lvictoria
22-05-14, 21:21
I've had a bad fungal nail infection on both of my big toenails since I was about 13/14 (I'm 19 now)... I've tried prescribed tablets and lacquer stuff with no luck and I've just been living with it for some years now. It got to the point where I couldn't trim/file them down myself anymore as they'd become so thickened so I had to book an appointment with a chiropodist two weeks ago.
Since going one of my toes has got considerably worse and my anxiety levels have gone through the roof.
The chiropodist who treated me was completely unsympathetic towards my anxiety about anything medical related (especially toes due to a traumatic injury as a child) and told me twice that one of my nails has become loose. For the first week after the appointment I was fine, but since Tuesday I've been getting pain and some tingling/numbness (?) in that toe. I think I can see underneath the nail on the sides, it's also gone slightly black. Being as squeamish as I am I've had severe anxiety about the nail falling off/having to get it removed. The other night I woke up, had a panic attack and was sick/blacked out... not hugely uncommon for me to black out in the past but it hadn't happened for a few years.
I've booked an appointment with a different chiropodist tomorrow afternoon. My mum spoke to her on the phone and she seems much more understanding of the situation. I also spoke to my doctor and a pharmacist and both of them said it will probably fall off. I'm still really scared and the whole waiting for it to fall off terrifies me. I don't know what to expect and if my panic attack the other day is anything to go by, my reaction won't be good. My parents are no help as neither of them will even look at it which stresses me out even more. I have no idea what my toe looks like underneath and whether it will hurt etc etc. The pain is starting to become unbearable and ibuprofen isn't doing the trick.
Really sorry for the rambly post - my writing goes down the toilet when I'm anxious. I guess what I just wanted to know is if anyone else has experienced losing a toenail (preferably the big one), what it's like and how long it takes to grow back etc. And any recommendations on what to do about the pain. Thanks, and hopefully this is the right subforum.
Since going one of my toes has got considerably worse and my anxiety levels have gone through the roof.
The chiropodist who treated me was completely unsympathetic towards my anxiety about anything medical related (especially toes due to a traumatic injury as a child) and told me twice that one of my nails has become loose. For the first week after the appointment I was fine, but since Tuesday I've been getting pain and some tingling/numbness (?) in that toe. I think I can see underneath the nail on the sides, it's also gone slightly black. Being as squeamish as I am I've had severe anxiety about the nail falling off/having to get it removed. The other night I woke up, had a panic attack and was sick/blacked out... not hugely uncommon for me to black out in the past but it hadn't happened for a few years.
I've booked an appointment with a different chiropodist tomorrow afternoon. My mum spoke to her on the phone and she seems much more understanding of the situation. I also spoke to my doctor and a pharmacist and both of them said it will probably fall off. I'm still really scared and the whole waiting for it to fall off terrifies me. I don't know what to expect and if my panic attack the other day is anything to go by, my reaction won't be good. My parents are no help as neither of them will even look at it which stresses me out even more. I have no idea what my toe looks like underneath and whether it will hurt etc etc. The pain is starting to become unbearable and ibuprofen isn't doing the trick.
Really sorry for the rambly post - my writing goes down the toilet when I'm anxious. I guess what I just wanted to know is if anyone else has experienced losing a toenail (preferably the big one), what it's like and how long it takes to grow back etc. And any recommendations on what to do about the pain. Thanks, and hopefully this is the right subforum.