There's a fungus among us

Okay, so, I don't really want to write this blog. But, I want to be honest about the running process and this is definitely an unflattering side of it. 


Since the second half marathon, I've been having toenail issues. Three of my toenails developed really terrible blisters underneath them. Then they filled with blood. Then they dried up and raised... one of them quite significantly. I waited until school was out to deal with them, mostly because it's difficult to take time off at the end of the school year. So, yesterday was the day. 


I went to the podiatrist, and within a second, the nurse told me I had toenail fungus caused by a trauma to the nail bed. Ick. Before she sanded down my three nails (literally with a drill), she went over the options: 1. A topical that I would have to put on twice daily for a year with only a 15% success rate after the year was up, 2. An oral medication taken for 90 days, 3. Permanent toenail removal, 4. Doing nothing and hoping it didn't spread. Those didn't really seem like options to me, but what do I know. 


Then the doctor came in, and this is when I learned new stuff. 


First, she told me that the reason I probably have trauma on these specific toes (the middle toes, and the fourth toe on one foot) is because my calves/hamstrings are tight and I pull my toes up as I run. This is probably totally true of me (ask Janet! I have super tight legs!). 


She also told me that when those under the toenail blisters develop, you've got about 8 hours to pop them and get the gunk out before problems start. On the contrary, I'd always been told NOT to mess with blisters... that they would typically just fix themselves. Not. So. 


THEN she told me what I wish to impart on every female -- toenail polish, unless clear or opal/opaque is BAD for the toes! Fungus, when it grows, likes dark places... so by constantly having polish on our toes, we're setting ourselves up for a host of problems. Who knew!? 


So, yes, it's gross. And 8% of me feels like I did something wrong. And the other 92% of me is not thrilled about taking a pill for 90 days, using topical cream, and waiting for results. But, there's not so much I can do now. 


You've been warned, people.