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>From a fellow sufferer who knows that nail fungus is no laughing matter - To: W.H.Bill Olson and all: My case of fungus in the toe nails (3 on the left foot) was only discovered when I went to see the doc about a mysterious ache that he "fixed" with an insole. Without that diagnosis I'd still be wondering if it was just a sign of old age. . . and the fungus among us . . Yuckkkk! His prescription was for something called Diflucan. A once-a-week pill, it too is expensive. Fortunately, covered by my health plan except for $10 each bottle. I believe I have been taking this for well over a year now! It is nearly eradicated from the last nail . . but it a long and expensive business. Fortunately, virtually painless. (So I won't complain for a second. I have no idea how effective this is, but I am ALSO cutting back the nail as much as possible and scraping the top layers of it away. Then I apply Australian tea tree oil, a pungent medicament long used by Australians of all persuasions, and perhaps as acceptable there as aloe vera. As you might guess, I would NOT suggest this as an alternative to traditional "Western" mainstream therapies, like my antifungal tablets. So, as far as I know, thickening and discolored nails are not normal annd should not be ignored. I've seen a severe case of this on the fingernails and the fellow was having quite a time, believe me, because he had taken a casual attitude to this for so long. It wasn't pretty at all! As for burning shoes, well do your shoes cost anything like $426.38? (See below.) My doc did not recommend this, but I will ask him now, and also consider the case for an antifungal powder in the shoes. Neither this powder, nor the creams and lotions will, however, stop the fungus in the nail itself, by the way. Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Mr. Olson. David ----------- On Fri, 4 Oct 1996, William H.Bill Olson wrote: > Margaret, you wrote me in response to my complaint about my thickened toe nails: > Please let me know everything about this particular "wonderous" > side effect > > of our disease. I too am plagued by these elephantine toes, and aside from > the looks of them -- the PAIN! I have been mostly barefoot/sandals for > spring and summer. But, winter is coming -- so, any suggestions you can give > me would be most appreciated. > Margaret, you may have heard the old wise-crack. There is "fungous > amoungus". I had surmised my problem was mostly because as I stumble around, > I have banged my toes many times. I am most vulnerable when I do not have > shoes on in my bed-room. On occasion , I have even lost a little blood. I > mistakenly assumed that trauma alone would do enough damge to the corium of > the nail to thicken it. > My Father had a truly awsome thickness of the nail on one of his big > toes, and he told us kids that appeared after he had a cream can slip out of > his hand and bang down hard on said toe. My brother took a look when he came > clear down from Bemidji Mn. to KCI International airport to be with me at my > first surgery in January. He diagnosed fungous infection. My brother and I > are bothr retired veterinarians. His comment when I reminded him about Dad's > big toe, was that the injury had merely made the toe vulnerable to the > fungous. Both Dad and myself grew up on North Iowa farms, and there are all > kinds of fungi in the barns, I am sure. > My family physician concurs in Bob's diagnosis, and has prescribed a > 90 day supply of an antibiotic product called Lamisil tabs, 250 mg. The cost > is almost prohibitive at $426.38, but it is supposed to be very effective. > I have some concern about reinfection later on. Do you folks out > there on the list have some advice for me?? Has anyone for instance burned > or discarded all there old foot ware. Is that an important thing to do?? > What else should I do to avoid reinfection, and on what schedule?? I am > serious about these things. In case anyone thinks, I am joking, I'm not!! >