Anxiety about mouse droppings and fight with DH

[Nadja86]

Last Thursday when I was cleaning out the pantry I found some mouse droppings on the shelf with all of our spices. I didn't touch anything, but I washed my hands and asked DH to clean up, which he did (spraying everything with water and bleach first, and sterilizing everything that was left in the cupboard while throwing out anything that wasn't in a sealed container).

Even after that, I was still having anxiety that I might have come into contact with mouse urine or something else without knowing it. Foolishly I spent a lot of time on Google reading about this horrifying virus (LCMV) that is spread by mice and that can cause birth defects. Since then, my anxiety has started to get under control, but I asked DH to check behind the fridge and the stove this evening just to make sure there wasn't any more and that the holes were plugged up.

He said he didn't see any and swept up, but I looked at the dustpan and there was definitely one dropping on the dustpan.

Now I am panicking because I know that you're not supposed to sweep up mouse droppings because it can make the virus airborne. I am trying to be reasonable and tell myself that it wasn't me who was sweeping, and how much harm can just one dropping do anyway? Plus, this virus, even though it's terrifying, is really rare.

Still, I'm really upset and wish that DH had been more careful, so we got in a fight before he left (he had to go babysit our nephews). I'm generally feeling really terrible about the whole thing.

Can anyone offer me any reassurance?

 

[AndreZZ]

Last Thursday when I was cleaning out the pantry I found some mouse droppings on the shelf with all of our spices. I didn't touch anything, but I washed my hands and asked DH to clean up, which he did (spraying everything with water and bleach first, and sterilizing everything that was left in the cupboard while throwing out anything that wasn't in a sealed container).

Even after that, I was still having anxiety that I might have come into contact with mouse urine or something else without knowing it. Foolishly I spent a lot of time on Google reading about this horrifying virus (LCMV) that is spread by mice and that can cause birth defects. Since then, my anxiety has started to get under control, but I asked DH to check behind the fridge and the stove this evening just to make sure there wasn't any more and that the holes were plugged up.

He said he didn't see any and swept up, but I looked at the dustpan and there was definitely one dropping on the dustpan.

Now I am panicking because I know that you're not supposed to sweep up mouse droppings because it can make the virus airborne. I am trying to be reasonable and tell myself that it wasn't me who was sweeping, and how much harm can just one dropping do anyway? Plus, this virus, even though it's terrifying, is really rare.

Still, I'm really upset and wish that DH had been more careful, so we got in a fight before he left (he had to go babysit our nephews). I'm generally feeling really terrible about the whole thing.

Can anyone offer me any reassurance?

I can definitely relate to this. We had a few mice in our house a couple months ago and one actually ended up in our bedroom behind our nightstand!!

As long as you are sterilizing the area and keeping everything clean and checking for droppings you should be ok. I mean we probably had mice for a while before I even noticed and I have 3 little ones who go throw our pantry's all the time.

Like you said it's pretty rare to get that virus but if you want to be extra careful maybe get a pest control company to come in and set up those poison stations to kill whatever mouse is hanging around and make sure the situation doesn't get worse. That would be my best advice.

As for your fight with your husband, I mean, don't beat yourself up sometimes we get so heated and it turns into a fight. I hope when he gets home you can talk it out with him....don't stress! Just come up with a game plan with him about the mice situation to relieve your anxiety.

 

[Nadja86]

Last Thursday when I was cleaning out the pantry I found some mouse droppings on the shelf with all of our spices. I didn't touch anything, but I washed my hands and asked DH to clean up, which he did (spraying everything with water and bleach first, and sterilizing everything that was left in the cupboard while throwing out anything that wasn't in a sealed container).

Even after that, I was still having anxiety that I might have come into contact with mouse urine or something else without knowing it. Foolishly I spent a lot of time on Google reading about this horrifying virus (LCMV) that is spread by mice and that can cause birth defects. Since then, my anxiety has started to get under control, but I asked DH to check behind the fridge and the stove this evening just to make sure there wasn't any more and that the holes were plugged up.

He said he didn't see any and swept up, but I looked at the dustpan and there was definitely one dropping on the dustpan.

Now I am panicking because I know that you're not supposed to sweep up mouse droppings because it can make the virus airborne. I am trying to be reasonable and tell myself that it wasn't me who was sweeping, and how much harm can just one dropping do anyway? Plus, this virus, even though it's terrifying, is really rare.

Still, I'm really upset and wish that DH had been more careful, so we got in a fight before he left (he had to go babysit our nephews). I'm generally feeling really terrible about the whole thing.

Can anyone offer me any reassurance?

I can definitely relate to this. We had a few mice in our house a couple months ago and one actually ended up in our bedroom behind our nightstand!!

As long as you are sterilizing the area and keeping everything clean and checking for droppings you should be ok. I mean we probably had mice for a while before I even noticed and I have 3 little ones who go throw our pantry's all the time.

Like you said it's pretty rare to get that virus but if you want to be extra careful maybe get a pest control company to come in and set up those poison stations to kill whatever mouse is hanging around and make sure the situation doesn't get worse. That would be my best advice.

As for your fight with your husband, I mean, don't beat yourself up sometimes we get so heated and it turns into a fight. I hope when he gets home you can talk it out with him....don't stress! Just come up with a game plan with him about the mice situation to relieve your anxiety.

Thank you so much!

We are actually moving on Saturday so the whole thing will be taken care of...

As for the sweeping up one dropping... Do you think that's anything I should be worried about, or am I overreacting??

 

[AndreZZ]

I definitely think it's nothing to be worried about...we did it too and all seem to be ok! Don't lose sleep over it it would take alot more than one dropping to cause and airborne virus.

Good luck with your move...great news that you can literally move away from the mouse!

 

[Nadja86]

I definitely think it's nothing to be worried about...we did it too and all seem to be ok! Don't lose sleep over it it would take alot more than one dropping to cause and airborne virus.

Good luck with your move...great news that you can literally move away from the mouse!

Thank you for putting my fears at ease... The rational part of my brain knows this, but the emotional pregnant part of my brain wants to believe all of the scary possibilities out there!

Yes, the move will be a great thing. I kind of wish the mice had waited a couple of weeks to make an appearance, though

 

[AndreZZ]

I definitely think it's nothing to be worried about...we did it too and all seem to be ok! Don't lose sleep over it it would take alot more than one dropping to cause and airborne virus.

Good luck with your move...great news that you can literally move away from the mouse!

Thank you for putting my fears at ease... The rational part of my brain knows this, but the emotional pregnant part of my brain wants to believe all of the scary possibilities out there!

Yes, the move will be a great thing. I kind of wish the mice had waited a couple of weeks to make an appearance, though

I think we all have that over the top emotional part of ourselves durng pregnancy that just kicks our fears into high gear....something our husbands don't always understand lol.