one of the things i noticed when i was really sick was the quarter moons on my finger nails had disappeared....they're coming back on the thumbs but they're different height every day, there's no evidence of the moons on my other fingers tho....
Posted by Maryinvt2 (Member # 37822) on :
Yes, I have noticed this just now. This is weird. My thumbs have their moons but the fingers have lost their moons.
Could this be due to the medicines we take or just the Lyme disease? I wonder. Mary
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
I remember watching this on Dr. Oz. Nails are a good indication of what's going on in your body. Missing the quarter moons means a nutrient deficiency.
I supplement for these, but the moons on all my nails still haven't come back. I'm thinking an up take issue with me, as my body is having trouble absorbing other vitamins and nutrients too (need some testing done).
In Chinese medicine, the size of the moons on the finger nails represent the amount Chi- energy in the body. Big moons- lots of Chi, no moons- not enough Chi.
That makes lot of sense that during chronic diseases the moons would disappear, since your regulation gets blocked and the amount of circulating energy decreases.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Do a search on this site and you will find treads/posts going back years to this very things.
My nail moons now come and go the last couple years. I'd lost all but my thumbs for years.
No it doesn't have anything to do with medications in my experience. I think the Chinese are so smart when it comes to reading the body.
Pam
Posted by Lymedin2010 (Member # 34322) on :
I am missing them on certain fingers & have them on others.
What about the linear striations on the nails. I think another indicator of health?
Posted by NanaDubo (Member # 14794) on :
lines and dents in the nails (according to my doc) indicate a mineral imbalance or lack of minerals. Heavy metals displace and deplete the good minerals.
white lines in the nails are usually a good indicator for KPU.
Posted by CD57 (Member # 11749) on :
Can also be related to thyroid/hypothyroidism.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
After I got lyme all of my moons disappeared. Now I have faint ones on my thumbs and an inclination of one on my first finger. I have read it is an indication of hypothyroidism or B12 deficiency but it they can also go with age - so maybe Chi is a very good explanation as all of these things would take your energy.
Posted by BuffyFan (Member # 34679) on :
is it a lack of all minerals or just certain ones? I have dents in my thumbnails and horizontal lines across some finger and toenails.
Posted by Littlesprout (Member # 7406) on :
I don't have moons either,never did. Had lyme since I was 13 Healthy people always have good moons on numerous fingers Always jealous even B4 I knew it was lyme Wish someone could figure it out
Posted by Maryinvt2 (Member # 37822) on :
My LLMD said my protein is low. So maybe that is why I lose moons.
Anyone know how to get your protein back up???
Posted by terv (Member # 29410) on :
I had totally forgotten about half moons on fingernails until your post and I looked. I have them on my thumbs but no where else.
I have issues with my nails peeling up from the nail bed. Went to dermatologist and she said my nails were thin. She put me on biotin and gave me penlac.
I have low T4 but supplementing hasnt helped my nails at all. I think a lot of my problem is lack of blood flow to the nails compared to the normal person..
Posted by Jamers (Member # 28016) on :
This was one of my main symptoms and I recalled in nursing school reading about fingernails and illness. I asked every doctor I saw (which was a lot!) and no one knew why. I googled it, in hopes of finding the problem so I could correct it and maybe help me get well. No such luck.
I had very bright white moons and now I only have them on my thumbs and they are pale...I did read something that said fungus can be the cause but still not sure.
Posted by Larae30 (Member # 35220) on :
I always thought it was something about vitamin/mineral deficiency or adrenal issue?
Posted by jjourneys (Member # 39813) on :
what a wonderful post! I was searching on fingernail issues through this forum. I am new to Lyme diagnosis and had questions.
didn't notice my moons also are missing. must be lyme as I've only been on meds less than a week.
This is a good post for other newbies that have joined recently.
thank you all for sharing!
Posted by Kudzuslipper (Member # 31915) on :
I just looked down... my moons are back a little bit on all but my ring finger! they were gone from all but my thumbs.
Posted by Pam08 (Member # 19203) on :
Just wanted to bring this back up because I have noticed for years that my moons are missing. I have the thumbs but not the others.
BUT...last Monday my doctor gave me a methyl B12 shot and ALL of my moons came back. I was shocked by this because I take methy B12 in my B complex supplement AND my B12 tests always come back at the high end of normal and sometimes above normal. However, clearly I am in need of B12 since my moons came back with that shot.
I have since learned that I have the MTHFR gene mutation which probably explains my high b12 levels but still needing more b12. With the MTHFR problem the body isn't able to properly process or use the b12 which can cause your levels to be normal or even high while at the same time being deficient. From what it sounds like my body was just storing it but not able to properly use it. Also it seems like maybe I just need much higher doses at the moment because of this problem.
Anyhow...I just wanted to share this with you guys. I couldn't believe my moons suddenly came back after that shot. I had been wondering for years why they were gone. Now that the shot has worn off my moons are almost all gone again so I will need to get some sublingual b12 and see if that will help. I may just need to get the shots though.
You all may want to consider b12 deficiency even if your b12 blood tests come back normal.
Pam
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Wow, thanks for posting Pam! Do you have one copy of MTHFR or two?
Posted by Pam08 (Member # 19203) on :
No problem! I have two copies of the MTHFR gene.
Posted by CherylSue (Member # 13077) on :
I took methylcobalamin B12 shots for several months, and nothing happened. They helped with energy at first, but then made me sicker.
BTW, I have moons on my thumbs, but not on any of the fingers. They went away when I first came down with this disease. Never came back.
Posted by Spirocheta (Member # 37889) on :
Anybody have the opposite? Something is wrong with my big toes only, and the entire toenails ARE moons, which then look atrophied at the top of the nail.
Posted by daynise (Member # 39609) on :
I just wanted to chime in- the moons on all my fingers disappeared several years ago. I started taking Liposomal B-12 and Active Bio-B last Tuesday and the moons are back on the first three fingers of each hand!
I had no idea these moons were an indicator of vitamin B deficiency!
Also just read that no moons can indicate an Iodine deficiency too.- Just started on Iodine Tuesday too!
So interesting!
Posted by daynise (Member # 39609) on :
This article talks about meanings behind nail changes.
Says missing lunula (moons) can indicate underactive thyroid.
Spirocheta- it talks about oversized moons being overactive thyroid and that white nails indicate anemia?
Posted by EWT1638 (Member # 11315) on :
I have hypothyroidism, but my T3 & T4 are normal and have been for years due to medication. I noticed my nails got ridges and the moons disappeared (except for thumbs). I took biotin, didn't help my nails or hair. I take sublingual B12.
What other things might be missing?
Posted by ThatDarnTick (Member # 39987) on :
I have no moons.
I've read in several places that your T3 & T4 can come back normal, but your thyroid can still be off.
Posted by CD57 (Member # 11749) on :
it's the free t3 and free t4 you need to look at, not the total.
Posted by EWT1638 (Member # 11315) on :
LLMD said they were normal.
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Right on Daynise (thanks for posting)!
Posted by Spirocheta (Member # 37889) on :
Wow, thanks for the link. It's creepy, because I have so many symptoms of overactive thyroid, but nothing ever comes back that way.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)