MetaChat - I got (wait for it)

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16 December 2011

I got (wait for it) →[More:]..scabies. Fucking scabies. Probably got it at work from some junkie or homeless guy. Fractured bones, sprained ligaments, pulled muscles and now this. I've worked in factories and bakeries and what not and never got hurt but a used bookstore seems about to do me in.

post by: jonmc at: 13:19 | 23 comments

Oh, that's seriously uncool. I (like many many people) am fascinated by parasites, but not when they're living on people I know. Do you have the hard-core insecticide cream? Like, permethrin or whatever?

posted by gaspode 16 December | 13:45

Something like that. right now just treating it with Budweiser & Jack Daniels.

posted by jonmc 16 December | 13:54

AAAAAAUGH. I feel your pain, dude. Literally. We both got 'em many years ago when my partner picked up a dead rat in our dog pen WITH BARE HANDS (he's a country boy, what can you do) to fling it back into the woods. He didn't tell me about this until we were at the doctor figuring out why our skin was on fire.

Horrible stuff. If your doc will prescribe cortisone pills, that'll make the agony stop while you're healing up, but you can't take them for very long.

posted by BoringPostcards 16 December | 14:04

yuck yuck yuck! Treat it fast, dude, or they will get in your couches and bed and stuff and you can keep reinfecting yourself.

posted by rmless2 16 December | 14:05

treating it with Budweiser & Jack Daniels.

Wasted Scabies would be a good name for a band.

posted by JanetLand 16 December | 15:04

Oh god. You're the second person I've heard of who got scabies from working in a used bookstore - the other one was my coworker. Yes, I too am a proud used bookstore employee. My great fear is bedbugs, though. You - most of you, those who haven't worked in one - would not believe what people bring in: books covered with mold and mildew; books with live bugs (so far I've only seen ants, stinkbugs, roaches and the occasional spider, but I'm terrified that one day it will be the dreaded bedbug); books that have been soaked in cat piss - the list goes on and on. And this is in tame little Asheville; I can only imagine what goes into a store in NYC. Feel better, dude! My coworker recovered pretty quickly and she still works there, so it didn't cause any lasting damage.

posted by mygothlaundry 16 December | 15:39

Gah, Jon!

posted by brujita 16 December | 15:52

Oh noes!!! So sorry. Do treat this right away. You don't want those buggers messing up your life one second longer than necessary.

posted by bearwife 16 December | 16:31

One of the floors in the nursing home had to be treated for it. Not a pleasant thing. Hope you feel better!

posted by TrishaLynn 16 December | 16:48

Pips will need to get treated too. My roommate from hell gave it to a good portion of the straight male students freshman year and everyone thought it was the crabs.

posted by brujita 16 December | 17:44

Oh cripes, Jon, that sucks. Does Pips really need to be treated as well? I didn't realize that people still got scabies. I thought that it went away when we started eating citrus fruit.

Wait, that's scurvy, right?

Either way, feel better soon!

posted by msali 16 December | 17:56

Second person I've known with scabies, here too, and people will ask me about the darndest conditions.
This so goes with my imminent post.
Heal up.

posted by ethylene 16 December | 18:36

I think I have psychosomatic itching. But so far, no rash. At first I freaked, but there are worse things. Poor scabies boy.

posted by Pips 16 December | 18:53

Scabies boy. I love it. Use the link I just posted. Warn the co-workers!

posted by ethylene 16 December | 18:58

Man, all the times I called you a mangey so-and-so, Jon, I never expected you to take it so literally.

Heal up fast, bud. Show them bugs who's boss.

posted by Eideteker 16 December | 19:58

Wow, that sucks.

posted by sperose 16 December | 20:17

Holiday bonus!!!!
No?
Now you and Pips will have yet another fun remembrance to share as you sit in your rocking chairs in the old folks home.

Seriously, do take care and get better quickly. Santa doesn't stop at infested houses you know.

Hugs (arms length)

posted by mightshould 16 December | 20:25

Hmmm... I may have spoken too soon. Got a couple red bumps on my arm. Slathered up with the medicine, too, just in case. Says it kills it in one application. Gotta wash the bedding tomorrow (I'm thinking the hot, hot dryers at the laundromat should do the trick). Then another application for good measure, and don't sit on the sofa for a few days to let 'em die (apparently, without human contact for two or three days, the mities die).

posted by Pips 16 December | 21:07

Oooh, cartoon scabies!

posted by oneswellfoop 16 December | 21:11

I'm picturing a 'House' episode that deals with a papercut that some bookstore dude got in NYC. Mmmmmmm... oh well; people always seem to be ok at teh end of most episodes. Usually. .

posted by buzzman 16 December | 22:42

Damn that sucks. Get drunk then get well soon.

posted by arse_hat 16 December | 23:00

I'm itching in solidarity. Kill the nasty beasties!

posted by deborah 17 December | 03:28

Damn, Jon & Pips, that sucks. Kill them! Kill them with alcohol!

posted by Senyar 17 December | 07:00

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