Horizontal ridges on nails, google has terrified me!! <wibble>

[SirVixofVixHall]

I noticed yesterday that both thumbnails, and to a lesser degree both index fingers all have a ridge about half way along. I idly googled, and it says to "see a Doc immediately" "Sign of serious illness" etc. So now I am totally freaked out. I've had a bit of a lingering cough so am now imagining lung cancer as I've lost a couple of friends this year. I am also hypothyroid.
Anyone else had this? Do I really need to see my gP tomorrow? EEEEK!

oh god, laugh not, scabies was the worst experience of my life to date!
Any kind of trauma or illness can leave lines on the nails, so maybe hives too? not sure.

Sorry to laugh at scabies, it is horrible I agree. Are you old enough to remember the punk band "the Damned"? One of their members was called Rat Scabies, and apparently he would give badges to groupies reading "I've had Scabies".....

why yes I am that old! Had forgotten about Rat Scabies....

Im hypothyroid and have noticed a little bump linked to when I know I was a bit underactive, at the same time I've also linked it to very bad flu. A gp friend reckons your thyroid levrls can be under strain when ill do it could be linked, but could also occur in euthyroid I guess.

Since getting my ferritin high and upping thyroxine I've noticed they're clear and flat. So may just be a general link to system a bit under strain?

I also went back on berrocca and my b12 levels were good. So could be several factors.

Had my blood results today and as I've posted on another thread, my GP thinks they are satisfactory but to me the ferritin and folate look pretty low, at least they are right at the bottom of "normal" as well as my TSH being higher than ideal (just under 4). I'm going to ask if I can trial a higher dose of thyroxine.

I've always had them I think, buts it's getting a lot worse.. Will post a pic tomorrow's ..! we can compare ridges!!

I don't have a single smooth nail! Some of the ridges are deep enough to put the end of a nail file in! I put it down to diet. I don't really eat fruit and veg, live off processed food and never drink enough.
Have been to the doctors before and he said I was low in folic acid. Not low in iron though.
Assume its my crap diet but I have noticed it getting worse as I get older.

I do eat a reasonable amount of fruit and vegetables, but I also have a big chocolate habit.....I see the GP on Tuesday so I will mention it to him/her (new GP) when I ask about upping the thyroxine. I'm struggling to get a decent pic of my nails but will ask DH to take one.

I don't know why I opened this.

I have health anxiety so keep away from the google for the most part now. I banned myself from it a year ago and it really helped, except I am an expert in signs of every illness under the sun and can't forget stuff I previously read. I did not come across the ridges on my travels though.

I just spent 5 minutes checking my nails for ridges.

I don't have them, but I can see a new ritual forming

Google has told me I am dying many times now. Quite shocked I am still here really as I have apparently had skin cancer, oral cancer, bowel cancer, cervical cancer, throat cancer and even prostate cancer (I don't have a prostate).

The GP wasn't bothered. He said something had disrupted the growth in the nail bed, but seemed bemused by my worried face. I have calmed down now, but still a niggling little bit of worry remains.....The ridge has moved up the nail since I first posted and is now 2/3 along, so it should grow out soon. I have more of them on my toenails, GP didn't ask about them!!

I've got a significant horizontal dent on both thumb nails, is that what you mean? Looks like both have been trapped in a door or something. Had them for years, still breathing

at U2

I've just checked my nails after reading this. I've got horizontal ridges on every one of them!! All exactly the same distance from my nail bed... Am now trying to thing what was going on a month or so ago that might have caused this. Not going to google!