thumb nails

my nails are going thru changes .my thumbs taking the worst beating . soft , almost mushy .I am keeping them clean .Is there much else I can do ?      

[portann]

I've never paid much attention to my nails and they didn't catch my attention for at least the first half of tx.

Then the strangest thing happened for the second half and the opposite of what's happening to yours. My hand and toenails got REALLY, REALLY hard.

I couldn't cut them myself (or at least 'tear' them, which is one of my bad habits). They grew longer than I'd ever had them, which was great but dangerous.:)

Then within weeks of stopping tx, they turned the same way yours did, noticeably almost mushy.

Never thought about the why or wherefore of this but was very surprised to have ironman nails for a while. This, and why you're having the opposite experience are puzzles to me.

I put on some of that clear coat nail hardener stuff last week but don't know if it's bad for you, whether on treatment or off.

I'm on the fly to get my nails done at 9 AM. I'll have so much nail polish on, I won't know what state they're in, except they'll be very s-exy.

[charm27]

Ive been complaing about the same thing..and quite frankly dont know if there is anything I can do? Im 6 months post and cant even open a patio door to open that little latch on the door! My nails are like mush and have been for the longest time.
And I mean MUSH! They break everyday even when Im washing myhair. Before tx I had long strong nails. Lethicin is good for the nails...but nothing is helping.

[Babs1469]

I have problem nails as well and not only when I'm on treatment it seems. A lot of time I'll put some of the cortizone cream I'm using on a psoriatic patch of skin and rub it on my nails. Seems to make them smoother but there is nothing that helps me make them not crack. I wonder what Hep C has to do with the Nails???

[frijole]

I never had that problem but it sounds awful.  My business partner's nails got weak and shredded when she was on Herceptin for breast cancer.  Even one year after treatment, they have not come back to her pre treatment levels.  I know some people drink gelatin (that stuff they use to thicken things - I think it comes in an orange package) to strengthen nails.

I know a lot of folks have problems with teeth on tx and I have read some article about treatment and decreasing bone density but don't think I can put my hands on it.

frjiole

[frijole]

I just read something on AOL about feet problems and one of the issues was soft or ragged toenails and the blurb said they were caused by anemia.  This certainly could be the issue here since so many of us have anemia treating.  The article suggested iron which, of course is an  no no on treatment.  Perhaps using nail hardeners is the thing to do while on treatment.  I really don't know
frijole

[jdwithhcv]

During tx my usually weak nails were as hard as, well, nails.  They were stronger and grew longer than ever before or since.  After I finished tx my nails reverted to their weakened state.
jd

[winner727]

I saw alot on nails and symptoms ,one was also thyroid .I go for specific blood {  TSH  T3  T4 ? }  nygirl ripped me a new one last week about getting a thyroid test . shes usually correct ,so monday i go in !  nurse was not happy .said "what do you want to be the doctor now ?"   ahhhhh  what a sweetheart !     I might try that gelatin  thanks for all the input .        bob

[Lynno711]

Toenails of steel!  Hand nails mushy.  I guess I'm upside down.

Lynne

[R Glass]

During tx, my nails became thin and brittle. I also had minor nail fungus on my thumb nail prior to tx.
During tx the fungus rapidly spread to 3 finger nails.
They are no longer thin and brittle but I was left with the fungus.