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yellow nail syndrome

Posted , 19 users are following.

101dalmation
101dalmation

I am 46 years of age, and for the past 2 years have been asking my doctors what was wrong with my nails (fingers and toes) but getting no answer, till finally i was refered to a dermatolagist at hospital, who diagnosed it as YELLOW NAIL SYNDROME which is a rare desease, and only 100 other cases have been known to have it. thats why ive called myself 101 dalmation as i may be the 101 patient lol. I was relieved in a way to find out what it was but curious as to why i have got it. but there is no answer to my question as no one knows of yet where it comes from. So i would like to share this with anyone who wishes to read about it, and ask any questions about it. I have taken photos of my nails for future ness if anyone requests to see them.

thank you for letting me express this out into the open.

101 dalmation

3 likes, 142 replies

142 Replies

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  • lois58127
    lois58127

    Posted

    hello 101 dalmation.. I am 52 yrs old and have have been diagnosed with this disease. It is very rare and the doctors have taken photo graphs of my nails. I would love to find out how you are going now with your yellow nails.. do you have any coughing or swelling in your lower legs with the condition. I would love to make contact with you..thanks

    Lois

    • 101dalmation
      101dalmation lois58127

      Posted

      Hi lois, sorry i didnt get back to you earlier, i forgot about this site as didnt think anyone else came on here.

      But my health has sufferd over the years since getting diagnosed with YNS. I am now 52 yrs old. and on that many tablets and inhalers now. i have had my left thumb nail removed so it doesn't return. and my two big toe nails removed. as they will not grow back properly.

      dec 2014 i was admitted to hospital to have a lung operation. as the fluid from the yellow nail syndrom had got into my left lung. i was suffering with breathing and coughing like mad, and have had pneumonia twice in the last 6 months. my health is no where near right yet and feel so unfit with the pains i get in my chest all the time.

    • helen01813
      helen01813 101dalmation

      Posted

      Hi 101 dalmation,

      I am so sorry to hear things have been rough for you over the last while. It seems to be the course of this syndrome it ebbs and flows over time without apparent due cause. The last six months sound particularly tough, first major surgery and then pneumonia not once but twice. I am not surprised you are still not up to par. Be gentle with yourself. You will take time to heal. If you can really balance rest and exercise, within the limits that your body is guiding you to do. Nutrition is vitally important especially when our bodies are struggling. Do take care.   

    • lois58127
      lois58127 101dalmation

      Posted

      hello 101dalmation, firstly thankyou so much for starting this conversation. you were a lifesaver for me when i was in the dark ages of this disease. i have struggled first to get diagnosed then to get any sort of help, since 2013 i have been in sometimes pain so bad its akin to prisoners of war had to go through when they had bamboo shoved up their nail beds as torture, my legs stiffened i couldnt walk. my lungs had a dark shadow over them in xrays.  first i tried natural remedies, and still using them large dose of fish oil, vit c, d, magnesium and now i am on acitretin.. guys you have to try this immune suppressant... its cured me. i am whole again. just a split in the end of my fingers here and there now and again.. pic was taken early 2014. all the best. lois
    • 101dalmation
      101dalmation lois58127

      Posted

      hi Lois58127, it took me two year to find out what was wrong with my nails, after asking 11 doctors, i was finally sent to see a dermatoligist who diagnosed me with YNS. i would wish mine would heal but i dont see a light at the end of the tunnel now. i have already had two big toe nails removed permantly and one thumb nail permanantly, and the other thumb nail recently removed but it will grow back again, but not to a normal nail. because of chest infections and coughing the fluid from YNS got into my left lung. dec 2014 i had a lung operation, drained talcom powdered and then super glued. fingers crossed it doesnt go into my right lung in the future. i am on inhalers and tablets as i also have C.O.P.D., ostaparotus, acid reflux, hyatus hernia. nose conjestion. and my legs keep swelling up around the ankles up to my knees.

      my Doctors are looking after me brilliantly. i cant fault the help i am recieving now, as YNS has been made aware to most of the Doctors now in the north of Englad uk. thanks to me. lol.

      im so pleased to here you have fully recoverd with your though, that is great news. unfortunalty my body is prone to allergies, i have very sensetive skin. so i have to be carefull what i take medicine wise. i have had a few C.T scans in the past and was ok with them, but in June this year 2015 i had an allergie reaction to the die in the c.t.scan. my left side of my body was coverd in a rash. so you see i have to be prescribed medicines by my docotrs who know what i can and cannot take.

      i have learned to cope with my condition over the last 8 years, but i do get depressed with it.

      all the best

      Debbie.

       

    • alanj86
      alanj86 lois58127

      Posted

      Hello Lois, I hope you are keeping well.

      My mum who is 64 has been diagnosed with having yellow nail syndrome.

      Her nails turned yellow in 2019 and have got worse since then. We are from Northern Ireland and it's proving hard to get any help / information about how to treat her condition.

      Mum has been from numerous scans and tests. She has yellow nails along with other respitorary conditions including a chronic cough, chronic bronchitis, sinus infections and pleural effusions.

      It's so upsetting to see my mum suffer with this illness.

      Would you be able to talk to me about it and share your experiences?

      Thanks Alan

  • helen01813
    helen01813

    Posted

    Hi 101 Dalmation and Lois, I was diagnosed with YNS a few years ago after a couple of difficult years of recurrent chest I infections, sinus problems and many infections in my disgusting yellow/blue/green mis- shapen finger nails leading to the total loss of nine nails. A diagnosis was such a relief. No I was not going mad or inventing what appeared to be totally unrelated issues. Reading the possible list of signs and symptoms of YNS for the first time was like reading a list of my complaints, I was a text book example. Yes it also affected my toe nails but not to the same degree and my left leg can swell quite nicely at times.

    That said my finger nails have all grown back normally, apparently this only happens in 1/3 of cases, so Ihave been lucky. This all happened as mysteriously as it had started. I now see a respiratory specialist and use inhalers and have had just one chest infection in the last 2 years, a big improvement even if I have apersistent productive cough.

    The exact cause of this syndrome is unknown but I do know that mine developed at a very stressful period in my life. I have chronic pain following what was a fairly minor car accident which has pretty much pulledthe rug from under my life as it was.

    Great to meet you both, keep in touch,

    Helen.

    • 101dalmation
      101dalmation helen01813

      Posted

      Hi Helen,

      I'm so sorry to here about your car accident, and the stress you have suffered from it. But i am so pleased to here your YNS has cured for you regarding your nails. you are lucky in that respect. i have had three lots of big toe nails and now finally removed for good, and the same on my thumb nails. my forth finger on right hand will be coming off again soon, so i shall have that removed permantly too when the time comes. i still suffer sinus problems, and breathing problems. but ive learned over the years to cope with it as best as i can. its not easy but thats life lol.

      i wish you all the best for the future Helen. and will stay in touch.

      Debbie. (101 dalmation)

  • lois58127
    lois58127

    Posted

    it is so good to hear from another person with YNS. mine started with constant nail bed infections, I had my old misshapen humped yellow and black nails removed on both big toes and 3 fingers last week. 3 other nails not looking that great also. under my old horrible nails are lovely white moons hopefully they are regrowing. when your nails grew back did you have lovely white moons on your nail beds to start with. you are so lucky your nails grew back. do you have hasimotos? I also have it. I cough up a gel like mucus sometimes white but lately clear jelly like. if I sneeze I will sneeze up mucus. my sinus are dry and blocked and I struggle to breathe through my nose. yes mine started after a very stressful time and during menopause. autoimmune diseases are rife throughout my family im off to see the respiratory specialist tomorrow. thanks for replying I am so happy to speak with you.

  • helen01813
    helen01813

    Posted

    Hi Lois, Yes lovely to hear from you. That is tough that you had to have your nails removed, must be very sore. No I have very little if any cuticles or white moons now. But yes I remember the new nails started to grow out beneath the discoloured ones particularly the ones that did not come off following infections.

    Hasimotos? Sorry I don't know what that is.

    There are sprays which help with dry blocked sinuses, I remember using Avamys, which was helpful. I live in Ireland as I don't know where you are it may be called something different. Discuss it with the respiratory person tomorrow. I found it handy to write down my list of questions before visiting the Dr's, it is easy to get baffled with one thing and another particularly with such varying symptoms.

    Clear and white mucous is good, well in so far as it means there is no infection there. Best of luck tomorrow.

    Helen

  • lois58127
    lois58127

    Posted

    hello Helen. Hasimotos is when immune attacks the thyroid gland apparently there may be a connection to YNS. I just got home from the respiratory specialists she says from my scan my lungs are clear and heart is good, my blood tests are all good. the coughing is coming from the bronchial tubes. upper respiratory. I am taking vitamin E, D, Garlic, C and digestive enzymes, Magnesium with selenium. looks like I might be going to beat this yellow nail syndrome.. nails still looking terrible but I now have hope thanks to your comments that they will grow back.. i have a nasal spray for sinus now. thank you so much for commenting and helping me.
  • helen01813
    helen01813

    Posted

    Hi Lois, glad all went well today. Yes I definitely used to feel that my immune system was on the blink but it seems to have sorted itself out. Supplements can help no doubt but make sure to eat well, lots of fresh fruit and veg, think that's what stood to me. Do hope the spray helps.

    No thankfully I don't have hasimotos, thyroid seems fine. How does it effect you?

    Helen.

  • lois58127
    lois58127

    Posted

    This website is so good! Fancy finding someone on the other side of the world who has this disease! I am in New Zealand. with only approx.100 people in the world with it. So how do you think you sorted out your immune system Helen. I eat and grow lots of veges, no sprays! have a strict low carb diet have done so for last 4 years after diagnosed with hasimotos, lost 15kg. now I am a healthy weight this problem arrived 2 years ago. with the good diet.. go figure.. but I think stress has a big part in it. and reducing stress seams to be what is making me better. I limit my time I spend with the people that stress me. With Hasimotos I gained weight, had low energy, had freezing cold hands and feet, dry skin, scalp and my hair which was thick and lusty became fine and brittle. now I am on levothyroxine(replacement thyroid hormone) I still gain weight easythe cold hands and feet are gone, skin is better.I am very slow in the mornings, I only started supplements 3 months ago and I am already seeing good results..
  • Guest
    Guest 101dalmation

    Posted

    Hello all YNS people. I also have Yellow Nail Syndrome and live in the UK. Maybe I am number 102 smile

    I developed it a few years ago after attending the GP for sinusitis, cough etc. My nails were starting to detatch and so the GP sent me to dermatology where the disease was diagnosed. I have the full complement of Lymphoedema, rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchiectasis, all toe-nails and both thumbs affected though some finger nails have detached and grown back over the years. I also have sleep apnoea and hypothyroidism. I take 800-100 mg of Vitamin E daily which has helped the health of my nails. I had both of my big toe-nails removed as they kept detaching and getting infected under the nails.

    Katie

  • lois58127
    lois58127 101dalmation

    Posted

    hello katie, sorry to hear that you are now 102 but welcome to discussion.I am in business and it is embarrassing when people look at my hands/nails they look horrible. The skin on my hands has looked like an 80yr olds for years. i have been given Foban cream and pimafucort cream to put on my nail beds when they are infected. it works well the ends of my fingers split and then the infection sets in also wash my hands with triclosan and anitbacterial wash. I had the nails on my feet done big toe nails removed because of pain in shoes, they had lifted so high.. i still cough but not as bad as before. sorry to hear you have the swelling also. i have swelling in my feet and fingers. no high heels for me lately. lovely to talk to you both.. lois
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