A Small Victory

Careful. Don't ASSUME. You know what that does to you and me. This victory has nothing to do with Farmer H finally fixing anything. FRIG II's icemaker, and T-Hoe's gas tank, remain unmolested by repairman hands. No, this victory is more personal.

I don't remember if I have mentioned my toenail. I think I did, way back when I first started my leg therapy. Maybe before, about how gnarled and hooflike the great toenail on my right foot had become with my advancing age. How it was hard to clip, and in fact I bought new, longer-handled clippers for more force. Clippers that made me think of hoof-trimmers used by farriers, or Dr. Pol of TV vet fame. 

Anyhoo... I related how this toenail was an embarrassment for me during leg therapy, even though OT had reassured me that she dealt with much worse. And has even had several POP OFF INTO HER HAND when taking off compression socks. 

These compression socks, which I must wear all day, every day, for the rest of my life... are a pain in the toenail! It never ends! Compression, compression, compression! Pulling tighter with every step. With every wiggle of my toes. There's no getting away from it. OT said that some patients cut off the toes. Of the compression socks, of course! Not off their feet! But that only meant that the socks would creep up through the day, up the foot, to the ankle. And that would allow the foot to swell. 

Anyhoo... this tale is not about the great toenail of my right foot. It's about the great toenail of my left foot. A toenail which had no problem until a couple weeks ago, when it got a little hangnail kind of thingy on the medial edge. As with a hangnail on my fingers, I slathered it with triple antibiotic ointment to keep it moist and infection free. It takes longer for a toe hangnail to heal. Especially one shut away in a hot compression sock for 22 hours a day.

That left great toenail finally quit being painful, feeling pinched when the sock would press on the end. I kept up the ointment slathering after showering. Then a few days ago, I noticed that toenail (which was not hooflike at all, but like a standard toenail) was wiggly. It could flap a little, like a talking cartoon shoe. THEN when I was bent down scrubbing it in the shower, that toenail slid sideways a little bit. To the 1:00 position. I told The Pony about it. Who retched and stated a desire not to be informed further.

I didn't want to force that toenail to move. Just left it alone, so to speak, with ointment and care not to bump it or get a sock thread caught on it.

Well. This morning (Wednesday) in the shower, as I was gently scrubbing with only liquid shampoo and my bare fingers... that great left toenail slid up and off the toe.

I WAS ECSTATIC! 

One less toenail to worry about! If only the HOOF would do the same! My toe looks like a normal toe. Except with a see-through toenail. The depression of a toenail is still there. But smooth. 

Pardon me for not sharing photos with you. I really don't like feet. Not even my own. I will spare you this sight, in case you might have the same opinion as The Pony.

Good thing I'm not a songwriter or a poet. An ode might be in order.