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Original poster

Oh no - could this be threadworms and I'm 4 weeks away from delivery??

62 replies

lisalisa · 08/10/2005 21:12

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happymerryberries · 08/10/2005 21:16

You can inhale the eggs, which then infect you, sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

have a bowel movement onto paper and have a shufti. If you have them you will see them. trust me

WigWamBam · 08/10/2005 21:18

Itching after going to the toilet could be piles. Very common in pregnancy.

Original poster
lisalisa · 08/10/2005 21:18

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aloha · 08/10/2005 21:18

I bet it's piles. Get some pile cream. Poor you.

Miaou · 08/10/2005 21:24

Lisalisa. I speak from experience - I got them at 38 weeks pregnant!WARNING - TMI ALERT!!!!!!

For me they only itched in the late evening/at night, and not really related to a bowel movement. Look away if you are squeamish - I knew I had them because I could feel them moving around when they "emerged" - sorry, said it was graphic!!

IF it is threadworms, then ask the gp to prescribe you cina 30mg, it is a homeopathic remedy that is safe to take when pregnant and when breastfeeding. I took it then (and again when ds was a couple of weeks old and I got them again!), and they cleared up fine.

However, from what you say I think piles is more likely!

foxinsocks · 08/10/2005 21:26

threadworms don't normally itch during the day but do quite intensively at night. Sometimes, you can see them crawling out in the late evening - you could get dh to have a look or try and bend over in front of the mirror when it's very itchy at night. They look like tiny threads of cotton.

If you are really infested, you might be able to see them in a poo but I do think it sounds more like piles.

If it is worms, you don't necessarily need a treatment - theoretically, they have a 6 week cycle (think it's 6 weeks). They come out and lay eggs around the anus, you scratch and then ingest them and they are reborn. If you don't ingest the eggs, the cycle stops. Problem is the eggs get everywhere - bed linen, in the dust etc. so if you think it is threadworms, wear knickers in bed and wash your bum every morning.

foxinsocks · 08/10/2005 21:29

just checked - the threadworms live for 5-6 weeks in the gut and the eggs can survive for 2 weeks outside the body (i.e. in the bed, on clothes).

I have always had to zap them with medication but not sure what happens when pregnant.

Original poster
lisalisa · 08/10/2005 21:32

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foxinsocks · 08/10/2005 21:36

weeeeeell, speaking as one who has piles and has suffered from threadworms (please god no-one recognises who I am in real life)

my piles have never been painful but have been itchy - every now and then, they bleed, but this only happened after I had had them for around 6 months - year. When you wipe, can you feel any small lumps around the opening?

foxinsocks · 08/10/2005 21:37

how itchy are you? because threadworms make your bum really really itchy

Original poster
lisalisa · 08/10/2005 21:49

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Mum2OneAndBump · 08/10/2005 21:51

If i was you i would do the when you feel them itching at night bend over and look in the mirror i know it sounds awful but at least you can confirm! or the other option is routing through your pooh i would rather look in the mirror

Original poster
lisalisa · 08/10/2005 21:54

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foxinsocks · 08/10/2005 21:54

yes, I would look in the mirror. Get a torch and shine it in the offending region when it's really itchy and bend over. You can put tape on your anus - I know you can do that to catch the eggs (you can't see them) but maybe it would catch a threadworm.

I felt that needle like feeling too and that is very threadwormy.

foxinsocks · 08/10/2005 21:56

could you lie the mirror on the floor and squat over it and look through your legs? actually not sure if that would work if v pregnant.

Perhaps you'll have to sift through your poo!

try the sellotape first though

Mum2OneAndBump · 08/10/2005 21:59

Hmmm bit tricky then as i can fully understand the being pregnant bt i am 26 weeks and i don't think i would be able to see either lol.

I know its not the ideal situation but are you sure dh would not look? otherwise pooh it is

Original poster
lisalisa · 08/10/2005 21:59

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foxinsocks · 08/10/2005 22:02

I'm now quite enthusiastic about the sellotape on bum method (and wondering why I didn't try it while trying to perform acrobatics over a mirror to look for mine)

In terms of poo sifting - both dd and ds were riddled with threadworms. Kindly, ds pooed in his pants (didn't make it to toilet) and the worms made it look like the poo was actually moving - yes, it was that obvious. I would poo in the loo, get a stick from outside and prod it a bit to see if there are any writhing white threads in it (you may be able to see without probing).

Miaou · 08/10/2005 22:04

lisalisa - yes that's exactly what they feel like. I managed to have a look at that stage with a mirror but I did use a magnifying mirror which helped.

I repeat - Cina, 30c. Great stuff.

Original poster
lisalisa · 08/10/2005 22:05

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Miaou · 08/10/2005 22:06

If you want to examine your bowel movements - easiest way is to put clingfilm over the toilet bowl

foxinsocks · 08/10/2005 22:07

I would wait till you get that 'emerging' feeling - they are bound to be there then. Get some sellotape and make sure you get right down to the hole. When I've seen them come out, they don't really go that far so you need to get pretty close. I would put it on for a few seconds then take it off and see if you have caught one. If you don't get one straight away, perhaps leave it there for a bit and see what happens.

WigWamBam · 08/10/2005 22:07

My dh has piles at the moment (he'll love me for telling you ) and they aren't bleeding, he's just itchy after he's been to the loo.

When you wipe yourself after you've been to the loo, have a look at the paper - if you've got threadworms I would have thought you'll see them without having to root around in your poo.

Original poster
lisalisa · 08/10/2005 22:08

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NotQuiteCockney · 08/10/2005 22:11

As someone who's had both, threadworms are much much much more itchy. Itchy enough to keep you from sleeping. Piles just itch faintly, by comparison.

To check, the best method is to ask your DH to look and see if he can see any, when you feel the itching. It's a horrible thought, but at any rate, as you and he (presumably) share a bed, if you have them, he will catch them too. If you need to take medicine or whatever to stop them, he will have to as well.