A school nurse we know swears by Clotrimazole (2%). The tube that's sold in the store section for foot remedies is only 1%, so you have to go to where the vaginal creams are located. There you can find the Clotrimazole 2%. My husband and I are both going to try it (on our toes only, ha!!) and I'll report if there is significant progress. We may also do the apple cider vinegar too, and/or the epsom salts. I have tried tea tree oil and Vicks, both twice daily for several weeks, and so no changes. Thanks to everyone for all the ideas and update details.

Thanks for the tip on the 2%. I will buy it. Btw, on remedies, you really are not giving anything a chance if you only do it for 2 weeks. You can't change what you already see, you can only hope to change the new growth. And that could take 1-3 months for it to be visible. Thanks again for the tip!

Hey-I saw something new on Friday while investigating this malady on the computer. Soak in hydrogen peroxide for 20 minutes, three days in a row. Thereafter soak for 20 minutes once a week. I have substituted this for my epsom salts soak twice now. Nails look lighter. Can't hurt. Also, a question about shoes. As to last years shoes, will a spray with antifungal work, or do they need to be trashed??? There are some I really do like. Also, I ran across another product that I had not heard of before. Deggurcide. Have you heard of this? It looks interesting. One of the people that had used it sounded a little like a commercial. Makes me suspicious.

I can't be totally sure, but I suspect that soakings don't work for me. Remember that the critters like moisture and that's what you're giving them. That's why when I do the Epsom Salts, I dip in the hot water and then maybe do a 5 minute soak, maximum. As for shoes, I have tossed out all, except my sandals. I did pour diluted bleach into my old shoes and it didn't get rid of the fungus. From April to early November (I live in California), I only wear sandals. I have to continually wash my athletic shoes for Jazzercise in warm water with bleach. If I wait to long, I get that unmistakable tingly feeling. I've never used an antifungal spray before, so I can't really comment. I did look for Clotrimazole 2% at the grocery--no luck. I am going to try the large drug store. I did see a success story at earthclinic regarding canestan cream. I didn't know what that was, now I do. That's what clotrimazole 2% is called in different parts of the world. Sounds promising.

I read the postings on the clotrimazole 2% and it is the three day cure for vaginal yeast infections. I think that may be the only one with 2%. I have had to work most of the weekend, so have not had a chance to go to drug store. Let me know if you can tell any difference if you use it. When things slow down a little, I plan to go get some. I have a friend who had four toenails removed a week ago and has still not stopped bleeding. Ouch. I feel so bad for him. I don't think that is a very good option.
Have a good week all.

How's it going with the filing? Actually, I really need to get your Homedics set. My one toenail is very, very thick. I do plan to go the get the clotrimazole 2% tomorrow. And if I'm lucky, I'll get to Target, which is where they sell the Homedics. I don't have a Wal-Mart close by.

Filing is now going great. I still highly recommend. There is also a very good set available on Amazon, but as long as this cheaper one works as well as it does, I am happy. For me, the soaks and the filing seem to be the answer. Sometimes, I worry that the change is only superficial and that the %#^^&%7*! critters are still under there. That is where the 2% clotrimazole is expected to take over. (If the vinegar, ooo and whatever else I get my hands on isn't) Please get the set. You will be glad!

I have tried the Deggurcide. It basically seemed to thin the nails and make them kind of peel off, but I did not see any real improvement with what was growing in and so I stopped using it after having used most of the bottle. I think it was killing the whole nail. I wouldn't bother with it.

Thanks for the info. How goes it with you? I got the toenail polish today that I ordered because of you. They really don't look at all like their web colors do they. You are right, the burgundy looks really great. Thanks!

Thngs are going pretty good! Glad you liked the polish. I saw it was actually cheaper than I remembered. Still trimming and filing. I think the advice about being carefull not to be too aggressive underneath the nail is good. I can see where that would cause a problem if you got carried away. I am sold on the Bragg organic vinegar too since I can actually ingest that internally. The Mycozil I am taking might be doing something as well. There is definitely improvement. Still doing the Epsom salt too - I think that is doing something as well. Oddly, the improvement seems to start with the fourth toe on both feet, but big ones look a lot better now over the last two months. I plan to be really aggressive this winter. I still get a lot of scaly thick skin on heels that doesn't itch or anything, but is annoying. Anyone deal with that?

Zwolly, It is imperative that you sterilize equipment for 15 min. using peroxide.

Thanks to gardener2 for the Clotrimazole 2% tip! It is gyne-lotrimin in the yeast infection remedy section. I used it last night and again this morning. My toenails were kind of cocked at an angle. From the sideview, my toenail was sticking up and there was a distance between the nail and the toe itself. Now, one toenail is closer to the toe than the other. Ironically, it is the older infected toenail that appears to be closer to the toe. Also from the sideview, the toe seems to be less fat. Hopefully that means some critters have died...? I don't think either situation are my imagination and I am thinking it must be the clotrimazole. Also new to my routine is that I am soaking my toes in urine--I know--TMI. And I take a q-tip of hydrogen peroxide and swab it along the 3 sides of my toenails. I've also done a magnifying glass for a few seconds. Maybe all these things together have helped. Thanks again gardener 2!

In response to thirlwellgirl - Posted: Apr 15 '07, 4:16 pm
Post: 122677
Terbinafine isn't working after a year!

Yes; I've had too much experience with these medicines.

Please have him terminate the Lamisil treatment and write to Doctor Alan Glombicki at the UT medical center in Houston, TX or have him contact a local gastroenterologist with a working knowledge of oncology or, ‘vice-versa.

Lamisil must be processed through the liver. I suspect this is the reason he is feeling ill. Liver damage results in chronic fatigue, fever, lost of appetite, headaches, and even death.

Lamisil is not recommended for many people; unfortunately many MD's will prescribe it without knowing the consequences of using it with pre-existing conditions.

I hade two different family practicians eagerly prescribe Lamisil only to discover that it's extremely hard on the liver. I was born with Hepatitis-C and it almost killed me with the Lamisil. I'm cured of the Hepatitis-C now but I still have the toenail fungus. I'm getting results now with the ACV and the tea oil treatment.

Toenail fungus is common in people with any of the 6 types (and growing) of Hepatitis.
http://www.gicare.com/pated/ecdlv12.htm

You're friend might not be able to take Lamisil for a host of pre-exiting conditions.
______________________________________________________
Please note:
In rare cases, terbinafine has caused severe liver damage, sometimes resulting in liver transplant or death. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite, yellow skin or eyes, itching, dark urine, or clay colored stools. These symptoms may be early signs of liver damage.

http://health.yahoo.com/topic/skinconditions/medications/drug/healthwise/d04012a1
_______________________________________________________

I hope this helps,
Max

re: Deggurcide

Go to their website. Do you see the brown bottle pictured in the Deggurcide ad? Well that is ancient history. I have one of those from a previous order and it is brown glass, about 1 fl. oz. I reordered some and they are now shipping it in a blue plastic bottle that is about half the size. If you check their website you will note that they never tell you how much of the solution that you are getting. Let the buyer beware!

Deggurcide does help on some TN fungus infections but if you have a bad one that has spread into the Lunula area around the nail then it is, in my experience, minimally effective.

Someone on this forum mentioned that product. And as I recall, they said that their toenail was peeling. Interesting. I am skeptical of the various "products". I am more interested in using products that were actually designed for another usage. For example, cornmeal soaks. I do know that they work. I am excited about the clotrimazole 2%, which is actually a medicine for vaginal yeast infections. I've been using it for 10 days, twice a day and my toenail is no longer lifting up. The toe itself, not the toenail, sits at an angle. I did read somewhere that the tendon can be affected by the fungus and I wondering if that is what is happening with my toe. When I look at my feet in a full length mirror, one big toe is sitting pretty much flat and this one with the long standing fungal infection (35 years) is at somewhat of an angle. The good news is that the toe is less full, when looking at the profile of it. And I think the improvement started about the same time that I started using the clotrimazole 2%. The yeast infection medicine is called Gyne-Lotrimin.

I came to this site in desperation last spring because I had tried nearly every OTC medicine available for around 6 weeks each - faithfully applying - and the toenail fungus on my big toe only get worse. I had the same results with tea tree oil. Intrigued by some good results I saw here, I started applying cider vinegar to the toenail with a Q-tip twice a day, morning and night. It took a few weeks to see any difference, but the nail started growing in healthy. Now I have 2/3 of a healthy toenail - the infected part for the most part came off just days ago. I've been wearing sandals and covering the toenail with a bandaid. Try the cider vinegar! It's cheap, smells nice, and is the only thing that worked for me. I'm extremely happy with the result.

So far so good,

On August 05, 2007, I reported that I was seeing signs that the 5% solution of white vinegar was having an effect on the two toe nails that had fungus infection.

When I started in early July the large toe nail had lifted completely off the nail bed.

It is a pleasure to report the two nails are now 1/2 to 2/3 grown back and healthy looking.

I have been applying the vinegar at least two times a day once after showering in the morning and again before going to bed.

I have periodically scraped any residue from under the nail to permit the vinegar solution to penetrate (as much as possible the area in, around and under the nails).

I am curious to learn how long you've had your toenail fungus infection? Thanks!

Spunky,
We had comments from Happytoes on this board on Aug. 5. I think you will find the answer to your question there.
Thanks for all the insights to everyone. This is helping a lot. Especially the gyne-lotrimin.
Thx

I have had nail fungus problems for over 8 years.I have tried everything especially because both parents are in the medical profession.Well this remedy works and before you know it the FUNGUS is GONE! It is called Nail Fungus Killer and it can be purchased from www.jltindustries.com I cannot believe how clear my nail bed looks it is unbelievable it will be the best $30 you have ever SPENT!I never thought I will see my nail normal ever again!