I lost my nails.
It's one of those things they tell you will happen, but you simply cannot comprehend that it actually does happen. Okay, I have one left and I'm protecting it for everything that it's worth. That the one remaining nail happens to be on my middle finger, is just a bonus.
It's not that I had extremely long nails or anything, but this is way different from simply keeping your nails short. There is a bit of nail, but it does not extend at all - so, if you look at your own nails, think of them without any of the white part.
The good news is that losing them didn't actually hurt. I feared it would be excruciatingly painful as it is when you have nails and one breaks too far down, but no, these just sort of snapped off.
Whoever said that 'nothing is impossible' never lost their fingernails. Trust me.
The last 3 weeks have been an endless string of frustrations and the list of things I am unable to 'do' just keeps growing. Allow me to share some of my list of impossibilities:
Scratch an itch
Peel an onion
Pick up a piece of paper
Hold onto anything
Remove a band-aid
Lift up the little wick on the tea light candle so it can be lit
Make screechy sounds on a chalkboard
Not that I actually own a chalkboard - it's the principle of it!
Posts
Comment: Bummer. More than a bummer. Not really a bright side to that. I can't say anything bright or breezy in response to that.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: will they grow back?
Snide remark: not applicable in this instance.
You forgot something really important on the list....
ReplyDeletePick your nose.
Or can you still do that?! :o)
Your hair is coming back.... which means the nails are next!
Wow, I never knew about this side effect! Heck yeah - you think they're just a nuisance because you have to clip and file them, paint them even...turns out you use them all. the. time. Here's to nails!
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, what a side effect! I hope they'll come back soon...
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, I can't imagine!!! And I have never actually given it any thought to everything I use my nails for before! Will they grow back? They must?? Oh, hope you don't go nuts waiting on them...uff, poor poor Patti, I feel so badly for you! Your strength through all of this is so admirable and I love that you use humour to get you through much of this..
ReplyDeleteOh man, I can't imagine! They will grow back, right? I have been following your journey (though I don't tend to comment much), but your strength is just amazing to me Patti! *huggs*
ReplyDeleteI would think they would come back...maybe not as exactly as they were, but I doubt you'll live without nails..... Jesus, that sucks.
ReplyDeleteI hope these side effects stop affecting you soon. You are super-strong, and I'm sure this too shall pass!
Oh, no! I thought you were almost done with all that. They'll definitely come back though if you still have the roots.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you lost your nails with chemo/radiation, either! Wow...I am so sorry!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear this.... I hope they grow back soon for you. It's amazing how much you miss something that we take for granted. But what's really amazing is YOU. I hope to meet you one day when I'm in DK.
ReplyDelete