Dr. Internet to the rescue

[susandennis]

I have this toe that has been hurting on and off for weeks and weeks now. Finally yesterday, I took it to Dr. Internet. I suspected it was not gout because it felt different, and didn't get dramatically worse over time and the pain wasn't in the joint. Turns out, the pain is really localized to one side of the nail. It's the big toe and even though there is no outward signs, I really think it's an ingrown toenail situation. So today starts 3 or 4 twenty minute soakings in warm water with Epsom salt every day. We'll see how that goes but I'm hopeful.

We had really high winds over the weekend. They closed part of one of our floating bridges because the waves on the lake were too high. But there were no winds forecast for today. Ooops. Turns out there were freakishly high wind gusts as I was topping another bridge to the pool. The West Seattle bridge rides high over water and roads. My little Smart car was getting blown all over the road. It was really kind of frightening. I made it but was not looking forward to the trip home.

On said trip, it turns out a motorcyclist on my same route was not so lucky. There were all manner of cops and firefighters and other aid vehicles on both sides of the bridge as I came home. Also several cars involved. What a mess. I was glad to get home in one piece.

The pool was mine alone this morning. As I was getting out of the pool, one of the regulars came in and I remarked at the lack of crowds. His answer was "Well, if you don't have to go to work, why in the heck would you get up at this hour to swim?" er, well... I just left him with a "have a nice swim".

Ok, now we have a situation. I fixed up the hot water and Epsom salt and brought it over to my chair and plopped my foot in it. 20 minutes ago. I brought no towel or anything else. It seems I have lost my project management skills.

Oh well, I'll air dry it I guess. Also, note to me... roll up your pant leg next time, stupid.

I need to make a run up to the sewing shop but, I just saw on Instagram that they are observing weekend hours and so opening up later than normal. Good to know. I don't remember President's Day being such a big deal back in the day but 1. It wasn't President's Day for most of my 'back in the day ' and 2. My memory sucks and 3. I can't remember 3 (see 2).

Meanwhile I think I'll go hang up my suit and dry off my foot.

Comments

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

It was really windy as I drove to work and the car in front of me had a trailer that was being blown all over the place. I kept well back

[susandennis]

I rarely think/worry about being in such a small car until that damn wind kicks up! I get a real wizard of oz fear.

[jocosa]

Really windy here as well. And drizzly.

I nanny for 3 boys (11m, 3, 5). The 3yr olds preschool is closed M & T. The 5yr old gets the whole damn week off. The school district calls it Presidents week. It's ridiculous. It's going to be a looooong week.

[susandennis]

but, on the up side, you made my week look WAY better! so thanks!!

[sweetmeow]

Oh ugh -- ingrown toenails. Ugh. I am prone to them, and have had to have them cut away from the side of my toe twice by a podiatrist, but I waited to do that until I was pretty much in agony. It sounds awful, but they give you something to deaden the pain, so it's not as bad as it sounds.

I feel for you. Soaking it does help by softening the skin, then add lotion so they don't get so dry. I learned one other thing from the doctor who cut them out: cut the nails straight across, not too short, and don't cut the toe nail sides downward so the sides are shorter than the middle of the nail. The problem I have is that my toe nails ARE curved inward, which encourages them to grow into the skin. But - with good soaking, and cutting them straight across, I've kept ingrowns at bay for about 3 years now. I also think - in my case - that getting pedicures didn't help, and actually encouraged ingrown growth, so I don't do that anymore.

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

This is true for me, too. I really loved getting pedicures, too, because I can't reach or see well enough to do it myself. It's a PITA during the summer, with sandals. I try not to make too big a mess of it.

[susandennis]

I've never had a pedicure. I don't like the idea of someone messing with my feet (even though I'd love for them to look nicer).

forgot to cream the toe after my soak. thanks for the reminder sweetmeow! fixing now

[sweetmeow]

I used to get pedicures periodically mainly because my feet were so awful - dry and scaly, and it was just nice to have someone else do it, even though I didn't enjoy the process like all the "digging" the nail techs do around the nail bed. For a while, the nail techs were actually cutting out my ingrown toenails each time I went (and it was quite painful), but the same process actually encouraged them to grow back because of the manner in which they cut around the nail.

I miss pedicures -- and painted toe nails -- and getting my heels "de-scaled", but I now want to control much more closely how my nails are cut.

[sweetmeow]

I relate to not being able to reach and see well, but I do the best I can. Around "sandal season" is when I care most about how my feet look, but like you, I don't stress about the dryness and scaly heels! I admit - I do miss painted toenails and less dry and scaly feet! But not having ingrown toenails is worth it.

[hopefulspirit.livejournal.com]

I hope the soaking helps your toe feel better. My Mom used to have a horrible time with ingrown toenails, it really can be miserable.

That wind sounds awful to drive in. I hope it doesn't last long.

I'm working despite the holiday. I don't think I've ever worked anywhere that has President's Day off. On the good side, several of my office's clients are closed, so that means less phone calls for me to answer. lol

[susandennis]

We never had any of the specific days for president off but, living in the south, we always got Jefferson Davis' birthday as major (not just banks and gov) holiday. I thought everybody did until I got out of the south and discovered there were people who didn't even know who he was.

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

One helpful thing for a slightly ingrown toenail is to slide a piece of dental floss under it as it's growing out. It keeps it from embedding further. I always rinse the mint off first so it doesn't have a chance to burn. Just FYI.

[susandennis]

I read the pros and cons of doing that (none mentioned your mint trick, however!) and I'm considering... but it sounds painful. Good to hear about real life success tho. Thanks

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

Not painful at all. I just angle from the corner and work it under. It's so thin that it's not as painful as using an orange stick or a file. Then just trim it with a couple inches on either end. With a sock on, I never had issue with it falling out either. I figured, what can it hurt, really? Plus, you can lift the nail out of the built up cuticle gently and encourage it not grow back in.

[billinaction.livejournal.com]

No ingrown toe story here but I had a toe fungus that started off as a weird pain. Any kind of pressure from shoes or touching it and it felt like I hit it with a hammer. If it seems more serious, check out the real doctor. I hope you get some release!

[susandennis]

I actually thought they were kind of rare (we have 2 here in Seattle) but your comment made me wickipedia to see for sure and turns out there are lots :)

[howeird]

I'm gonna say this even though I know you're allergic. I use to have chronic ingrown toenails. A visit to a podiatrist (or maybe it was an orthopedic surgeon) got the sides of the nails on both left and right big toes trimmed off, and then they applied some kind of chemical which stops the side of the nail from growing.

Epsom salts soaks help. Not so sure about dental floss.

And yeah, I had a pedicure once. Tiny Vietnamese pedicurist landed halfway across the room when she hit the ticklish spot. Never again.