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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:
JussathoB · 11/02/2023 21:52

Could she have scabies

JussathoB · 11/02/2023 22:00

Oh no, sorry I think scabies gives you a rash, I’ve just googled it. So think it must be something else

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 11/02/2023 22:04

I zoomed in and took a screen shot then did Google lens and it suggested bed bugs.what makes you think it isn't?

To be worried about mother in law...?
12BottlesOfVintageChampagne · 11/02/2023 22:13

That looks like a Springtail to me

JussathoB · 11/02/2023 22:15

If you google springtails it says they don’t bite

thishouseisashittip · 11/02/2023 22:15

Thanks JussathoB we did consider scabies but it was ruled out (have had experience of that).

I wouldn't say it was bed bugs as not the right shape, not the right size and not acting the same. (Also mother law would be able to identify those)
These bugs are everywhere, in her clothes, her shoes, her wardrobes, drawers everywhere bold as brass

OP posts:
JussathoB · 11/02/2023 22:16

If it is body lice you would literally see tiny insects on body hair. If you look closely

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 11/02/2023 22:19

So what happened in the last few weeks that is different from before?
Did she get a log delivery for Wood burning stove?
Buy something off Facebook? Etc etc just think about where these could have come from and that might lead to what they are

Hankunamatata · 11/02/2023 22:23

www.colonialpest.com/2015/04/29/bed-bug-infestation-severity/

I'm thinking heavy bed bug infestation

SomePosters · 11/02/2023 22:24

I would capture some with sellotape and send them to NHM and rentokill to seek id

I really feel for your mil… this sort of shit would push me way over the edge.

Good luck op, I hope you get to the bottom of it

ThomasWaghornsConeHat · 11/02/2023 22:25

How big are they? I don't think they are spring tails, they are very distinctive from my degree days ( hazy memories) beg bugs are segmented. These look pill shaped? It's not a larvae it's got antenna, but I could be a instar? Ie something that's going to get bigger after a molt?

SomePosters · 11/02/2023 22:27

I was with op that they are wrong shape for bed bugs til I saw this

now I’m not so sure.

you can buy bed bug traps very cheaply that will attract them and glue them on for id.

To be worried about mother in law...?
JussathoB · 11/02/2023 22:32

Bed bugs are difficult to get rid of and you need professional pest control people. I don’t know if it’s bed bugs but they leave tiny black or rust coloured droppings?
it can’t be human body lice because they don’t live on things like shoes, only on the person in their body hair. So that’s ruled out. Bed bugs on the other hand I believe live in crevices and hiding places where someone sleeps then come out at night to bite the human host

JussathoB · 11/02/2023 22:33

What did the first pest control people think they were dealing with?

MrsJaxTeller3 · 11/02/2023 22:36

thishouseisashittip · 11/02/2023 20:34

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

Could this be it?!

https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthisbug/comments/rax9h5/tiny12mmmbughassantennae66legs/?utmsource=share&utmmmedium=iosapp&utmm_name=iossmf

thegrandolddukeofpork · 11/02/2023 22:42

Get a different pest control company in. We had weird mites in our house recently, they put down sticky traps and sent them off for ID. They might even be able to say at first sight what they probably are and suggest a solution, our first visit was free.

Hope you manage to get it sorted for her, it sounds awful.

Bunnynames101 · 11/02/2023 22:44

Is MIL in a flat or house with other properties attached?

I'm wondering if they could have come from (and return from) an attached property. A friend had returning bed bugs because the flat upstairs from her never rectified their infestation.

QueenCamilla · 11/02/2023 23:11

Springtails.

That doesn't exclude the "bites" being an unrelated condition.

ThomasWaghornsConeHat · 11/02/2023 23:20

Spring tails have two little prongs under their body. They jump when touched. They are very easy to identify

RealBecca · 11/02/2023 23:31

Booklice?

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