This picture was taken after he had soaked his feet for 10 minutes and after I had worked on trimming them as much as I dared and could. I couldn't tell what was actually swollen skin from what was fungus. One foot was so tender he couldn't keep from flinching. Maybe I can work at them and get them cut back some more as they become less tender. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Now I knew my Dad's toenails were getting too long. I'd had a glance from the other side of the room a few months ago. I'd been telling him to trim them. As you can see, I don't think he'd trimmed them in over a year.
The sitters and I had discussed them. We knew they needed work. One sitter said she would trim them, and actually I thought she had. She must have run in horror when she actually got a look at them.
So 2 days ago, Joe finally took his socks off and showed me his feet telling me he needed help on them. I think they were getting so painful he couldn't wear shoes. I've done the best I can, but I sure wish he hadn't let them get into this bad of a condition. About the only thing I think will help them is surgical removal, but that's not going to happen. First, he won't agree to it; second, I don't know if he could tolerate that massive a surgery, and third, there's just no money. Even after insurance, it's 20% of the cost, and I know having one toenail removed cost me $4K at a podiatrist's.
For documentation, here's a picture of both feet. Nuff said. I'm still shuddering from the experience.
2 comments:
My husband cured his toenail fungus using vicks vapor rub. Slather it on before you put on socks and shoes. It takes a long time, months and months, but it works. The medication they give you takes almost as long and has horrific side effects.
Does Joe's insurance cover podiatry?
Cheryl, I don't think there's anything much I can do about this. I can't even get him to put on clean socks daily, much less think about applying an ointment. He's worn the same mismatched socks 3 days in a row, and thinks you're nuts if you say anything about it.
It's sad to say, but I think even if it leads to infection, gangrene and/or eventual death, I think it's beyond my ability to do anything about.
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