Spent $1000 for lice treatment - I feel sick! UPDATE Day 10: I THINK THEY ARE GONE!

[taitai]

That is roughly what services here charge so I would not feel bad about spending the money. I know I would. Many lice removal companies have started up these last several years as parents have realized that it is easier to pay someone to take care of the problem. Also, with the advent of the drug-resistant super louse, it is harder and harder to rid your house/child/family of them. Plus, parents are recognizing the horrible impact of the neuro-toxins in many of the treatments and are opting for the more labor intensive but greener and safer approaches.

 

[robinb]

** not sure if this has been mentioned but if you child is wearing a coat/hats make sure to wash it as well. Throw out combs and brushes. and get a new pillow.

There is no need to throw anything out. First of all, just wash combs and brushes in soapy water and then soak them in a weak bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) to take care of any clinging lice/eggs. Secondly, the lice are very unlikely to crawl off of a piece of fallen hair (they won't leave your head!) and then under the pillowcase and onto the pillow. They will die within a day or two without a blood meal and they know it. If you're feeling particularly paranoid, you can fluff the pillow in a hot dryer or put them in a plastic bag for 2-3 weeks.

 

[mefordis]

Yeah, they said put the pillows and stuffed animals in the dryer for 30-40 minutes, hot dryer that is.

There is no need to throw anything out. First of all, just wash combs and brushes in soapy water and then soak them in a weak bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) to take care of any clinging lice/eggs. Secondly, the lice are very unlikely to crawl off of a piece of fallen hair (they won't leave your head!) and then under the pillowcase and onto the pillow. They will die within a day or two without a blood meal and they know it. If you're feeling particularly paranoid, you can fluff the pillow in a hot dryer or put them in a plastic bag for 2-3 weeks.

 

[bumbershoot]

Anyway, what I observed was that little girls who came to school with their hair obviously fixed by someone else, braids, french braids or whatever, seldom had headlice.
Or they were discovered before they got out of hand.

Interesting observation. Makes sense, too.

What company did you use??? I don't understand if you had them come and do it why you are still finding nits!

But isn't the OP's daughter still going to school each day? And could be picking them up from the kids whose heads might still have them?


********

All of this has my head itching, LOL. I just don't know what I would do if we came across lice. All three of us have very thick hair (I joke that DS and DH's hair keeps growing while I'm cutting it) and I have long curls/tangles. There might be three shaved-head people in my household if we ever got them.

 

[aprilgail2]

Interesting observation. Makes sense, too.



But isn't the OP's daughter still going to school each day? And could be picking them up from the kids whose heads might still have them?


:

Not sure- but its spring break so I doubt it.

 

[mom2twinz]

I used to teach first grade.

One year I had a class that was like the head lice capital of the universe.
Especially when you consider that about half the kids were black.
Black kids rarely get head lice.

But I have seen the things swarming on kid's heads.
I mean masses of the things moving in kid's hair.

The same kids would get them over and over.
Their environments were infested apparently.

Anyway, what I observed was that little girls who came to school with their hair obviously fixed by someone else, braids, french braids or whatever, seldom had headlice.
Or they were discovered before they got out of hand.

I never got them myself, but I did wash my hair everyday.

African Americans hardly ever get lice because of the amount of oils that are introduced to the hair. Unlike caucaians, African Americans use hair grease, oil sheen, moisturizing lotions etc on a daily basis. This lubrication usually prevents lice from being able to "latch on." It is very rare for "black kids" to have lice.

 

[mickeyplanner08]

African Americans hardly ever get lice because of the amount of oils that are introduced to the hair. Unlike caucaians, African Americans use hair grease, oil sheen, moisturizing lotions etc on a daily basis. This lubrication usually prevents lice from being able to "latch on." It is very rare for "black kids" to have lice.

Actually, it is because the shape of their hair shaft is oval instead of round, so the lice have a tougher time holding on because of the shape, not the oil.

 

[torinsmom]

Both are actually true. It's the shaft shape and the oils. I use tea tree oil shampoo to avoid getting lice. We had it in our class last month and only two kids ended up with it, thank God!

 

[Nicolepa]

But isn't the OP's daughter still going to school each day? And could be picking them up from the kids whose heads might still have them?

No, she might pick up live lice again, but the Nits are eggs that are laid by the lice. No live lice, no new Nits.

OP - is the comb you are using this one?

http://www.amazon.com/Terminator-Pr...BPV8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303517776&sr=8-1

If it is not, GO GET THIS ONE NOW. Nothing, and I mean nothing gets thru these combs.

 

[mefordis]

I have spent so much money on this problem already! However, I think I will get this comb. I will order it tomorrow. I wonder if I can pick it up at a store? I have a whole basket of lice products and combs, etc. now that I keep under my bathroom sink.

No, she might pick up live lice again, but the Nits are eggs that are laid by the lice. No live lice, no new Nits.

OP - is the comb you are using this one?

http://www.amazon.com/Terminator-Pr...BPV8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303517776&sr=8-1

If it is not, GO GET THIS ONE NOW. Nothing, and I mean nothing gets thru these combs.

 

[mefordis]

UPDATE: Day 5 - I found one louse (or very large nit, not sure what it was!) when I was giving my 2 yr old a bath. It was dead if it was a louse. NOthing on my 7 yr old or me was found today. Still oiling our heads and combing each night! Also shampooing every morning with the tea tree oil shampoo.

I also changed pillow cases today and my 2 yr old's sheets.

God willing I am 1/2 way through with this and only 5 more days left then LICE FREE!!

 

[cm8]

UPDATE: Day 5 - I found one louse (or very large nit, not sure what it was!) when I was giving my 2 yr old a bath. It was dead if it was a louse. NOthing on my 7 yr old or me was found today. Still oiling our heads and combing each night! Also shampooing every morning with the tea tree oil shampoo.

I also changed pillow cases today and my 2 yr old's sheets.

God willing I am 1/2 way through with this and only 5 more days left then LICE FREE!!

 

[aprilgail2]

I would also like to know what company you used!!! We never found any nits after the company I used left & the girl who came gave her her cell phone just in case so I could get ahold of her anytime and the owner called 2x's with follow ups. You should not be finding anything in your dd's hair.

We still don't know what company she used!

 

[aprilgail2]

I disagree with her. While it is difficult, it is not impossible. I spent about 6 hours nit picking my DD's hair the first day. The second day, I found many 4 nits and never again. With someone that does this "professionally" they certainly should be able to get them all. I used the metal nit comb. Separated the hair in 1 inch parts (and my DD's hair is LOONNGG) and went thru that way. I wore the plastic gloves along with my hair up. I spread a white paper towel on the counter next to me. I wiped the comb pressing against the counter after each comb thru. It was easier to see any nits/lice that way. I then put the paper towel in a plastic shopping bag and straight into the trash outside. Since my DD has had the lice she has always gone into school wtih her hair up. This makes it a little more difficult for the lice to transfer since the hair is not down and flowing.

Good luck.

I disagree too- the place I used said there was no need to keep picking through the kids hair after they did it-they gaurenteed to get every louse and nit out!

 

[weezyree]

This is the budget board. I'm trying to figure out why you didn't use your resources like this board and Google to research home methods of removing lice in lieu of paying that kind of money on it.

Those ladies probably milked you for more money since they were paid by the hour. Hair salons will nit pick for you if you call ahead and they can 'contain' you from other patrons.

Sorry you went through that but if your kids are in any form of school/daycare or even visiting a store can be a breeding ground for Lice.

 

[mefordis]

I hear you, but my daughter's head was crawling with the lice and I really wanted help. And it came to me but at a cost. Now I know how to treat them and I will not be letting my daughter's head get to that stage again if I can help it! I will nit check once a week as part of our regular grooming routine and use a product that repels them at all times.

I wish I would have prepared myself better for lice, because it sounds like everyone gets it at least once in their household if they have kids.

This is the budget board. I'm trying to figure out why you didn't use your resources like this board and Google to research home methods of removing lice in lieu of paying that kind of money on it.

Those ladies probably milked you for more money since they were paid by the hour. Hair salons will nit pick for you if you call ahead and they can 'contain' you from other patrons.

Sorry you went through that but if your kids are in any form of school/daycare or even visiting a store can be a breeding ground for Lice.

 

[robinb]

This is the budget board. I'm trying to figure out why you didn't use your resources like this board and Google to research home methods of removing lice in lieu of paying that kind of money on it.

Did you read the rest of the thread or just the original post? She explained MANY times why she paid the professionals to get rid of the lice. It's not the decision that you or I would make, but it's a valid decision nonetheless and she WAS looking for more budget related ways to find the remaining critters and eggs.

 

[ccgirl]

This is the budget board. I'm trying to figure out why you didn't use your resources like this board and Google to research home methods of removing lice in lieu of paying that kind of money on it.

Those ladies probably milked you for more money since they were paid by the hour. Hair salons will nit pick for you if you call ahead and they can 'contain' you from other patrons.

Sorry you went through that but if your kids are in any form of school/daycare or even visiting a store can be a breeding ground for Lice.

Everyone is on a different budget as well. OP has admitted it was more than she wanted to spend but she was panicked. Hair salons in MA will not touch you with lice. As a matter of fact, they will stop doing your hair in the middle if they find them. It is against health regulations for them to do anything. Not sure if other states have this as well.

 

[mefordis]

Thank you! Also, maybe some budget minded parents can learn from my experience and maybe not freak out so much if they have this same situation to deal with. They will know how to approach the solution in a cheaper way!

Did you read the rest of the thread or just the original post? She explained MANY times why she paid the professionals to get rid of the lice. It's not the decision that you or I would make, but it's a valid decision nonetheless and she WAS looking for more budget related ways to find the remaining critters and eggs.

 

[leight]

Did the company offer any guarantees? I would have thought for that amount$$ that would include return visits if there are more bugs/nits found. Good luck!