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Yellow nail syndrome

Posted , 7 users are following.

Suzyk
Suzyk

18 months ago I had a sinus infection with a cough.  The cough never went away. Two months later I noticed my nail changing and one fell off.  Everyone focused on the cough.. Even though I knew the two went together .  I've also had a thick clear mucus discharge.  I have seen several specialists with no cure or answers.. I've had tests, a Broncos copy.. Cat scans, another sinus infection, and bronchial pneumonia.  Finally my gap diagnosed me with yellow nail syndrome (I,veg had almost all finger nails fall out... Aroundd my toes there is a hardening of the skin around them... I've had fatigue, and swelling of my ankles.   Reading all of this you have written sure sounds like what I have been dealing with... Makes me not think I'm crazy.   My question is what kind of dr do I see? What can I do to help myself?  Does the cough and mucous ever go away? 

2 likes, 29 replies

29 Replies

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  • lois58127
    lois58127 Suzyk

    Posted

    helen, Can you tell me please, Are you taking any medications or has the disease just run its course for you? I am wondering if i will eventually be able to get off the drugs one day. Your immune system must be sorting itself out. thats great news. and what vitamines etc. are you taking thanks Lois
    • Suzyk
      Suzyk lois58127

      Posted

      does this disease "run it course?"  will it go away on it's own?
  • pam_87693
    pam_87693 Suzyk

    Posted

    OK have you got Sjogren's Syndrome? Get your GP to check your bloods for ANA, if so then Check for SSA and SSB markers! Are your eyes dry, sore and itchy or your mouth sore with ulcers? If those plus stress you might have an autoimmune problem!
    • Suzyk
      Suzyk pam_87693

      Posted

      I haven't heard of Sjogren's syndrome?  Lupus has been checked several times - positive sometimes, negative others.  not unusual for lupus.  my DR. has a tendency to not believe it is lupus related. 
    • pam_87693
      pam_87693 Suzyk

      Posted

      Well Sjogren's and SLE are close cousins so you may have either or both! Join British Sjogren's on FB. 
  • Guest
    Guest Suzyk

    Posted

    Ditto all the above - I have had YNS (rhinitis, sinusitis, Bronchiectasis and lymphoedema) since 2009, Hypothyroidism since 2001. Sleep Apnoea since 2012 and just been diagnosed with dry eyes. I am awaiting a CT scan for any advance in the Bronchiectasis and both my thumb nails and right forfinger nail are almost regrown after they detached last year. I never have a full set of nails and true to form the left forefinger is starting to detcah now. I had my big toenails removed a few years ago after several infections under the nail bed as it was lifting.

    Suzy - you sound typical of us all and all I can advise is to read all the comments on here and try the suggestions out for yourself to see what works for you. There is no cure, you just need to deal with the symptoms and take preventative measures where possible. I keep a two week course of antibiotics at home and take them at the first sign of my sinuses or chest becoming infected. I add a few drops of I odine (Lugol's solution) to a glass of drinking water each say and take 800-1000 my of Vitamin E in capsule form each day. I also take Selenium, Vitamin C, D and A and Omega 3-6-9 and Co-enzyme Q10 to keep my cholesterol down.

    Good Luck with all your chosen methods of treatment.

    Katie

    • Suzyk
      Suzyk Guest

      Posted

      thank you, Katie.  I have seen 5 specialists this past year - and no one has come to much of a dertemination... other than persistent cough with alot of mucous.  I did test positive for mycrobacterium gordane.. a non-contagious form of TB.. but the Infectious disease DR doesn't think it is the reason for my problems, so it has been determined not to treat it...
  • helen01813
    helen01813 Suzyk

    Posted

    Hi Guys,

    Yes Katie like you I keep on my respiratory specialist's advice, antibiotics to hand to take at the first sign of a chest infection but thankfully have not needed them now for 2-3 years. Makes such a change from 5-6 times a year.  Sorry things are difficult for you at the moment.

    Lois I can't say specifically it was any one thing, I think it was a combination of many things and probably luck at the end of the day which has really helped. I read everything I could lay my hands on to do with YSN, what had been used in treatments and more importantly what had not prooved successful. That said information is scarce as it is a rare syndrome which does not generate much interest. You are really lucky to have a good dr. and hopefully once symptoms are under control you may be able to come off the meds.

    Building up my immune system I would say was no 1. Looking at life balance, diet, ensuring adequate sleep and quality relaxation were paramount. None of this happened overnight with many false starts along the way.We both recognised stress was a big factor in our lives at the time when symptoms developed and I think adressing this as far as possible has really helped.

    Diet, one thing I did learn is that dairy and citrus (both of which I love of course) contribute to mucus formation within the body. A cranial osteopath I attended pointed this out to me. Cutting them out definately helped in mucus reduction and I now thoroughly enjoy a really good cheese as a treat every now and again. I go through phases with supplements and now only take under advice and tend to reserve for times of special need. Good quality ones tend to be expensive so I try to concentrate on good quality food instead.  I also got a present of a gear juicer, one of the ones which juices without heating thus preserving the vitamins etc. so went through a major phase of fruit and veg juicing.

  • victoria53044
    victoria53044 Suzyk

    Posted

    Hi everyone, Sorry to hear your suffering from the symptoms of YNS. I still haven't found a solution to my congestion and mucous production, I find it gets worse when I am under stress and not using my nebulizer regularly. Unfortunately I cannot take the drug  Acetretin as I am only 27 and hope to have kids one day. Is anyone else in this age group or have any experience being pregnant while having YNS? My doctor (I see an Internal Medicine Doctor specialized in Respiratory disorders) tells me they won't know if I'll have any complications with pregnancy until I try to get pregnant which is a little daunting. I have yet to find anything that will help my nails but I continue to use coconut oil to try and help with the dryness. Only one toe nail has fallen off so far, so I think I am lucky holding on to a few of my fingernails that are hanging on by a thread. Glad everyone is still discussing things on this page, it's nice to relate to others with the same problems smile Take care
    • helen01813
      helen01813 victoria53044

      Posted

      Hi Victoria,

      Yes one of the things many of us seem to have learned is that YNS appeared at times of great stress in our lives (mine was after a car accident) and that stress continues to play a part of it's course. The way we manage stress is unique to each and also to some degree with the cause of the stress at that particular time. But it is one of the things we CAN exert control over. Yes it takes time and effort, possible false starts,  but is our own well being not worth it??

      As a midwife in another life,(pre car accident) autoimmune issues tended to go into remission during pregnancy and rarely effected fertility. Yes the meds can be an issue. YNS effects the sinuses, lungs and lymphatics so fingers x will not effect this part of your life.

      I can only tell you from experience having stumbled from chest infection to infection, streaming sinuses with such gunk I dont even want to remember, not to mention the nail/nailbed infections.Basically living on antibiotics for two=three years. I lost nine fingernails in total from seven fingers if that makes sense. All have grown back, much weaker and very ridged, requiring to be maintained very short and neat. Managing stress, eating a healthy diet etc believe me is a walk in the park by comparison.

      Yes I am older than you. Take care....

    • helen01813
      helen01813

      Posted

      Victoria, my apologies modulator deleted part of the last communication so it does not read as intended. Annoying as it contained absolutely nothing.................... Good luck.
  • pam_87693
    pam_87693 Suzyk

    Posted

    Yes your SLE which is very similar to Sjogren's is causing your fingernails,  and your sinusitis. If the nails have pits or lines and go yellow that is Lupus nails Or Psoriatic nail destruction and sinusitis is common with both. Keep an eye on your mouth and eyes too! Good luck!🍀🍀🍀
    • Suzyk
      Suzyk pam_87693

      Posted

      Pam,

      Can you explain to me what you meant about the eyes.  does this change your vision?  the reason I am asking is that I have had a significant change in my upclose vision.  I don't remember reading much about the eyes in all of this.  I'm still going through all the google info I downloaded to read (my Dr advised me to do that because he said it was best to gather some info)...

    • pam_87693
      pam_87693 Suzyk

      Posted

      Well I am myopic, but yes Sjogren's does affect your vision. You get dry eyes, they feel sore and scratchy. You may still produce tears, I don't but some do. If they are not good quality tears it's because they have lost the essential lipid layer, so your eyes dry out. We find our eyes tire more quickly too. For more information we have a facebook group in the UK called British Sjogren's you are most welcome to join. The charity in the UK is the BSSA you will find that on your search engine. 
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