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Here's to Your Health: Lice! Help!! |
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Krisathome
True Blue Farmgirl
90 Posts
Kristin
Iowa
USA
90 Posts |
Posted - Nov 23 2005 : 10:34:40 AM
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I discovered lice on my youngest Sat. night and we are still battling them today. I used the Walmart brand lice remover kit and I am still finding live lice on his head. We use the nit comb twice a day. I have washed so many clothes and bedding my Maytag Neptune washer has decided to quit spinning. Not good! I've used bedding spray but I really dislike using all these chemicals.
Right now we are both running around the house with a baggie on our heads and our hair covered in mayo. I don't know if I have lice but my head itches and I figured it couldn't hurt. My dd has the thickest hair imaginable and I really don't know if we could handle her having lice. That would be horrible to comb through!
So I am looking for any suggestions that you might have to help us get rid of this nasty problem. Thanks!
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DaisyFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
1646 Posts
Diane
Victoria
BC
Canada
1646 Posts |
Posted - Nov 23 2005 : 12:58:31 PM
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I can laugh about this now, but at the time I was absolutely mortified!! I have been through it too Kristin. We tried every homeopathic/natural method we could find to no avail and finally had to resort to Kwellada(sp?) shampoo because they just kept coming back. I freaked out and washed everything...bedding, pillows, even walls, shampooed carpets! You must treat everyone in the house as they spread like crazy, ie. sitting on the same sofa. Don't forget to disinfect all hairbrushes as well. Stuffed animals and pillows will be alright so long as you put them in the dryer on high for 1/2 hr. I was told there apparently was no need to wash walls! You might also let your children's teachers know so notices can be handed out...it's where we figure ours came from. The dimwit we had for a principal at the time forbid teachers from notifying parents as he "didn't want to cause a mass panic". Funny thing, after I phoned public health, they were in the school the very next day...don't mess with me :) Good luck...it's no fun. |
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Fabulous Farm Femmes
True Blue Farmgirl
792 Posts
Diane
Lakebay, Tacoma
WA
792 Posts |
Posted - Nov 23 2005 : 1:07:37 PM
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Oh Kris you have my sympathies. I have been thru this SO many times, and I had three girls with THE thickest long curly hair you have ever seen. The only way to get rid of them is to go thru the hair EVERY day for like a week, with hair wet (easier to see the eggs) and in daylight (outside or near a window is best) and just look and look and look, pull those eggs out with your fingernails.It is getting rid of every egg that is the trick.
Take everything to the laundromat if you have to, HOT water, and don't forget to spray your CAR! That is where I got it from last time, going on an outing with a neighbor who's kids had it, from her car seats!!
Wish i could help you more..it just plain old sucks. |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Nov 23 2005 : 1:36:08 PM
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Kris - I have been through this too with my youngest. She had lice for 6 weeks and I didn't think we'd ever get rid of them. The lice have built up a resistance to the commercial insecticides. I used them twice on Steph and they didn't work. I tried mayo and that didn't work. I finally called a lady that specialized in lice removal (yes, she would come to my house and remove the lice from my daughters head) and she gave me lots of good advice.
First, she said NOT to use mayo. If there are open sores on the scalp you can get an infection from the eggs in the mayo. She recommend olive oil instead. This is what I used on Steph and it worked.
But you have to be diligent about combing with a nit comb every day. We went out on the patio because I see better outside. And I would pull up every strand of hair and come. It was tedious. That is really the only way to get rid of them. The olive oil smothers the live ones then you have to come them out along with any eggs.
Wash all bedding, stuffed animals, coats, hats, etc in either hot water and if not, then you must use the hot cycle on your dryer for at least 20 minutes. Make a mixture of pinesol and water in a spray bottle and spray everything -- mattresses, under the mattress, car seats, furniture, etc. You will have to do this every day. The lice lady recommended pinesol instead of the insecticide sprays that you get at the store. Plus I really didn't want us sleeping next to it. The pinesol was bad enough but the lesser of two evils.
These are all the things that I did and we finally got rid of them. It is stressful and yucky but you can get rid of them. Hope this helps.
The only time that housework comes before sewing is in the dictionary! http://rusticcottage.blogspot.com/ |
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ivmeer
True Blue Farmgirl
409 Posts
Amanda
Pawtucket
RI
USA
409 Posts |
Posted - Nov 23 2005 : 5:34:24 PM
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I can't help with natural remedies to get rid of them, because when my sister and I got it in grade school, my mom responded by using chemicals, so that's basically the only thing I know to do.
The only natural remedy with respect to lice that I know is that after they are dead and you're combing the eggs out of your kids' hair, rinsing their hair in a vinegar and water solution will help the eggs to dislodge from the hair. |
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Krisathome
True Blue Farmgirl
90 Posts
Kristin
Iowa
USA
90 Posts |
Posted - Nov 23 2005 : 11:19:46 PM
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Well, so far the mayo has made a huge difference. I've only seen a very small amount on his head after we did this. And no live lice. I have also been spraying everything I can think of with a vodka/tea tree mixture. Boy does my house have an odor, not bad, just different.
It is really hard to wash everything right now since my washer is on the fritz. I am so use to just throwing a load in since it's right off my kitchen.
Thanks for all your anti-lice wishes and suggestions. I will be at this for awhile yet. |
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Krisathome
True Blue Farmgirl
90 Posts
Kristin
Iowa
USA
90 Posts |
Posted - Nov 27 2005 : 8:41:22 PM
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I think Nathan will be going back to school tomorrow! He did pick up a cold with a nasty cough though. Not sure how since he hasn't been anywhere for over a week.? |
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Krisathome
True Blue Farmgirl
90 Posts
Kristin
Iowa
USA
90 Posts |
Posted - Nov 29 2005 : 1:02:09 PM
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Nathan's back at school and happy to be there, I might add! I spray him down with diluted tea tree every morning and throw his coat and hat in the dryer as soon as he gets home. I don't want those little buggers back again!! |
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Here's to Your Health: Lice! Help!! |
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