Finger nails?

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 4:59 pm

Since this started my fingernails have been breaking, something that has not happened in years. The nails are hard and strong, but they seem to be brittle. They crack, split, peel and break all the time.
Has anyone had this problem?

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 5:10 pm

Hi Lesley and welcome from New Hampshire, I have had brittle nails and vertical lines in my nails since all of this started. I normally do not pay attention to my nails but have noticed how brittle they are and the vertical lines on all of them. I do wonder what that is caused by.

Joe

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 5:17 pm

That is exactly what I have. And a fungus on my toenails. The latter has been discussed, but I don't know if this has.

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 6:39 pm

Interesting - I only noticed in the last few weeks that my nails have gotten stronger recently. Vertical lines are also less pronounced. Who knows what it means?

I keep my nails super-short, but the improvement still makes a difference. Interesting...

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 6:48 pm

Maybe because you are in remission?

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 6:56 pm

Perhaps that's it, Lesley. This is one of those changes that was relatively minor, and I assumed due to aging. I was blaming a lot on aging that I now blame on gluten. (I recognize it's probably a more complicated and nuanced picture.) I think a lot of people my age are ignoring or living with minor things that may be the tip of some bigger iceberg (and a lot of that iceberg is made of gluten).

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 7:09 pm

Aging causes nails to strengthen and get smoother? That's not one I have heard before.

Post by **tex** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 9:02 pm

Nail brittleness is probably due to a malabsorption issue, most likely "B" vitamins, but it can also be caused by thyroid problems, or other issues.

Tex

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 9:35 pm

Interesting, Tex. I wouldn't be surprised if the B-vites were the key in my case, since I've been giving them credit also for the ataxia/neuropathy improvement.

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 9:53 pm

Vertical lines, check. Brittle, flaking nails--had that, took vitamin E for it up until I started the elimination diet. My husband, who refuses to consider the possibility his GI issues may be gluten-related, has Heavily ridged, brittle, flaking and cracking fingernails and also a toenail fungus that won't die. Hmmm...

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 6:46 am

You are not alone. I have most of these things also and have for years.

Love, Shirley

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 6:49 am

Same here - I had brittle nails with ridges but have had much improvement since eliminating all of my reactive foods on MRT 10 mo. ago. It helps to rub a little moisturizer on your nails every day.

Sara - I can relate to your comment about chalking up problems to aging before discovering the gluten connection. Before diagnosis I felt 100 years old - it was difficult to even get up and moving in the morning - I would hobble around and had awful neck/shoulder pains (which I attributed to aging on top of an old whiplash injury). Once I eliminated gluten and dairy all of this disappeared - COMPLETELY. I have said many times that I feel better now than I did in my 20s and 30s. Amazing, no? Makes one wonder how just many"everyday" problems are REALLY due to that "gluten iceberg" (love the term) and/or dairy, soy, etc.

Hugs,

Polly

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 7:01 am

Wow, Polly! Did you notice the neck and back pain going away after going GF/DF, or did you have to eliminate some other things first? I have degenerative disc disease and haven't noticed an improvement in that area, unfortunately.

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 7:08 am

Hi Cynthia,

Actually, I believe the neck/shoulder pain was more related to dairy. It was one-sided and went away completely once I eliminated dairy. (Of course, gluten may have played a role too). My PCP is very skeptical that one-sided pain could be related to food sensitivities, but I am here to tell you that it can be!

Hugs,

Polly

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:09 am

I have vertical ridges in my nails, but have had them since childhood. I remember using a nail buffer as a teen to make them smooth. I have read that they are connected to autoimmune disease. My nails are very strong but one nail in particular keeps breaking in the same vertical line all the time. It's very annoying. My nails have me concerned right now because the skin surrounding them (behind my cuticle) is red all the time. This is a new development for me, and it's commonly found in Lupus.

Cynthia,
I had chronic low back pain and double-sided deep hip pain for at least a couple of years. Within days of starting the GF/DF diet, the pains disappeared. When I accidentally get glutened, I wake up the next day with the pains all over again, but they are gone by the next day or two. It's crazy.