Letter from a reader: 4 months after exposure and two treatments, bites persist
By nobugsonme on Jun 5, 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand, bed bug bites, bed bug treatment, bed bugs, bed bugs and travel, bedbugs, canada, get rid of bed bugs, laptop, letter to the editor, lingering sensations, reader letters
A letter from a reader in Canada. Krystelle writes,
Hi,
I have a number of questions for you. Brief background is this, on my way back from Australia to Canada in Feb 2008, I stopped in Bangkok for two nights. Around 5 pm both days, I noticed a massive amount of bites on my arms and upper legs. I assumed they were mosquito bites, but when I got back to Canada in February, the bites continued (but I was getting fewer: between 2-4 day). I went to a doctor who told me she was sure that I had bed bugs. I went back to the friends house, tore everything apart and found what I thought were two bed bugs. I contacted a PCO, who looked at the samples, and agreed. He did two treatments, and I still was getting bites. The friend who I was staying with has not received any bites and the person who has moved into my room has not had any problems (about 2 months ago).
Before moving to my sister’s place, I took all precautions - washing and drying all clothing, coats, shoes, handbags and placing them in large ziplock bags. My luggage was vacuumed and anything I wasn’t sure how to clean (electronic picture frames, books) has been sealed and stored. I am still getting bites, and am at a complete loss as to how I could be bringing them with me. I also have had to stay out of town a few times, each time I follow the above procedure, and still get bites no matter where I go. No one else has had them, even people who have slept right next to my luggage for more than a week. For almost all my bites, they do not show up until late afternoon, evening. As far as I can recall I have never woken up with new bites, they don’t appear until later. Since finding the initial bugs, I have not been able to find any bugs, eggs or casts.
It is quite common for bites received during the night to appear in late afternoon (or at any other time during the day). Many people notice them first after showering (there’s a theory that the heat “brings them out”). Not finding bed bugs, eggs, or cast skins is not unusual, but I would expect signs of some kind, especially after four months. Have there been any fecal stains?
So my questions are:
Is there anything you can think of that I might be doing to transmit the bugs with me?
Sure: what about that luggage? You vacuumed it, but they could still be in there. Is it still around?
Do you have a workplace you could have infested? A car? Any other locations they may have spread?
I am not sure where you are in Canada, but it’s worth noting that this is a widespread problem, all over your country. It is not unthinkable that someone there might have bed bugs and you’re being exposed to them without even having brought them in.
I have a laptop which has never been in any of my bedrooms - when I move I vacuum the case but how do I clean the actually laptop?
This is not an easy question to answer. Others may have recommendations, but it is hard to do anything without potentially damaging the electronic item.
You need a Pest Control Operator who knows bed bugs to will treat your home (or wherever you’re laying your hat) thoroughly, not just twice, but until bed bugs and bed bug bites are long gone. The FAQS on Pest Control will be of some help. One describes how intrepid Bedbuggers have found samples of bed bugs. Another suggests questions to ask a potential PCO.
Get the PCO to advise you on the laptop. Bed bugs will not live in there indefinitely. If they are in the laptop, they will come out to bite you. Having the PCO make sure there’s a pesticide between you and the laptop might be a good bet. (That way, they come out to feed, cross poison, and die.) I advise against self-treatment both for issues of safety and effectiveness.
But remember that electronics are not always infested. And my money’s on your luggage.
Is it possible for previous bites to keep coming back? My bites always seem to be located in the same spots, and are almost always under my clothing.
Are they in the same spots, or are they the same bites?
Some people believe bites can sometimes kind of hang around and keep flaring up. I have never heard anyone claiming this was happening in the same spots for four months.
I think it is more likely that you are being bitten and that they favor certain areas of your body. (Under clothing? Sure. The idea they don’t go there is a myth.)
Are you aware of anything else that could be causing these? My friends think that I am paranoid but my bites are quite specific and do not look at all like a stress rash.
Sorry for the long email, I appreciate any help you can give me.
Sorry for your trouble, Krystelle.
Actually, lots of things can cause similar problems. Scabies should be ruled out (though it is unlikely in your case–I would expect it to get worse and worse over four months, and spread around the body). Folliculitis has been the cause of at least one Bedbugger’s scare. See a doctor to rule it out.
Try not to itch. If a bite reaction is “coming back” then leaving it alone to heal might help. Again, I don’t think this is the case.
Doctors can’t diagnose bed bug bites definitively. However, I understand that they can verify in some cases whether an insect caused an apparent bite. You might follow up on that.
Good luck– please do not give up. If your PCO was treating a known infestation, s/he should not have stopped after two visits if the bed bugs and bed bug bites had not abated fully. We hear the average treatment takes 3 or more visits spaced two weeks apart.
Finally, readers, I am answering Krystelle’s letter here and not via email precisely so that you can weigh in with your wisdom. That’s your cue! What do you have to say to Krystelle?
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Doug Summers MS | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
You might try using a digital camera to keep track of the bite marks.
A Bed Bug Dog assisted inspection might be a good choice to confirm or rule out bed bugs. Obviously, an experienced PCO will be an invaluable asset.
Are you being bitten under your night clothes rather than on exposed areas of skin?
Did you save the bed bug specimens that your PCO identified? Sending the specimens out for a second opinion might be helpful?
Consider treating or tossing your suitcase. Hard sided luggage with good weather seals is a good choice for travel.
Keep an open mind about other biting pests. There are aspects of your narrative that remind me of posts that I have seen on the Morgellons disease website.
I would start with trying to confirm the presence of bed bugs at your sister’s residence.
fightorflight | Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
> Some people believe bites can sometimes kind of hang around and keep flaring up. I have never heard anyone claiming this was happening in the same spots for four months.
Actually, I claim this phenomenon, more than 4 months later.
This is in *no way* meant to contradict the more informed opinions of others here that you probably still have bedbugs.
I just want to point out that - due to peculiarities of my skin? or reactive mechanisms? sudden exposures to sunlight and exercise? what? - I STILL get flare-ups from old bites in the exact same places the original bites were, now more than 6 months down the road. To try and be clear about this, what I mean is that, a patch of skin will look relatively clear (lots of freckles and other gunk) and then a day later one, or two or three, little red raised bumps will show up right where the original bites were. I know now that these are old bites flaring up (even though they still freak me out a little), but when this first starting happening months ago, it really messed me up.
Anyway, good luck Krystelle. You can beat them.
Cody | Jun 6, 2008 | Reply
I’m surprised you said that bed bugs are particularly bad all over the country. At this stage it seems like they’re all over the world. Are there any areas not affected? Antarctica maybe?
nobugsonme | Jun 6, 2008 | Reply
Yes– bed bugs are widespread everywhere there are people. My point for Krystelle was that it is entirely possible to encounter domestic bed bugs as to have brought them home with her from exotic destinations. We still hear, from people all over the world, that “no one has bed bugs where they are.” It’s generally not accurate.
This is where our readers have come from in the last three days.
An archived map of the previous 12 months suggests we have readers where there are people on the internet who can read English. And more readers where more people are on the internet who can read English.
Cody | Jun 6, 2008 | Reply
Holy moly.
cantbelieveit | Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
I know we tend to become paranoid and delusional, but I really suspect that a bug or two has hidden in my hair and crept out to do face and neck bites when I’m traveling. From everything I’ve read, shampoo would not necessarily kill or remove them.
And those old bites that flare up. Has anyone talked to a doctor about how to get rid of those bite traces that remain after months? Some anti-scar substance?
nobugsonme | Jun 12, 2008 | Reply
cantbelieveit,
If the problem is bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) then washing thoroughly in a normal shower with soap or shampoo, and putting on clean clothes (which have been washed and dried on hot and stored securely in a sealed bag) should certainly remove them.
At least one person has gotten help from a doctor with scarring once bed bugs are gone, however, I hope you are getting good professional help to deal with the bed bug problem.
Buda-BedBugs | Jun 13, 2008 | Reply
I had recently been getting several bites every couple of nights, nasty red swelling & itchy the following day. I have a stick of witch-hazel (made by witch-stick i think) its amazing at soothing the itch. Try not to scratch too much when you discover the bites, & rub lots of the witch hazel in… then very little scarring. Also dont let the sun get onto any of the bites. The skin stretches & gets more of a tan when the bite-site is swollen.. then when the swelling goes away - you have a darker brown spot on your skin. I have just realised this week that my bites were not mosquitos as I felt one bedbug tickling on the back of my head, found it (and squished it in the process) & just found a second one scuttling across my pillow nearly an hour ago,, he has also been “taken care of” hence I’m up researching how to “nuke” the buggers… no sleep for me tonight. I have already wrapped the legs of my bed in double sided sticky tape - moved the bed away from the wall, & will give a good vacuum in the morning.. am thinking about dismantling my bed to look for them - any more advice?
nobugsonme | Jun 15, 2008 | Reply
I would strongly encourage you to get a professional to treat your home for bed bugs. You will not be able to kill all the bed bugs (probably not even most of them) manually. They are designed to hide well.
They are probably hiding in the mattress and bed frame but also in the room itself and other furniture (chairs, sofas, dressers, desks, and so on).
If you want to discuss this further, please click the “forums” button above and post in our forums where you will get more responses.
Nathan | Jul 3, 2008 | Reply
fightorflight,
if you read this, please send me an email at nay3k@hotmail.com, I would like to discuss a similar situation.
nobugsonme | Jul 3, 2008 | Reply
Nathan,
fightorflight participates in the forum, and others there may also have similar experiences to you.
I suggest you post a message there, and consider PMing fightorflight (PM = Private Message system in the forums):
http://bedbugger.com/forum/
fran | Sep 3, 2008 | Reply
infestion of bed bugs from Sleepy’s mattress and box springs, of course they are denying that infestion was from their merchandise. Any suggestions. House has been fumigation and have been told that bed bugs were liimited to the mattress and box spring
nobugsonme | Sep 4, 2008 | Reply
fran,
Please post your message in the forums:
http://bedbugger.com/forum/
You will get more responses there.