Crabs / Public Lice

JohnHodge999

Hi, embarrassed here but I have the above and I wonder how the hell I can get the cream from the chemist without saying "hi, I have crabs, please help".

Worried about this.

(also, added question, I am in a relationship and didn't cheat so one must consider my other half but I seriously doubt she did either... we are never even out, nevermind cheating... Act of God?)

kylith

Have you stayed in someone else's house/a b&b/a hotel recently? You could have picked them up off some unwashed sheets.

If you didn't cheat and you're pretty convinced your OH didn't cheat, and you're sure you didn't pick them up innocently off some sheets then I'd recommend going to a doctor to make sure that's what you really have before you go buying treatments.

As for embarrassment in the chemist; 1) there are many head-louse treatments that will also treat crabs, you can check them out online and 2) chemists deal with people with much more personal, embarrassing, and icky ailments on a daily basis; lice won't phase them at all.

You will have to bring it up with you OH though, otherwise you'll just keep re-infecting each other.

turnikett1

I had scabies once. My girlfriend had them too. Neither of us know how or why it happened (cheating is definitely not a thing). My guess is because it was due to our dingy, old house with little natural sunlight.

Anyways OP, ask for Lyclear. I wasn't exactly proud when I went to the chemist and asked for 2 tubes of Lyclear, but I had to. Yer man behind the counter was very nice about it and advised me on how best to use it. It's no biggie, the chemists aren't there to judge. Even IF they are going to judge, they're not going to do it openly and to be honest they deal with a lot more embarassing issues than louse.

But seriously just go get it. We had a case of the scabies really bad, there was little spots all over our bodies accompanied with an INTENSE, burning hot scalding itch. Day and night. It was awful. We washed and dried all our clothes and bed sheets then covered ourselves head to toe in Lyclear. Within 2 days the itching had stopped! And from then on we lived a scabie free life happily ever after (until dust mites became a problem )

Tokyo

Last time I had to deal with this, the medication was off-the-shelf in Boots, so I just picked it up and went to the counter with it. At the time I wasn't in a relationship either, I can only assume I picked them up in a hostel or something. Either way, it happens, the chemist will probably have seen a couple of cases of it that day before you get round to asking him - he won't bat an eyelid.

And of course, your partner will have to use the same medicated ointment too.

iusedtoknow

seriously...out of everything chemists/doctors deal with on a daily basis, pubic lice (whether due to sex or just bad luck with towels/bedsheets etc) is just another thing they stock a treatment for. Chemists don't judge, and by the time you've paid for what you need they'll have forgotten what you purchased

Same for doctors, I know they discuss things between themselves but all are completely discreet as who they treat and why. My wife is one and NEVER discusses anything about specifics of her patients.

Cyclepath

This simplest solution is to shave...

ABajaninCork

Boil wash ALL your towels and bedding to make sure the eggs are killed and there's no re-infestation. Steam clean your mattress. I'd also chuck the underwear out too, and buy new.

kylith

Cyclepath wrote: »

This simplest solution is to shave...

That comes with risks of infection from cuts and ingrown hairs.

petes

I picked up scabies years back and I wasn't going out with anyone. Had to go in to the chemist and tell them about it. Very helpful and gave me the cream. Job done. Horrid little feckers though!

Maphisto

Me and the wife both got scabies a few years back - no biggy.

I told the wife it was just like pets that you didn't have to feed - she was not amused.

Paulownia

Tell the chemist you have a little lad with headlice, partially true!
Much more difficult is raising it with your GF, a potentially difficult one. I imagine that either of you could have picked them up from a loo seat. You would probably only need a couple to start a colony

Paddy Cow

Crabs and scabies are two different things. You can see crabs but not scabies. Crabs are usually passed through sexual contact or close contact such as sleeping in the same bed or sharing towels. Scabies are more contagious and a lot of people think they are only passed through sexual contact, which is a myth.

A friend of mine nearly broke up with her boyfriend when she got scabies and her housemates told her they are an STD and convinced her that her boyfriend must've cheated. I educated them all when I told them that I had caught scabies off my sister who was eight at the time and most definitely not sexually active!

Paulownia

I was standing in a chemist yesterday waiting for my perscription when a woman came in and asked, with no hesitation for lice shampoo. I immediately thought of this thread and wondered how Mr Hodge got on. What news from down there?

Neyite

Paulownia wrote: »

I was standing in a chemist yesterday waiting for my perscription when a woman came in and asked, with no hesitation for lice shampoo. I immediately thought of this thread and wondered how Mr Hodge got on. What news from down there?

Asking for updates is against the charter.