yellow nail syndrome

hello, you can get pictures of the condition by just googling it.. my podiatrist had to get special permission from her board to do my finger nails. as they usually only do feet it was a mission to get any help i also had to sign a waiver form for any liability. i posted some pics further back in this conversation if you would like to scroll back. the podiatary is a main part of the management as when the nails lift they keep getting knocked and infections from that. cheers lois  

Hi Tracy, if it's any help, I have uploaded pics of my feet showing the yellow nails. I had had both Hallux nails removed after several recurrent bacterial infections under the nails. A daily dose of 800mg of Vitamin E had helped the general condition of my nails, though both my thumb nails detached a few month ago. I do hope that your patient doesn't get the rest of the symptoms of the syndrome - lymphoedema, bronchiectasis, Sinusitis/rhinitis etc. Can I ask - Are you in the UK?

Katie

Thank you for pictures. I see you have had both big toe nails removed. That seem to be the safest and permanent option for these nails, if painful and so large. This is the treatment I have suggested for patient I saw in hospital last week as it was too painful to cut right down to normal size. Will upload pics when i find the option button x

Thats fantastic Lois, really pleased for you.

Take care, Helen

Hi, your history sounds very much like mine. I started around the same age as you with constant runny nose & sinusitis - fortunately I only tried various antihistamines. My nails turned white at first and I thought I was anaemic & took iron tablets for a while. Then the nails turned yellow with black edges and stopped growing. My toenails had also thickened and turned yellow. My GP referred me to a dermatologist who didn't know what was wrong so she asked her boss to have a look. That consultant asked if I had a cough, chest infections & sinusitis and noticed that I had swollen ankles. She immediately put everything together and diagnosed YNS. I then had a CT scan which showed bronchiectasis and this confirmed the diagnosis. I was discharged and told to get antibiotics as needed for the sinus infections to prevent it spreading to a chest infection. I was told to get back in touch via my GP if my chest gets worse. This happened last year and so my GP referred me to a lung consultant. He is starting again with all the tests as he wants to do his own diagnosis. I have had a sputum test, respiratory tests and a CT scan last week and I see the consultant next week for the results. I don't really want any treatment though, I just want to monitor the level of bronchiectasis and this can only be done using a CT scan as X-Rays don't really show anything.

Vitamin E has helped my nails somewhat. My thumb nails detached in October and my right forefinger nail is just about ready to detach. I had my big toe nails removed at my own request as I was getting infections under the nails when they were detaching. They look awful but they are comfortable and I always wore trainers or 'sensible' shoes for the majority of the time so it doesn't bother me as long as I can get around OK. I now have to have 2 weeks of antibiotics when I get a chest infection as it comes straight back if I just have one week. I always take the whole dose and don't muck about with them as other antibiotics make me nauseous.

Have you been back to see your GP to get someone to join the dots and get a proper diagnosis. Yellow Nail Syndrome is so rare that a lot of medis haven't evet heard of it so you may need to tale along some literature from the net which shows the three main symprtoms of YNS - Bronchiectasis, Sinusitis and lymphoedema. If you haven't got the swelling yet it may be because it hasn't developed yet. The constant cough is also a known aspect of YNS.

Let me know if you have any questions which I may be able to help you with from my own experiences. I am in the UK.

Katie

Hi katie

thanks for your prompt reply. Mine started with constant nose blowing then coughing. Had already been to my GP about my nails. Kept asking if it was linked to my chest problems - maybe my immune system was low or I was lacking in something. He said no my nails were a fungal infection & to soak them in vinegar!! After about 3 chest infections I went private and the process began. My fabulous consultant referred me to a Dermatlogist and he took one look and said I have YNS.  So yes, I have been diagnosed but as it's not curable I'm taking everything I can to stay healthy. Fortuneatley  I've always been a healthy eater so I'm hoping that will stand me in good stead. I'd love to hear from more people with this condition and maybe set up a support group. Where are you in the UK?

Hi again, I'm glad you got your diagnosis. You are right that there is not a lot to be done. I also eat healthy foods and try to keep my weight down so that I don't get so breathless. I'm not surprised at your GP's reaction as YNS is not the first thing which they think of & it's too easy to put the thickness & discolouration down to fungal infection, though I'm not too sure where vinegar would help at all

I live in the North East of England and I am lucky that I have a pretty good GP though he's the same age as I am and will probably retire soon and I'll have to educate the next one at my practice.

Katie

Hi Virgin19, sorry to here you are suffering as well with YNS, im in the UK in West Yorkshire. and desperatly tried to find others with this, hense the reason for starting the forum. as i knew it was a rare condition. i hope all the information you find on here of some help to yourself and to others. The YNS does cause chest infections, and constand nose leaking. i go through about two boxex of tissues a week, but its now settling down a little bit since my doctor gave me "AVAMYS" nasal spray. it doesnt cure it but it helps a lot. it doesnt matter what food you eat im afraid this condition is a life long thing for us. Healthy food is good. of cause, for the body. If we wasnt all so far apart from each other i would arrange for a group meeting to take place, but its not really possible with the distance for each of us. as the other 100 people are spread all over the world not just in uk. i hope you find it a help on here though to help you through it. you can ask any questions ansd we will try to answer them for you.

Debbie.

Hi Debbie

After reading all the horror stories on here I do feel I am quite fortuneate as in I have no lymphodema. My nails are not good I have 3 detached and another 2 that are loose but I use stick on nails so I can paint them and no one knows the difference!! I have been well all summer I have been seeing a professor at papworth hospital in Cambridge and he's done all sorts of tests. My lung function is good. He has given me a daily antibiotic to take for 6 months over the winter to try and keep chest infections away. I am blowing my nose quite a bit but I can deal with that. Also my big toes are quite tender so certain shoes are a problem. 

I wish everyone with this syndrome has a healthy winter!!

eileen

Hi Eileen, just saw your comment about your tender big toes. I also have a problem with both my big toe nails and attend a chiropodist two/three times a year. The nails grow very thickly and mis-shaped as well as being tender and badly discoloured. The chiropodist keeps them really, really short and files them down to a more normal thickness. I then paint them as brightly as possible and do my best to forget them. Reminds me of that saying - best place to hide something is in plain sight

I found the ugly big toe nails really hard to deal with initially, but doing the above helps. Coconut oil also helps both finger/toe nails and cuticles from a moisture side of things but also has anti fungal and anti infective properties.

Do hope your finger nails improve, Helen

Hi Eileen,

My coughing is starting to ease a lot now that i have stopped smoking (light smoker) but i do keep getting a tickly cough with a dry mouth all the time. i suck on boiled sweets in the daytime to prevent my mouth drying up. but night time i suffer.

the last two weeks i have started to get pain in my two big toes, as the nails have been removed permanently, the pain is coming from the actual toes. which im due to visit my doctor soon regarding them. my ankles swell up for no reason like a fluid inside them. and my feet are uncomfortable first thing in a morning, when i get out of bed i struggle to walk at first, this may be circulation i will find out of my doctor. mynose is still constantly disposing gooey stuff. which builds up regular. i can go through a box of tissues every couple of days. i do use a spray inside my nostrels "Avamys" which does help but unfortunatly doesnt cure it. but i can cope with this.

since my left lung operation, in dec 2014. i have developed a huge tummy, its bloated all the time. im seeing a specialist doctor at the hospital for this who thinks it could be trapped wind. ha ha. but ive also been suffering with loose bowels for over a year now. im constantly going to the toilet during the daytime. which is very uncomfortable, and preventing me from leaving home too long at a time.

recently i have had small bruising appearing on my body, to which my doctors have taken blood tests from me. as this is usually a sign of blood clotting. im awaiting results at moment.

antibiotics i usually have to take about 4 or 5 lots a year, due to coughing and colds, i have woken this morning and my top left lip has a cold sore appearing again. though i dont feel ill this happens regular.

as winter is aproaching i intend to take extra care again to try and prevent pnumonia returning in me. as i have sufferd three times now over the years with it.

i hope you are not suffering too much and hope you also have a healthy winter.

Debbie.

Oh my god Debbie I can't believe you are suffering so much!!

i have no swelling at all and I hope it stays that way. I go about my normal life - I go to work and socialise. I do blow my nose a fair bit or I'm coughing but thankfully it doesn't stop me doing stuff. My nails are in a bad way but I paint them and use stick on nails for the absent ones. I am on a daily antibiotic for the winter to try and keep chest infections at bay so fingers crossed. When I read the forum and all your experiences I wonder what is ahead of me. No doctor can tell me as there is so little known about it but if I can stay as I am then it's manageable.

i wish everyone suffering with this all my best wishes for a healthy winter

regards

eileen

Hi Debbie,

So sorry you are suffering like this. I did read somewhere recently that the digestive system may be involved with YNS, if I can locate the article I will send you the details hopefully before you see the specialist. Understandable in a way as the lymphatic system seems so involved.

Do any of you guys get the flu jab? I usually do and have just realised that the pneumonia vaccine needs to be repeated every 5 years.

Take care and good luck with your appointments,

Helen.

Hi Debbie,

Just found it. No guarantee it won't be deleted sorry.

Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2007;98:372-6

It is a Spanish Journal but your Dr should be able to access it. If you know a way of PM me, I can send you a copy.

Helen

 

Hi Helen i have noted the Actas Dermosifiliogr down incase it gets deleted thank you for that.

i get the flu jab every year now, because i suffer from C.O.P.D. which i got diagnosed last year with. my breathing can be really bad when i go for walks. so i have two inhalers to help me breath. i love to walk as well as its good excersise. but also if im on my feet too long they start to swell up. so i cant really win lol..but i still keep smiling.

i dont know how to pm you on here, as its a public site anyone can see what is written. otherwise i would give you ny phone number or address so we could stay in touch more often,

where about you from / im in north england here yorkshire.

Debbie.

Please come join us on face book and join our discussions on there more comfortably. as we are trying to make this desease more aware to people, and allow others that are suffering to realise they are not alone anymore. we are helping each other by talking about it, and learning more about the symptoms.

Just look on facebook for "Yellow Nail Syndrome" and join in.

debbie.