What can I do about myfungal nail infection???

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, I've been to the doctors as I have a fungal nail infection which has spread to about 6 of my toenails.
She said I have to send off a sample, then it could be treated with tablets and cream. We are trying for a baby though, so I won't be able to have this treatment. she said I'd have to wait until after the baby. I plan to breast feed too, so it could be years before I can have it treated.

Is there anything I can try? Any natural remadies or over the counter treatments that would be safe to take?

Thanks.

Somebody on here said to try Vicks. I can't remember which thread or why it came up but it worked apparently.

I've been using vick - I massage a small dollop on every morning and it seems to be doing the trick. (only have my little toe and the one next to it on the right foot)

The menthol gives a weird feeling mind, but you get used to it.

Oh brilliant! Is that the vapor rub or the oil?

meant only have problems with my little toe etc (not I've only got 2 toes!)

i use vapour rub

Thanks everyone, I'll give that a try.

I really really rub it into the nail - it seems to condition the nail as well, as they go brittle and dry with the infection

Thank you. No, I've never had a pedicure in my life! I wouldn't go now, as I already have the fungal nail infection.
It's something I could do when it clears up though.

I'd recommend going to see your pharmacist. Mine gave me a medicated nail varnish that completely cleared up my infection (but it might not have been so intrenched as yours). Even if it doesn't clear it up completely, it would keep it in check and prevent it infecting the other nails before you can use the tablets.

I'm not sure if it's suitable for pregnancy, but I'd have thought the odds were better than a tablet, as it's applied very locally.

Tea tree oil is naturally anti-septic and wont hurt you TTC. Just rub it on. I would guess that this is the ingredient in Vicks that is helping other people.

If you have the infection in so many nails and the dr is suggesting tablets I would seriously consider delaying ttc.

A minor infection that is cleared by topical treatments is less serious than your infection. Untreated nails can lead to pain and other problems.

I say this a the daughter of a man who refused to take the infection seriously and is now too old for the tablets and has to buy bigger shoes to be able to walk without pain

Talk to your doctor again

The pharmacist said no to treating athletes foot while pregnant / feeding, so i guess you will have the same answer with your toes.
Tea tree oil is supposed to be anti-fungal, but some places suggest not using during pregnancy / feeding. You'd need to do your own research on this.
Whatever you do, make sure your happy to continue 'til your toes are sorted, through pregnancy or not. Half treating the problem will be worse in the long run than waiting to sort it.

If it's spread to 6 nails and the Dr is recommending tablets, no over the counter topical treatment will work. (The tablets are more effective than topical treatment, as the nail bed is probably infected). You need to look at laser nail treatment, it's expensive but quick and effective.

BTW canesten cream can be used to treat athlete's foot while breast-feeding.

Tell me more about laser treatment please

MainlyMaynie
That's a fab idea. Thank-you. Why could none of the 3 pharmacies I've tried suggest that??

I got a fungal nail infection just as I fell pg with dc 1 so I basically just left it till I'd finished bfing and being pg again and more bfing. (4 years!)
Now using curanail once a week and tea-tree oil every day - seems to be working at last! It does take a long time though (9-12 months) as toe nails grow v slowly and all the manky nail has to grow out.

I would think carefully about having the pills - my uncle had problems taking them (headaches) they are very strong (like under 18's can't take them at all!).

Don't put normal nail varnish on as this will make it worse!!

hebiegebies, an article that explains it . There are at least 2 places in the UK that do it - I paid about £500, going for my first follow up in a couple of weeks! It has a much higher success rate than the tablets, with none of the potential side effects, so your father's age wouldn't be an issue.

Sorry, article here.

I had this following removal of big toe nail at surgery, so suffered side effects of tablets for about a year then decided to treat myself as not cured. Using tea-tree oil helped, also occasionally dab on mouthwash and it's now almost gone, after eight years. (not spread at all).
Am sure these two and Vick are safe while bf, but my tablet experience was poor as well as v.slow, and could have been too old for ttc!

I went to a chiropodist and had a special treatment as I can't take antibiotics. The treatment is a sort of anti bacterial anti fungal nail varnish, and is called LCN and has taken a few treatments, but the nail is now growing back healthily. There aren't that many chiropodists that offer the treatment but it seems better than the antibiotic route which has a lot of unpleasant side effects!

When I worked for scholl (feeling all the other podiatrists on here doing a sharp intake of breath and shaking their heads, I was agency not employed) they sold krystal klear, which was a drop on liquid, it was about £15 6 years ago and did seem to work.

I havent seen much success with otc topical nail treatments generally so I was pleasantly surprised. Some patients use tea tree oil which doesnt seem to do much ime.

Thank you MM, I'm off to follow that link

try the Vicks! I did, not believeing for a moment it would work, but one yoe was clear the next morning, the other (1 wk later) is improving.