Fungal nail infection!

[Cissyandflora]

Apologies in advance and please don’t read if you’re squeamish. It’s revolting. I would really love to find some medical advice though.

Can I ask if there is anyone in the medical field who can help with awful fungal nails? Sorry it’s a disgusting topic. I did ask my gp years ago but they said they can’t do anything because it’s not a serious issue. More aesthetic. I do understand that but I’d love to get rid of it.
I’ve lost one toenail which is now not growing properly. Also the skin on that toe is affected too. Now the other foot is affected. The big toe nail just dropped off completely. I didn’t even know that was affected. It is very much affected. Then the toe next to it has gone exactly the same with skin affected too.
I have used the vinegar soaks, the vicks rub, nailer painted on. All for long periods but have never seen any improvement. I’m also not wearing closed shoes or sweaty conditions. I have been open toed shoes/ bare feet for most of the past year.

Anyone have any miracle cures?

Your GP is wrong and should be treating this. Get a second opinion. This is a severe infection which may need anti-fungal medication. A lot of the over the counter products may work, but after completing treatment severe infections come back.

Go back to your GP. My dh had to take oral antifungals a couple of years ago with his which worked well. Unfortunately he has started getting other nails affected recently. He was asked to submit a toenail sample into the GP to see what treatment he should have now

You need a private chiropodist/podiatrist.
NHS won't treat this, certainly at the moment but a podiatrist will be able to.

The only option I know of that may work (that GP's could theoretically prescribe) is something that has a chance of destroying your liver/kidneys. (Can't remember which.) Not really a risk worth taking for a cosmetic issue.

I had a course of cold laser treatment that did appear to work at the time, but the fungus came back. Possibly it would have worked if I'd repeated the treatment enough times, but at £500 for a course (which consisted of several treatments over a period of months) my attitude was that if one course didn't clear the problem I wasn't going to keep going back in the hope that multiple courses would.

I have tried multiple other treatments and nothing worked. TBH, one of my DIY treatmens made one nail considerably worse. (It got a fungusy nail to drop off, which allowed the fungus to get at more of the nail when it regrew.)

I'd love to be proved wrong, but I believe there is no treatment that is guaranteed to work, and doesn't risk damaging internal organs.

Dh had regular blood tests when taking the oral antifungals. They didn't have an adverse effect thankfully

My dh had to take oral antifungals a couple of years ago with his which worked well.

I believe this is what my GP could have prescribed, but didn't, because he regarded it as too risky. A quick google for "risk of oral anti-fungals" brings up this:-

Fungal Infections: Risks of Oral Antifungals
Affect liver or kidney function.
Cause liver damage or failure, especially when combined with alcohol or certain medicines.
Weaken the heart's ability to contract. This can lead to heart failure .
Cause dangerous side effects when combined with many common medicines.

Thats why he went for regular blood tests while taking them

The first step is for your GP to take nail clippings and sent for analysis of the causative organism and the medications to which it is sensitive. Very quick and easy to take, but may take a while to actually culture in the lab.
Once identified, appropriate treatment can be prescribed. Some oral treatments may be toxic to liver and kidneys and regular blood tests needed to monitor.

I did look into buying my own cold laser machine, so I could do my own treatments and sell it on when completely cured. But they appear to cost several thousand pounds and are only sold to professionals. (If I'm cynical I think that could be so they're only sold to people who have a financial interest in claiming that they work. The lady who treated me, when she (prematurely) declared me cured, said I'd done well, that it didn't always work.)

There are small laser devices (of a different kind) sold on Amazon, I bought one for roughly £200. Incredibly uncomfortable and difficult to use, no visible effect, complete waste of money.

you can buy Curanail over the counter in the pharmacy. it may not cure it completely but it should stop it getting worse while you try to sort out a doctor appointment.

Oil of oregano. Dab on daily with a cotton bud. It was recommended by my GP and it worked a treat. It will take months to see improvement as the nail grows out.

www.healthline.com/health/home-remedies-for-toenail-fungus#oregano-oil

I took the oral antifungals for fungal toe nails. It worked on the nails a treat and I’ve never had a recurrence.

It did make me feel quite nauseous though, and I threw up breakfast every morning for the 3 months I was on it, and didn’t have much appetite the rest of the time. Worked a charm for weight loss!

I had to have blood tests every month to check liver function.

I would see your GP again (or a different GP? Would a woman be more sympathetic?) and ask for the anti fungal tablets. I’d be tempted to lay it on this about howbyou find your shoes rub with no nails and it causes you pain to walk etc if you need to.

This was 15-ish years ago, so maybe they are more reluctant to prescribe it nowadays.

Thanks all. Very kind. I’ll certainly try the oregano oil just in case. I have tried laser for a wart but not for the fungal nail. It didn’t work with a wart. I did manage to get rid of that after years! Yes maybe a female dr might be more sympathetic. I def don’t want to bother a dr with it at the moment though. And the anti fungal drugs do sound rather risky. The otc painting and filing systems just don’t seem to work.
I was thinking mine might be something strange because it is the skin as well as nail. Not sure though.

Might be fungal nail and athletes foot as they are both fungal infections. My dh had an online appointment with the GP. I had to collect the sample bottle from the clinic (dh was working) and dh supplied the toenail clipping and I returned it to the clinic.

Oral antifungals for me, prescribed by the GP after confirming using nail clippings and kidney function blood tests, repeated throughout the course of treatment.

Then a complete replacement of all my socks, tights, shoes, slippers and boots*

*this was not prescribed but I declared it a medical necessity. Not reccured since, therefore I declare it a success

I've used Excilor successfully, it isn't a paint and file system - you literally just paint it on. It worked on one of my big toenails but it took 18 months of daily applications. It's around £20 for a tiny bottle.

Your GP is wrong and foot health is important. He should give you tablets for it.

Yes private chiropodist. They will maybe suggest a treatment you can but from pharmacist (loceryn I think its called). Also keep buffing the nail and putting tee tree oil on, wash all socks/towels at 60°

Curanail is powerful. It used to be available only on prescription. I had been using a different paint-on medication (also prescribed) for several years and it didn't work, but Curanail fixed the problem within 6 months.

I've just started on emuaid Max, saw it online and it had good reviews. Will be a long process but I'm hopeful it'll work

My borough has self referral chiropody services; does yours have anything similar? (Not sure to want extent operating in lockdown).
Also see private chiropodist occasionally.

chiropodist recommended tea tree oil or neem oil
also change of diet - harder work
probiotic-rich yogurt
enough protein to support nail regrowth
enough iron to prevent brittle nails
a diet rich in essential fatty acids
foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, such as low-fat dairy products

didn't do all of that, but grew out, nails are fine now
had problems a few times; possibly when anaemic

I had a fungal infection on my left big toenail a few years ago. I got prescribed a cream. Lamisil, I think. I used it on the affected nail (and the other nails on the same foot, to make sure it didn't spread to them.) That stopped the fungus from growing but I had keep using it for about 8 months because the nail took that long to grow out. The longer you've had it, the longer it takes to get back to normal.

I’ve just developed one, I have no idea how, never had one before. But I’ll blame DH and his manky feet

My chiropodist recommended Mykored oil - pop a drop or two on every day, and it should get rid of it. I started a couple of weeks ago and it is getting better.

Curanail's working for me - both infected toenails have almost grown out.

Have you tried Emtrix?