Well I know why they included the file in the kit -- to file away the white buildup the next day!!! LOL Seriously, it's worse than FT! I used alcohol to try to clean as best I could then washed, after I applied some Tineacide to try to help the appearance of the nails. So it looks like I paid $21.00 for a really nice retractable brush that I can use when applying my Tineacide & some expensive foot cream to try. It actually might work great for my feet. I certainly don't want use that on my toenails again, too much hassle to clean it up. The FT followed by Tineacide is way better & what I will continue with.

Thank you for the update luvmytoes. I now know that I wouldn't be able to use that at all because even the FT build up on my nail makes the area around it sore. It is almost like having an ingrown toenail for me. Guess I'll stick with what I'm doing now.

hi amy, I have been battling with fungus on the big toenail for 8 months now and found all the remedies very interesting and started on them this week What I would like to know are there other folk out there who also have these horrible very painful sores erupting next to the cuticle? Have tried all sorts of cures including drs prescriptions for that, but nothing seems to help...Perhaps by trying these remedies I read good luck out there about on the site, I will be able to control these creeping sores as well..lulurei

Hi Lulu,

I only had one due to my aggressive filing technique but it was on the side where the emory board rubbed it raw. (I have toned down my filing since then) What does the doctor say is causing the sores at the cuticle?

There are alot of different things here that people are using, what did you decide to use?

Do you guys file everyday?

One thing about this Degruccide the instruction aspect is really lacking.

I am thinking a gentle file every day is probably better than what I have been doing which is a semi aggressive every three to four days.

Still working on that remaining diehard piece on my brown toenail. Trying to file without touching the new skin.

I am VERY pleased with my first nail that came off so far so good. Thank you God!!

I do not file everyday. I probably file once or twice a week.

Luv--You'll get a kick out of this, since we both bought Ped Eggs at about the same time. Mine includes free shipping, so I guess I didn't pay much attention to where it's being shipped from... I just got an email from the seller IN CHINA (!) letting me know that he just shipped it! Oh dear! Never in my wildest dreams did I think that would happen! Crazy, huh?

Gotta wonder how they can afford to ship free, hmm? Mine is coming from California, which takes sometimes a week to get things from CA to here, so we may each receive about the same time? I always used to use a professional nickel metal file called Checi & it worked quite well for me. I've not used one since I've stopped having pedicures. http://www.checi.com/set.html Check out that skin just falling off! Seems the Ped Egg catches the dead skin though so I liked that idea & wanted to try it. I'll spray the entire area after using with Lysol Spray after I use just in case, then soak unit in Barbicide or bleach. Then I'm going to put Lamisil cream that I bought recently all over my foot each time. I really like the Lamisil cream, reminds me of Miconazole Nitrate 2% cream I'd been using previously, not greasy & dries quickly.

Daily Routine - FT followed by Tineacide, Flexitol Antifungal Liquid, white vinegar, Lamisil cream for feet
Infection 1 yr, treated 4 months

I'll probably get it by Christmas... (That was sarcasm.)

Btw, where's Nic??? Nic--how's it going with the tootsies? Are you doing well with the FT?

Daily routine today--FT, Tineacide, bleach drizzling while bathing and a 30 minute soak with vinegar/peroxide.

5 yr/35 yr infection.

Thanks luv for letting me know that the white vinegar may be causing my rash. You were right! I haven't used it since you mentioned it and am now rash free. I guess I'll have to leave that out of my daily regimen.

Spunky-doing great with the FT. All nails are clear and flat. Just waiting for the short one to grow. I'm still using FT and probably always will to prevent any of this stuff from coming back. I guess it does take an entire year once you figure out what works for you.

I'm still monitoring this site and will let you know if I find anything new or interesting, even if you all hate some of my ideas. I am an idea person and throwing out ideas is what I am good at.

Some one on this page mentioned filing vigorously. (Pink?)
I had some dark spots which were diagnosed as nail blood blisters from vigorous filing. Everyone beware. They take a month or so to go away so ease up on hard filing.

This nail lacquer looks like an interesting treatment for mild cases of nail fungus (one or two nails): curanail.co.uk

It's a UK product, but can be purchased on Ebay. I didn't see any explanation of why it shouldn't be used with more severe fungus cases.

Treatment is just weekly, and the active ingredient amorolfine is much more effective than ciclopiroxolamine (Penlac) according to Wikipedia

Anything is better than Penlac. Penlac has an 8% cure rate.

Nic--That's incredible! You're done with your big toenails? Gee, that didn't take you long at all. I'd say I'm 40% grown out, maybe not even that. And I started exactly on January 20th and saw my first signs of pink February 28th. My other nails are growing fast, but the two big toenails are so slooooow! Congrats, Nic!

Wow, that was fast. 3 days from California! I like it. The design is so that it captures most of the filings. I just used it & put cream on my foot after. I am going to open the egg over my bathroom sink to rinse, then soak in bleach water. I'll finish by spraying area w/ Lysol spray. I may put a towel down next time so I can toss in washer. It did have some dust size particles drop out but the overall design & ease of use is why I am recommending to those interested that have callus areas. I think this will be a real help to me to get the meds where they need to be:)

ADDED NOTE: Spunky, I rinsed about half teaspoon of shavings from my feet down the drain just now. I'm glad that is gone from my feet! You are going to love seeing that with the way you feel about seeing specks & your sloughing off after vinegar soaks, haha! Also, I was thrilled because the Ped Egg itself is smaller than I realized when taken apart so I was able to get both pieces down inside my Barbicide jar.

Spunky-I have been in such a "fight the fungus" mindset, that it hadn't even dawned on me that it was all gone. I know that sounds crazy. I guess I feel like it will never really be over. The two big toenails are not all the way grown out still. Been doing this since late June or early July of last year. I think the epsom salts, filing, clotrimazole and vinegar were probably the big helpers for me. Adding the FT late last year was the final push. I will probably always use it at least once a day.

I was lucky to find stuff that helped me early on. There are different kinds of this fungus and it sounds like different things work for different people. Some things that have helped others have done nothing for me. It seems like the FT is what really is helping you. It sounds like you are less than a year away from all clear!

Congratulations! I didn't realize you were that far along already, wow! I am really happy for you *does happy dance* It makes me feel good to see others here before me making it through to the other side & realizing we can beat this thing. You've been very diligent & worked hard so you deserve to be where you are now. I know what you mean about feeling it will never be over & I think I will always want to use something as well if I make it. I hope you will always continue to monitor & post when you are able. You've given great ideas & lots of support to me & everyone here. I know sharing our experiences will help others in future that read the posts & learn :)

You started late last year? I didn't realize that. I thought you started after I did.

I'm sure you're right that one thing doesn't work for all, but I bet FT works for most. Previously, I didn't stick with anything for very long. Fortunately, I stuck with the Clotrimazole 2% cream, then started Tineacide and followed with the FT. I hadn't used the clotrimazole 2% recently, but then I used it last night. I'm going to make an effort to use that as I've noticed a bunch of yellow junk under the 35 yr toenail.

I did read on the Berkeley Parent Network that someone went to Dr Anna Sorkin and she suggested the FT and prescribed an antifungal cream for the foot. "The foot is the reservoir for the toenails" is my mantra. I did the vinegar/peroxide last night and will continue with that. I visualize it like this: the soak kills a bunch of those critters and as long as it kills more than the critters reproduce, then I've got to be ahead of the game. I love to see those dead fungus specks!

You've got your ped egg already? I might just buy one in California. That's where I live. And I can just sell the one that I bought on ebay... It comes full circle. I would love to see a bunch of dead fungus in the egg!

Have been using the FT for about two months now, first the fourth toes on both feet cleared up and now the third toe on foot with 30 something year infection is clear! Others are looking better. I got a Ped Egg at Walgreens a couple of weeks ago ($9.99) and it is great. The "Mocassin" type fungus is what I am sure I started with when I was a kid and it spread to toenails. Everything is improving since paying special attention to the whole foot. I painted toenails and wore sandals last weekend for one day and they did not look too bad. I may not have total clearing by the big "50" in August, but I am greatly encouraged for next year!!

Daily - FT,spray with ACV w/tea tree and clove oil, antifungal creams to whole foot, 2-3 soaks weekly.

It'll be nice for my sock-less feet not to freeze for a change. :P

Lately I've been able to scrape out some of the gunk from my worst nails... I didn't think I'd be able to because before, when I accidentally cut too close, it bled. So I thought it was actually skin, but here it is, coming out and making a tiny gap between the nail and the toe.

Spunky- When you say dead fungus flecks, do you mean in the nail, or somewhere else? One of my nails has tiny brownish flecks that weren't there before I started treatment. I really didn't know if they were good or bad, but I hoped for the best. If I knew for sure that would be great.

Congrats, Lee! I've been using the FT for exactly 4 months. I was reading that age affects the nail growth and I am 60. But a darn good example of 60, if I might add! :)

Nic--I was re-reading the posts. On Feb 19th, you came back from the Dr, where he suggested the different various otc meds. (see page 45.) Then, later on page 55, you write that you had been using it a while. Maybe you didn't start last fall...?

It's great that this board is so active. It is our own personal fungal journal, as to when we start our different treatments, etc.

When I soak in the vinegar/peroxide, usually at the time of the 2nd soak, 24 hours later, I see thousands (millions, maybe?) of white specks in the solution. Difficult to see, you have to swirl the solution around, then you see the specks. Now I am only using the vinegar/peroxide twice.

Yesterday's Routine--FT, Tineacide, drizzling bleach in on the toenails while in the tub. Clotrimazole 2% on top of FT & Tineacide at bedtime. 30 minute soak of vinegar/peroxide. 5 yr/35 yr infection.