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June 15, 2005
Beware: This Gets Yucky!
I believe I have an ingrown toenail. It started bothering me last summer and I have put up with the pain ever since then. About five months ago, my doctor prescribed KFLEX. This didn’t help at all as far as I could tell.
I showed the offending toe to her at my appointment this morning and she said that she wants me to see a foot doctor. I explained to her that I do not want to see a foot doctor for any reason and asked if she would give me a prescription for something different. After telling me it looks like a bacterial infection, she prescribed a drug called Doxycycline. She also made sure that I get an additional refill on the original prescription. I am praying with all of my heart that twenty days of this drug takes this infection away.
Maybe I’m wrong and it’s only an infection and not ingrown. That is my prayer. Kevin had an ingrown toenail several years ago. After living a painful existence, he went to the doctor to have the toenail removed. Guess what! It grew back and became ingrown again!
He finally went to a foot doctor and told him to remove the nail and kill it so that it would never grow back again. That was two or three years ago. The nail has never grown back and he has no more pain.
I just don’t think that I can take it. My doctor told me that she would prescribe me some Valium to take before that appointment (if there needs to be an appointment), but I am scared to death.
Just so you’ll know: I looked up some pictures of ingrown toenails and they look really disgusting. My toe is just slightly pink and swollen-looking on one side. It’s not ugly – not to me at least, but I know something is going on because there is some oozing. I’m trying to stay positive though (I am sticking my head in the sand!) by convincing myself that this is just an infection that can be cured with a simple pill. Please keep me in your prayers.
Posted by tami at June 15, 2005 5:34 PM
Comments
I get bad ones and have tried to self-treat...A big no-no that's got me to the point where I probably need to get my feet worked on by a professional. :S
WebMD has a tidbit which might help you in the meantime: "Try soaking your toe in warm water* two times a day. If you can, lift the edge of the nail and wedge a piece of cotton between the nail and your skin. If the nail has not been ingrown for long, it may heal in one to two weeks. Seek help from a healthcare professional if home management techniques do not relieve your symptoms or if the nail becomes infected."
* I'd add some epsom salts. They will help draw the infection out from the toe. The best time to try lifting the nail and inserting cotton is after you've given your foot a good, long soak.
Posted by: Kimberley at June 15, 2005 10:44 PM
I really empathise with your fear of surgery having gone through my problems this Easter.
Kimberley's advice does work, Phil self-treats and this seems to help him.
Posted by: lynne at June 16, 2005 10:57 AM
Do you have chiropodists out there? They treated my mother's ingrowing nail very easily. No operation - she had it sorted out at home.
Posted by: Miss L at June 16, 2005 1:40 PM
Yes, Miss L. Here we call them podiatrists. I am trying to avoid going to one, but unfortunately, think it is inevitable.
Posted by: Tami at June 16, 2005 5:44 PM