Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be worried about mother in law...?

45 replies

thishouseisashittip · 11/02/2023 20:24

Sorry if this is not in the right place, posting here for traffic.... getting really worried and desperate for my mother in law and really could do with some help please...it's really getting her down and combined with other things the situation is pushing her to her limits.

Hello everyone, REALLY desperate for some help from anyone if possible please. Long story but my poor poor mother in law has a situation at her house and it's been ongoing for over a month now and it's driving her mad, totally understandably!! Anyway to cut a long story short (ish) a good few weeks ago she had some small bugs arrive at her house (not 100% sure where they came from) which she thought were fleas and tried to sort the situation herself (was too embarrassed to tell any of the family) anyway she just wasn't getting anywhere and after about 2 weeks gave in and phoned council exterminator (only told me as she had to book a hotel stay for the night as pest control said she had to be out of house for 24 hours and can't do anything online herself which has caused a whole other situation there🤦🏻‍♀️) The pest control guy came out did his thing and we thought great all sorted, but things got no better, a few days later called out a second company for second opinion. He turns up has a scout around, says she hasn't got fleas and a trip the doctors would be best. He didn't say anything else really. Mother in law went to the doctors and they said she has probably got body lice 😬. She was given cream treatment and tablets for that also doctor had asked for a sample of bugs to send off for analysis (follow up appointment is on Monday but she is at her wits end, also has breast cancer and going through tests to see if that's spread) Anyway fast forward to now (nearly 2 weeks on) the situation is no better for some reason, the bugs are just not dying!! Thinking it's not actually lice. Obviously the family have not been into her house or she into any of our houses while this has been going one so nobody has see this things. She can't take a photo of them as she doesn't do technology, no smart phone no wifi etc. She has decided to ditch her bed and get a new one so has dragged old mattress outside (by herself 😞) and my husband has yesterday gone up to her garden and managed to take photos of these tiny tiny bugs to see if we can identify them from googling (with no joy 🥹) also in the mean time getting on to a third pest control person, who was really good on the phone and said don't worry we will get this sorted send me a pic I will be around tomorrow blah blah blah. Not heard from him since sending the picture. Also have been in touch with rentokil and they are not interested until pest is identified but won't help identify!! Just really really hoping someone can help me try to identify so we can help her. I will post a picture but it isn't very good, they are so tiny! But it will give a bit of an idea hopefully 🤞🏻🤞🏻

OP posts:
QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat · 11/02/2023 20:32

You haven't uploaded the picture? But are they bed bugs?

DottyLittleRainbow · 11/02/2023 20:33

Bed bugs?

thishouseisashittip · 11/02/2023 20:34

Oh flippin heck photo didn't load, will try again.
No not bed bugs unfortunately.

To be worried about mother in law...?
OP posts:
SoCunningYouCanStickATailOnItAndCallItAFox · 11/02/2023 20:35

Could you ask the entomology department of your local uni, give the students a crack the mystery request which maybe their professor would like to use for a case study?

Ohdofuckofdear · 11/02/2023 20:41

They look like carpet beetles OP.

SoCunningYouCanStickATailOnItAndCallItAFox · 11/02/2023 20:42

Has she been on holiday recently?
Could be cockroach nymphs maybe.
Does she have a fireplace in the bedroom, sometimes dead birds in the chimney/old nests result in the appearance of unusual little bugs which start trying to make home somewhere

MyCatIsAFuckwit · 11/02/2023 20:47

They look like springtails.
Very common in UK. Mostly found in damp shady gardens/woodland.
Can be found indoors if the conditions are damp.
They are completely harmless/will not bite...but I would not like sharing my home with them.

TiaI · 11/02/2023 20:49

Google images says the following ..

To be worried about mother in law...?
thishouseisashittip · 11/02/2023 20:52

Socunning that is a great suggestion, just googled and seems only 3 universities have that department and none are local (or anywhere near us) but defo worth considering is we are getting nowhere fast here.
Also no she hasn't been abroad, never has been in her adult life. Also not travelled more that 7 miles away for months and months.

OP posts:
thishouseisashittip · 11/02/2023 20:53

Mycats thanks for the suggestion but doesn't seem to fit really as what ever they are are biting her 😬

OP posts:
WhenDovesFly · 11/02/2023 20:54

That does look a bit like lice. They may be dying but the lifecycle of a louse means that the eggs (nits) will be hatching and a new lot appear. Your mum should be washing her bedding and clothes in a hot wash (60C) to kill them and get mattress and pillow protectors. I'd probably replace my mattress and pillows if it was me. Did the GP give her a physical exam to check whether she had lice in her hair or on her body?

thishouseisashittip · 11/02/2023 20:54

Also no fireplace in whole house, it's a well insulated new build with no damp or anything

OP posts:
thishouseisashittip · 11/02/2023 21:01

Thanks for the suggestions and links Tidal, descriptions and pics just don't fit 😞

OP posts:
TiaI · 11/02/2023 21:03

Thrips (long shot!)
www.thehealthyjournal.com/faq/can-thrips-infest-your-house

thishouseisashittip · 11/02/2023 21:07

Whendovesfly yes she had a thorough exam by doctor and there wasn't anything in her hair not and nothing on her body but the little bites. Given medication for lice incase (after asking other questions) and a sample take for testing which mother in law managed to bring in from home.

Yes she is washing everything constantly 😞 been none stop for weeks and weeks now! changed actual bed but doesn't want to unwrap it for fear of these things infesting that too

OP posts:
DogInATent · 11/02/2023 21:12

As well as photos, get samples of the bugs. Sellotape is good for this.
Contact the Royal Entomological Society (www.royensoc.co.uk/) and see if they can recommend someone to help identify the problem.

thishouseisashittip · 11/02/2023 21:19

Umm no definitely not bed bugs. Also these things don't jump and don't have wings (doesn't look like ) so not fitting with those other suggestions either unfortunately. Pics don't match either as they don't have sectional bodies or the shapes seem off.

OP posts:
thishouseisashittip · 11/02/2023 21:19

Thank you very much Doginatent, will definitely get on that website now and take a look.

OP posts:
DogInATent · 11/02/2023 21:28

NHM has a free identification service to the public (not commercial), it's towards the bottom of the page
www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/identify-nature.html

EllieM27 · 11/02/2023 21:29

Do you have pictures of the bites? Are they itchy, swollen, raised, flat? Or does she see marks on her skin but they aren’t otherwise bothering her?

Stayingstrongish · 11/02/2023 21:52

NHM also has a good Facebook group where people ask this sort of thing - www.facebook.com/groups/NHMUKBiodiversity