Re: Nail problem (was quick question)

[Guest guest]

I sure agree with about the fake nails. I went that route for awhile

too, bcuz I just could NOT get my real ones to grow past the quick. They'd peel

in layers like onions and then split and break. One time my fake nails started

getting green underneath -- some kind of fungus -- but the absolute WORST

(even worse than catching the fakies and the pain of that) was when my real nail

split underneath the fake nail. Sheer agony getting that thing off. Cured me

forever of fake nails.

My iron has been fine, actually goes up with every lab test I have, and I

still had the soft, splitting, peeling nails. I went on 2400 mcg of biotin (over

3 doses) a day, and started using an OPI polish called " Nail Envy. " You have

to put it on every other day and remove and re-apply once a week, but that

REALLY helped protect my nails so they could grow out. It took a long time for

the

biotin to kick in, and I still get an occasional split, but they are MUCH

better. Don't know if I'll ever be able to drop the Nail Envy: when I don't use

it, it seems my nails break a lot more easily. Make sure you're getting enuf

calcium and D3, too.

Carol A

----------------------------------------

In a message dated 9/12/2003 11:54:58 AM Central Daylight Time,

juliaz@... writes:

>

> Felicia,

>

> IRON. You are not getting enough, and if you've had any sort of regular

> labs, I'd bet all kinds of money that they show low or low-ish

> hematocrit, hemoglobin, and ferritin, and a high iron binding capacity.

> If you haven't had labs done in a while, um, now's the time. If you

> don't have copies of all your lab work, from at least a year pre-op

> until now, request it and keep it in a folder so you can track your

> trends yourself. That's a good practice for all people, not just WLS

> post-ops. Doctors rarely look at trends over time and your " normal "

> result could be well out of range for YOU, but would go unnoticed

> without comparison.

>

> I am really liking the Chromagen Forte that's been prescribed for me.

> After trying lots of different iron formulations, this one's actually

> working, and it doesn't bother my stomach or constipate me (though it

> has turned my poop black - who cares?) I've been taking two a day since

> June and my ferritin came up 50 points in the first 6 weeks of therapy;

> I'll know in a few weeks how much more it's brought me up.

>

> I read somewhere that it takes NINE months for your nail to grow from

> cuticle to fingertip. On the Chromagen, it's taken exactly THREE months

> for me. I know this for a fact because at the start of Memorial Day

> weekend I had an accident packing the car, and ripped a fingernail

> absolutely, completely off. I've been able to cut this fingernail for

> three weeks now. It has no ridges, unlike some of my other nails, which

> are almost free of them now but they used to have them really badly.

>

> By the way, fake nails over weak nails are NOT a good idea. I tried it

> myself last winter. I can't tell you how painful it is to catch that

> fake nail on something and to break it AND the real nail underneath,

> usually splitting the nail bed and making it bleed. It hurts like hell,

> and getting it fixed hurts even more. Please get your nutrition

> straightened out and I bet money that your nail strength will improve

> dramatically.

>

> Z

> Open RNY 09/17/01

> http://www.ziobro.us/index.html

>

> QUICK QUESTION

>

> Hi Gang!

> I'm a year post-op (June 10, 2002), and lately (the last several months)

> I've noticed that I simply can NOT grow my nails. They consistently

> break and split (usually toward the middle) just as they get past the

> tip of my finger. Is anyone here familar with this, or know the cause?

> I was tempted to get fake nails, but besides the cost of fills every few

> weeks, I also recall the condition of my nails when they finally came

> off (this was a few years ago), and I figure that it wouldnt help this

> situation at all in the long run.

> Nutritionally, I have 3 protein shakes a day, a prenatal chewable

> vitamin, sublingual B12, synthryoid and celexa. I'm a proximal open RNY

> (if that makes any difference). Any information would help. I'm going

> to cross post this to some other groups as well.

> Thanks in advance,

> felicia

>

[Guest guest]

I have found that fake nails no longer stay in place. They lift on me no

matter what. Lifting causes fungus because water gets in and sets. I tried

all sorts of different types of nails, gels, acrylic, fiberglass....nothing

worked everything lifted at some point. Finally, I gave up. I miss my

beautiful nails, but it just wasn't worth it.

Debbie &

in Gig Harbor

(170cm medial)

ladybostons@...

http://www.cafeshops.com/copsstore

http://www.marykay.com/debbiemcneice

-----Original Message-----

From: tuesdynite@...

I sure agree with about the fake nails. I went that route for awhile

too, bcuz I just could NOT get my real ones to grow past the quick. They'd

peel

in layers like onions and then split and break. One time my fake nails

started

getting green underneath -- some kind of fungus -- but the absolute WORST

(even worse than catching the fakies and the pain of that) was when my real

nail

split underneath the fake nail. Sheer agony getting that thing off. Cured me

forever of fake nails.

My iron has been fine, actually goes up with every lab test I have, and I

still had the soft, splitting, peeling nails. I went on 2400 mcg of biotin

(over

3 doses) a day, and started using an OPI polish called " Nail Envy. " You have

to put it on every other day and remove and re-apply once a week, but that

REALLY helped protect my nails so they could grow out. It took a long time

for the

biotin to kick in, and I still get an occasional split, but they are MUCH

better. Don't know if I'll ever be able to drop the Nail Envy: when I don't

use

it, it seems my nails break a lot more easily. Make sure you're getting enuf

calcium and D3, too.

Carol A

----------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

so I started adding a pre-natal vitamin to my supplements

everyday.....Since then the nails are much stronger and I do not have

the splitting problem around the nail bed any longer

==================================

Bill:

Ah, your nails may be better, but what about the swollen ankles and

PMS? Come to think of it, I guess carrying a golf club around would

help to take care of the PMS.

Sorry. Just had to be done.

Miss you.

Regina