Long term threadworms - I think I have found a solution
Posted , 91 users are following.
6 months ago I suddenly realised that my children and I were infested with threadworms and had been for at least a year prior to that. It has caused me intermittent, unexplained diarrhoea attacks and obviously itchiness. I had put the latter down to thrush as I obviously had them in my vagina. I also had unbearable itching at the top of my bottom (near the small of my back).
This has been so distressing, and the information I have found on the internet has been frustratingly simplistic and unhelpful, occasionally alarmist and contradictory. The most irritating advice is from people quoting the leaflets in the Ovex packets. Here is my experience, which I hope adds information that is genuinely helpful and also new to the war against threadworms.
I did all the right things - Ovex, cleaning, children trained not to scratch, scrub nails and wash bottoms in the morning. It would clear up in the children then come back and I treated them a few times over a couple of months. I would say that now they are free of infestation.
BUT, despite spending the best part of £100 on Ovex (Ha! That's why the drug companies don't find a permanent solution!!), I personally just could not shift them. I was absolutely scrupulous in NEVER touching my bare bum, keeping up the cleaning regime, etc. The Ovex just DID NOT WORK. I still found worms in the days following treatment and there was no let up. I took Ovex daily for 5 days, with no effect.
I also could not understand why I felt itchy and saw small worms on my anus during the day. I was showering 4 to 5 times a day and it was really distressing. My research told me that the female worms come out at night to lay eggs, only after they have reached maturity, at which point they are upwards of 1cm in size. I was seeing 3mm worms on my anus throughout the day. The itching was accompanied by a sticky sensation which I was desperate to wash away.
[b:716aeed2f9]Then I realised what had been happening:[/b:716aeed2f9]
When I shower in the morning I wash thoroughly. However this is not enough. The females lays her eggs in the folds of the anus. And she lays hundreds of thousands of them. When I wash with soap, I am not cleaning every fold in my anus. My childrens' bottoms are positively smooth and flat compared to mine which is ravaged by childbirth and the odd haemorrhoid. This would explain why I have been itching and seeing worms in the daytime. The eggs that have been laid at night are hatching during the daytime, then crawling back up into my intestine. This is retro-infection, claimed by some to be \"rare\".
This was always accompanied by the appearance of tiny skin flakes in my knickers. I made sure I wore black knickers so I could monitor this. Sure enough, the level of itching was directly related to the amount of small white flakes in my underwear. I can only assume this is debris left behind after the worms have hatched.
[b:716aeed2f9]Solution:[/b:716aeed2f9]
I changed from washing with soap, to using an emollient cream (diprobase for eczema), which I carefully work into all the nooks and crannies before rinsing, then repeat the process. While not convinced they have left yet (I've only been doing this for about 3 weeks), I no longer have to shower in the daytime and do not get the flaky debris in my pants.
[b:716aeed2f9]Aggravating factors:[/b:716aeed2f9]
I definitely noticed that a day or two after having a sugar binge (e.g. eating huge packet of sweets) I would have an explosion of worms, day and night. If you can manage it, giving up sweets and sugar is very likely to help you win the war.
Whilst trying to break the cycle, it's also worth making a rule to always wear long pyjama bottoms over knickers to bed. This eliminates the need to wash bedlinen daily, as long as you are sure you are not scratching during the night.
[b:716aeed2f9]What didn't work:[/b:716aeed2f9]
Ovex
Eating garlic cloves
Pumpkin seeds (nice though and very good for you!)
The doctor! Couldn't offer anything stronger than Ovex and just told me not to put my hands near my mouth.
I have laid myself bare in this post, which is still uncomfortable even with anonymity, in the hope that my experience may help someone else who is suffering from this hideous parasite. Unfortunately the medical profession couldn't give a sh*t, as it is \"harmless\"! They seriously need to update this attitude....
14 likes, 105 replies
julie51084 OneFamily
Edited
Yes, I came to the same conclusion about making absolutely certain that the eggs are killed every day. Here are some of my conclusions (which have worked so far):
1. Every morning, before going to bathroom, I wipe very well with paper towel soaked in hydrogen peroxide. Google search told me that hospitals only use bleach or hydrogen peroxide as antiseptics so made since that it could kill the eggs. The paper towel is kinda rough which helps with the abrasvie action to loosen all the eggs.
2. I take baths. Put the h2o2 in bath, which helps kill eggs.
3. Also put h2o2 (cupful) in laundry. So far, it is safe on colorfast clothes. Not sure I'd use it on finer fabrics like silk, but cotton and blends are fine with it in there.
4. I wear panties with men's briefs over them so that I don't have to wash bed linens daily.
5. Spray the crotch of all undies and pants with Lysol before I put them in hamper.
6. Apparently, you can pick up these critters from the soil and I garden all of the time. So, I now have strict protocol for coming in from the yard. Have yard shoes that do not come in house. Rinse my hands off, then hand sanitize on the porch. When I come in house, I scrub my nails if there is dirt there.
7. I take over-the-counter pinworm meds. Plus a daily dose of MSM and garlic. Some people had great results with both of these and they are good for you anyway, so I figure it couldn't hurt. Will stay on those after I stop the pinworm medication.
8. Probiotics of all kinds. Kefir! Fermented foods. Probiotic capsules. Good to have a variety of probiotics.
9. Roughage. Lettuce, apples, fiber. Seems important to have that physical kind of action to help move as much as possible thru the colon.
10. Finally, I've read that some people use vaseline or other cream on the anus to block the egg laying. Not sure that makes sense. In my mind, if she is desperate for air or to lay eggs, then she will find a way out (which means traveling to another part of the body). I want her to stay in the colon so the meds (and good bacteria) can do their job.
sheila29040 OneFamily
Posted
Hi, just seen your post & notice it's over a year ago.
I am struggling to get rid of worms which I have had for 2 months.
I am doing all the usual things re cleanliness but your comment about cleaning the folds in the anus makes a lot of sense.
Im definitely going to try it.
I took 2 ovex on 2 subsequent days as someone had suggested taking 2+2+2 over 3 days but chickened out on the 3rd day as I got a bad cold & needed Cold relief & don't like taking lots of pills.
I have given up sugar & avoid dairy so have lost some weight which is a good thing.
Fed up with reading conflicting advice on the internet.
I'm not prepared to accept that they are with you for life. I never had this as a child, I am very hygiene conscious & 69. I don't know where they came from.
are you still worm free?
One-family OneFamily
Edited
Hi, I am updating my post to hopefully reassure some of you. I am worm free as are the rest of the family and we have been for several months. The solution? My youngest left primary school in July and we haven't had a problem since the last term there. I still think the best approach is weekly ovex for months on end and careful washing of anus and hands, daily changing of pyjamas (not bedlinen, no sane person can keep that up).
I do want to mention that my perceived recovery was complicated by getting a thrush infection of the skin between my buttocks. Not vaginal, just intense crawling itching in my bum crack that left me convinced that the worms were back. The itching sensation was identical. However it went on 24/7, without any increase at night and no physical sign of worms. Also the itching was "around" my anus and not coming out of it if you know what I mean. When I realised I had a rash that looked like a burn and it went away with hydrocortisone anti fungal cream I relaxed a bit. It was probably caused by too frequent washing down there and not drying thoroughly.
So if you haven't got kids or they are older, I think you have a great chance of getting rid of the worms and not getting reinfested. If you have small children though, you may be in for a longer battle. I really think we are rid of them though and it is definitely not with you for life.
Good luck everyone.
Anna196444 One-family
Posted
kim48357 OneFamily
Posted
your post might be over a year ago but it's the only one i find sensible...
im 40 with a 4 year old daughter and a 3 month old baby boy...oh yes boy and girl but oh my...boy just had rsv when he was 4 weeks and been admitted to picu for a week. The worried feeling was indescribable...especially when he was tubed but je is home and ok now.
I couldn't believe my eyes this morning as i checked my stool that it has pinworms...oh so gross! ive been suspecting it for days now as i was itchy for the last few nights. it's only after xmas so there are loads of chocolates and cakes plus visits to see me and the little one.
i started the vermox tonight as i can not wait for the morning to start it hoping i wont be itchy again but to my surprise i started getting itchy again as soon as i finished washing my daugters soft cuddly toys. Like everyone i have stripped our beds and duvet to wash them and luckily for some reason the weather was mild so i dont have to out duvet on.
My question for u is how do u wash ur kids?? i am going to wash her tomorrow morning wearing gloves as i dont want it transferred to me. My partner hasn't got itchiness but i will ask him to wash himself first thing in the morning too then wash all the sheets all over again.
just a quick question no one has ever mentioned mattress protector. i washed it anyway..but i left the pillow protectors.
tomorrow we will start taking them in the morning for the next 3 days so there we will get rid of other common infection and in 2 weeks time too.
will let u know if there is any improvement tomorrow night
by d way im also worried fo my 3 month old..omg..i would have to call the doctor again because of these plus he hasnt got his 2 month vaccine
dina22497 OneFamily
Edited
OMG i totally relate to your comment. I'm having a total meltdown right now!! I used my daughter's saline spray just to see if it would help and of course I blew my nose and dozens came out. Some bloody, some tiny, some really fat and about 1/2 inch. Then I went to vomit and vomited all kinds of larvae or something like that. Well I thought I should check inside my vag and low & behold they are also there
.........
I've been to 2 hospitals, family doctor, urgent care, dermatologist, oncologist/hematologist, infectious disease doctor, and gastrointestinal doctor. I keep getting same response "we simply don't have parasites in the US". What are they talking about? BC IM LIVING PROOF & THEY BLOW IT OFF AS PARANOIA
I JUST CANT LIVE ANYMORE LIKE THIS!!!!! I've treated my 7 year old daughter with the over the counter Reese's Pinworm Medicine & also repeated it 3 Fridays in a row. She doesn't have any symptoms. She did have a couple in her feces but nothing like what I'm going through. I wake up and my nose is filled with them. My rear end itches so bad at night, I go through about 100 baby wipes a day!! If anyone has and answers PLEASE SHARE INFO WITH ME. I feel like I'm going out of my mind!!! It's been 10 months of vomiting and feeling like my body is on fire, but no fever. Can't keep food down, but not losing any weight at all???? I've been told by mostly all the doctors that my "absolute lymphocytes" are elevated. Which is actually part of your White Blood cells. So they know something is causing it, but don't want to listen to me even though I've had samples & pictures. Next is an Upper GI and then colonoscopy. But what about the vaginal issue? I just can't live go on anymore like this!! I need help with these nasty things.
Flicnic dina22497
Edited
Oh dear, sounds like you're having a really hard time with these horrible creatures and I can definitely relate to that. Do you think it's possible that you have something else as well as threadworm? I have not heard of vomiting or body feeling on fire and I've researched this extensively over the last 9 months plus spoken to the UK's parasitic experts (mind you i still felt like I had more idea about what a threadworm infection is capable of than they do).
How long have you had the infection for? What have you taken for it? Albendazole, which I believe you can get on prescription in the US, is good for worms that have migrated (to nose, appendix, lungs etc) because it is absorbed throughout the body (rather than just staying in the digestive tract like mebendazole). It's the most powerful drug available for this problem so if you haven't tried it, then do so. Here in the UK it isn't licensed so you have to go to a specialist and then get it imported. I am coming to the end of a 13 week course (1 x 400mg per week). Sadly it has not worked for me, all it seems to do is reduce the symptoms for one day after I take each pill. However I am extremely unusual apparently, in general this is a highly effective drug and many long term sufferers have been cured with it. The specialist I am under is finding it hard to believe I still have symptoms but admits they are currently investigating possible drug resistance in intestinal worms. Lucky me catching one of those types!!
If you've already tried albendazole then I would try asking your doctor for a longer course. 13 weeks worth should be more than enough to prevent reinfection.
I'm sure I don't need to advise you on all the hygiene measures, although a few things which I didn't do initially which I think may have helped reduce the severity of the infection are as follows:
- washing underwear, towels & sheets at 90.
- wearing disposable shower cap & mask in shower (if they can float on air, why not steam?)
- limiting my intake of red meat, refined sugar & dairy
Also pumpkin seeds, for me, seem to slow them down. I have quite a lot though, at least 100g per day which I munch on throughout the day. Whenever I stop eating them for a couple of days I feel a lot more wriggling during the day. They do not, however, kill them or stop them laying eggs at night.
Good luck!
laura27275 Flicnic
Posted
Hi Flicnic
I was just wondering how you went about getting referred to a specialist?
I'm also in the UK and have a similar story to yours and feel I need to see a specialist. I've already been to my doctor who was baffled and ordered tests to check for any underlying problem but nothing has been found. Yesterday I had about five small short dead threadworm which might of been the male or could of been lava ? Who knows but I need to try Albendazole I think!
Thanks
Laura
dina22497 laura27275
Posted
Hi Laura,
First I want to say I'm sorry you are also going through this. I'm actually in the US (which it's much harder over here to get diagnosed) First I went to family doc then I think it was my Gastrointestinal doctor because of all the vomiting. He send me to a oncologist/hematologist and they didn't see any cancer cells so they just wrote the number of the Infectious Disease Doctor on a post it note. VERY UNPROFESSIONAL!!!! So I went to the IDD and they diagnosed me with parasitosis (which basically means I'm delusional and imagining this) I was LIVID!! I'm still sick and have weird looking stuff when I blow my nose. And also in my stool and vomit. Sorry this is so gross. I have an UPPER GI & Colonoscopy scheduled and HOPEFULLY they will realize I'm not crazy!!! Try to get the same procedures at same time bc they put you under anesthesia and you won't have to go two different times. It's been 10 months I've been suffering with this and I'm so sorry you are too! I hope we both are healed and have a great summer. God bless and I wish you well.
Flicnic laura27275
Posted
I got a referral to the hospital of tropical diseases in London via my GP. They are very good there, unlike private specialists o saw they took me seriously and were always respectful.
I have a bit of a story since seeing them, if you want to hear it please private message me.
Flicnic
dina22497 Flicnic
Posted
alexyl dina22497
Posted
dina (et al) - im also from the US. I can't understand how awful doctors here have become. They rarely believe anyone actually knows their own bodies - they think they know better even if they've only see you for 10 minutes - THEN all they want to do is write out prescriptions and wuh-lah, youre healed and they're paid!
According to the CDC - an average of 25 - 30% of americans have pinworms. How can drs be so ignorant about them? Worse yet, why haven't any of these money grabbing pharmaceuticals come up with a better cure? ... oh yeah ... they don't want a cure, just a treatment so you heave to keep coming back to give them more money.
How are you doing now? I sincerely HOPE everyone on this post has found an end to the misery!
WHY DO THESE THINGS EVEN HAVE TO EXIST??!!!
Ive been fighting this same problem for about 4 months. My GP *tried* to do a tape test (no mask and after I showered). SHe acted like she didnt know how to do it! needless to say she didnt find any thing. I had 2 mebendazoles from her- nothing more. That was over 2 months ago.
The thing that makes my situation worse is I'm disabled in a wheelchair and only my (mildly) autistic adult daughter to help - she does the laundry, sometimes cooks for me.
I've even tried doing the turpentine/sugar rememdy . It killed a lot of them, but not all.
Life sucks enough being alone in a wheelchair- this makes it 50% worse. I won't let it go on for much longer. One way or another I will kill them.
I am seeing my neurologist in 3 days. He might be more understanding than the GP- I'm gonna beg for a 6 month supply of mebendazole - like *Our Family* used.
wish me luck.
lucille34526 Flicnic
Posted
im in the Uk too. ive had pinworms for about 3 months. was it hrlpful going to the london hospital for tropical diseases? im desperste
Smithsmith OneFamily
Posted
I have tried bulbs of garlic, Apple cider vinegar, eating only fruits and vegetables, wormwood, everything I've read about on the Internet. But after prayer I found that drinking baking soda water in the morning and at night removed pinworms completely from my intestines. However during that time I was eating cucumbers tomatoes carrots and drinking lots of water eat meat or beans. You have to hydrate yourself if you're going to use baking soda water because it will dehydrate you. Eating fruits and vegetables helps to hydrate your body so that you don't have leg cramps.
Smithsmith OneFamily
Posted
I have tried bulbs of garlic, Apple cider vinegar, eating only fruits and vegetables, wormwood, everything I've read about on the Internet. But after prayer I found that drinking baking soda water in the morning and at night removed pinworms completely from my intestines. However during that time I was eating cucumbers tomatoes carrots and drinking lots of water eat meat or beans. You have to hydrate yourself if you're going to use baking soda water because it will dehydrate you. Eating fruits and vegetables helps to hydrate your body so that you don't have leg cramps.
nicolechampion Smithsmith
Posted
Thanks Smithsmith, how much baking soda - one spoon in a whole glass? Sounds disgusting but worth a try. I do wonder if all these things I'm putting in my stomach now is having a detrimental effect though, lots of chemicals etc.