Toxoplasmosis stress and about to have a breakdown

[Theother123]

Hi,

Your probably (hopefully) all going to think I am insane. But I'm struggling with pregnancy anxiety and this is something I really can't shake.

I was away in Rural Portugal on holiday last week, while there we visited a family friend who had moved. He served us melon as an afternoon snack, which I ate quite happily. It wasn't until afterwards that I was informed it wasn't washed before being cut up.

The last couple of days I have started to get a sore throat, headache, bunged up nose and chesty. I feel terrible.

I am now convinced that the unwashed Melon has given me toxoplasmosis and am so scared! My first midwife appointment isn't for another 3 weeks so will have to wait until then to ask for a blood test.

Am I being completely stupid or am I actually at some kinda of risk?

It would be really hard to get toxoplasmosis from a melon - even an unwashed one so try not to worry! When I was pregnant my cat unfortunately died from toxoplasmosis- I still didn't get it. It's really not that likely.

You're not being stupid but you do need to recognise that it's much more likely that you've got a cold.
The part of the melon you eat is contained in the skin. I'd never wash a melon before I ate it, pregnant or not.

I dug up and weeded an entire border before DH told me it was the local cat toilet (-not envy)
I still didn’t get it. I expect you have a cold but understand the anxiety-get the blood test when you can for reassurance-maybe you’ve already had it and are immune!

And that is a v good point about washing a melon-who ever has washed a melon?!

I wouldn't wash fruit where I'm not eating the skin. It's really unlikely this is an issue. Most likely you have an unrelated cold, possibly made worse by your stress. Pregnancy can be a worrying time, and I understand the anxiety. Try not to let it take over.

Well exactly, I have never washed a melon (not sure it would even fit in my sink).
But someone told me to wash everything because the cutting can spread the toxo to the edible bit.
My calm self knows that I probably have a cold, I always get one from a plane and IV had my immune system suppressed due to my IVF. But I really can't shake this stupid fear.
Thank you for the reassurance though, I have two outdoor cats that use my garden as a toilet so I hope I'm already immune anyway.

Honestly you are getting yourself all worked up over a tiny risk. I have cats and have cleaned their litter trays every day throughout three pregnancies and been fine. I asked my midwife and she said she hardly ever sees anyone with toxoplasmosis at all, it's very rare. You've more than likely got a cold from the plane.

Midwife also said if I've had cats my whole life, which I have, then I've probably had it before and am immune. That's probably the case for you if you've got cats too.

I’d be a lot more worried about the cats and toxoplasmosis than eating the inside of a melon (which wouldn’t have been impacted at all by the washing or otherwise of the outside).

If you haven’t had a midwife appointment yet then you’re very very newly pregnant. You are going to have to calm down a bit else it’s going to be a really tough 9 months for you if this is the level of your over thinking.

Internet says toxo incubation period is 10-40 days. If you were allegedly infected last week, you would not have symptoms yet. Probably just a cold.
You can get tested if you're already immune, might that help with anxiety?

Thank you, it really is going to be a long 9 months at this rate.
It took a very long time to get to this point and I'm so convinced I'm going to do something to ruin it.
Hopefully once IV seen the midwife and talked all this through I'll become a bit calmer (we shall see).

Thank you though for the reasurrance