oh yuck - my big toe nail is falling off

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

This is a new one for me!
Just noticed in the bath that the nail on one of my big toes is coming away at the base. Its about half way across ick!

Now it could be one of a few things:

-Related to the fact that I've had permanent chilblains since september and am really struggling with raynauds/poor circulation
-nail psoriasis, I have a lot of psoriasis, particularly on that leg
-nail fungus. Gulp!

What do I do now? is it a gp thing, a chiropodist thing (how do you see one of those?) or do I just leave it and mention it to the rheumy.

I don't want it to fall off. I like my toes to have nails.

Go to your GP, they can run some sort of test to find out what it is.
If it is a fungal infection, you don't want it to spread to your other toes, do you?

How is the attic?

attic is finished and looking lovely thanks

I however am feeling quite pale about my toe! gp it is then. Prob just as well as another chilblain looks like it is ulcerating.

perhaps I have trench foot.

if another is ulcerating it could be a combination of circ problems and fungal infection. Can you get an appointment tomorrow?

I'll try Do you think it counts as urgent?
am really hoping its just nail psoriasis.

Seeing as you have circ problems anyway, I would say yes, it could be a priority.Hope for the best, but be ready for it not to be. I hope it's nothing serious, but better safe than sorry.

oh joy - battling the 8:30 ring for appts at the same time as getting dd to school. Thanks diffId - I appreciate it.

I don't think dh will want to rub my feet tonight!

lol. you could always get him to "discover" it?

I do kind of wish I hadnt told him. I like my foot rubs! was probably fair that I did though!

aww, poor kitten

Back from the gps. - was a registrar who seemed rather unimpressed at my impending catastrophe. Said that something was pushing the nail away (well yes, I know that), seemed to agree that it could be chilblains or nail psoriasis and might have a secondary fungal infection. So now I have to submit toe clippings to the surgery to have them analysed before I embark on a 3 month period of antibiotics if there is an infection.

Mentioned to him that my hands have been really swollen past couple of days (might as well submit all my niggles....) He had a look, said they were and it could be raynauds related or medication related and if i keep swelling to go back in a week. He was more interested in how cold my hands were...

You know how sometimes doctors can make you feel really little and stupid, thats how he made me feel today.

hey ho.

Actually, why would I need 3 months of antibiotics for a fungal infection?!

ulceratings & prolonged infections could be signs of diabetes you know..

are you sure they aren't 3 months of antifungals?

He said antibios I'm sure but he must have meant antifungals. I looked them up and they can cause widespread exacerbation of psoriais. So I stopped googling.

nightcat - I did have vague wonderings, I have been really thirsty past few days but thought it was cos I'm working hard.
Silly locum doctor, I'll send in my toenail clippings and then make a proper appt with my gp. She is sensible and listens. I do have really really poor circulation that the rheumy is treating so its prob just that? Am quite underweight too, so...?

oh I dunno.
plan of action:
-send in clippings
-see lovely gp in a couple of weeks when results are back in
-see rheumy next week and tell him of my latest woes including swelling up. He did test me for lupus but they lost the results so he said in a letter he'll prob retest.
-no more googling

There could be a link between all this -
rheum suggests autoimmune, autoimmune could be a result of celiac (gluten), which suggests malabsorption hence underweight and also diabetes which could be autoimmune (and you mentioned lupus?).

All the symptoms could be related to celiac (try cutting out gluten and see how it goes?). You should get better, but it's a slow process esp when autoimmune conditions are involved.

U could read more
here or try any good celiac board.

Carefully puts down poppyseed roll

I do have confirmed psoriatic arthritis which is autoimmune. Just glanced at my tummy while on the phone to my dh a few minutes ago and my psoriasis is back all over my tummy, gazillions of teeny spots - can't put my finger on my skin without touching a spot.

Feel a bit hopelessly tearful atm to be honest I am really really sick of it all. Why does it have to be all coming back. I'm happy, unstressed, eating well, making sure I get enough sleep.
[gets the violins out]

I will have a look into the gluten side of things and have a look at that board. Thank you.

Well, after clipping it for my sample (bleugh) it does look like nail psoriasis. If the results come back clear I'll ask for a referral to the derm.

oh, that wasn't the forum, but this is - about PA too

link

Thank you

update - nail psoriasis has got infected with fungus. gp says its 3-6 months treatment with an oral antifungal. Not to start them until a couple of days after the antibiotics I'm on. Bit grim really. Am booking myself into see a podiatrist privately to see what they can do to help.