Capillaroscopy (and gel nails)

[unebaguettepastropcuite]

Hi all. I'm new to this autoimmunne world, but have currently got some kind of half-diagnosis pending the outcome of more tests.
One of these is a capillaroscopy which is scheduled in 10 days' time. The thing is, a month ago I had gel nails done and I now can't have them removed because of lockdown rules here (on the continent).
By the time of the test I will have 6 weeks of regrowth. Is that going to be enough or do I need to reschedule? I understand they look at the base of the nails which will be (in fact already is) clear.

Use a clipper and trim the end off then soak them in warm nail varnish remover, you can remove them this way

Thanks, I'd rather not take them off if it isn't necessary as I have terrible nails which break and tear at the slightest opportunity. Gel nails have been a godsend. My hands and nails will be in a right state if I soak the gel off 2 weeks before my appointment

So vanity about your nails is more important than your health?

Erm no. I thought I'd explained, but my nails break and tear, often below the base of nails. My fingers will be painful, bloody and possibly infected. That is why I would prefer to leave them on.
When I don't have gel nails, they are kept as short as possible, but that doesn't stop them ripping, even with 4 layers of treatment on.
You came onto the auto-immune thread to have a go, did you?

Just take off the gel from 1 nail - is that an option?

Thanks @yesyoudoknowme. I don't know if that's an option. I was hoping someone with more experience of auto-immune disease or someone medical would be able to advise. I thought it was quite a common test, but maybe not.
If I don't get any further here, I'll call the hospital on Monday to see what they say. Internet searches have been fruitless, but I don't want to call the hospital unnecessarily when they are already overworked

no. I have an auto immune disease too. I also know that my health would come first.

Thanks for your reply starfishmummy. I took 1 nail off yesterday and the nail below has already broken twice. When (not if) it breaks again, it will be on the quick.
If my fingers and nails are infected and swollen, I'm sure it will mess up the test.
Is it really possible that no-one here has had this test?

I have a rare autoimmune illness and even I had to google what this test was!

I think your right to call the hospital - I’m sure they’d rather you call them now then turn up and not be able to have it done because of gel nails.

Hope it goes ok!

Thanks somewheresorted. It's one of the tests I've been prescribed for suspected scleroderma (not that I think my symptoms resemble scleroderma at all). I was also sent for a bone scan.

It's all very new to me. What I know so far is that I have tested positive for ANA and ACA, that I am susceptible to blood clots and that I have mild kidney failure. That's from the blood tests.

I definitely have Raynaud's. The doctor who went through the blood test results with me said they were those of an 80 year old. I'm half that age!!! Having said that, I definitely do feel old. I have a lot of stiffness and joint pain.

This all stemmed from some inconclusive allergy testing, so it's all come as a bit of a surprise.

Sorry to hear that *unebaguette’ It sounds like it’s all been quite a shock! That’s quite a hefty possible diagnosis to take onboard and a lot to accept in one hit... Are they considering Lupus and vasculitis too?

Something I have learnt on my journey is that there is a lot of cross-over with autoimmune illnesses and sometimes you can have a bit of several, so it doesnt always look text book case. I know with myself that Lupus, scleroderma and Vasculitis were all considered initially until the tests confirmed Dermatomyositis.

I have overlap Inflammatory arthritis and Raynauds with this too and joint pain and stiffness sucks! It really can make you miserable. I’m late 40’s but like you didn’t expect to be feeling like this quite yet!

I really hope that you get some answers soon and more importantly start some treatment and feel better!

Thanks somewheresorted.

To be honest, I don't really know what the doctor is considering, other than scleroderma (mild version). When I looked it up when I go home, I didn't think my symptoms matched at all. Having looked Lupus up, that sounds much more like it, but maybe he wants to rule less-serious possibililties first. I also think Sjogren's might be a possibility, but as you say, it's all very complex.

As far as I know, the capillaroscopy is still on for next week. After that, I should see the specialist quite quickly. Hopefully I'll have some concrete information soon!

Thank you for your support, it is much appreciated

I've had this test!! From memory you might get away with not removing gel nails from all fingers but it depends what they are looking for.
I would call the hospital to check as none of us will know that. Good luck!!

In case anyone else is going to have one of these, what they actually look at is the blood vessels in the skin just where your nails start.

I would have been fine with my 6-week regrowth, but I had taken my nails off anyway.

The test didn't find anything unusual.