POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: jkinatl2 on September 30, 2010, 03:59:22 pm
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Warning, not safe for lunch.
So I have had these brown marks underneath my two big toes for months now. I assumed it was because I tend to A) drop stuff on them when putting up cans after shopping, B) stub them because I am clumsy, especially in the dark. Thing is, when I am relaxing at home, I rarely wear shoes or socks. I keep my toenails clipped most of the time, and shower once, sometimes twice a day. I have never had athlete's feet, and am not, in general, skanky.
But the last few weeks, I have noticed that the tops of my toes hurt a little when I am out, and wearing shoes. I don't go barefoot outside because the things I invariably step on are either crunchy and painful, or squishy.
So this morning, I am in the process of toenail clippage when I notice that my left big toe has gone from a small brown spot to a nasty gray/white discoloration. Because I have been doing yoga, and can do this, I lift my tow to my nose. Nope. No foul odor. The other toenail is not any worse, but not any better.
My first thought was toenail fungus, and from the pictures I found online, it looks like that might be the case. Called my doctor, as I have an appointment in a week, and they wanted to see me ASAP (but unfortunately, cannot see me earlier than that). I Googled remedies I could try beforehand (tea tree oil, soaking them in Listerine, etc).
Any other ideas? How dangerous is this to is HIVers? I would prefer not to lose my toenails. I rather like them, though they do get a bit sharp when they need cutting. It's NOT painful, really... just not painless. And they don't stink.
But still, I am grossed out. I have always had good hygiene, and am wondering if there are any remedies other than what I found that i could try while waiting for my doctor.
It's a fungus. Could the anti-fungal meds I have for thrush help?
JK
(who has two piggies that would be unwelcome at the market)
*edited for clumsy fingers.
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We have a treatment called Curanail here in the UK. You paint it on the nail/s once a week, it's a very slow process (can take 6-9 months) as you have to use it until a healthy nail has grown back.
It sounds like nail fungus to me, I have the same problem when walking any distance. It doesn't have anything to do with hygiene, women get it a lot from wearing nail varnish constantly, it's also very contagious.
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Jk, I had toenail fungus once, but it's been a long time. My doctor gave me like a clear polish I had to put on the affected toe, every day. It took awhile to clear. I can't remember if she gave me pills or not. The thing I remember most is the time. Wish I could be of more help.
I wonder if you could talk to the pharmacist, to see about the anti-fungal med working for that? Or if he knows of something else you can do while waiting for your doc?
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Hi JK
If you are looking for something alternative until you can get to the Doc then the Listerine the Doctor prescribed is a good idea, plus a natural acid like apple cider vinegar or undiluted lemon juice mixed with it can help, I know it sounds like an old wifes tale but the acid and the alcohol together will dry it up..what have you got to lose, you sound really woried about it so anything is worth a try...right?
Hugs
Jan :-*
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Thanks guys!
I am not so much worried as, um, nastified about the whole thing. Plus, all the web sites I visit add the caveat "elderly people and people wuth weakened immune systems can have potentially serious effects from this condition."
I mean, nail falling the hell off is serious to me... but they don't specify exactly WHAT can happen. I just don't want to be one of those weird stories where a guy yanks out a nose hair, the follicle gets infected, the infection spreads to his brain and he dies. Or something.
Listerine it is, then. Plus tea tree oil. My toes shall have the nicest breath and shiniest skin in all of Christendom.
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check Lamusil and discuss with doc Cheers Eric
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My sis got a toe nail fungus from a pedicure. After many expensive remedies, a dr. told her to take a solution of bleach and water and dip her toe in it for a bit. Immediately cleared up the fungus....and it has never returned.
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Lamusil can be hard on the liver. My doc didn't want me to take it when I still had hep C for that reason.
I had good success with tea tree, but as with any other remedy for this, it takes a while. I had it nearly completely cured when I ran out of tea tree and kept forgetting to buy more, so it's back to square one for me if I ever remember to buy some. My nails don't look great, but they're no where near falling off, so I think you can relax on that score, Jonathan.
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Well, the good news is its not lethal, if it is toenail fungus.
The bad news is it can be hard to get rid of.
I use Vick's Vapo Rub. It has kept mine in check, but it still hasn't gone away.
I am ready to try the other things - tea tree oil or maybe the bleach and water.
I hope this works for you. Let me know how it goes.
By the way, the image of you sniffing your toe made me giggle.
I used to be able to do that, but if I get myself into that position, I'll be unable to get out without help. ::)
HUGS,
Mark
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Well, the good news is its not lethal, if it is toenail fungus.
The bad news is it can be hard to get rid of.
I use Vick's Vapo Rub. It has kept mine in check, but it still hasn't gone away.
I am ready to try the other things - tea tree oil or maybe the bleach and water.
I hope this works for you. Let me know how it goes.
By the way, the image of you sniffing your toe made me giggle.
I used to be able to do that, but if I get myself into that position, I'll be unable to get out without help. ::)
HUGS,
Mark
Right before I was diagnosed, I noticed my toenails had a yellowish color and were flaky. My "brother-in-law" doc told me to use Vick's Vapor Rub on them twice daily. He claimed it has been shown to work pretty well. I never used it due to mine seeming to get healthier looking. You could give that a try.
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I have this "natural" remedy on the way from Amazon.com, and took Fluconazole tonight to start, as I read that it is used off-label to help with the fungus. I would have done more, but a friend came over, and knowing the astonishing stress I have been under this past week, took me out for mexican food. Which means three margaritas and the cheapest entree on the menu so I dont look like a sot.
I am home now, and tomorrow I go buy Vicks Vaporub and Listerine. Nice to know it's not going to kill me. But October is a HEAVY walking month for me this year, what with going to New Orleans for Halloween and all. I'd like to have all ten toenails cooperate, or at least tag along.
Thanks for the suggestions!
Just stuck my toes in my nose again, still no odor. Used to be able to put them behind my head. Man, the nineties were AWESOME.
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I hope the "home remedies" work honey....I'm a big believer in them. I swear by vapo-rub, and use it frequently in the winter months.
I tried all kinds of things to get rid of my nail fungus...it was only on one nail, and the nail was very thick and white, ugly, and I called it my "old man" toenail. The stuff you paint on never worked for me; only a course of Lamisil did the trick, and that was 6 months of taking it. I tolerated it with no problems; not everyone can do that.
Hope you get it cleared up or at least manageable by Halloween!
Hugs, Alan
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I went through a bout of the fungus too... I used fungi-nail. Painted it on twice a day. The discoloration only goes away as your toe nail grows.
My doctor recommended against lamasil... As he put it, we have a choice between healthy liver or ugly toenails. Let keep the liver.
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Repeat : check Lamusil and discuss with doc.
It is not like you are taking it for ever... as soon as I took it a clear line of healthy nail appeared and was taking over as the nail was growing. Once it is gone (was it 2 month?), you can stop treatment (or carry on a few weeks for safety. Never came back. (the nail coating and other natural remedies did not work on my fungus. Lamusil did.)
At that time I had not heard about liver issues when taking Lamusil. Happens that I am currently (and probably for a very long period of time _ lifelong?) taking very potent and liver aggressive meds. and liver is doing fine. I would not worry the least about over-the-counter Lamusil.
Cheers Eric
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I am using this wash that contains tea tree oil, specifically for fungus, and taking Fluconazole until I see my HIV doc next week. In the meantime, I wear footie socks when company is over or when not sleeping alone, to avoid spreading it and/or people thinking I am a zombie.
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Jonathan, fluconazole doesn't do anything for the particular fungus that targets the nail bed. I asked about using it instead of lamusil when my doc didn't want me to use that liver biter, and he said there was no point. It's like how different antibiotics target different bacteria. Different antifungals target different fungi.
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I know but i found this:
toenail fungus report
How do I cure toenail fungus?
A particularly nasty fungus growth in need of attention. Click to enlarge - if you are not squeemish!For some people it can be difficult finding a natural cure to fight the embarrassment, disfigurement and the physical pain of toenail fungus. There are some (unnatural) internal medications available as prescriptions such as
* itraconazole (Sporonox),
* fluconazole (Diflucan),
* griseofulvin (Fulvicin), and
* terfinabine (Lamisil)
http://www.toenailfungus.org/ (http://www.toenailfungus.org/)
Diflucan (Fluconazole) is not technically a toe nail fungus medicine. It's approved by the FDA for use on various types of yeast infections within the body such as vaginal, throat or mouth yeast infections. Despite this however, it is sometime prescribed as a toe nail fungus medicine when the toe nail fungus is a mild case, or it appears to be yeast generated toe nail fungus infection.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/565005/toe_nail_fungus_medicine.html?cat=5 (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/565005/toe_nail_fungus_medicine.html?cat=5)
So I have a week's worth of leftover thrush meds, and will not see the doc till then. I dont think it will be HARMFUL, and between that and my daily washes with the tea tree oil stuff, maybe it will help. If I am doing mroe harm than good, I hope someone tells me. I have never A) spent significant time in sweaty socks, B) gone mroe than twelve hours without bathing, and C) kept decent hygiene.
So I am sort of thiking that this is nature's way of telling me to get on my damned meds and get on them damned regularly. I prefer this sort of message over the whole PCP thing.
Just splashing around in this unfamiliar pond :)
JK
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Hmm... when my doc told me that fluconazole would be pointless I didn't exactly have a mild case, at least not my big toes.
But you're right, it won't do you any harm but it might do some good.
If all else fails, you could always paint them bright red. :)
I've always kept my feet clean too, but since I've been poz I have to be extra vigilant about athlete's foot to the point of using ... shit, whatever that cream is the doc told me to use. It's upstairs and I can't be bothered to go get it. Use your imagination. How 'bout "Funbigone"? Anyway, I have to use that stuff two or three times a week or I start getting the fungus amungus. And of course there's the nail fungus. Doc says they're two different species.
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bright red is plan B.
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Is plan C shocking pink, or would you go with something a bit more demure?
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Shocking pink is a Britney color, and thus stigma related. It also does not contain nearly enough zinc nor colloidal silver.
I am here to cure ze AIDS, not cause it.
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ew, Sorry, didn't know that in your culture, shocking pink was strongly associated with former Mouseketeers escaped from rehab. In my culture shocking pink is shockingly, just pink.
If you're going for that colloidal silver look, may I suggest something in a cobal blue? Or if it's the zinc look you're after, there are some lovely shades of French Manicure White.
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I don't know whether toe nails differ from finger nails, but I had a fingernail fungus once, back when my t-cells were in pretty bad shape. I took fluconazole and started meds. The nail went brown and squishy, then fell off. A new one grew back within 3 months, as nice as before and totally undistinguishable from the other finger nails, but this time without the fungus.
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I second the vinegar recommendation. I had a fungus on one of my toes and it really does work. The only caveat is that you have to do it every day for about a month to ensure the fungus is actually dead.