Double Bum Trouble - bit worried

[MoominMarvellous]

Hello,

Bit of a delicate subject, but I really need some of advice if anyone has had similar experiences so am just going to get on and explain the problems.

As a child I suffered from threadworms. I was sometimes too embarrassed to tell my mother, so I feel as though I had it quite often and have also had it as an adult.

I follow all the guidelines about washing hands etc and have bought the tablets for it but it keeps recurring. I have no idea why.

I am now doubly concerned because some months ago I suffered with rectal bleeding. Went to the docs and they gave me suppositories, that was sorted. But now the worms are back.

I'm putting two and two together and coming up with a rather grim diagnosis.

I should just go back to the doctor shouldn't I?

It's just so embarrassing.

Oh, poor you - please don't be embarrassed - the threadworms are just a pest that needs to be got rid of.
The rectal bleeding, however, is another matter. To be rather indelicate, was the bleeding from scratching around the anal area due to itching from the biting worms, or was it from deeper inside, IYKWIM?
If it is just from the worm bites, then dealing with them will sort it. If it is from deeper, then FFS - go back to the docs urgently.
If it is the worms, it will require some effort to get rid of them. As well as them living in your gut and laying eggs at night around the anus, some eggs will fall off and get on your sheets. When you change the sheets, if you shake them, they will sort of drift around the house with the general dust. They could land on food, facecloths, toothbrushes, toilet rolls etc, which starts a cycle of worm heaven. The eggs of these buggers can live for 14 days on sheets, carpets etc.
To get rid of them, everyone in the house should wear pants at night for a fortnight. Wash hands and scrub nails each morning. Wash around anus area every morning - everyone in the house. Change and wash underwear and nightwear every day for 14 days at 60 degrees. Change and wash bedding every day for 14 days at 60 degrees. Avoid shaking it as the eggs will spread. If you can't wash bedding every day, tumble dry it on high heat for 60 minutes.
Vacuum and damp-dust every carpet and surface every day for 14 days.
Like most pests, they are the very devil to get rid of. The tablets alone won't do the job - they are in your house and unless you take drastic steps to get rid of them, they will stay there, re-infecting you on a regular basis, unfortunately.
Best wishes.

I'm wondering how you can tell oyu have worms...if it is itching, this could be caused by piles, which would also explain the bleeding.

You poor thing to have been so traumatised by your mother's squeamishness. Most children have worms at some stage. It sounds like she has made you feel awful about it

You poor thing, that sounds very uncomfortable. Have you seen the info here? Sounds like you probably have!

You know you need to be brave and go to see the GP. Do ask about whether there is any link to the bleeding you had, as it is obviously worrying you, and there could be a perfectly simple explanation. While the threadworms are unpleasant and uncomfortable, it doesn't sound as if they are anything to be really worried about from the stuff on NHS choices.

Good luck and hope you're feeling better soon.

How could threadworms cause any kind of dangerous bleeding though? Surely they haven't got huge teeth.

I don't know for definite whether this is true, but have heard the advice that it's best to always boil water for drinking (ie not just use tap water, but boil - and cool it - first), even in England.
That's because some critters in early stage of development can get through the filters.
Could this be another reason one would get re-infected?

They don't have huge teeth - the bleeding is caused by the poor victim scratching because they cause massive itching by sticking their heads out of your bum and laying eggs

MM, just remembered another possible cause, do you have pets (who might even sleep on your bed?) or contact with animals or soil on a regular basis?
Been told not only to treat humans but any household pets.