was banded 6-13-12, first six mos was mostly sick, sick to my stomach and throwing up for the most part and pain in my back. Between me and my lap band surgeon and tests he decided my gallbladder needed to come out so on Dec. 3rd I had surgery, recovered from that, had complications but recovered. Now, jumping back and forth, I noticed latter part of November first part of December on my left big toe a red streak coming from the toe nail, didn't think anything about at the time and yes I got pedicures but hadn't gotten one at that time in about 6 wks. Then I noticed swelling at the cuticle and a lot of redness and very sore. I showed it to my mom and she advised me to see a Podiatrist so Jan. 2nd I did. He prescribed a very strong antibiotic and said if it wasn't better in a week the nail needed to come off. Well that wasn't what I wanted to hear so I sought a 2nd opinion. I took the 10 antibiotic and sought another Podiatrist. He informed me let's treat you with another antibiotic, ointment and wrapping it and of course he numbed the toe and cleaned out puss that had dried back into the cuticle, I know gross. Now skipping ahead to now. This past Wed. I went back to the same Podiatrist and he said the nail has to come off, so he numbed the toe and off it came, I mourned the nail coming off as I love painting my nails but to clear the infection it needed to be done. He wrapped it and sent me off on my way. By Friday I noticed oozing and swelling and bleeding so I called and he wanted to see me so I went in. He looked at it and said, "hm, this is a first, I've never seen this before, it's definately infected, let me take a culture and send it off", put me back on antibiotics (mind you this is my 5th round of antibiotics) and told me how to clean it and disinfect it and wrap it. Needless to say I am in much pain so I'm living on pain meds day and night, the gauze sticks to my toe so I have to peel it off with some very extreme pain involved. Today I called my medical dr in Nashville and he wanted to see me. So with all this done, I have an appt tomorrow with my internal medicine dr. My toe is still raw, bleeding, very sore, swollen, red at the cuticle and oozing. No fever at this point, thank goodness but now I have a numb tongue which I've googled and can be caused by antibiotics or Vitamin deficiency of B-12 and Iron. Happy to go see the doc tomorrow. Sorry to get off on a subject other than lap band but I'm sad I just can't exercise and haven't been able to from day one since I've been sick for the most part of my journey. I will be glad when I can walk, exercise, and lose some major weight!!! Keeping my eye on the prize, my health and getting healthy.

Thanks for listening.

I can't imagine what you're going through with your toe. I am a pedicure kinda girl and I get one regardless of whether I need it or not. I have always been lucky but my friend's daughter also had to have her big toe nail removed because of infection from a pedi. It is a rough recovery and she didn't even have the complications you did. Listen to everything your doctor says because this is really serious. Good luck!

wow what a time you are having I am so sorry and hope things clear up very soon. Could you sock your foot to get the bandage off? hope so, think you wouldn't have as much pain.

Are you diabetic? My husband was having the same problems. He had his gall bladder out also. Then had a hard time recovering. Then he got an infection that started at the cuticle of his finger and toe that wouldn't clear up. After months they found out he was diabetic. He went on meds and everything cleared up immediately! We can tell when he needs to see the doctor to change his dosage because he will get infections on his feet or hands that won't heal.

thanks everyone. Laurigee, as far as I know I'm not diabetic. I had blood work done in Sept and hoping that the dr today will order fasting blood work today. Since I live an hour and half from Nashville I will have eaten before I get there so I will have him write the order for blood work for home where I live and have it done here. When I had blood work done in Sept my glucose level showed 83 range. With that said, my dad is deceased but all his siblings are diabetic and his mother was diabetic so it is in my bloodline. Thanks again everyone.

Donna

Feel better soon!

got good news today at my internal med dr today. He didn't seem too concerned, said it looked more inflamed at the cuticle than infected and that since I had been on 5 rounds of antibiotics that it most likely wasn't still infected. Told me to soak it twice a day, keep it wrapped with antibiotic ointment and if not better in 2 wks to call him and he would get me in to see a foot specialist. He was surprised that I had the nail removed and I was disappointed in myself for not seeing him in the first place instead of a Podiatrist but you think, cuticle infection and inflamation, go to a Podiatrist so thats what I did. Hind sight now. Praying that my toe nail grows back normal so that I can paint it again, maybe next summer. Thanks for all the well wishes.

I've heard that (once it is completely healed) nail techs can place an artificial nail and make it look like your other nails until it grows back. Hope you feel better soon!

I actually slipped and caught my toe nail on the bottom of about a year ago. I had to have it removed since it was mostly detached anyway. (Lovely, right?) First, I don't know what u think but the shots in my toe were more painful than childbirth. I got a little boot to wear while it was still sore and that really helped. I went for a pedicure and they attached a fake nail. Couldn't even tell it wasn't real. The first growth was bumpy, but it now looks as good as new. I hope u heal well.

thanks for the encouragement on my toe and new nail growth which will be awhile of course. bummer. I am still so sore, can't wear a shoe on this foot, still in a slipper, luckily well I shouldn't say luckily I need a job badly but luckily right now while this is going on, I don't work.