Threadworms...again!

[Bumblebee777]

Omg at my wits end! I posted a few weeks back about my concerns about threadworms. Felt I was being over the top as my son hasn't complained of symptoms and I never saw anything resembling threadworms on him. My worry came from my own itching. Although I never had it severe or at night, think I just over googled and convinced myself. Took ovex as a precautionary method - first dose 3 weeks ago and then second part last week (two weeks after). I'm now almost convinced I've just seen a worm in the loo after I had a poo. It wasn't moving but looked very much like it.
Can this be possible so soon after taking ovex? Do reinfections happen that quickly? I'm so confused about the life span of these bloody things! I'd just started to relax and now I'm worrying again! Given that I'm not even sure we had them in the first place I just don't know what to think!

Just to add I did all the hygiene stuff after the first dose and have been strict on hand washing. We don't have symptoms atm so I'm so confused about what I I've just seen

Have you eaten any oranges? I convinced myself DD had worms again but it turned out she had eaten lots of oranges and it looked like worms 😷 other fruits and veg can cause little strands in your poo too. It’s also to believe you’re seeing something you are not.

After D.C. had threadworms I used to drive myself crazy checking their stools. I had to stop as I already have ocd and anxiety and it wasn’t helping. I’ve finally relaxed a bit.

Re-infection can happen. Have you been extra hygienic washing hands, bedding, surfaces etc?

Thanks for replying, I too have health anxiety and ocd and this is really starting to become a problem for me. I have noticed very white thin strands before which I did think was food/other debris for want of a better word! But what I saw yesterday was separate from the poo (sorry tmi) and thick and white. Probably longer than 1cm. Could even have been toilet roll or something but i was just totally shocked. Could reinfection of something that size happen so soon after the treatment (took the second dose a week ago). Could it be a dead one being flushed out? Interestingly I've seen nothing sus in my sons poo and he's never complained about symptoms despite being constantly asked if he has an itchy bum poor kid.
We are on holiday at the moment and it's really ruining it with worry especially as I can't even wash sheets etc.

I think that's how ovex works. It immobilises the thread worms in the gut which explains why it's necessary to take the second dose. They don't 'reactivate' and therefore get flushed out of the body before they can lay more eggs.

Would it take almost a week for that to happen though? It wasn't moving and was far bigger than I'd expected so wondering if it was something else altogether. As I said my son hasn't had obvious signs at all and my only symptom was itching during the day (before I saw the thing yesterday). Just don't know what to do next. I changed all bedding towels and damp dusted when I took the first lot and am always strict with handwashing. But I've slacked off a bit as it was only precautionary anyway

I'm not sure about the time it takes tbh, but I wouldn't rule it out. You're really trying your best, I know it's frustrating but I think once you take the second dose you should be fine. Not sure about son, but I know they do say to give the whole family if anyone is affected.
The eggs are really light and sometimes spread through inhalation. If you're in a temporary place, try not to lift any dust. Bed sheets - you've got that covered I see. Hope you feel better soon!!

Thanks for being so nice. It's still such a stigma isn't it. I had no idea how common it was until I started looking into it and only recently a friend of mine was slagging off her SIL because her kids had it, making out she was dirty etc. I will see what else it anything happens. Feeling pretty rubbish, also got piles which are sore and playing up due to all the added interest in the area no doubt.
Because it was only precautionary in the first place and I never actually saw any worms I never mentioned it to my oh (new relationship didn't know how to approach it etc) but since eats, sleeps and showers at mine regularly I will bring it up if I see anything else. Brilliant

Haha that's true about the stigma. I remember we got it when we moved to a new flat and like you now, still new to my DH!! we cleaned and dusted the place properly only to begin itching couple of days later Both suffered in silence until he saw me taking the ovex. Asked what it was and told him. Turns out he had it too.

Wash your clothes at 60 degrees if you can. That way you make sure you won't take anything back home.

Threadworms are mainly active at night and can be spotted sometimes if you shine a torch on the anus, most medicines do kill them but you will see the dead ones in your poo sometimes!

Make sure to boil everything you come into contact with clothes, bed sheets, underwear etc. Lots of hand washing and disinfecting etc. Normally you should treat the entire family. A child in my youngest sisters class had them recently and the school send out an instructional precautionary letter about it as they can spread really quickly.

Hope this helps a little bit!

My dd has just had them. I treated her one evening and they were dead ones by the next lunchtime so definetly quick if you did have them. They are so common. Try not to worry.

I've literally only seen one and that was the one I saw yesterday. I don't know what else it could have been but by this point I'd taken my 2 lots of ovex as of last Wednesday! Hence why I'm so confused...
I only took it originally because I'd experienced itching, googled 'causes of itchy bum' and this came up. My bloody ocd nature made me go obsessive over it and so I treated me and ds even though there were no other symptoms. If I had seen loads of worms it might have been simpler cos at least I would have definitely known then. Atm I just don't know but am worrying myself regardless x

I convinced myself I had them last year. I ‘think’ I saw one on DD after she claimed her bum was itchy.
She may have had them and it was quickly sorted but i don’t actually think I did and it was all in my head.
My only advice would be to take Ovex again in a week or so. Go for shower as soon as you get up and wash your bum and wash your hands religiously.
But also don’t stress too much.