Anyone's nails doing something weird?

[Wheetsin 714]

I don't think is related to the band, but I do think it's related to either low-carb eating habits, or maybe just a change in eating habits, or maybe just general weightloss. This has happened to me once before, about 4 months into my Atkins experience. Never happened before, or since, until now. Anyway...

My nails, where the white meets the pink, will start to look sort of transparent in a thin band, following the contour of the nail. Does this for a few days. Then the transparent area starts to turn a reddish purple, but not everywhere, just in spots - sometimes big spots, sometimes little spots, sometimes tiny spots... but all spots follow the ridges in my nail, it's just a matter of how deep into the pink area they go. After the spots have been there a few days, the area will start to have a weird discharge from under the nail. It DOES NOT have any odor or color, and when it dries it just looks like a shiny area, almost like there's dried superglue there. It's thicker than Water because if you push down with your finger, pushing the nail against the skin, it will "stick" for a bit before pulling free... tacky, kind of like glue. The best example I can think of is that it's almost like serum (the clear Fluid that is in blisters). There's no pain/discomfort. From what I remember (last happened about 2 years ago) it will stat sticky/wet for maybe a week, then it will be better, and the white of my nail will be lower down on the bed than it used to, like the pink area where the weird stuff formed becomes detached... but eventually it goes back to normal.

I went to my doc last time this happened and she wasn't sure what it was. She ruled out infection, under-nail fungus, and all other things usually associated with weird nail things. She finally ruled it as, "irritation" and told me to come back if it didn't clear up. It did, so I didn't. I assumed it was a one-time fluke kind of thing until now.

Last time it started with my left ring finger, and this time it's starting in the same place. Last time it ended up hitting both ring fingers, both little fingers, and right hand index finger. So far I only see "signs" of it on my left ring finger and left little finger.

BTW, I don't wear fake nails or anything else known to cause problems. I do get manicures, but I don't have them polish, just buff & oil. Nothing has happened out of the oridinary, I've been doing the same things for years and have only had this happen the two times that I've changed dietary habits.

Anyone else or am I all by my lonesome?

[Dianechef 3]

Okay, I read over your post twice & I can't seem to understand or picture what your fingernails are doing?!? Is there anyway for you to post a picture?!?!

[Wheetsin 714]

I can post one when I get home. I have a pic from the last incident, too, but I don't know the URL off-hand.

[DeLarla 22]

Sounds like a nail infection to me. I had something similar once, but only one one thumbnail. The nail eventually cracked down the center and came off immediately, then after a round of antibiotics it cleared up and grew back in to normal. Maybe this problem isn't diet related?

[Angie71 0]

It sounds a little like mine and it was my thyroid.

[Wheetsin 714]

I dunno. Doc said infection would involve discoloring of the nail, or pus discharge, bad odor, redness, pain/tenderness... and I didn't have any of that. Didn't have a fever... If I couldn't see it happening, I'd have had no idea it was going on. It also cleared up on its own w/o medication in just a few more days.

I don't know for sure it's related to anything around what I'm eating, that's just my best guess since the only other time I've had anything remotely like this was the only other time I've had significant weightloss, been eating a low carb diet, etc. It could be unrelated. It's just the only "what's the same now & then" factor there is. I know, I hate it when people are like, "Oh I have a headache and I got banded a month ago, is my band causing headaches?!" but in my case, eating/weightloss are the only consistents.

I'll grab some pics ASAP.

[Kat817 19]

I'm not sure I really understand what exactly your nails are doing, and not sure this will help, although fairly sure it will not hurt!!!

My FIL got a nail fungus, and is diabetic, so he was having a really bad time clearing it up, and finally read a Dr. column inthe newspaper about applying Vicks Vapo-rub to the nail twice a day, and it cleared it up, after several rounds of antibiotics failed to. He just rubbed it in, like a lotion morning and night.....

Like I say, it might not help, but shouldn't hurt if all else fails either. Good Luck!!

Kat

[Wheetsin 714]

No worries. I was just wondering if anyone had experienced the same thing, since we're all (hopefully) sharing the weightloss experience.

[Jachut 487]

I'd be suspecting diet to be honest. Spots on your nails and ridges and things like that are signs of deficiencies of things like Iron. But such is life being banded - have you tried a hair, nail and skin supplement? Are you taking a multi?

If you start taking something specific it could take a few months to take effect.

Its always possible of course that its something specific to you that you're prone to and not diet related, but it'd be my first thought, especially since it happened before when you were dieting.

[Morsaille 4]

Sounds kind of freaky and would probably scare the snot out of me if I started leaking lymph from my fingers. I am a MAJOR 'me-too-er' from way back and have never heard anything like this.

Dietary? Hormonal? I think heavy metals affect your nails, did you have rapid weight loss on Adkins? You are city right?

Interesting, very interesting. Take care and keep us posted.

[Nana~ 4]

let us know what it is when you find out! I wanna see photos too.

Mine went thru a peeling stage I know was lack of Vit. So I started taking them again they would peel like they had sunburn or something lol.

Other than that I have super thick "Dragon toes" toe nails I hate them, and my nails will grow some then break off at the base...Im too rough for pretty nails I think lol

[hairagain 0]

I have noticed my nails are kind of weak and breaking easily. My hair is also falling out by the ton. I am taking Nioxin hair and skin supplements as well as a one a day. I am using the nioxin products to for Shampoo and conditioning and styling. I would like to know what causes the hair to fall out . I know it is fairly common in weight loss. I asked the doc and he wanted to know if I am getting enough protien. I think so because I have not really lost much wieght. About 20 lbs. Just had a fill today and am hoping things will start to move along faster now. I feel like I have pretty good restriction today. Had Soup for dinner and I felt full. still do in fact.

that is a good thing. I was hoping to go for a walk tonight and it is very cold and windy here. I may have to consider the tread mill. Ick!

Any ideas about the hair anyone?

[vluckey 1]

My nails got wierd. I added a Calcium supplement to my Vitamin regimen and they are fine now. Spots are a definite sign of deficiency.

[vinesqueen 2]

Well, since I've been banded, I have the most amazingly strong nails, like they were when I was pregnant. I mean, I can grow my nails to almost "exotic" lenth! Before I was banded I had sort of flimsy papery nails that would easily split or shred.

[DeLarla 22]

When my nail cracked down the center there were zero signs of infection. One day I noticed a tiny crack in my thumb nail. Soon the crack was bigger. It eventually cracked down the entire center and the nail just disappeared little by little (like watching a puddle of Water dry in slo-mo.) It was an infection, but here's the funny part: The Penicillin gave me my first ever yeast infection "down there." I was young and didn't know antibiotics taken orally could affect you vaginally, so I went absolutely psycho and nearly killed my boyfriend since I thought he gave me an STD. We went to the doc to find out it was only a yeast infection because when you take Penicillin, it kills all the bad AND good bugs that keep the vagina happy! Poor Gary!