the nail. where the nail meets the skin. Repeat every morning and evening for a couple of weeks. I know it sounds weird, but it worked! |
Anonymous
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My DD has had toenail fungus since she was a baby. Just the two big toes.
When she had a staph infection on one foot, the pediatrician told us to soak her foot in a mild bleach (yes, bleach) solution every night for a week. I think it was 1-2 Tbs bleach for about a gallon of water in a dish tub. It helped clear up her staph infection AND the fungus on that toe. I need to do this with the other foot to see if we can get clear up the fungus on that foot, but it is just enough of a hassle with a small child that I just haven't done it. Keeping your feet as dry as possible and the toenail as short as possible will help it heal on its own. I've also heard the Vick's vapor rub. |
Anonymous
| My general medical doctor prescribed me with some antifungal oral meds and my fungus went away. |
Anonymous
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Oral Lamisil worked for me. Your general PCP should be able to prescribe it.
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