Wednesday, February 2, 2022

A Cautionary Tale: Toe Nail Fungus



Here's a cautionary tale: A savvy friend did a bad thing because she had a momentary lapse of good judgment. At T.J. Maxx she slipped her bare feet into a pair of very cute toe-shaped water shoes. Well, nobody is perfect, however, this one and only time is all it took to catch a nail fungus (a/k/a onychomycosis). She says she never tries on shoes in stores barefooted, but since the water shoes were shaped like real feet, she made an exception because her sock didn't fit into the shoes and she was unsure whether to go up 1/2 size. Still, she knew better! 

Her nail fungus began on the big toe of one foot, but since she had zero experience with this disease, at first she didn't know what was the matter with her big toe ... and so repeatedly soaked her feet in a moisturizing foot bath to treat it, thereby spreading her nail fungus from one big toe to all 20 of her digits, fingers and toes. Yikes!

Her doctor says there is no quick cure for nail fungus, and it is very contagious! If the fungus is on the skin or in-between the toes, it is called Athlete's foot.

The remedy to heal a nail fungus is to swallow a prescription drug called Tervinafine, one tablet per day, for 6 months or longer. Although rarely, Terbinafine can cause liver damage. While taking it, a patient must have a blood test monthly to ensure the drug isn't affecting the liver. Holy Moly!!

My friend recommends also painting a coat of liquid solution with 25% undecylenic acid plus sprinking foot powder containing 2% miconazole nitrate on the nail fugus extra remedies before sticking your feet into socks or sandals.

Geeze! A second of error ... 6, 8, 9, ??? months of medicine and doctor visits to cure it. Is it worth it? No.

As of yesterday, this savvy friend who had a momentary lapse of good judgment is not experiencing any problems with Terbinafine, but golly, let the example of her momentary lapse of good judgment stop the rest of us from trying on rack shoes barefooted that other people may have tired on! I'm sure I've done so a couple of times over the years myself. Boys and girls, just don't do it! Never, ever, um, um, um!! Our moms were right!!!

Other safe practices to keep foot/nail fungus away include: Always walk around public pools or gyms in flip-flops. Use a disposable foot bath moisturizing boot only once, then toss it out. Reusing it is not worth the money saved. 

Many thanks to my friend for sharing her story. The lapses of our friends remind us not to suspend our own good judgment. As my father (quoting Sam Levenson) always said: "Learn from other people's mistakes. Life is too short to make them all yourself!"


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