I woke up this morning to find the beginning of an ingrown toenail on the big toe of my right foot. I experienced a moment of panic and then let my husband lift the toenail and pack it with cotton. The tiny bit of pain I was experiencing quickly diminished.
So, now I'm watching this little event. My first blood sugar reading of the day was 130, which is a little high for me. By lunch time it was down to 75. I was showing no signs of fever. My temperature was a little below normal in fact. I looked at my toe a little bit ago. There is no redness. My supper blood sugar reading is 93 and my temperature is 98.3. All of this is normal.
My doctors have told me that if infection would be present I will have redness, swelling, possibly pain, fever and wacky blood sugar readings.
This is probably more information than you want to know. It just makes me feel better to write about it.
I have to get used to living life. I can't be a hypochondriac that calls the doctor in a panic with everything. I'll give it a week. If it doesn't clear up or looks worse, I'll call the wound surgeon to see if he wants to see me. (He's also a wound specialist.)
This ingrown toenail thing really baffles me. I haven't trimmed my toenails since before I went into the hospital. I did use regular clippers back then instead of the straight edge ones. There's been no problem until now. My sister was going to file them, but we decided against it. I just got the straight edge clippers yesterday and haven't used them yet. The timing is crazy. I've been praying for happy, healthy feet. This wasn't quite what I had in mind. God must be teaching me some sort of lesson.
It's always something.
CW
CreativeWoman posted on Oct 23, 2007
| views: 240
Comments
-
uniquely-ironic said on Oct 23, 2007....
The important thing is that you noticed it and took action right away. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, but I have a feeling you won't need it. -
CreativeWoman said on Oct 23, 2007....
UI,
Thanks. It doesn't hurt anymore, so I think I'm on the right track. I worry for nothing a lot of the time.
CW
-
MissMimi said on Oct 23, 2007....
Well, I don't blame you for being concerned but seems to me you've done all the right things. You're wise to be cautious.Hugs -
CreativeWoman said on Oct 23, 2007....
Mimi,
Thanks. I'm trying to be cautious without panic. That's hard for me after losing the one toe already.
CW
-
wombat said on Oct 23, 2007....
It is certainly understandable that you should be a little cautious and concerned. Who wouldn't be? You sound like you are doing the right things, though--and you know when to see a specialist. -
lfbno7 said on Oct 24, 2007....
I had an ingrown toenail a few years ago. The first foot doctor I went to asked if it hurt me and I said no, and he squeezed it, and that hurt me. What a moron. Then he stuck it with needles that also hurt, and then did a procedure on it, cutting the toenail. He said that there is another procedure that would keep it from growing back but he didn't do that one, and I asked why not, and he said that's a good question.
Then the ingrown part grew back. I went to a different foot doctor, this time not a sadist and moron. I told him it was the second time around with this toe. He did the other procedure, the one to ensure that it won't grow back. When he stuck it with needles it didn't hurt a bit. I guess he uses thinner needles to apply the anesthetic. Nothing he did hurt a bit. And the problem seems to have been completely solved once and for all. It wasn't even an unpleasant experience.
-
silverwhisper said on Oct 24, 2007....
CW, i think that for the first few months after the diagnosis, it's not unusual for patients to call their physicians with questions, stuff that somehow didn't come up during the diagnosis discussion. considering how reserved you normally are, i'm sure you feel unlike your usual self. but be kind to yourself, hm? :>
ed -
Mamie said on Oct 24, 2007....
cw: do you know that little trick about clipping a little V?? -
evil_twin said on Oct 24, 2007....
I don't blame you for being worried about this! I'm a bit of a hypochondriac myself. But you actually have a real reason for feeling like that after everything you went through. I'm sure it's nothing though. Usually ingrown toenails are caused by shoes that are too tight. At least that's what I was told. I've had them before too. Once when I was a kid, I had to have my nail cut in half by a surgeon because it did get infected really bad.
But since then, whenever I feel it start to get sore, I just pick it out myself before it gets bad, and I've never had a problem. So I'm sure you won't either. You caught it before anything could happen. It will all be fine :-)
I also want to add that maybe it started to ingrow because you've been putting most of your weight on your good foot, and it's causing a lot of pressure inside your shoe? It's just something to consider as a possible cause.
-evil_twin LA
-
CreativeWoman said on Oct 24, 2007....
wombat,
I think I'm ok. I think part of the problem was that my toenails were getting too long. I took a deep breath and clipped them this morning. They were making my toes sore. I had to suck it up.
lfb,
I'm glad your problem was solved. So far the cotton trick has worked for me. Even though I'm diabetic, I've been blessed with very tender feet. I notice every little twinge. I got on it early, I guess.
ed,
That's a tall order...being kind to myself...but I'll try.
mamie,
Please tell me about the "v".
evil twin,
I think you are right about my weight distribution. The ingrown toenail is already feeling better. I also had let my toenails get too long. That might be part of it too.
CW
-
Bronx said on Oct 24, 2007....
Toenails often get that way from pricking the skin around it when the nail is untrimmed for a long time.
I have never had that problem because I trim the toenails using a little trick: curve the edges of the toenails as far away from the skin as possible before filing the cut nail smoothly.
Did it for my wife when it happened to her during our early days; never happened again!
Takes a little more time but it's worth it - the sideways growth is what causes the problem usually.
And, as lfbno7 noted, a doctor you're comfortable with helps a lot in solving the problem when it occurs.
-
CreativeWoman said on Oct 24, 2007....
Bronx,
Thanks. I will keep that in mind. I will need to keep a watchful eye from now on.
CW
Comment on "It's always something..."
Related Posts:
evil_twin
posted about 14 hours ago
| views: 102
|
A little update on my health in case anyone is curious....I'm dying without my coffee!... read entire post
woman
posted 4 days ago
| views: 52
|
Miracles Do happen. Today a fiery, beautiful, curly haired little sweetheart is starting school. She is wearing her much loved Hanah Montana shirt and her shoes with "diamonds". Her mother has done her best to tame her curly, strawberry colored hair and t... read entire post
Hegemone
posted 3 days ago
| views: 13
|
So I went to that doctor appointment I mentioned previously. Here's the highlights.Blood Pressure: 120/80
Weight: Gained it, am going to go on weight watchers so I can get a grasp of the regimen I need to have, as I haven't got enough will... read entire post
Beautiful_Disaster
posted about 11 hours ago
| views: 15
|
A messed up blog about a boy and his debauchery. Trying to clean up his crazy life and correct whatever bad habits his picked up along the way.... read entire post