Moving on... from feet back to gardening.

Hey, by the way, if you tweet on http://www.twitter/, look me up. I am @tucsonchica


6 months.. yes, 6 months of recovery from the nail fungus that once attacked my toes.

Yikes... all better now. They are healty and pink. Most of the 6 months was the time it took for the nails to grow back. I think the actual fungus stuck around for around 3 months. It slowly retreated. In the wake it left a yellow, dried out nail.

I think this blog should go back to the orinal gardening blog it use to be. Let the past be the past...but first some last words about the ordeal. Yes, it was an ordeal....

The only thing I want to say is that don't give up. Keep up the care. Even if there is no significant improvement..I would suggest to see a doctor if the fungus gets worse after you have treated it for a month.

Read all the posts that I have written about the cure of Toe Nail Fungus. Try my solutions, or invent your own. the true solution is ATTENTION. Strange as that seems, I think that fungus doesn't like attention. Once I started the care, the fugus started to RETREAT. I might be crazy, but I will never ignore my feet again. Most important of all... no more pedicures from strip mall Nail Salons. Nope, not me.. I have learned my lesson.

I spend the time to take care of the feet that allow me to walk, run, skip, and experience life. etc.



I had taken my feet for granted for most of my life. NO more.



Everyday I still scrub all my foot with Tea Tree Oil soap (infused with 1/2 ounce pure tea tree oil) as though I am going into surgery.

I still where shoes EVERYWHERE. Inside, outside... and no POLISH! Toe nails need to breathe!!!!!!!

I still where clean white socks in my athletic shoes.

I keep the heels free of caluses, and moisturized and toe nails short.


It has been fun journaling about the problem, but, it is time to move on. I know it is sad, but it is a good thing. Healing and letting go!

Anyone seen a good movie lately?

Gardening now is for weekends only. I can't see in the dark.

I did have 3 gorgeous blooms on my cactus this morning. Amazing for a November day. It has been extra warm this month. I have never had a cactus bloom in November before. AWESOME !

Have a great day!
Hugs Coriel aka at twittter: @tucsonchica

Turtle Pumpkin Pie recipe at Kraftfoods.com

Turtle Pumpkin Pie recipe at Kraftfoods.com

Toe Nail fungus - continues to improve

Hey, it is almost winter, and several weeks into wearing closed toed shoes. I haven't seen the return of the fungus. I must admit I wear socks with tennis shoes. I pull off the shoes the minute I get home. I thought it would be a bad thing, but shoes and socks keep the toes cleaner than they were in sandals.

I still scrub them every morning, as though I am going into surgery. I also scrub all my foot. I use Tea Tree Oil soap, infused with more tea tree oil. I have listed all the item I used in a previous post.

Maybe, (gasp) I was wrong about closed toed shoes. If they shoes don't squeeze your toes together, and you are wearing socks, I think it is ok. I only wear sneakers during the week, and change to sandals for the weekend.

Maybe, just maybe I am protecting the toes from dirt, and further injury by wearing socks.
I assume so, as the disease has not made a come back. I still put on vapor rub on the toes that were affected every morning. I won't stop being aware of the fact that moisture is bad.

Anyone out there have a comment? Reply to this post. How are you getting rid of your disease?

I was thinking that fungus is a parasite... eeeeeeewwww. It can't live where I won't let it.
It bothers me that I went so long with out nail/foot care. I thought that pedicures once a month WAS GOOD CARE. With the help of the technician lying to me about the black stuff on my toe being a bruise. That is what bothers me. She lied so I wouldn't know she gave me fungus. She wanted me to come back, over and over. She didn't care about me or my health. She didn't want me going around telling people about the disease she gives to poor unfortunate clients.

Going forward I will continue keeping up the scubbing, moisturizing, and removing callous from the heels.

I have't spent a dime in pedicures, but the feet look good.

Write me, and let me know how your process is going.
It is winter, and I am inside, instead of out in my garden. I have time to reply to folks.

Remember, no pedicure from strip mall salons!!! or anywhere else for that matter.
Fight the urge... GO BARE...

ok, now I have an issue I need help with...

Here is a great blog on the subject I had never considered using lemon grass oil. If you have tried this product, please let me know how it works.

Earlier I blogged that sandals are the answer to keeping toe nail fungus away... I still believe this, but my new job requires that I wear closed toed shoes. NOW What....?

I guess I will where them, with socks... clean white socks. You do what is required, and hey, jobs are not easy to find.

I will take them off when I get home and dry out my shoes... wearing a different pair of shoes every day will help. Shoes that are dry, and clean must be better than dirty moist shoes. Glad I live in Tucson! It is very dry here, especially in September. I can take sandals with me in the car and change shoes in the car. In some parts of the world, this may be a problem.

I will keep you informed. EEEEEEGAD.....

As far as treatment goes, I am still scrubbing my toes every morning with Tea Tree oil soap, infused with real tea tree oil. ( As though my toes are going into surgery) I bought the product at Wal Mart and added my own pure Tea Tree oil in addition to what ever strength that it had in it. I really don't want the toe nail fungus to come back. Duh!!!!

I guess I went way over board in this endevour. But, hey, I could do worse. I do run out of nail brushes quite often. Don't ever let anyone else use your foot care tools, as fungus is contagious.

In addition to the extensive cleaning in the shower every morning, I put on Sea Breaze astringent. That alcohol based product really soaks into the nail and attacks the fungus, and appears to keep the black stuff away. I found out that the fungus can permanently change your nail growth, and act as a parasite to your body.

That's it ... no more toe nail medicine, as all indications are that the fungus has gone.
I still put my toes in the sun whenever possible. The healing power of the sun was key to the removal of the fungus.

And I wear shoes/ slippers all the time. Inside and outside. This was the most difficult change as I have spent most of my life bare footed. Learning to wear comfy slippers inside was a challenge. In winter it will be easier.

Reminder: Toe Nail Fungus doesn't like

Sunlight / Fresh air
Clean DRY enviroments
Mycocide - Walmart $20.00 Camp Phenique, Vicks Vapor Rub, Sea Breeze Astringent
Attention of any kind ( it likes to be left alone and go unnoticed.)
Alcohol based products
Tea Tree oil /Tea Tree oil soap scrubs daily


So, provided you keep the above in mind, fungus should not be on your feet.

Please reply and let me know how your are doing with your efforts.

Toe nail fungus be gone!!!! I think it is anyway...here is an update

ok, I am updating my current toe nail condition. The nail looks great. I have kept up all the care, and feel confident. Here is a synopsis of what I do, however, it has changed as my fungus fight has continued.

I keep my feet clean. (I wear shoes in my house, and everywhere.) I scrubb the entire foot every morning, like I am going into surgery.

I keep watchout for any sign of returning fungus. I have suspected it a few times. I don't get upset, I just continue with the cleaning, and the medicine. I will never use nail polish again.

I have changed to Vics Vapor Rub as a treatment. It has menthol, eucalyptis and campor all mixed together. I use it on the toe nail and all around the toe. Sometimes I use it as a moisturizer for the entire foot.
It is soothing...
More later...

More on life AFTER toe nail fungus

Ok, I keep thinking of more details on how to recover from the heart break of toe nail fungus.

I just tried Campho Phenique... it is cheap ($4.99 Wal mart) and is powerful. I put some on my nails to help the healing process. I might have used it instead of Mycocide, if I had know about it during the treatment process. The odor of camphor is bad, however. This may be a problem going to work and have this strong odor coming from my feet.

As I mentioned in my last blog on the subject, the nail needs to be cut way back to get to the fungus. It allows air to get to the fungus and also lets in light and the medication. This is an important step. I think it will quicken the healing process. The old dirty yellow nail needs to come off. I was shocked at how much nail actually came off. It was ugly anyway. The problem was I had almost no toe nail left. That is my current issue. Growing the nail back takes two to three months at best.

After clipping the nail back, I filed the top of the nail. I have wondered if the nail itself lets medicine in. I filed a lot of yellow nail off the top, and made the nail thinner. I was hoping this will allow more medicine down to the nail bed. I have to search the web to find out if this assumption is true. I will blog about it, if I find out the answer. Anyway, being new to this problem, I am experimenting with different treatments. Please reply to this blog if you agree or disagree that toe nail fungus is pourous.

Update: 1 month later- I am happy to report that daily scubbing and toe nail care has immensly improved the situation. I still have more nail to grow out, but what is there looks healthy and happy.

I think being deligent, and patient works! Do Not Give Up! I also did some research on toe nails. They are porous. The fungus does thicken the nail as part of symptoms, so file the nail bed down and make it thinner. I am sure it is due to the daily scrubbing with tea tree oil soap, and keeping the toe nails in the sun and clean. I was told by several people that they had fungus return!!!! I am not one of those people. I heard that your immune system, if not in tip top shape can allow it to return. So I suggest that you take care of your entire body to help keep the black stuff away.

I had to where closed toed shoes yesterday and I didn't like it at all. I am glad that I live in a warm climate. I could not wait to get my sandals back on! I find closed toed shoes very uncomfortable now.

I take a Green Tea pill every day. It is organic condensed green tea. I am not a tea drinker, so this works for me. I feel better, and it is suppose to be great for my immune system. Anyway, I will continue to watch for the black stuff and keep my body healthy. Green tea is suppose to be an old chinese cure for tons of illness.


Now I have gotten rid of the unsightly fungus ( black/brown/ugly) I have most of my pink toe nail back. The nail is very short and needs to grow out. So, I don't want to cause anything to happen to bring the fungus back. I won't put any type of nail poslish on again! (persish the thought) I might put on polish if I am going to a special event. I will take it off right after the event however. I think the polish helped hide the fungus, so I didn't treat it right away. As stated in my last blog, I was told my black toe nail was do to a bruise, and to IGNORE it! (Thanks to the nail spa people that don't know a thing) I could have attacked it earilier, the process would not have taken 3 months. I have saved $30.00 times 5 (and tons of time) since I have started the remedies by not getting pedicures. I have spent $50.00 on various toe nail products... so this is not expensive. It is however very important. I am continuing to research remedies, and products. If anyone out there has some other remedies, please reply to this blog.

I have done some research that said that Fungus can spread, and most importantly, CONTAGIOUS. It can become an internal infection, it can infect your other toes and cause all kinds of other problems with your body.

Do a google search.. you will be shocked. Remember 1 out of 5 people have it. NO ONE talks about it. I got it from someone else in a public place. I just don't know where. Don't let others use your toenail brush, nail clippers or where your shoes. You can spread the fungus! Where open toed shoes everywhere. I am readjusting to not having pretty painted toes. I will give up the vainity.

So off I go to find stuff that helps the growth of the nail. Natural products only, I hope.
I think all the scrubbing in the shower will help the circulation/healing/growth. I think I will put campho phenique on it in the mornings. It is anti microbial. That means it kills the microbes that IS the fungus. It has a strong oder. It is also oil based. I think the oil will help with the nail growth.

Well, the whole ordeal has made me a clean foot fan. I take better care of the entire foot now.
I scrub the heals and apply heal cream. It is amazing how great my feet look now. NO more shopping mall pedicures for me! NOT EVER....I was hiding my feet before... now I think the are much prettier, and healthier. I didn't spend $100's on doctor visits. I would have gone to the doctor is all the above actions didn't work.

I have heard/read of other stuff used in the fungus killing game.

These are:
Soaking the toes in Listerine.
Soaking the toes in vinegar. (apple cider)
Soaking the toes in alcohol.
Using Vicks Vapor rub on the toe.
Removing the entire toe nail (ouch)
Taking anti biotics... (ewwwww)

I should start a blog on self - pedicures in general.
Anyone use great foot care products, lets chat...
Reply to this blog..

Onto healthier feet!

This is a blog about toe nail fungus. I had it, and now I think I should blog about how I cured it... or I think I cured it. I understand it can always come back. Ewwwwwww

First, I want to tell you not to get pedicures at local nail shops. I got it from at a nail spa, and have spent 3 months trying to get rid of it. I loved getting pedicures... but I have broken that habit. No WAY....

No matter how clean a salon looks, fungus spores are there! I love having pretty toes, and soft feet. Now, I do it myself, but without painting my toes. I live without it. I save 30 dollars and the heart ache of toe nail fungus.

Did I mention that the nail technitian ( who said she was my friend) repeatedly told me that the black on my toes was a bruise and NOT to worry about it. She knew it was fungus, but would not tell me the truth.

I should report the salon! But, that is another blog entirely.

Thank God I didn't listen to her and took matters to the web!

So, true confessions aside, it was a long way to happy toes ... the heart break!

If you have it, you can join 20% of the american population. You aren't alone and that is an understatement. There is power in numbers. It is rare that anyone will talk about it, but it's very common.

Here are some tips to getting your healthy toe nails back!

1. Get that toe nail in the sun. Don't paint your toes, any of them.
Take off the polish and leave it off. Fungus hates sunlight. That is why it grows so well under polish. It will always be there to haunt you if you don't attack it. My fungus has disapeared, but I am still treating my nails as if they had it. I think I will do so for at least a month. I put my unpolished clean toes in sandals. I also take every extra moment and let the toes sit in sunshine. The healing power of the sun really helps get that fungus to GO AWAY.

3. Don't wear closed toed shoes. If you have to wear them because of the weather, take sandals with you. Closed toed shoes allow your toes to hide and stay moist. You want dry clean toes. That is easiest if you keep them in open toed sandals. Closed toed shoes are damp and cause your toes to be cramped. I did read on the net that the pressure from closed toed shoes can increase the fungus issue. I also think fungus can keep growing in closed toed shoes, so you will reinfect yourself everytime you put those shoes on!!!!!! One fungus spore.. can bring the entire infection back! So beware and become a clean freak.

I live in Tucson, so the weather is warm all year. Sandals work out great. This is a good thing.

4. Fungus hates clean enviroments, so I wash my toes every morning like I am going into surgery. I take a toe nail brush and scrub them hard. I scrub all my toes, even those not infected.

Only my big toes, (both) were infected. I try to keep my feet a clean as possible during the day.
I garden, so in the mornings they do get dirty. This is why I scrub them so hard after my gardening duties are over. I use tea tree oil body wash soap (Wal Mart) . Scrub Scrub . If the fungus doesn't like it, it can leave... haha I actually scrub the whole foot... but I am a little anal.

Tea tree oil is an antisetic antifungal medication. You can get the true tea tree oil at any health food store. I have put the pure oil on in full strength a few times. It has a strong odor.
5. After a good cleaning I dry them off. and apply Sea Breeze liquid. Sea Breeze is an alcohol based product. I apply it with a cotton pad. I think this tip alone will bring you relief.
I found that fungus hates alcohol. Yeah!!!!!


6. Then I apply Mycocide. (Wal Mart $20.00) It is invaluable. I apply it liberally. Then I put on my sandals. Mycocide doesn't have an odor. As soon as I run out of it, I will stop applying it. I think I am at the stage where I can just keep the toes clean, in sunlight and dry. I will report back.

7. Always wear shoes. I use to go bear foot in the house, I don't any longer. Sandals keep your toes out of the dirt. Dirt is food for fungus... starve that fungus....

8. I trimmed the affected nail(s) back as far a possible. My toe nails were separated from the nail bed because of the fungus. (Bruise, I think not!) I trimmed all the nail back to the point the nail started to attach to the bed. I cut off a lot of nail. Almost half of the entire surface. This exposed the fungus to the air! Then I scrubbed all the fungus off, and cleaned the area and applied the Mycocide. This sounds like a lot to do, but I wanted my nails back. I will never let that happen to my nails again. I take great care of my feet now and feel great about it. I examine the toes every day and make sure that there is no sign of the big black fungus.

If you can treat/clean your toes twice a day, results were fairly quick. I am now only treating them in the mornings. I have no sign of fungus, and the nail bed looks healthy.
When I started the nail was completely black and lifting off toe. Scary but true.

You can do it... if you have had success please reply to this blog.
If you use different cures, pleaes let me know.
Thanks and good luck.

Anyone in Tucson like growing Cactus? I love to see the huge blooms on them in the spring and summer. Some of them even bloom in the fall. Cactus are low maintenance. They thrive when all other plants die off in the summer. They require very little water, and less nutrients.

Anyone out there like growing cactus? Let's share tips.

Thanks

The Heat is brutal, who do I check in with?

This morning I found myself sweating and exhausted by 6:30 am. Gardening isn't for the light hearted. Tucson is known for heat. I know that, but no rain, but all the humidity is getting to me this summer. Do I want some whine with that cheese?

Many plants are dying, frying, and basically disappearing, in my pampered Garden.
I can't wait until Fall gets here. I would love to have 80 degrees and holding.