Ingrown toenails...what a nightmare!!!

Had a case of ingrown toenails a week ago. My big toenail and the toenail on the toe beside it on my right foot surgically removed under local anaesthetics at a local clinic. How did this painful episode of my life happen?

It all started a few months ago. Had a netball tournament with the girls at my college. Being the enthusiastic person that I am (am I???), I reluctantly agreed to fill in the void of lecturers' participation. So, I submitted my name and went to the field as promised. And being the enthusiastic me, I was the first lecturer there. And so the tournament started and as predicted, the lecturers' team was defeated. What made it even more painful was that my big toenail on my right foot was trampled over (and I mean TRAMPLED over) 3 times by the girls. And even though it was painful, being the strong me (I wish!), I ignored the pain, not realizing that that same big toenail was slowing dying, together with the toenail next to it.

And so, the story goes, the toenails were no longer sticking to the flesh but it was no longer painful. So, the toenails were eventually forgotten by my ever so busy days. Then, I started changing the way I live, opting to stick to a low-calorie diet and an active, gym-oriented lifestyle. I went to the newly opened gym (near TESCO Semenyih) and religiously devoted my life to the treadmills there. And I realized another thing; either my gym shoes have shrunken, or my feet has grown one size bigger! The Malay elders have this saying that, with every baby that a woman delivers, her feet grows half a size bigger. Come to think of it, it makes sense to me because I grew from a size 5 to a size 6 after having 2 babies! Amazing huh?

Well, with every run that I had, my big toenail seems to hurt even more. But still I ignored it. Until 1 day, after indulging in a McD's Big Breakfast with my hubby and kids (and yes, I do feel guilty after having it), I just couldn't take it any more. So we went to the local clinic, and the doctor said that I had ingrown toenails and it was getting heavily infected. The solution? Pull it out! Yes people...I was put on strong antibiotics and a strong painkiller for almost a week now. The swelling had reduced and the pain slowly subsiding. Thank God!

What lesson(s) have I learnt from this? Let me list them out for you:

1. Be brave to admit that your feet have grown.
2. Do not think twice about changing your shoes if your feet have grown.
3. Do not ignore what ever your body is telling you. If there's pain, there's a reason why it is painful. Find the cause.
4. Don't blame your active lifestyle for what's happening to your toenails.
5. And lastly, go and see the doctor. Don't wait until it gets infected.

I wouldn't mind at all posting a photo or two of my toes without the toenails, but I'd better not. You might lose your appetite til the rest of the week...wouldn't you agree?