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Could this be lupus related?

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Posted 10/24/2007 5:12 AM (GMT 0)
I'm curious as to whether or not what I have going on right now is lupus related or not.  This is very abnormal to have happen to me.  I took my nail polish off my toes tonight and found that my toe nails have not grown at all on either foot.  I haven't had a pedicure since August at the shop I work at and that was the last time they were cut.  I know it isn;t a foot fungus because my toe nails aren't changing colors and I know for a fact that our pedicure tubs and tools are very well cleaned, sanitized, and bleached out for 20 minutes after every client.  My finger nails are growning like normal but I find it very odd that my toenails aren't.  They look just like what they did when I had my pedicure back in August.  No sign of any bit of growth at all.  Hass anyone had this happen?  I have a rheumy appt on the 1st and am going to bring it up with him but I'm just curious if anyone has ever had this occur.  Or else maybe I am just strange! yeah
Posted 10/24/2007 12:58 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Froggers, just wanted to comment on your post.  I was diagnosed two years ago with mild Inflammatory Arthritis and RA.

I too take Biotin for my hair, nails, and skin.  It has helped tremendously with all.  I take 5000 mgs a day.  I have noticed a big difference in my hair and nails.

The last time I visited my Rheumy (Sept) I ask him about the ridges and pin holes in two of my nails.  All he said was that hey were unhealthy.  No real explanation.  It switches around to different fingers.  Right now it is only on my little finger, middle finger and thumb of my right hand.  You can feel and see the difference.  But does not affect the growth.  I always think everything is related to my condition. 

I was also having some toenail issues (not fungus) in the summer, I have had pedicures and worn polish forever only letting my toenails breath during the winter months (maybe 4 months out of year) I first went to a dermatologist then ended up going to a Podiatrist for a second opinion and she said I needed to stop wearing polish for long periods of time and use it only when going to functions wearing sandals, then take the polish off as soon as I got home.  Anyway I have not worn polish since the summer and my toenails could not look better.   My toenails do not have the ridges my fingernails do.

When you take the polish off do your toenails look discolored from the polish?  Mine always looked super white in certain places and normal in others.  I guess my toes were just smothering with all the base coat, polish, top coats.  I never gave them a chance to really breath.

It did take a while to get better.   Good luck  AnnieRae

 

Posted 10/24/2007 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Marianne!!! So nice to see you again!!! Its been a way long time!! Maybe Ginny and Babs will see your post and pop in to say hello!! I have had my toenails stop growing for about a month at a time, but the post from AnnieRae makes sense, I was wearing toenail polish all the time. Now I'm not, and there is plenty of growth. My nails do weird things too. I have longwise ridges that cause my nails to split along those lines and then there is sometimes a crosswise ridge that will eventually grow out. weird. I do also notice that when I start/stop a med, the nail changes starting from the base and you can see a difference until it grows out. Yes! the bioten. I'll have to get some more of that, it did seem to help hair and nails. I was actually giving one tab a day to my dogs and it helped their coats too. Nice to see you posting!! Blessings!
Posted 10/25/2007 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
The polish thing does make sense but not really in my case.  I don't wear polish that much and when my coworker does my nails she only puts 2 coats on and that is it but I have been getting pedicures for months now and even before that I've had tons of polish on my toes at all times.  This is way too weird for me to be happening.  I have a few ridges in a couple of my finger nails but they've been that way since I was little.  I've stopped taking the biotin awhile ago because I was sick of shaving my legs every day because it didn't make my nails grow or the hair on my head, but all the rest of my hair sure did grow!  I am on Amitriptyln (generic for Elavil) 25mg and going to get it upped next Thursday because the darn insomnia is back again in full swing and it's supposed to be knocking me out.  Now could this be related to my nails:  A couple of weeks ago, I had mysterious bruises show up on the tops of both of my feet.  But here's the strange thing, I never dropped anything on them, fell, kicked anything, etc.   Then last Sunday, I could not put any weight on my left foot and it throbbed so bad for a week and a half.  I had xrays done and they came back negative.  My dr told me to stay off of them for a little while and to take 2 Aleve twice a day and see if the pain goes away.  The majority of the pain has gone away and I can walk on it normal again but there is still some pain.  I swear, I think I am the 22 yr old walking medical mystery!! LOL

Posted 10/25/2007 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
I should have updated my new info before I posted again! yeah
Posted 10/25/2007 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
Uh oh Marianne . . . I hope the feet issue isn't going to stick. It can be an ongoing issue in some Lupus patients. My pain has seemed to migrate. Started in my fingers (20 yrs old) and worked it's way up my arms, shoulders, back and down my legs. I told my doctor that I'm picturing the Lupus going thru my body and right out my feet. LOL Now the arm issues seemed to have disappeared and the feet issues are way better, but my hips and knees are still an issue, even when taking all my meds. I hope this just clears up for you lil' sis!! Blessings!
Posted 10/25/2007 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
Marianne! I need to facebook with you more....

 

Okay, the nail thing isn't unusual I think.  I have to trim my toenails about once a month, but my sister and mom trim them maybe 2 times a YEAR!  What is so interesting about your question is that my mom, sister and I were talking about our toenails YESTERDAY!  Weird eh!  I think it really depends on our metabolisms and hormones more than anything.  I take Amitriptyline too and have never heard of that stuff being involved with nail issues.  I think I'd be really concerned if there was fungus or infection happening.  But hey, you don't have to do a pedicure as often!  YAY!  Hehe.... Sure check with your rheumy.  Let us know what they say!

 

Oh, the feet pain thing.  Were you checked for Gout? Was there any pain in your big toe in particular?  I had gout earlier this year and holy moly, the pain in my feet was BAD.  I had a simple blood test done for gout and it was positive. I had to up my prednisone for about 10 days and the pain and gout went away. It's common in lupus.  Just a thought.  Gout is a build up of uric acid that settles in the the joints.  It can hit anywhere in the body, but like to settle in the feet mostly. A gravity thing. 

 

Keep us posted okay!

Ginny

 

 

Posted 10/25/2007 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
The weird thing is that I normally have to trim my toenails like every couple weeks or so so it is strange for them to just all of a sudden stop.  I wasn't checked for gout because the pain was mainly int he top part of my foot and where my toes start all along there.  I had my massage therapist look at it and feel because I thought maybe it was a bad muscle spasm and she said there was a lot of inflamtation in there. I wrapped it up and then my whole ankle and leg started to swell up but then go back down and then back up again.  My poor PCP must be getting sick of me because I come in with all sorts of things that are actually happening, he runs a bunch of tests, sends me to specialists, and everything comes back normal.  He has flat out told me a couple times "I know you have all these symptoms and I know you aren't lying, but I have no idea what the heck is wrong with you."  
Posted 10/25/2007 5:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Marianne, it is good to hear from you. I'm like Ginny's mom and sisters my finger nails grow like crazy but my toe nails have to get trims about 2 times a year. I realize that you have always had to trim your but it is possible that your body it changing some. You're only 22. My finger nails NEVER used to grow but now they are so think I can use them as a screw driver! I'm 50 years old and it just has been in the last few years this started. Maybe your chemistry has changed due to some of your meds? I don't know maybe it is Lupus related but I would think if anythink it might be Raynauds or somthing that effects your finger tips and toes. Anyway I just mostly wanted to say high and I see you are getting married. Congratulations! Look at it this way at least your hubby won't complain about you poking him with your long toenails!
If it is really a concern I would be discussing it further with your doctor. This lousey disease does all kinds of strange things.
hugs
carol
Posted 10/26/2007 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
It could be my chemistry changing.  Who knows anymore with this disease.  I'm back to the tops of my feet hurting again when I wake up in the mornings.  Yesterday morning and especially this morning my feet were in so much pain that I could hardly walk on either of them.  No bruising again yet and hopefully it won't happen again but this time the pain is much more worse than the pain I had before.  Just what I need when I have to run the spa tomorrow and make sure 14 people+ are taken care of, catered to, and also make sure everything is running smoothly with the other girls and laundry and whatnot are taken care of.  No time for a break :( *sighs* The joys of life....somewhat.

Posted 10/26/2007 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
Marianne . . . please consider wearing walking or jogging shoes to work it might be your best friend. Also ask your doctor if you can take Aleeve or Ibuprofen for a while and see if that might help. When is your next appointment?? If it isn't really soon, you should get in to see him as you may be starting a flare. *Rosie whispers* we are trying to get all the members signatures down to 9 lines or less. It really helps Peter keep the forum running faster . . . thanks sis!! Keep us posted. Blessings!
Posted 10/26/2007 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
I used to have fingernails that wouldn't grow and toenails that would when I hit 24-25 that switched all of the sudden. And as for the foot pain thing I had a similar thing happen to me. My feet were getting so inflamed that when I stood for too long they started causing bruises. I fixed it by taking a couple of baby aspirin a day and my pred. My doc also suggested for me to wear diabetic socks but they hurt too much.
Posted 10/27/2007 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
On the opposite end of the spectrum....I have to cut both fingernails and toenails every week. Always have, but with the lupus it just seems the weeks are shorter and some times I think all I'm doing with my life is sitting around cutting nails! Ain't it a drag when lupus throws everything off balance and such minor things become a big deal!
Posted 10/27/2007 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
I have an appt with my rheumy next Thursday.  I wore my good sneakers (K-Swiss) but my feet seemed to hurt worse when I was wearing those throughout the day.  I normally wear flip-flops (I know it is so bad for me) but I've done that for years and my feet seem to be better when I can take my shoes off and walk around barefoot.  I know, I'm strange.  I told ya guys!  I take 2 Aleve twice a day and no matter what, my feet still hurt. 

*whispers back to Rosie*  is my signature Peter approval now?  I can change it if need be.

Posted 10/27/2007 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
*Rosie whispers again to Marianne* Its great . . . thank so much . . . YES Peter will hug you for it!! And the forums run faster!!! Thanks sis! Sorry about your feet . . . DO mention to your doc. Blessings!
Posted 10/27/2007 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
You're not that strange! I thought I was lol. My feet go through the same thing I can't keep shoes on for the whole day and if I try to my feet burn and hurt. I can't remember the last time I was able to even put on a pair of tennies. I normally wear moccassins when I have to wear shoes.
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