Are fungal infections, particularly toe nail fungus, worse for those with CLL?

[Leo71]

My husband is still on watch and wait so no immunosuppressant drugs yet but his toe nails are the worst they have ever been .

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi Leo71,

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Mine are! Before CLL I had occasional issues with Athlete's Foot, but since my diagnosis I have battled AF and toenail fungus continuously.

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I have had some success with ciclopirox 8% Solution (Commonly known as: PENLAC), but it is expensive and must be applied several times each week. It is like a nail polish that dries slowly, so it is time consuming, but effective for me, if applied diligently.

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Len

[Leo71 in reply to lankisterguy]

thank you for replying. We'll look into that.

[MovingForward4423]

It’s odd before I was diagnosed, probably 4 years previous I suffered from fungal toe nails, and a chronic sinus infection. So I would say my immune system was beginning to struggle. Personally I see a chiropodist every 3 months. She fixes the nails, and keeps my feet in great shape.

[blowinginthewind]

According to my podiatrist we are much more likely to get them than people with normal immune systems. I had a very very bad one on my big toe caused by leaving nail polish on too long. She suggested the best way to clear it up with taking tablets which would perhaps affect other medications and also might have side effects that I should use neat 100% tea tree oil, a couple of drops twice a day. She told me that it would take a long time and we had to be really good at doing it. Which we were, it was nearly 12 months of treating, but it went away without spreading to other toes and without coming back. I use tea tree on athletes foot as well, which I have had a couple of times. I see you are in UK - I buy the tea tree oil from Boots, their own brand I think we bought. It is in a a very small brown glass bottle, or it was last time I bought it. Good luck with it, fungal infections are horrible aren't they, Liz

[W00dfin]

I had already had two unsuccessful rounds of prescription toe fungus prescription medication from a past doctor. Here’s a strange toe fungus remedy that another family doctor told me about:Soak your toes (and feet if you have to) for 10 minutes daily in a mixture of half white vinegar and half yellow (original) Listerine mouthwash. Twice a day is even better although I didn’t manage it. My doctor recommended changing the mixture every 3-4 days but I was too cheap and made one batch go for a week or so. It has an unpleasant odor so I used an old kitty litter bucket with a snap on lid to keep it closed between uses. This is a slow process. I did this for over a year but it worked.

[mrsjsmith]

Morning,

Just noticed your post and yes it might be connected. I cleared mine from my toenails with Terbinafine. Because I am on Ibrutinib it was the only one I could use, but I believe there were three different options. It is worth your husband speaking to his GP sometime. My medication was recommended above any topical liquid. It took months to grow out, but it was successful.

Colette

[janvog]

I mix Listerine and organic apple cider vinegar and with a dropper, I drop twice daily a few drops of the misture on each toenail. In the morning and at night. This inexpensive and quick method seems to defend against the fungus and seems to diminish existing fungus over time. One podiatrist recommends warm water soaks with mixture of listerine, vinegar, epsom salt and hydrogen peroxyde which would have to be repeated periodically. Those are methods which probably a safer then prescription or patent formulas.