The underbelly of summer camps - YouLookFab Forum

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The underbelly of summer camps

Glory

Veteran

AGHHHH. Today I noticed my DD scratching like a mad hatter. NOOOO - just returned last week from summer camp. A quick check told me that indeed she brought home more than dirty clothing and memories.
I have to admit I am completely grossed out about having to deal with Lice. And, to top it off, it is her birthday today. She is being an extra good sport about it.

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34 replies

Latest reply was from Jjsloane

ManidipaM

Veteran

Oh dear. I remember that feeling, a bit too well. Commiserations for your daughter.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Lice are such a nuisance! I got scabies one year at camp and still have the scars. Miserable!

But I loved that camp and still wish I could go back at 43!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

My son brought home lice TWICE from two different summer camps. Such a pain to deal with. Sending sympathy.

Glory

Veteran

Thanks ladies. I have such a huge ew factor going on

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Oh no! I'm sorry about the lice! Hope she can be rid of them soon! But happy birthday to your daughter!

Kim

Veteran

Oh, that's one lesson from motherhood that you never forget!

Feeling your ew factor and wishing you luck getting them all with the first treatment. (Be *extremely* picky about the nits. Buy the comb and go through section by small section.) Bag up any stuffies for a month and put everything else you can through a hot dryer.

Not fun! I actually considered shaving all my 3 kids heads at one point...LOL

MNsara

Veteran

Gah! It fatigues me just to think about it!

Hope she is still having a happy birthday, even it is isn't so fun for mom

rachylou

Veteran

Yucko. I remember getting lice from school in the first grade.

Glory

Veteran

Ladies thank you for your support. I know I am a wimp and am now just so darned itchy. I will have to wait until DH gets home for a check.
She is quite upset and it has delayed her afternoon bday plans. I agree on the head shave but alas that cannot happen. Her hair is ultra thick and just past her waist....agh.

Susie

Veteran

I still remember being a kid at camp when we all had to do a shampoo treatment there. I guess someone else had them and the preventative wash must have worked because I never got them. Fortunately my DD who was an avid camp goer (and worked as a counselor during summer breaks in college) never got them either.

Good luck!

Glory

Veteran

Well I am thru the picking part but now desperately behind on my job. So Where do I go? - To my beloved YLF of course. Will now be scarce now, with overtime in sight to make up the lost hours spent on this escapade.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, Glory! Hugs!! I thought we had it bad because our daughter brought home a monster cold. Obviously not in the same league.

Anonymous

Ah, now you know where they get the term "nitpicking" from. I've been there, with my DD who also has long, gorgeous, thick hair. UGH! She missed the talent show that year. Two friends had come over and they all slept out in the pool house. I'm not sure how it happened, but it was a long ordeal to get it over with. I'm sure I didn't get every single nit out of her hair, but somehow, we kept following the directions on the Rid-X kit and in a few weeks it resolved. I've never done so much laundry! You can bag up unwashable things (like stuffed animals), seal the bag tight and put in a hot car or attic for a few days. That works too. God be with you!

PS Tell your sweet DD happy birthday from me. I'm so sorry she has to spend it this way!

DeclawedJaguar

Veteran

Oh, I remember getting lice when I was little. It was in a place and time where lice were still treated with kerosene, so at least there are better remedies out there now! I have not-so-fond memories of walking around with kerosene in my hair, although it was still better than the alternative - the incessant itching. Ack. Hope your daughter still enjoys her birthday though.

DonnaF

Veteran

Out our way where some parents have more money than time and patience, there are nit picking businesses! Knock on wood, but I've never had to deal with the critters. Had a college roommate who had the other kind of lice, however, and wanted me to check her. Uh, what? No. TMI.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Ugh, your poor DD. Hopefully, she'll forget that whole ordeal with some ice cream and cake and birthday fun!

@ Donna - OH HORROR OF HORRORS.

Glory

Veteran

Well I am overjoyed to report that I am not lousy! LOL. I had to wait until DH came home for my check up. Breathing huge sigh of relief. And, DD2 is also free.
Fingers crossed that one application will suffice.
She had a wonderful day and was a trooper.
Thanks for all your support on my ew factor.

Adelfa

Veteran

Each DD got lice once, just from school, at different times. One of them may have got them twice, I've blocked it. It takes SO MUCH TIME to deal with the situation effectively! No wonder you are behind at work! To this day when my head itches, or I see anything white on my hair, I freak out. Of course that may also be because I lived in a not very developed country when I was little, and got lice myself quite a lot.

So, yeah, it happens, and it's a total pain!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh Glory, I'm sorry you and your daughter are going through that! Ugh, I'm itching just thinking of it. Hope it's taken care of soon!

Eliza

Veteran

Sorry for this ordeal, Glory. I somehow was spared this with my kids, though my daughter attended a birthday sleepover where 12 of the 14 girls got them. I had the school nurse check her out because I didn't know what to look for and wanted to be very sure not to miss them.

Glad it is resolving quickly. I think I'd have sympathy itching also!

Kristin L

Veteran

No fun! I got lice from school when I was young. I have long, fairly thick, waist-length hair as well. Besides the Nix, my mom coasted my scalp and hair with olive oil and had me wear it in a shower cap for about 30 minutes. Then, we combed through it and made sure we got all of the eggs. We ended up doing it either weekly or a couple of times a week for a few weeks. It's time consuming and not fun, but we got all of the eggs out and my hair looked amazing. And we didn't have to cut it.

Archer

Veteran

Have you discovered the Robi-comb? It is a battery operated comb that kills live ones on contact. Great for follow-up and maintenance. Its the Secret Weapon in the lice war.

Isabel

Veteran

Oh no !!!! That is terrible. And coincidentally, it must be that time of year for it because I was at Target and they had a special on "lice kits" and they were almost sold out. It looked like the bins of bras at Victoria Secret on clearance. Hang in there !

Aziraphale

Veteran

Oh no! Good luck. We had our first experience with lice last year. It was...memorable. Hahahahaaaa. Not something I'm anxious to repeat. But I do have one useful bit of advice: buy a very good lice comb. You won't have to give any army haircuts if you use a comb that gets most of the nits. After a few weeks of faithfully combing through the hair every couple of days, taking care to do it in sections so you don't miss any parts, you'll eventually get them all. The lice shampoo helps too, but if you're the hippie type, I'm sure it's possible to get them all just doing the careful combing.

(Note: from what I've heard, and from my own experience, one treatment will almost certainly not be enough).

anne

Veteran

I am chiming in to agree that one treatment will almost certainly not be enough. I have 3 daughters and have devoted literally weeks of my life to nit eradication. I know someone who shaved their own and all their kids heads!

Glory

Veteran

Ladies thank you.
I do have a robicomb which I bought to check myself when I am leery at 3 in the morning and don't trust my checker
I find it isn't ideal with long super thick hair.
In the past - yes, sadly, this is not my first time to the nit picking circus, the recommendation was always 2 courses of treatment - approximately 7 days apart. This time, they indicated 1 treatment. I bought 2 - as they were a single application.

Glory

Veteran

Well I am officially losing my mind. We have just done our third application, and that with hours spent nitpicking daily, robicomb daily, bedding change daily, vacuuming daily.
She won't agree to a head shave.
Hopefully 3rd time is the charm. If not, I need to up the ante and look for something else.
Sigh

Kim

Veteran

Oh Glory, I feel you pain. Hopefully something stronger will work. Burn all the stuffed toys, bedding, carpets, and clothing, that'll make it much easier for you...(and possibly relieve some stress at the same time! LOL)

((((Hugs))))

Glory

Veteran

Thanks Kim. After work I am going to buy plastic mattress enclosure, pillow plastics. Maybe that will help. I have tossed all the hair elastics, brushes etc. No stuffies are in the room. sigh.

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