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7 May 2004 Infected Nails Today, I'm typing with only half of my fingers. If my corner is to describe “Living with PC” then today is the day to tell you something I dread about PC life: Infected nails! I rarely get them. But lately, I've had a slew of them. A week ago the nail and surrounding skin on my pinky finger swelled up like a big red balloon. A thick red line ran from the nail to the end of my finger. I soaked my finger in warm water until the nail was very soft. Then I used a clean, sharp razor blade and gently cut through the nail just a little bit to let out the thick, yellow pus. Then I soaked the finger again to get out any more pus. Because the nail bed was exposed, I applied antibiotic ointment and a band-aid for protection. Pus has continued to ooze out of the nail for the past week, but the red streak did go away. I played the odds that the nail would heal on its own without an antibiotic. If I ever see a red streak on one of my boys, it's off to the doctor we go – that day .
I've had another infection on my thumb nail that I was able to lance as well, but it didn't hurt as much and now it's healing. However, I woke up at 5:30 this morning to the throb of another swollen nail on the same hand. As usual, the pain was so bad I couldn't sleep. Once again, I soaked, lanced, and bandaged the nail. But the pain is so intense, I can hardly think about anything else. This nail also has a red streak traveling from it up my finger. I also have three nails on the other hand that have become red and swollen today and some of the blisters on my feet have been infected as well. It's like infection is raging through my body.
This time I'm not playing the odds that the infections will heal on their own. This kind of pain is frustrating. Something as simple as putting on socks is tedious with so many nails affected. So, soon I'll be picking up a prescription for an oral antibiotic. Fortunately for me, I have a good relationship with my dermatologist. He trusts that I will only ask for a prescription when I truly need one. And he can trust me. The last thing I want to do is overuse antibiotics – especially since I rely on them so much when infections get this bad. I'm grateful for my doctor, because when I really need an antibiotic, I'm typically in a lot of pain and going through the motions of a doctor's visit is only more difficult. But if he ever feels like he needs to see me, he'll let me know and I'm happy to come on in to get his medical care.
And today I need it the medicine. I'm already dreading the three nails that are already starting to throb but don't seem to have pus in them yet. The nail on my pinky finger that's healing is still oozing pus, and the one I lanced this morning, well, let's just say when something hurts this much, it's hard to focus much on anything else. My boys are coming home from school soon. We'll go to piano lessons, the pharmacy, and then the annual school carnival. At the carnival, while my kids go from activity to activity, I plan to find a spot on the grass to sit because my feet are sore from the heat of the day and yes, my fingers hurt so badly I can barely stand to touch anything with them. I've no doubt, the many parents I know will come and sit with me and we'll chit chat about kids, school and summer plans. And that will be good, because they will have no idea that they are keeping my mind off my pounding fingers. I'll be happy for any diversions while I wait for the antibiotic to fight off the infections so my nails can get back to “normal”.
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