I am becoming quite obsessed about all of this. After years of thinking that there was nothing I could do, I am finding so many things. Even though they seem to be doing some good I still search and search for that magic one that will banish this stuff. Today I found dmso and aloe vera juice 70%/30% mixture mentioned on the internet. Does anyone know anything about this one? My hubby has wanted to go on a cruise for several years and I have kept putting him off because of my ugly toes. Looks like we are going to actually do it in November (our anniversary)
I think I will try applying gel nails myself for that period of time and go back to fighting this stuff as soon as we get back. Maybe the next one I will be able to strut my toes for real. Hope you enjoyed your sun. I am in TN and got rain today. Hate to complain, we really needed it.

I recently read Dr. Dean Edell, about a small study that used urea gel (prescription) which is used to soften the nail and then ciclopirox. They had 100% success rate. The idea is the same as the DMSO, to soften the nail, allowing the antifungal to work. Go to healthcentral.com and then put in toenail fungus. The top story is the one that I am referring to. I read that the urea product costs about $120, though. I think the softening of the nail is important. Mine as so thick, that it's no wonder that penetration is a problem.
I did LOL when I read of your obsession! Every time I speak to my boyfriend, it's about fungus. It's a wonder we're still together! I share your obsession!!! I can't tell you how much in the last year and 9 months I've spent on the internet. Literally hundreds of hours. I read for education and inspiration! Gotta keep inspired when it is two steps forward and four back!

Mine were very thick two months ago. First I cut them back as much as I possibly could. Soaking in the epsom salts for about 20 mins softens them up. I then used a rough emery board-the coarsest I could find and filed away. I worked a little on them each day until they were much thinner. Not paper thin like I have read to do. Now the addition of the rotary nail thing has filed down the edges. They were slightly painful and were growing crooked before I started all of this. I have picked at them until they look like maybe they have a chance to grow straighter when they come back in. I think that the newer nail at the bottom, a tiny sliver, looks pinker and pretty healthy. I guess its easy to go overboard and knowing me, I probably will. I told hubby he needed to look for a message board for his maladies and then we can truly drive each other crazy. This board has really made all the difference for me.

How often do you do the epsom salts? I have to admit I am lazy with that one. With your aloe vera suggestion, I did find a product on ebay called toenail soft. It is made with aloe vera. You apply it at night and by morning your nail is temporarily softer to allow trimming. Interesting! I gotta run. Gotta go do the epsom salts. I guess I am just a glutton for punishment--scalding water is no fun. Btw, where are you going for your cruise?

I strive to do the epsom salts twice a day. One time I keep adding very hot water and dipping my toes until I can stand to leave them in a little while. I pour extra salts directly on my nails while they are cooling down before I dip them again. (This is of course, the punishment that the little critters get for living in my nails) The next time I start with scalding water and soak for about 15 minutes. This really softens the nail and is cheap and doesn't have weird stuff in it. The bonus is that the skin on my feet is much softer than before. A nurse that I know has told me that the epsom salt bleaches the nail. I wonder if that is why I haven't had any black spots except for early in my self treatment. I also sometimes slap some neosporon on. I don't really know why.
Cruise is a short one out of Miami to see if we like it. If I'm lucky maybe a longer one later.

Twice a day? Wow. You just gave me a kick in the *ss. I am lucky to do it twice a week. Speaking of your neosporin, I've been meaning to try Monistat. There are so many "cures" out there, it's hard to know what will work and what won't. How much epsom salts do you use? I'd say that I use a couple cups of water to about 3 very heaping tablespoons of salts. I will try the salts directly on the nail--thanks for the tip!
I'm going to buy the homedics nail kit today and get started on the filing.

I saw something in my searching in the internet that the fungus could be one of two kinds. The Clotrawhatever attacks one and the monistat attacks the other. I am using the neosporin just in case there is some infection also. The info I read about the epsom salts recommended rubbing it into the nail and bed. It was sanding the skin off so I quit doing that. I just get my coffee and my dog and book and soak early in the morning and after walking the dog in the afternoon. Its a little quiet time for us.

I found another fungal website today and found a whole bunch of remedies that I had never heard before. Which is amazing, as I have been searching a lot! One was using a zapper of sorts that uses frequency to kill the bastards. There were several postings about that. That machine costs $309, though.
The other was soaking in urine. I know it's gross, but I am desperate. So I did it! Afterwards I filed my nail and lots more of the toenail came off that at other times. It reminded me of the remedy that involved prescription urea to soften the nail (cost $120!). Then I treated the toenail with clotrimazole and o.o.o. and then stuck some monistat on the bandaid and covered it all up. I didn't buy the pedicure kit, as a result. I also did some work with a magnifying glass. Only a little bit, I didn't want to set my toenail on fire. The fungus, yes, but not my toenail. Call me crazy!

I have been using vick for several months with no signs of it killing the fungus. I was doing a google search in regard to nail fungus this morning and came across this site. I started the vinegar treatment right after reading about it. Sure hope it works for me.

This is starting to get kinky! If your urine is acidic it may not help. Test the PH of it. This surely would be a natural and inexpensive treatment. I'll wait to see how it works for you. Hope it works, as it would save all of us a lot of money.

Anyone tried to soak toes in the swimming pool? The chemicals used to keep my pool free of fungus and algae etc. may help in our quest.
My Dr. has warned me not to ever clip to close that I bleed anywhere near the fungus. According to her, the fungus can get in your blood stream and you have a new set of major problems.
Another suggestion is one drop of chlorine to 10 drops of water, apply three times a day. That one came from may Doc.
I have one toe doing very well, thanks to this sight. The other big toe, I am still struggling with. Thanks to all.

Waaaay back on the first page of this thread someone posted a plug for "DF2 Nail Fungus Eraser". That poster claimed the product contained "secret" ingredients that were nonetheless "FDA approved." The poster also hinted at what some of the ingredients might be.

This is something I'm putting ON MY BODY. In fact, over time, the product will ENTER my body. I generally avoid putting stuff on/in my body unless I know what it is, and have done my best to discover the consequences (positive and negative) of doing so.

I have visited the website and tried to figure out what the ingredients are, so that I can discuss them with my doctor before use. That seems prudent to me.

The product is being marketed by an outfit calling itself "Kaiser-Ford Research." I sent an email to the company via their customer service Web form requesting the ingredients. No response.

Their website gives a city and zip of Guilford CT 06437. I tried directory assistance for that location and there is no phone number listed. There is no street address or PO box.

I'm supposed to trust these people and order/use their product? Riiiiight.

I agree with you. Most of the stuff on this board is natural and stuff you know. I'm becoming convinced that you can cure with natural but may have to continue some procedures indefinitely to prevent recurrance. Even with prescription drugs, people who have succeeded have had recurrance of fungus. Don't trust someone trying to sell you something is a good rule.

Just saw my doctor today (see my post almost directly above re: DF2). Her suggested protocol:

First, trim away as much diseased nail as possible without hitting the nail bed.

Then, twice a day:

1) Paint affected nails with apple cider vinegar and allow to dry.

2) Place 1 drop of tea tree oil and 1 drop of Citricidal(r) on each affected nail.

No guarantees, she said, and I can expect to follow this regimen for several weeks to months.

Citricidal is marketed as a nutritional supplement. It's basically a concentrated liquid organic grapefruit extract in a glycerin base.

I'm not going to start this protocol right away but once I do I'll try to remember to post results.

Citricidal sounds similar to grapefruit seed oil extract, which is an antifungal. Do you know where to buy that product? Would it be a health food store or would I be able to buy it at the grocery store? Thanks.

Spunkyblondie-I checked out that website you were talking about. One person was drinking their urine. YUCK. Maybe to save my life, but not for my toenails...not yet. Keep me posted. I know someone who has that machine that is supposed to cure everything with some kind of electrical impulses. He showed me the sheet with the codes and I didn't see one for toenail fungus, ochy-----(whatever the scientific name is for it). He also has some really bad varicose veins himself. I think that if the machine really worked he should have been able to clear those up by now. He is really into this stuff. I need to talk to him today. I'll ask him about it.

Drinking urine? I won't do that! Wild stuff, huh? And lasers, too. Did you see that?

Nope, I missed the lasers. Where do you buy one??? Just joking, I'm not quite there yet.

I've been doing this longer than you, so I am more desperate! Plus I have a 35 year old infection. I did check out 532nm lasers (whatever that is!) on ebay and it looks like it is about $25 to $30 with shipping. I draw the line at drinking urine and Lamisil--and not necessarily in that order!

I live in Kentucky and picked up one of these at Wal-Mart. It works very well. I have decided on the filing that filing directly on top of the nail (especially the big ones) makes it really rough. I have mainly been trying to file the debris and nail from underneath and using nail clippers to keep the nail trimmed down. The Homedics thing works really well for getting underneath the nail. I think the Epsom salts is a big help as well. I have also been trying to do that twice a day plus the vinegar. Still taking Mycozil and a probiotic plus drinking the organic vinegar. I was actually able to paint my nails and wear sandals for the last two days after working on the nails with the Homedics thing. I only use Just For Toenails polish with tea tree oil in it if I do this ($13.95 a bottle!) which is not very often. I take it off quickly and get soaking, but at least I reached a point where I felt like I could actually wear sandals to work for a day. I feel your pain about the cruise! Isn't it amazing how this fungus can alter your whole life!