"Treatment by Professionals for Scabies"

Six months ago our nightmare started. Our Son initially diagnosed with Scabies at a Pharmacy mid Nov, however wasn't given information to treat rest of household. 2 weeks later went back to be told not Scabies severe Eczema, got GP appt, given lotions and potions. End Dec Daughter went to GP told it wasn't bed bug bites but was viral. January her partner went to Pharmacy with itchy hands to be told Eczema, got medication. Jan I started scratching to point of black and blue then end Feb spots appeared. Went to GP who diagnosed Scabies!! 

Started protocol Permethin Cream for 12 hours then again 7 days later, along with household stripped, bagged.  Didn't work. Daughter went back to GP week 3 and we were all given Derbac M which stayed on 24 hours then repeated week later. Was told at this point if that didn't work would be Ivermectin tablets. Week 5 I went back to GP who wouldn't prescribe Ivermectin but wanted to give Permethin Cream again for 12 hours then 12 hours for whole family, then changed to them doing one treatment and me doing both, I questioned this and he really didn't like it. I came out with a panic attack.

Saw the original GP who diagnosed me next day and she phoned for advice from dermatologists, protocol Permethin Cream 3 times week for 3 weeks, sheets etc washed everyday day.

That same day my Son who had been referred to Dermatologist in December had an appt. He was due to go January but was ill so cancelled, next appt Dermatologist cancelled so this was first time. I went with him explained everything, showed her photos I'd taken of my Son's body covered and right away she said that's Scabies. She checked him over as his skin had cleared up really well and no itching from treatments. However we both still had mites in our feet area. Devastated by the news.

Susan the Dermatologist immediately took on our case. She was amazing, she listened as all this has taken a real toll on my mental and physical health. We did the Protocol and were booked in 4 weeks later as a whole family to check us over.  

It was all looking great First two clear then my husband and in a skin nodule she found a mite. Everyone else was clear but she explained how having had a cluster first time, the skin had formed a module which the mite seemed to be in. So now it was onto the next Protocol. Ivermectin tablets and Permethin Cream 7 days apart. Susan could see how devastated we all were, especially me as I was last to go in. She knew I'd gone above and beyond to eradicate this horrendous experience but I felt I had failed. She reassured me, spent time with me as tears lowed and I got so upset. She has reassured us that the tablets will work. 

The problem we have had is all these treatments have dried out the skin and that causes irritation in itself. 

Susan has listened, given advice, prescribed medications to help and replied to emails along with taking us all on as a case to help us. 

I don't think GPs truly understand what a person or family go through when trying to get rid of these mites, the exhaustion and metally how it effects you and the mind. It's horrific, I truly wouldn't wish this past 6 months on anyone. I do wish though that rather than all these creams at the beginning which in total was 13 creams and lotions per person (Son has had 15) before getting a tablet they know will eradicate it along with another 2 creams, they treat much sooner with the tablets. In total we will have had 15 courses of cream (Son 17) and two lots of tablets. A cost I don't care to imagine let alone the trauma from our family which nearly split the whole family up. 

I want to sincerely thank Susan our Dermatologist for the support, help, understanding, empathy she has shown us all. She takes great pride in her job and is a credit to her profession. If only so many within the healthcare industry were of the same standard, how much it would improve. 

We are about to finish this last treatment and await 4 weeks to finally be given the all clear once and for all. More practitioners need to be clued up on this as it seems to be an epidemic in the UK these past couple of years.