Help - not to get depressed

LegacyUser

Unreg for this for obvious reasons.

I have suffered from a rash/itchiness etc. for a couple of months. After four GP visits and being mis-advised each time as to what was wrong, I have been told by a dermatologist that I have scabies.

I am absolutely devastated and feel the lowest I ever have done in my life.

Reason I am posting here - not looking for medical advice - but looking for help in trying to keep my spirits up while getting rid of this.

Has anyone any advice? I am struggling to sleep, can't concentrate at work and feel down/ashamed all the time. I'm afraid I will slip into a bad depression if I don't change ASAP.

Neyite

I think you are over-reacting here. Its only scabies. They are easily transmitted, commonly by contact with children, and easily treated.

I got them once from working with the public in a shop. Washed the bedlinen and towels in the house and everyone in the house used the cream the chemist gave me. It was a bit embarassing because I'd recently started going out with someone and he and all his flatmates needed to use the cream and do their linen and towels too. But they were actually really sound about it. It really is nothing to be ashamed or depressed about.

Its the same as headlice or nits, when these things go around, everyone gets it, no matter how your personal cleanliness is like. In fact a lot of them the cleaner you are, the more susceptible you are to getting them.

Tokyo

I agree that you are over-reacting with this - I've caught scabies a few times through working with children when I lived overseas, and at least once from unwashed bedsheets in a hostel. It's unfortunate, but it happens, and no it's not a reflection on your level of hygiene or anything like that.

Considering it's so common and easily treated, rather than getting yourself so down over it, remind yourself that it's a minor inconvenience, and that after a few weeks of simple treatment it'll be like you never had it. Believe me when I say that there are far worse things to be diagnosed with.

LegacyUser

Thanks for the replies, feel a bit better.

Something I should have said in my first post though is there are spots on a penis and testicles. I have recently started seeing someone (very early stages) and they are really want to take things further (i.e sex). I can't bring myself to say what I have and am making excuses.

The spots are very sore looking and really embarrassing.

Neyite

Larryrov wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, feel a bit better.

Something I should have said in my first post though is there are spots on a penis and testicles. I have recently started seeing someone (very early stages) and they are really want to take things further (i.e sex). I can't bring myself to say what I have and am making excuses.

The spots are very sore looking and really embarrassing.

Just do a small patch test on the cream before you put it anywhere sensitive,and if it stings, go back to the chemist and get another type. I speak from experience

I think she will probably need treated too, if you have been kissing and cuddling. I got them from hand-to-hand contact. Be direct, be factual, and if she is not a childish idiot, she will understand that its very common and probably be fully on board with any treatment.

Tokyo

One thing worth bearing in mind is that you don't have to have sex with this person that you have started seeing in order to pass on scabies - any skin-to-skin contact can pass it on, so if you have already been hugging and kissing, she may need to be treated too.

You don't have to tell her *where* you are showing symptoms of scabies, but I'd be honest with her and tell her what the issues is, that you have scabies and that you are waiting for a course of treatment to finish. If you've already been hugging and kissing, then chances are she'll need to get treatment too.

[edit]...or what Neyite said above

LegacyUser

Thanks folks.

From experience, can anyone tell me how long it takes for the spots to go? I don't even want to go to the gym because of them.

Tokyo

From experience, the first time I caught them, the rash was gone before the week was out, the itchiness took a few days longer. The second time I was in India and couldn't just run to a chemist, so they remained untreated longer. So when I did manage to treat them it took over two weeks before my skin looked okay again.

The important thing is that you have seen the dermatologist and that they have issued you treatment. If you have any concerns, or you feel that whatever you have been given isn't working, don't hesitate to call them again and see if they can do anything else for you.

LegacyUser

Thanks for help folks.

The itch has been killing me and stress of it all getting to me also.

Really hope the treatment works and I get back to 'normal' sooner rather than later.