Intestinal parasites

I think I’m dealing with this issue 🙈...
Can someone please walk me through this? I’ve been scouring Google and honestly, I can't find a straight answer anywhere....

How do you actually catch them?
What kind of symptoms am I looking at?
What do they even do inside your gut, and how much damage are we talking about?
Is it possible for someone to be skinny—even if they eat way more than the average person—just because of these things?

Why bother searching Google? Just go see a doctor and get a prescription.

It typically happens when someone accidentally ingests their eggs, perhaps because they didn't wash their hands thoroughly enough after contact. It's also worth noting that there are actually several different types of intestinal parasites out there.
Those tiny white worms generally cause intense itching around the anal area since they migrate out of the digestive tract to lay their eggs. Besides that specific symptom, you might also experience some abdominal cramping or other issues, though I can't quite recall the rest of them at the moment.
If a person is eating quite a lot but still losing weight, it could point toward a tapeworm infection, assuming the weight loss is due to parasites rather than something else entirely, like thyroid issues or diabetes.
I would definitely recommend checking in with a doctor. There are some really effective medications available nowadays where you just take a pill and everything gets sorted out!

I honestly thought there was something more natural available, like a Napa Valley style 😁 alright, thanks for the info. I'll look into it tomorrow.

help me 😁 don't ask how, but I just realized I ate an unwashed arugula leaf! honestly, I won't be able to relax until I see a doctor... the thought of parasites is absolutely terrifying... I'm usually such a neurotic about this, washing every single salad leaf in four different rinses... today I thought it was clean, but my mom just gave it a quick wipe instead... the only silver lining is that it came from our backyard garden and wasn't some mystery produce from Whole Foods... now for the stupid question... what's actually going to happen to me?

Ugh, that’s honestly the easiest way to pick up parasites, especially worms. There are all sorts of them in the soil just waiting for a chance to infect you, particularly if someone isn't being careful about hygiene outdoors... I actually heard about cases where pinworms frequently show up in public playgrounds; I guess kids don't always wash their hands properly, making it so easy to catch them. The most common one is the large roundworm, which can grow up to 16 inches long, so it's definitely better to deal with it immediately before they start multiplying in your gut and you end up vomiting them up—which is just a total nightmare. I once saw a cat throw up a worm and it made me wonder how often this happens with people, though I suppose it's probably not that common...

ugh, I don't even know... it's gross... but honestly, nobody’s actually peeing in the garden... maybe some cats 😁 I can't tell which is worse... anyway, I've got a doctor's appointment in two weeks... if I actually picked something up, it'll have time to show up by then... there's zero point going early just to get a fake negative result...
I am spiraling because of this stupid misunderstanding! It's pure paranoia... and I swear I'm being super careful... washing my hands constantly, scrubbing lettuce until it's basically soup, and now this... I once saw a guy pull a worm out of his nose that was like 7cm long... ever since then, I've been obsessed with parasites! That's why I'm seeing the doctor! No point getting worked up now... I ate 😁 so whatever happens, happens... 🙂 now I've got this new fear... what if my cat has worms and was pooping in the yard?... god, I don't even want to think about it 😁 but basically... does a standard stool sample catch any kind of parasite, or do you need special testing? I'm probably going to drive my doctor crazy... I don't care... let them run every single test under the sun! It's not like he's the one who ate an unwashed burger 🙂

frozenotter14 said:help me 😁 don't ask how, but I just realized I ate an unwashed arugula leaf! honestly, I won't be able to relax until I see a doctor... the thought of parasites is absolutely terrifying... I'm usually such a neurotic about this, washing every single salad leaf in four different rinses... today I thought it was clean, but my mom just gave it a quick wipe instead... the only silver lining is that it came from our backyard garden and wasn't some mystery produce from Whole Foods... now for the stupid question... what's actually going to happen to me?

Maybe you'll be fine, maybe you won't. But most likely, nothing is going to happen.

vividsailor7 said:Maybe you'll be fine, maybe you won't. But most likely, nothing is going to happen.

Look, I've already calmed down today... but I'm still heading to the doctor🙂 because if I don't, I'll just keep obsessing over it all night.🙂 So, how long should I actually wait before getting that lab test done?🙂 Is waiting 2-3 weeks okay?

frozenotter14 said:Look, I've already calmed down today... but I'm still heading to the doctor🙂 because if I don't, I'll just keep obsessing over it all night.🙂 So, how long should I actually wait before getting that lab test done?🙂 Is waiting 2-3 weeks okay?

Yeah. Just keep in mind that incubation periods vary wildly depending on which parasite you're dealing with. Usually, though, we're looking at about 7 days.

vividsailor7 said:Yeah. Just keep in mind that incubation periods vary wildly depending on which parasite you're dealing with. Usually, though, we're looking at about 7 days.

Thanks, everyone... 🙂 I just hope there isn't nothing to show for it... but until then, you might want to go a little heavier on the garlic. 🙂 I heard that’s actually fine to use against those parasites... 🙂 It’s just about the prices at this point... and one more thing... does that analysis actually catch every single possible parasite if they're there? Ugh, I swear I'm such a hypochondriac. Honestly, I think it's because of that video where that guy pulled a worm right out of his nose... total trauma... 😁 That was absolutely terrifying... even that one episode of House where he pulls the string out of that girl... it didn't help at all. I can't even bring myself to think about it... 🙂

frozenotter14 said:Thanks, everyone... 🙂 I just hope there isn't nothing to show for it... but until then, you might want to go a little heavier on the garlic. 🙂 I heard that’s actually fine to use against those parasites... 🙂 It’s just about the prices at this point... and one more thing... does that analysis actually catch every single possible parasite if they're there? Ugh, I swear I'm such a hypochondriac. Honestly, I think it's because of that video where that guy pulled a worm right out of his nose... total trauma... 😁 That was absolutely terrifying... even that one episode of House where he pulls the string out of that girl... it didn't help at all. I can't even bring myself to think about it... 🙂

Most of them, yeah.
As for the garlic stuff? Total nonsense.

vividsailor7 said:Most of them, yeah.
As for the garlic stuff? Total nonsense.

And here I was, eating it like it was my job...🙂 thanks a million... I can already see the look on my doctor's face when I tell her what I've been doing... let me explain why I went down the garlic rabbit hole though...
So, this guy pulls a worm right out of his nose... he was basically the chef at my old workplace, and my first thought was, "Great, I definitely caught that." Since I wasn't working near my regular doctor, I went to an urgent care clinic to see if they could just give me some preventative pills. But the doctor there gave me the whole speech about how she couldn't prescribe anything without testing first because not all meds work for every parasite, blah blah blah, don't want to wreck your liver, etc... then she tells me, "Just eat a few cloves of garlic with some olive oil for a few days." I didn't mind since I actually like garlic, but I really believed her when she said it would help...

And seriously, it's disgusting! He worked as a cook and it came out of his nose! And get this—he had done some plumbing work six months prior... seemed a little sketchy to me... but whatever...

frozenotter14 said:And here I was, eating it like it was my job...🙂 thanks a million... I can already see the look on my doctor's face when I tell her what I've been doing... let me explain why I went down the garlic rabbit hole though...
So, this guy pulls a worm right out of his nose... he was basically the chef at my old workplace, and my first thought was, "Great, I definitely caught that." Since I wasn't working near my regular doctor, I went to an urgent care clinic to see if they could just give me some preventative pills. But the doctor there gave me the whole speech about how she couldn't prescribe anything without testing first because not all meds work for every parasite, blah blah blah, don't want to wreck your liver, etc... then she tells me, "Just eat a few cloves of garlic with some olive oil for a few days." I didn't mind since I actually like garlic, but I really believed her when she said it would help...

And seriously, it's disgusting! He worked as a cook and it came out of his nose! And get this—he had done some plumbing work six months prior... seemed a little sketchy to me... but whatever...

Look, you can't really hurt yourself (aside from maybe some bad breath or stomach issues if you have a sensitive gut), and it might actually do some good (though I’m skeptical about that part).

frozenotter14 said:ugh, I don't even know... it's gross... but honestly, nobody’s actually peeing in the garden... maybe some cats 😁 I can't tell which is worse... anyway, I've got a doctor's appointment in two weeks... if I actually picked something up, it'll have time to show up by then... there's zero point going early just to get a fake negative result...
I am spiraling because of this stupid misunderstanding! It's pure paranoia... and I swear I'm being super careful... washing my hands constantly, scrubbing lettuce until it's basically soup, and now this... I once saw a guy pull a worm out of his nose that was like 7cm long... ever since then, I've been obsessed with parasites! That's why I'm seeing the doctor! No point getting worked up now... I ate 😁 so whatever happens, happens... 🙂 now I've got this new fear... what if my cat has worms and was pooping in the yard?... god, I don't even want to think about it 😁 but basically... does a standard stool sample catch any kind of parasite, or do you need special testing? I'm probably going to drive my doctor crazy... I don't care... let them run every single test under the sun! It's not like he's the one who ate an unwashed burger 🙂

Just hit up your doctor to get a referral (wait, I forgot about telehealth) 😍 ... You drop a sample, wait a few days, and boom—you know if you're hosting any uninvited guests or not...

I saw this thing on TV back around 2004. Some Discovery Channel documentary about human parasites 😲
Man, what I saw... absolute nightmare fuel. This guy went to an MTB World Cup down in Indonesia, trekking through rivers and tall grass with busted-up legs, and he picked up these worms that were crawling under his skin everywhere. For years. He couldn't sleep, couldn't function, nothing. Even the doctors were stumped... eventually, they had to hit him with some heavy-duty insecticide just to get those things to retreat... 😉
Ever since seeing that, I've been a complete paranoid when it comes to worms 😬

So, what’s the actual game plan if it turns out they really do have them?😁

lonetiger98 said:So, what’s the actual game plan if it turns out they really do have them?😁

It all comes down to the medication.

I’m honestly just relieved this thread exists.

So, I picked up a sandwich at a local deli today—ricotta and prosciutto—and about halfway through, I realized there was actual dirt still stuck to the ricotta. I felt physically sick, tossed the rest of it in the trash, and now, naturally, I'm spiraling.

Where am I supposed to go for that testing you all mentioned? Should I head to an urgent care clinic or go straight to the hospital? And what does the process actually look like? Is it a broad screen for any kind of parasite, or does it only target specific ones?

Keith Wells2 said:Just hit up your doctor to get a referral (wait, I forgot about telehealth) 😍 ... You drop a sample, wait a few days, and boom—you know if you're hosting any uninvited guests or not...

I saw this thing on TV back around 2004. Some Discovery Channel documentary about human parasites 😲
Man, what I saw... absolute nightmare fuel. This guy went to an MTB World Cup down in Indonesia, trekking through rivers and tall grass with busted-up legs, and he picked up these worms that were crawling under his skin everywhere. For years. He couldn't sleep, couldn't function, nothing. Even the doctors were stumped... eventually, they had to hit him with some heavy-duty insecticide just to get those things to retreat... 😉
Ever since seeing that, I've been a complete paranoid when it comes to worms 😬

ugh,...... better not to watch that stuff,.... but I don't think we see cases like that here in the States🙂

Nathan Ross said:I’m honestly just relieved this thread exists.

So, I picked up a sandwich at a local deli today—ricotta and prosciutto—and about halfway through, I realized there was actual dirt still stuck to the ricotta. I felt physically sick, tossed the rest of it in the trash, and now, naturally, I'm spiraling.

Where am I supposed to go for that testing you all mentioned? Should I head to an urgent care clinic or go straight to the hospital? And what does the process actually look like? Is it a broad screen for any kind of parasite, or does it only target specific ones?

I have no clue,... I guess you'd go to a doctor for a referral,... I think they draw blood or something,.... you hand it to a lab and they send it off to who knows where,...
That's why I never order anything with lettuce on a sandwich,.... they barely even wash it,... gross. How can they even show their faces like that???
I hope the tests cover everything possible,.... I play with animals a lot and even though I'm a "germaphobe" and wash my hands every single time,.... I'm never really sure 🙂 maybe I'm just overreacting 🙂

frozenotter14 said:ugh,...... better not to watch that stuff,.... but I don't think we see cases like that here in the States🙂

I have no clue,... I guess you'd go to a doctor for a referral,... I think they draw blood or something,.... you hand it to a lab and they send it off to who knows where,...
That's why I never order anything with lettuce on a sandwich,.... they barely even wash it,... gross. How can they even show their faces like that???
I hope the tests cover everything possible,.... I play with animals a lot and even though I'm a "germaphobe" and wash my hands every single time,.... I'm never really sure 🙂 maybe I'm just overreacting 🙂

I almost never eat salad when I'm out either, but right in front of me, a few people bought the exact same sandwich—including a woman with her kid—and I just thought, well, surely they wouldn't leave it unwashed.

Then, halfway through eating, I notice these black spots. At first, I figured it was just bits of prosciutto or some seeds, so I actually stopped and opened the sandwich up—the entire arugula bed was covered in dirt, and it was smeared all over the inside of the bread. It made my stomach turn.

And if there is one thing I am meticulous about, it's food safety—specifically leafy greens. Whether it's lettuce or spinach, I wash every single leaf one by one, no matter how long it takes. Now I feel like an idiot because I wasn't thinking in that moment.

I'm heading to the doctor tomorrow to get a referral. This is awful!!!