Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: KaraShannon on August 14, 2023, 11:08:33 AM
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Hi all
Since I moved I've been itching, it was mild at first. Then one night I found a bug crawling on me and was convinced it was a bed bug but when I checked in a specialist group I was told it was a weevil and harmless. That was weeks ago and seen nothing like that since.
But I'm feeling grossed out and still as if my skin is crawling a lot of the time. It does die down here and there and I think that perhaps I've solved things.
I spoke to 7 different pharmacists to request a scabies treatment, just to be on the safe side as sometimes when I itch I get a tiny white or light brown thing under my nail. All of them said I don't have any sores anywhere to suggest scabies and they were not comfortable to give me the treatment. One pharmacist told me she'd give it to me but stock nationwide is low. So that was probably the real story with all of them.
So no joy with the pharmacists I went to the doctor. She listened but checked my scalp (for a second) and said no sign of headlice, though she said my scalp looked sore 'probably from the scratching.' (I somehow get the feeling people are constantly resorting to a behavioral explanation for everything at the moment, I mean I was scratching because there's a problem and that's why I was there).
Anyway, no treatment from the doctor, just anti histamines which I won't take unless absolutely necessary as I've always reacted very badly to them (cold sores, unwell etc). Also the anti histamines have been prescribed for a reason, I don't normally have itching and I wouldn't normally have to take them, so it hasn't addressed the cause.
So the last couple of days leading up to my period I've been sleeping deeply and more itchy. And while I say that I don't think for a minute this is hormones because I am pulling stuff off me when I itch. I just think the point I'm at in my cycle is making it more acute.
I just feel pretty alone with it at the moment as the only significant others in my life are telling me that I'm stressed and after 6 weeks or so I'm a little fed up of not being believed. It's bad enough having the problem without people telling you it's all in your mind.
So the itching was awful yesterday, I had bought a tea tree shampoo and used it, and have a feeling it's, if anything, encouraged the problem.
So last night I smothered my head in conditioner and for the first time, relief from the itching (not gone, but feeling like I'm winning). I have itching on the body also and have smothered myself in a rose skin cleanser which is thick like a moisturiser, again there is considerable relief from the itching.
Can anyone help me think this through logically? It's not likely to be bed bugs because the only bug I saw, while similar, was actually a weevil with some very obvious differences. It's got to me some sort of lice hasn't it? Finding small little things on me, and on my clothes when I take them off at night, you know when you get 'pilling' lots of little balls of fabric forming, well there was lots of that, but to the extent that I don't think it was that and think perhaps I have lice.
Awful subject and I've no idea where I've caught them from because I haven't been around kids, I've only had one relative visit my property from miles away, who never visits and they were only here 5 minutes. So, then could it be in the property? But lice live on people and whatever this is is definitely interested in me, so ... What else might live in a property? Was it the new carpet I had fitted, but it looks so clean etc.
I'm going to shower off all the conditioner and body moisturiser in a bit and then cover myself in fresh moisturiser, I'm hoping it will smother whatever it is.
What would others do? I feel really alone with all this because going for help in the normal way hasn't resulted in any help :'(
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Is this a rental property? Private or council? I would contact whoever runs your property and talk to them about it as it is potentially an environmental health issue. We own our house and, when we had dog fleas from changing the carpet after previous owner, we paid for council to come out and deal with the problem. There may be some kind of treatment that can be done to the property that covers whatever insects they are.
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If U have been checked over by a professional then it is itch/scratch/itch syndrome.
Nits are obvious [apparently]. Scabies is so uncommon that most GPs won't have seen any cases. Due to lack of VitC.
Bed bugs .......... you would be bitten all over by now, although there were reports recently that there is an increase across the service industry ::): blamed on people buying 2nd hand furniture. Cynical? Moi :-\. The bits in your nails is likely be small scratches of blood due to scratching. Nothing more, nowt less.
Anti-histamines should not cause cold sores. These are due to the herpes zosta virus associated with chicken pox. If they have caused problems 4 U in the past, this needs investigating.
A lack of oestrogen is generally the cause for over all body itchiness. DH and I use a good moisturiser, I'm currently fond of 'Vaseline' essential healing in a yellow tub/bottle/tube ...... DH swears by Nivea 8).
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Thanks Penguin, it's rental and I have held off speaking to the landlord as yet because I don't want them to think it's me! But it's been since I moved here. There was also weeks of delay from being told it was mine to being told I could move in and I wonder what that was about. But my state of mind isn't good at the moment now lol.
I was going to see if I feel any better after showering and re 'smothering' my skin in cream etc, if there's a big different then maybe some form of lice..........but I would have to continue to improve. Feel pretty rough most mornings atm
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If U have been checked over by a professional then it is itch/scratch/itch syndrome.
Nits are obvious [apparently]. Scabies is so uncommon that most GPs won't have seen any cases. Due to lack of VitC.
Bed bugs .......... you would be bitten all over by now, although there were reports recently that there is an increase across the service industry ::): blamed on people buying 2nd hand furniture. Cynical? Moi :-\. The bits in your nails is likely be small scratches of blood due to scratching. Nothing more, nowt less.
Anti-histamines should not cause cold sores. These are due to the herpes zosta virus associated with chicken pox. If they have caused problems 4 U in the past, this needs investigating.
A lack of oestrogen is generally the cause for over all body itchiness. DH and I use a good moisturiser, I'm currently fond of 'Vaseline' essential healing in a yellow tub/bottle/tube ...... DH swears by Nivea 8).
Sorry CLKD,
There are things I'm pulling off me and it is not blood, they are small things suggestive of lice. I'm really wondering if there's any other infestation anyone knows about, because if not, then I'll go with lice and start doing thorough treatments.
Scabies, not to be confused with scurvy, which is due to lack of vitamin c......but I'll let you off as you're not well atm x
Because anti histamines dampen down the immune system the doctor agreed that this could be enough to let the virus activate and cause cold sores, but yes, technically they don't cause cold sores. I will also get really bad cold sores when stressed, the stress doesn't cause them, it just dampens the immune system.
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You are so good ........ scurvy of course.
Have U thought to put the 'critters' into a small pot with a lid and take to a pharmacist or a Vet. to have a lookC under a lens? I'm intrigued now , I know - too much time on my hands ::)
Yep far too much time:
NHS site - the scabies mite usually is spread by direct, prolonged, skin-to-skin contact with a person who has scabies. Scabies is found worldwide and affects people of all races and social classes.
Can scabies live in a mattress?
If infected, scabies can live up to 2 months on a person if untreated. However, once exposed to a 50°C (122°F) temperature for at least 10 minutes, these microscopic mites will die. Notably, scabies can live for 48-72 hours on a mattress.
The most common symptoms of scabies are a rash and intense itching that gets worse at night. The scabies rash looks like blisters or pimples: pink, raised bumps with a clear top filled with fluid. Sometimes they appear in a row. Scabies can also cause gray lines on your skin along with red bumps.
There is treatment available from the pharmacist on diagnosis.
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Are there carpets are you using their beds / sofas etc? Try intense hoovering and putting everything washable in as hot a cycle as possible.
Personally I'd not give it long before contacting landlord. Could you stay somewhere else overnight and see if you get bitten or not? That would show it is definitely environment.
Good idea re catching one of the little blighters and taking to a vet! Our house was fine when we moved in, previous owner had a dog and a cat. Didn't have an issue until a year later when we pulled the carpets up to renovate and the fleas came out of hibernation! Our two dogs flea ridden in a couple of days and we started getting ankle bites etc. Despite owning the house ourselves, we were able to pay our local council to come and treat the house when we went out for the day. Pleased to say no problem since.
Don't put up with this any longer than you have to. Calamine lotion may help calm down the itch.
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Oh I remember ankle bites :o. Tenancious little critters, fleas. I could write a book !
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You are so good ........ scurvy of course.
Have U thought to put the 'critters' into a small pot with a lid and take to a pharmacist or a Vet. to have a lookC under a lens? I'm intrigued now , I know - too much time on my hands ::)
;D eww, what a subject. I'm not clear what they are, white spec burrowed in skin, which would fit with scabies, but then another time more like just small 'things' that maybe are lice..........never had them so don't know, as a kid I got treated if a friend had them, so somehow managed to avoid.
Oh I'll get over it, my anxiety is high as well, but this is also going on ::)
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Oh I love fleas ........ survivors. Did U know that they will sit on surface tension: I used to remove them, live, from my dog's coat and put them into the toilet. However, they would jump up to bite the next bum or if down the sink, even after a good flushing. They jump back up!
Never had nits.
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Oh I love fleas ........ survivors. Did U know that they will sit on surface tension: I used to remove them, live, from my dog's coat and put them into the toilet. However, they would jump up to bite the next bum or if down the sink, even after a good flushing. They jump back up!
;D well that's cheered me up ;D
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U weren't eating were you :rofl:
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Are there carpets are you using their beds / sofas etc? Try intense hoovering and putting everything washable in as hot a cycle as possible.
Personally I'd not give it long before contacting landlord. Could you stay somewhere else overnight and see if you get bitten or not? That would show it is definitely environment.
Good idea re catching one of the little blighters and taking to a vet! Our house was fine when we moved in, previous owner had a dog and a cat. Didn't have an issue until a year later when we pulled the carpets up to renovate and the fleas came out of hibernation! Our two dogs flea ridden in a couple of days and we started getting ankle bites etc. Despite owning the house ourselves, we were able to pay our local council to come and treat the house when we went out for the day. Pleased to say no problem since.
Don't put up with this any longer than you have to. Calamine lotion may help calm down the itch.
thanks re calamine lotion, had forgotten about that.
everything here is mine and new, this is a lifelong rental / option to buy through my work, so I bought new stuff.
That's why partly I hope it's me. Just trying to think logically. Unless it were bed bugs (and no evidence it is), there shouldn't be anything in the property. Unless fleas. If fleas I should know if it doesn't calm down with lice treatment. So I'm going to treat as if it's lice and mention to a pharmacist again today. I'll call the doctor tomorrow again for advice as they've seen me once over it.
Thanks for helping me think it through. I'm having to constantly remind myself to think logically about it, not emotionally
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U weren't eating were you :rofl:
no, on go slow, I must get out and get some lunch, the one thing I don't have yet is a fridge or freezer here so having to dash out and with a hair full of conditioner etc, that's going to be a task just to get out. ::)
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If anyone wants a good photo of what menopause looks like, I could provide one right now ;D
Ok, this is not a menopause issue, but it would make a good photo for it anyway
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All showered, moisturised, hair covered in fresh conditioner, hot hairdryer, off down to health food store for all things Neem.
I feel a bit better today, so I'll leave the pharmacist and doctor for tomorrow if I think there's still a problem.
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I would look at it under a microscope first. There isn't much the LL can do unless they know there's definitely an infestation ans what it is. Flea bites are usually obvious.
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Hi KaraShannon
So sorry to hear this. To me, it sounds like some sort of infestation in the house, especially as it only started when you moved in.
Do you know who lived there before? Are you able to find out? And ask them if they had any issues.
As others have said, I would put them in jar and could you take a photo and do a Google search from the photo and see what it brings up.
And also what about ringing an infestation company up and ask what they think.
Also, I would wash all bedding on a hot wash, and wash everything you have wore that hasn't already been washed, and do it all in one day so they can't transfer back onto the newly washed items. And give the carpets a good vac, and any other things like sofas, cushions etc. Again, do all this all the same day. I know it's a lot but if you don't they will only transfer back onto the clean stuff.
Gosh, I'm itching now, thinking about it all, lol
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I would look at it under a microscope first. There isn't much the LL can do unless they know there's definitely an infestation ans what it is. Flea bites are usually obvious.
thanks Sheila, I think my anxiety is right up there atm. It's a real problem but maybe not as bad as I feel it is.
I'm going to call the doctor again to try and get to the bottom of it.
No idea where I'd source a microscope but have considered calling pest control for advice.
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Gosh, I'm itching now, thinking about it all, lol
My anxiety has blown this right up, lol.
I just need to be logical about it and stop with all the drama ;D I've done what you said about washing. I'm hoping I've brought something in and it's not the new place, or the new carpet. But been alone mostly for the last month so would not know how I could have caught nits or anything like that. Also the doctor said they couldn't find any on me so possibly I'm just having a reaction to being bitten by something.
Ugh, hope it's not the new carpet but I must stop with the drama ;D
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Thinking about it, it's unlikely to be a new carper, but it could have been caused by the old carpet (or whatever was there before) being disturbed and waking things up. That is exactly what happened in our house with the animal fleas. Either way, it is not your fault and it is fixable! Could you try flea bombs or similar, on the areas with carpets?
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I think you'd know if it was scabies. One of my children caught this a few years ago now while at uni. The rash was very easy to spot. There are images here https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scabies/
If it's a flea infestation you would see them jumping around. One way to check for fleas is to place a shallow bowl of hot water on a sheet of paper on the carpet. The heat attracts the adult fleas into the bowl. You can hear them land on the paper before they jump into the water. We had a visiting stray cat while we were away for two weeks once and came back to find the house infested.
I hope your skin feels calmer today.
Taz x
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Well: the World is itching as apparently 'bed bugs' are now a thing in mainland Europe :o
It's been recommended that we initially seal skirting boards to stop them crawling inside ::). I would be on hands and knees for about a week in this house! We also have doors/windows open often ........ mayB a roll of sellotape ready? For ants I put a jar of cheap jam outside the house so that they as well as wasps are attracted to the sweetness. It works.
I wonder what bed bugs like other than human blood :o
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Well: the World is itching as apparently 'bed bugs' are now a thing in mainland Europe :o
It's been recommended that we initially seal skirting boards to stop them crawling inside ::). I would be on hands and knees for about a week in this house! We also have doors/windows open often ........ mayB a roll of sellotape ready? For ants I put a jar of cheap jam outside the house so that they as well as wasps are attracted to the sweetness. It works.
I wonder what bed bugs like other than human blood :o
I don't think they like anything else, that's the problem, plus they can survive for 2 years without a 'meal' and so will still be ready for you even if you've been away or not used a property for that long.
They wait for you to be asleep for about 2 hours before their whole family comes out to feast on you, they inject an anasthetic as they bite so you don't usually wake up.
I woke up feeling really ill in a hotel once, and found a family of them, nymphs, adults, babies, I didn't know what they were but the hotel person told me and took me to another room. I thoroughly washed everything on a high heat when I got home and showered immediately, just to be sure, That was years ago.
I read all about them then because the bites I did get left me feeling unwell and spotty for a week, so in that time I was so disgusted that I read up on them.
I have always thought they didn't come into houses unless someone brought them in, but if there's an epidemic then that's different I suppose. I won't be closing windows etc, I love the fresh air.
Washing bedding on a high heat and then in a dryer for 40 mins on a high heat kills them apparently, but got to remember they will already be hidden in walls etc, so if they are sweeping europe in the way they are saying (and it's not an exaggeration), the best bet is prevention, regular vacuuming of mattresses, sealing the skirting as you say, etc. Sad, but I'd rather the hard work than bed bugs any day
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Sellotape to hand ;-). I've never encountered bed bugs or a cockroach :o
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Sellotape to hand ;-). I've never encountered bed bugs or a cockroach :o
CLKD, hopefully we won't see any, unless neighbours close to us have them and there's gaps in the walls.
If you look on google, bed bugs have a very distinct appearance, tan colour, flat disc shaped body. They look unusual but I discovered that's because they are from the aphid family.
I've never seen a cockroach, but after reading about bed bugs, i'm more disgusted by them, I don't think the cockroach is after us particularly
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:lol: a big woodlouse then ?
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;D
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Morning. In the bath earlier I could see something running across the floor :o - turns out to be a tiny woodlouse - it's out the window and gone.
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Well: the World is itching as apparently 'bed bugs' are now a thing in mainland Europe :o
It's been recommended that we initially seal skirting boards to stop them crawling inside ::). I would be on hands and knees for about a week in this house! We also have doors/windows open often ........ mayB a roll of sellotape ready? For ants I put a jar of cheap jam outside the house so that they as well as wasps are attracted to the sweetness. It works.
I wonder what bed bugs like other than human blood :o
Bed bugs have been around for years though. They have become really good at sneaking into luggage and travelling home with us. Not many people react to the bite either so we can have had an infestation for ages but not really noticed so it seems. Sofas are another place they really like to tuck themselves down into. I'm not sure if charity shops spray donated furniture or not. They only feed on blood and can go ages without a feed.
Taz x
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Similar cycle to fleas then ......... survivors!
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Hi KaraShannon
How are you now? Did you get to the bottom of this?
Cookie xxx
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Hi KaraShannon
How are you now? Did you get to the bottom of this?
Cookie xxx
I never did. But I am better now, I wasn't able to get treatment for lice, it's not available in the UK currently, not the treatment the doctor wrote a prescription for. And the number of pharmacists I went to who told me that itching can be psychological, until I went to about the 7th one and she said I was getting brushed off like that because no one has the treatment that would have just been given out freely before (just in case it was lice or scabies). She said she was surprised the GP wrote that prescription as he should have known it was not available, there's been a problem with it for a long time.
Anyway, I have enough problems without not being believed and not being helped no matter where I turn. So I followed this last pharmacist's advice, wash and dry everything on a high heat every day for a week, wash myself and hair and lots of conditioner, moisturiser and combing.
No idea if it was lice or something else as I'd been near no one really. Pest control told me to place in cellotape anything I find that seems a bit suspect, like black specs I had at the beginning on my sheets :'( (so much for psychological).
I still have those for pest control should anything return but it does seem to be gone and over, and I was told by pest control the most likely thing would be lice but how or why when I have been alone, no idea. If it was some other insect or infestation, it wasn't getting the chance to feed off me and could not survive in the building without me as a host, so I think what I did worked.
I think when I posted this up my state of mind was affected by the allergic reaction I was having and also the lack of being able to get any help or being believed.
No signs of bed bugs at all, despite my paranoia (partly the allergic reaction)
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It's a horrible subject so I'm out now ;D