Fingernail removal anyone?

I wonder if the initial 'surgery' was at the GP's and its still not right whether your GP shpuld be referring you to an hand surgeon. It would be worth asking the question I think.

Try ringing the NHS helpline to get a walk in referral to a minor injuries unit or A&E. Tell them you are worried about infection (l would be).

BigBertha1

I wonder if the initial 'surgery' was at the GP's and its still not right whether your GP shpuld be referring you to an hand surgeon. It would be worth asking the question I think.

Thank you, actually, at the time I was a little concerned that, however well trained, a paramedic was up to the job!

When I went back I was just told "we don't get paid to do that anymore", and that I would have to go private. Bit rough as I live on basic state pension (the old one!)

Wenmore

Try ringing the NHS helpline to get a walk in referral to a minor injuries unit or A&E. Tell them you are worried about infection (l would be).

Thank you Wenmore, I will try that, I don't know if we have a minor injuries locally but will certainly phone up.

Oh Shantygirly - that’s awful. Shouldn’t your GP be referring you to the appropriate Specialist or prescribing some fungal treatment.? I think it’s totally out of order for them to dismiss you with “we don’t get paid to do that anymore” - how uncaring ! I hope you are able to get it sorted. Good luck !

Wenmore is right you need to ring 111. And get to see a Dr who will help you. You need to have some blood tests done. I don't want to scare you but it may not just be a fungal infection .
I know this is different to you but this happened to me .
I fell into my wall of my bungalow last year and knocked my leg . Just used sudocreme. But the mark on the front of my shin was spreading so did an e consult and sent pics to my GP who diagnosed cellulitis. The receptionist phoned me to say the doctor had sent a prescription to the pharmacy marked urgent and they would bring me the antibiotics in a couple of hours. I was on very strong antibiotics for a week. I looked up cellulitis and found out it could turn to blood poisoning.

Did the same thing earlier in the year. But knew what it looked like and asked for a prescription straight away.

Any knocks we get can turn into something else. Also it turning black isn't right . And you need to phone 111 tomorrow and get help..

Not quite. But I did have a toenail removed once because there was a small cancerous growth under it.
I had some problems afterwards, an infection. But ths NHS fixed it and it's fine now. And the growth turned out to be benign, thankfully.
It's appalling that you can't get it fixed.
I didn't realise that the NHS cannot do things like that any more.

Any knocks we get can turn into something else
You are so right Whiff. On 23rd August, I tripped and hit my head on the door. Had a nosebleed. Thought nothing of it. On the 9th of this month, I developed severe right ear infection. Had antibiotics. Though the infection has settled, I am left with a bunged up feeling in the ear and hearing loss. Saw Doctor, but I don’t think she associates the fall with my ear problems. But I swear, it’s connected. I only hope my hearing will gradually return.

I'd have thought the GP should at least be treating a fungal infection. Most hospitals have a minor injuries unit.

crazyH I would go for a hearing test Specsavers and Boots are offering free hearing tests. And you don't have to buy. Or you could ask your GP for NHS referral for hearing test that way if you needed a hearing aid you would get it free but don't know how long the process would take.

I got jaundice in 2017 it left me hearing my heart beat in my left ear. I have lost some hearing after it was tested on NHS but a hearing aid won't help as I would still hear my heart beat.

It's very annoying especially as I have a heart condition and miss heart beats which I can hear went missed. But on heart medication for it. I have PAF and small hole which I was born with between my heart and lungs. Apparently we have flaps round our heart which should close before we are born mine didn't. But as it doesn't give me chest pain it's safer to leave it as it could damage my heart to repair. Only found this out in 2020 I am now 65. Had to laugh had 2 minor ops and 3 major ones all with a dicky heart.

Or you could ask your GP for NHS referral for hearing test that way if you needed a hearing aid you would get it free but don't know how long the process would take.

I went to Scrivens for their initial hearing check recently. That showed some degree of loss and I saw their audiologist on the 28th September for a more detailed test, which confirmed the initial findings.
He wrote to my GP for authorisation and called me back to have NHS hearing aids fitted on the 18th October.
He set up the app on my phone so I can adjust the settings if I want to.
I can ring and have further replacement batteries posted to me.
All completely free 🙂

crazyH

Oh Shantygirly - that’s awful. Shouldn’t your GP be referring you to the appropriate Specialist or prescribing some fungal treatment.? I think it’s totally out of order for them to dismiss you with “we don’t get paid to do that anymore” - how uncaring ! I hope you are able to get it sorted. Good luck !

Hi crazyH, I didn't even get to see a doctor, I saw the same paramedic who took it off first time. He did give me a paper 'envelope' thing and asked me to take clippings of it and scrapings from underneath (which makes me shudder!) I know there are treatments for fungal nail but the only one that works are tablets, I had that treatment a few years ago and after six months of lovely toenails it all came back again with a vengeance! I am not going down that road again, they are very strong tablets and can damage your liver. I am now having my toenails removed, on the NHS, two at a time, a slow process because you need at least 10 weeks between treatments and they can only do 2 at a time because otherwise its too much anaesthetic in one go. So it seems daft that they won't treat my fingernail but will do my toes! I told them at my last appointment for my toes but it was dismissed with a shrug and an 'oh dear'.