To bite your nails isn’t that uncommon. However, doing so can lead to horrifying consequences, as in the case of 21-year-old Gabby Swierzewski. She contracted an infection and almost lost her finger. Now, she wants to warn others.
Gabby Swierzewski had bitten her nails for a very long time. The 21-year-old began biting her nails as a child, and it followed her into adulthood. While it occasionally led to hangnails or a sore finger, Gabby didn’t notice any other consequences.
However, in February, everything changed. A minor irritation turned into a serious problem, as she nearly lost her finger.
Gabby, 21, had developed a chronic nail-biting condition known as Onychophagia. It’s described by DermNet as something commonly associated with stress or a nervous habit, which can involve “biting off the nail plate, and sometimes the soft tissues of the nail bed and the cuticle as well.”
In an interview with People Magazine, Gabby Swierzewski explained how, on February 6, she noticed something different. Everything began with a hangnail, which was “extremely painful.”
“Hang nails are a common occurrence for me, so of course, I thought it would go away, as I have been biting my nails since I was 8,” Gabby told People.
Urgent warning issued after woman almost loses finger after biting nails
Within 24 hours, her finger had become “extremely swollen.” She decided to call her doctor, but at that point, she figured it probably was just another ingrown nail. Four days after she noticed symptoms, she received antibiotics and an ointment to help treat the infection.
But sadly, things didn’t improve. On February 12, she visited a specialist dealing with ingrown nails. Despite the medicine, her finger wasn’t improving, so she decided to visit an urgent care center specializing in ingrown nails.
“They went on to try and pop the abscess and cut under my nail, they could not get anything other than blood,” Gabby said. “They prescribed me a second antibiotic.”
The infection worsened, and despite the pain, Gabby Swierzewski worked her long shifts as a restaurant manager at TGI Fridays. On February 14, she removed the bandage and made a horrifying discovery.
The finger had turned purple and was throbbing intensely. Two days later, the pain had become unbearable.
“I woke up crying and to the point of passing out,” she said, adding that she rushed to the ER in the morning. Doctors made a cut in the finger and drained the swollen area. Still, the swelling remained, so she was referred to a specialist, who proclaimed it was “the worst case she’s evern seen” for someone her age.
Could’ve lost her finger
On Feb. 19, Swierzewski was rushed into surgery after doctors determined the infection in her finger needed immediate attention.
Under general anesthesia, she underwent an urgent irrigation and debridement procedure, which involved a 2-centimeter incision to carefully clean out the infected tissue.
In the days that followed, anxiety hung heavily in the air. Medical teams sent samples to the lab and ran blood tests to check whether the infection had spread to the bone. For Swierzewski, the waiting was the hardest part — with the frightening possibility of losing her nail, or even her finger, looming over her.
But on March 4, relief finally arrived. At a follow-up appointment, doctors delivered the news she had been hoping for. No further surgery was needed, and amputation was completely ruled out.
Gabby Swierzewski had tried to stop biting her nails many times but had failed. This time, however, it’s going to be different.
“It is a very important awareness topic and it seems like not many people knew that nail biting could cause such a big issue, including myself,” she told People Magazine.
Experts tips
So what can you do to avoid getting nail infections? Per Explaining Medicals, doctors are urging people to keep their nails trimmed and clean, which makes a big difference. Also, resisting the urge to bite or tear the skin around them is just as important. Even the smallest cuts near the nail should be properly cleaned and disinfected.
They also stress the importance of not ignoring warning signs. If you notice symptoms such as swelling, pus, or worsening pain, it’s crucial to seek medical attention before the situation becomes more serious.
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