Threadworm are 18wks! Help!

[Tm22]

Hi all, I’m 18 weeks pregnant and I’ve contracted threadworm from my little one. I’m beside myself. My LO had it last year for the first time and I actually developed a diagnosed phobia, which thankfully I’ve had treatment for (otherwise I would be in an even worse state 😩) Dr has advised hygiene measures but due to my anxiety has said I can take the ovex treatment if I feel I can’t cope. I feel absolutely stuck between a brick and a hard place. I feel if I take the medication I’ll have the anxiety of if it’s caused any problems, but if I dont, I’ve got potentially 6+ weeks of sever anxiety (Found out yesterday through seeing one in my poo and haven’t slept at all with the worry/fear) plus strict hygiene measures that may not get rid of them anyway. Has anyone had any experience of threadworm in pregnancy? Did you take Ovex and was all ok? Any home/natural remedies that have helped get rid of them? Any advise or experiences, please share. X

Be careful as some ‘natural’ things may not be great in pregnancy - I’d seek advice from doctor or midwife before trying things.

If doctor says you can take ovex then I would take it.
Trust me - threadworm is one of the most uncomfortable experiences and ovex cleared it instantly.

Thank you. It’s just so unpleasant and all I can think about. I think I have it mildly (so far) and caught it early, but very aware it could get worse.

Definitely will be cautious. Things like raw garlic and pumpkin seeds are meant to help and they are safe so fingers crossed

OP - I had threadworm in pregnancy as well and given my extreme anxiety about it, I took the medication.

Oh god, I know I would take the ovex. You don't want yo be uncomfortable for months.

@Crazycatlady83 how many weeks were you and was all ok with baby? Did the ovex clear it up? Thank you

I took Ovex in pregnancy, it was fine. I think it's a very theoretical risk of m/c based on stomach cramps which I never got anyway.

Also: Nail brushes, fastidious hand washing after toilet/before food/first thing in morning, short nails and pants in bed all help.

Pumpkin seeds did work for me when I was pregnant. I eat a lot of them!

I got it twice (thanks DS1!) I was about 26 weeks the first time and 31 weeks the second. My pregnancy was really hard but this hit me the worse, I literally could think of nothing else. It cleared up within 2 days.

DS2 is 11 months now and is completely perfect!

@Crazycatlady83 i appreciate that so much. I am currently living your old hell, it is ALL consuming. I also think the extreme anxiety cannot have a good effect on LO. Did you take 2 doses 2 weeks apart for each infection? This was my other fear, getting it again and needing more medication during pregnancy. It seems to be on a cycle at my sons school (this is his third time in 18months), so I have to accept there’s a high chance of having to go through this again 😩 x

@BertieBotts thank you! How many weeks were you? X

@Travelwiththree thank you. How long did it take to clear with the natural measures? X

Honesty, I felt exactly the same. It was consuming me. I felt the stress and anxiety definitely was worse than any of the side effects of the medication (I did a lot of reading and found a research paper from the Netherlands which was very reassuring!) Yes I took the two doses both times.

And quite frankly I have bloody good hygiene so I felt the advice just wouldn't have worked and two months down the line I would have had to take the medication anyway!

I'm sorry you are going through this

Treat your child and then wash your bedding, hands and hoover thoroughly and wet wipe everything. They live on a cycle so once the ones inside youbhave died, they won't come back unless you consume their eggs

@Tm22 I can't remember exactly, at least a week, possible more than two. I also used vaseline in the evenings and over night to stop the itching.

Anyone else? So far I’ve not taken ovex. Not sure I can last much longer but wanted to see how it was tonight, as i’m hoping this cycle is coming to and end of the egg laying bit. Im taking pumpkin seeds and pickled garlic. I’ve slept about 2 hrs in the last 3 days. Exhausted, emotional and feeling so low ☹️ X

@Tm22 Google "Mumsnet pregnant ovex" and you'll find a bunch of threads and info

@Flederjo thank you

TM22- hope you are well! Do you mind me asking what did you decide to do in the end? I’m in a similar boat ..

@Dollygolly really sorry to hear that and I hope you are ok. It was truly one of the most distressing things I’ve been through (mostly due to my phobia!). So it turns out I had a very mild case. I think I saw 5-6 worms over the course of about 5 days (and that was with constantly checking!). I basically made a deal with myself to try get through the ‘active’ phase of the cycle with the strictest hygiene measures and then see if they came back 2-6weeks later and if they did, to take the meds. But they never came back (thank god!). however, had I had a worse case of it (I’ve read you can literally have hundred coming out) then I would have taken the meds. I think the pumpkin seeds and pickled garlic helped. I also cut out sugar for about 2 weeks and did ALL the hygine measures to excess. I found using vasaline at night meant I’d wake up once or twice a night, wipe it off with a baby wipe and reapply. I think this would have ‘caught’ any of the eggs and helped stop them spreading everywhere. Sending lots of strength, it will pass x

Thank you so much for taking the time to advise. That was a really mild case - Im almost 4 weeks in following all the home remedies and hygiene steps and still have symptoms. It’s heartbreaking. I know in the great scheme of things it’s not serious but I really thought I’d have resolution by now. My doctor said I can take the meds if I can’t resolve myself by 6 weeks but im so nervous of harming the baby.

@Dollygolly i have a friend who is an obstetrician and I spoke to her about it. She said research has shown very little of the medication is absorbed into your blood stream, then you’ve got the placenta filtering it out too, she was pretty reassuring that it was very unlikely to cause any harm. In some countries (Australia I think) ovex is licences in pregnancy over about 20 weeks. When you say you have symptoms, are you still actually seeing them? As often people still have a sore/itchy bottom from all the excess cleaning etc.

Yes, I see them. Eg last night one around 10pm (felt itch as I watched tv), this morning one in my bowel movement first thing. It’s not an infestation as I see some poor souls have but it’s consistent and I’m not winning the battle. You are right - Australia seems to have all the worm medicine in Category B! I’m very grateful for your response.