So here’s a gross surprise - I just discovered tonight that the toenail on my right big toe is about two-thirds disconnected from the nail bed. Fungus related, I think. It’s not painful or anything, but I’m racing on Saturday. My big worry is that it’ll get loose from the swim, then cause all sorts of trouble on the run.
Anybody got any ideas? I’m wondering whether I’d be better off trying to remove everything that’s not firmly attached, or just trying to do a somewhat waterproof tape job or something to hold it down. Pretty much just need something expedient to get me through the weekend, and then I’ll seek proper medical attention next week, when I have time.
Dude! I’ve been there… Right before the IMAZ in April my big toe nail was the same I hoped it’ll fall of but darn thing was flipping while swimming and couple of times folded back while putting socks on. I didn’t want to pull it off to get infection or cause more trouble but dam thin stayed like that till the race morning so i pulled it off.
if you want to keep it on and can not pull off, put a very thin bandaid on it and cover the bandaid with ducttape. bandaid alone does not stand for the swim but damn ducttape i strong.
use nail scissors and/or clippers to cut as much off as possible. I lost most of mine at IMAZ and was a wimp about cutting/ripping it off…and then the next long run it ripped off and hurt. you will only do more damage if it is loose and you don’t take care of it.
Cut off all loose nail you can. Keep clean with triple abx and band-aid until the race and then forget about and have a good race. I don’t suggest trying to tape/glue it down. You likely already have about 1/3rd of a new nail growing back from the eponychium anyway.
I’ve lost many toenails from IMs and ultras. I always trim off the loose part that isn’t connected to the bed, file down the rough edge and put a bandaid on it to get it through the first couple days of sensitivity. You do need to toughen up the nailbed that is exposed though. Wear the bandaid in shoes and walk around with flip flops and no bandaid whenever possible.
this thread needs pics
My own toe doesn’t look too revolting (honestly - if it did I probably would’ve given it more attention by now). If you’ve got a yen for photos, though, or just need something to help suppress your appetite as you’re getting down to race weight, check this out, though:
Who the hell would’ve thought that there’d be a whole toenail fungus website? Anyway, anybody headed to Mooseman can see it in person if they ask nicely.
And seriously, thanks everybody for your help and suggestions on this topic. I’m leaning toward the band-aid and duct tape suggestion, and will probably trim off as much of the nail as I can shortly afterward. I’m only doing the oly, so my lashdown doesn’t have to be super durable.
Guess I’ve got a better excuse to wear socks for the run, though it’ll slow me down in transition. If any of you are going to be following the race results, please bear in mind that it takes me fifteen or twenty minutes to put on a pair of socks, so that’s really the only reason why I won’t have a podium finish.
Thanks again all, and I’ll do what I can to keep the toenail off of the race course. (Is there a penalty or abandoned body parts? If only this website had an HTFU section so I could find out!)
Are you in NH? This happened to me last year right around Timberman. I went to see my foot doc, who removed what needed to come off and then provided me with a bandage that would “stay on” all day (all week for that matter). PM me if you want his name…he’s in Bedford, NH.
Kat
What is IV 3000? Where can I get it? If it’s something that can be found in a hospital, I may be able to snag it at work.
And Giddy-up: Thanks so much for the offer, but I’m in Maine, and don’t think I’ve got enough time to have this thing dealt with professionally before the race. Heading in to work soon, then tonight need to pack and also build a new front wheel, provided that the LBS gets the rim in today. Want to get an early start to NH tomorrow so that I’ll have time to scout the course.
I’ve got some slight qualms about not following rroof’s advice, 'cause what with using words like “eponychium” and his other posts I’ve read, I’m inclined to trust what he has to say. Will do as he says, but wait until after the race. This is partly because I’ve got a nearly superstitious dread of doing anything different on race day from what I’ve done in training, and so far I’ve done all of my running with ten toenails. That, and if running with an open nail bed proves to be painful, I’d rather be limping on Monday.
Yeah, yeah, I know. HTFU.
So has anybody tried the beer remedy? (As a soak, I mean - not PO. I’ve already been taking it PO and it doesn’t seem to work prophylactically.)
I’m in a similar situation. I did the Nipmuck Trail marathon in CT this past Sunday and will be doing the Mooseman HIM this Sunday. I have one toenail that I will lose (damn downhills). I cut the nail as low as possible, filed it and then drained it. For Mooseman I will put a bandaid on it and then duct tape over that. If you do this, make sure it’s not too tight. Ray
I’m in a similar situation. I did the Nipmuck Trail marathon in CT this past Sunday and will be doing the Mooseman HIM this Sunday. I have one toenail that I will lose (damn downhills). I cut the nail as low as possible, filed it and then drained it. For Mooseman I will put a bandaid on it and then duct tape over that. If you do this, make sure it’s not too tight. Ray
Will do - would hate to get gangrene on top of nail fungus. Glad to know that I won’t be the only one at Newfound Lake making a duct tape fashion statement.
If you are in Maine…I expect you at Pumpkinman Half in September…based on the temp and humidity predictions for Sunday, I think there will be alot of athletes out there who’ll want to do another late in the season.
Good luck with the toenail…I completely feel your pain!! And good luck with the race, the water has really warmed up at the lake, it should be ideal!
Any medical supply house, or even ebay. However they come in boxes of 100. Also used, especially for road rash is Tegaderm, this can be purchased in single pieces.
If you work in a hospital, just ask an ER nurse for a tranparent dressing, or better yet take her out to dinner…