Please help - threadworm

[CD900]

I don’t think I’ve ever posted on here before but I’m being pushed to the edge and just hoping someone can offer some support / advice.

So we picked up threadworm from a children’s birthday party a couple of months ago. I think only me and my daughter got it, DH and DS seemed fine. Treated the whole family with Ovex but after about a week I could still feel them moving so took another dose. Since then I’ve had about 10 doses of Ovex and the infection just isn’t shifting. I know this isn’t reinfection because the timing isn’t right - it’s not like I get rid and they come back a few weeks later. The medicine just isn’t working. TMI but I’m still feeling very itchy in the mornings so that means there are still adults laying eggs. My DH seems to be fine now. She’s had her second dose (and I have her a third to be safe).

I’m doing all of the recommended hygiene steps. My hands are cracked from hand washing so much. I’m just at the end of my tether. I’ve read so many things about people just not being able to get rid of them and having them for years and it’s really getting me down.

Has anyone else had these where the medicine just didn’t seem to work but then they managed to get rid of them? Or do I have to prepare myself that I’ll have these disgusting things forever?

I’ve spoken to the GP twice and their only comment was that the medicine really should be working. I’ve considered whether I might be imagining it (I’m definitely not!) and I’ve considered whether it might be something else (it’s definitely not).

Sorry for the long post, I just feel I need to hear some encouraging stories. I’ve been crying myself to sleep at night at the thought of having to live with this long term.

Have you actually seen them in your poo?

Yep, loads of them. Clear as day.

Washing everything at 60 degrees? Fresh knickers every day / fresh pjs every day? Bedding and towels boil washed?

Thanks - yes been doing all of that (and more). The thing is I really don’t think this is an issue of reinfection. I haven’t gotten to the point of worrying about reinfection yet... the original infection has just never cleared up.

Google says the worms will die after 6 weeks so if you can prevent reinfection they have a shortish life cycle.

It’s clearly having an effect on your mental health which isn’t surprising as it must be horrible. Can you go back to your GP and tell them it’s making you depressed they might be more supportive. Or see a different GP. There must be something that can be done. What about a doctor who specialises in this sort of thing? It might be worth looking into even if involves paying to go private if you afford it? It sounds like the worms are resistant to the medication. No one should have to go through this so keep pushing for support from your GP

Whenever conventional medicine doesn't work for me I've had success with suggestions on earth clinic.

www.earthclinic.com/cures/pinworms.html

Thanks for all these really helpful replies.

I have private medical insuranve through work so was able to have a private GP consultation. The guy was very sympathetic but he’d just never heard of anyone not getting rid of threadworm after 1 dose of Ovex. He prescribed me an alternative medication (albendozole) but the next day I got a call from someone doing a review of the prescription who said that a private GP can’t prescribe it because it’s unlicensed in the UK (presumably because they think Ovex is doing the job) and because it’s so expensive. They suggested going to my NHS GP to see if they would prescribe it. That was on Wednesday and I haven’t been able to get an appointment with my NHS GP. Left a message asking if the doctor could call me. Nothing.

I’m going to try to get a referral to a parasite specialist. But I think I need to stop reading other threads about this online as they don’t make for very positive reading. Anyone who has experienced this before seems to say there’s nothing that can be done and they’ve just had to learn to live with it. I can’t even go there in my head at this point.

I’ve looked into alternatives to medicine. Trying MSM supplements. Some reports suggest it’s good for parasites... but then I read that the person who commissioned the reports has a patent in the US for this product so... slightly skeptics! But I’ll try it anyway. And I’m eating lots of pineapple and pumpkin seeds.

The GP I spoke to did mention the 6 week lifecycle. But apparently it’s possible for the eggs to hatch within a few hours and for the worms to just migrate back inside... then you’re back to square 1 no matter what hygiene measures are taken.

My head is absolutely scrambled. I feel like this is consuming so much of my mental and physical energy and I really just can’t contemplate living like this forever. I’m finding writing all of this down quite therapeutic though so thank you for reading / offering helpful suggestions.

Threadworms rely on getting animal based nutrition from your bowel.
Go vegan/plant based and they will die. You can change your diet back if you wish after.

I got them when l was pregnant and G. P said l couldn't take Ovex as it might affect the baby. I found applying vaseline and wearing pants at night got rid of them quite quickly.

I experienced an almost constant reinfection so I understand somewhat what you are going through.

At one point I was pregnant so couldn’t take ovex so took a vile grapefruit extract. I think that helped a bit.

Ate pumpkin seeds, carrots and raw garlic and looked into taking diatomaceous earth powder and wormwood something but never got as far as ordering them.

It was honestly getting ridiculous, so much so I wormed the kids as a preventative measure six monthly along with the dog but leaving primary school sorted it and we’ve been clear ever since. I think I’ve still got 2 unopened bottles in the medicine cabinet !

Good luck - you will get through it eventually

How do you know you have them? I can’t believe I have 3 kids and we’ve never got them? Do you see them in your poop? How do you know?

This is disgusting but I have been told to put sellotape over the anus and then the eggs are laid on the sellotape and you remove in the morning. I think a previous poster has suggested Vaseline as the eggs can’t then attach . I have also known people who have had success with Chinese medicine .

Diatomaceous Earth (food grade). That kills them. I was constantly getting infected (thyroid related for me) and DE is the only thing that worked.

@GlencoraP, yes, the same principle, the vaseline acted as a barrier and so the thread worm cycle was interrupted.

I do think you are over thinking it op sorry. You don't catch them and then instantly start itching and seeing them in your poo, it takes weeks for them to get to that stage from swallowing an egg. I'm a bit confused how you know for certain you caught them at a party. They could literally be on any surface anywhere, like a product you pick up in a supermarket. If someone's got eggs on their fingers then touches an item then you do, and touch your mouth after, that's all it takes. Unless you are actually still seeing live worms in your stools then you most likely don't have them now.

Thank you thank you! This has given me so much hope! I will try all of these suggestions! Have dug out the Bepanthen and using that. I assume it’ll do something similar to Vaseline.

I didn’t explain it very well. We went to a party, the girls mum called the next day to say they had just discovered the birthday girl had them and they wanted to give us the heads up in case our kids picked them up. 3 weeks later I started seeing the worms. I really REALLY wish I was overthinking it.

This may be a tad too far for you but... When my son had them and before we got the medicine, I would check his anus at night, this is when the worms come out to lay their eggs. I'd be armed with a tissue and I'd catch them in the tissue and then wipe the eggs away. Is there any chance you'd let your husband do the same... So gross I know but if it helps to break the egg laying cycle?? Also carefully take off your pants each morning and wash your bottom straight away. I really feel for you OP

Most likely you’re reinfecting yourself. Cut your nails short, scrub fingers with a brush and wear trousers to bed so you can’t scratch while you’re asleep.

This actually made me chuckle. DH had threadworm as a child and said his mum did the same thing for him. He didn’t offer to do it for me though. I think that might be asking too much

Look up the thread worm cycle O. P. If you interrupt it by a barrier (eg vaseline) the eggs are contained and can't hatch. As a P. P. said wipe and wash carefully each morning to remove any eggs that might be trapped in the vaseline and reapply. You should soon get rid of them if you break the cycle.

Can you still get Pripsen? Not that I’d recommend taking it even if you can …..

@CD900 hi, did they clear up in the end and what worked?

It did! I think it went on for 2 months in total. In the end I took Ovex for 5 days, then again 2 weeks later. Used Bepanthen religiously and they just… went away!

I was already doing all the hygiene measures, scrubbing nails, washing pants as soon as I got out of bed etc etc

Good luck!