Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums Topic: how can I truly believe we don't have them? (bite photos)

whatsbitingme on "how can I truly believe we don't have them? (bite photos)"

whatsbitingme — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:42:00 +0000

I sometimes think there should be a whole seperate forum for "unknowns", just so we can support and commiserate our pain. While I am certainly glad I have not yet found any bed bugs...and I hope I never do....there were times when I thought it would be easier to just KNOW. The constant guessing game, investigating, research, doctor visits, dermatologist visits, allergist visits, cleaning, searching, wondering....it's all MADDENING! I have to laugh when I scroll through my memory card and I see 20 pictures of insects. I sympathize with anyone going through it. I may/may not have had bed bugs, but I certainly know what it FEELS like to have them. I'll never be the same. We are going on vacation this week...my husband thinks I've lost my mind with all the xxl ziploc bags and prevention strategies. I don't really care. One thing I've learned is that I would rather deal with the hassle of prevention if it keeps me from ever bringing those little monsters home with me.

scaredpea on "how can I truly believe we don't have them? (bite photos)"

scaredpea — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:55:56 +0000

thanks whatsbitingme. I was nervous to post again because I don't want to use up all the goodwill i've received on this board from kind people (esp the above and beyond kindness of bedbugs-co-uk), and I feel like I've been sounding this alarm for months now with no evidence. I can only say no matter what my outcome i'll repay everyone's kindness as much as I can with help here, heck i'm damn good at id'ing psoids now so i can certainly help with some photos id's

whatsbitingme on "how can I truly believe we don't have them? (bite photos)"

whatsbitingme — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:35:21 +0000

Scaredpea, I don't know if I can reassure you, but I sympathize with you. I went through a similar situation, although it was me with the consistent bites. My kids did have a couple here and there, but I'm not sure if they were related to my issue. Mine stopped the day that I did a THOROUGH cleaning of my bedroom. Steam-cleaning, washing all bedding, mattress and pillow encasements, using A/C and purchasing a HEPA air filter. I still don't know what was causing my bites. I only know they are gone for now - about a month. The blood stains could be from his scabs on the bite marks. Does he have any other allergy like symptoms? Itchy face or nose? Have you tried allergy medicine for him? I can't imagine how awful it would be seeing your child wake up with bites like that every day. I hope you can figure it out. In my opinion, it doesn't sound like bed bugs.

scaredpea on "how can I truly believe we don't have them? (bite photos)"

scaredpea — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:13:37 +0000

long story short: - my 3 year old has been getting mystery bites for 4/5 months. Generally I notice them in the morning and they're mostly on exposed areas (lower arms and legs). - the frequency has increased in the past month. - the odd time I've seen blood stains on the sheets. (maybe 4 times) - the bites are often in 2's and 3's, sometimes single. often in a line or triangle pattern, always small with a red dot in the middle BUT... - I had a PCO in 3 months ago and he did a 1/2 hour inspection and found no evidence of bb's - I've been OBSESSIVELY looking for fecal/cast skins/bugs and found nothing except 1 suspicious looking black dot on one pillow case (taken apart his bed, checked baseboards, nearby furniture) - i've had BB Passive Alerts on his and our bed for over 2 months now with nothing. - and.... my ace in the hole... I had a highly respected k9 team here in Toronto inspect twice and both times negative, the last time just 2 weeks ago. so it's not bedbugs right?? clearly any logical person would believe that and move on... But I can't shake the feeling that something's wrong. I want to trust the k9 but the bites won't stop. All my friends, family and husband are telling me I'm just being over worried and that it's all in my head. But the bites are real and they're increasing. And none of the kids at his pre-school are experiencing these, so I know it's not coming at his school or from the park. To give you an idea what I'm seeing on my little boy here are what his bites look like :( here you can see the 3 bites in a row on his little arm, and a scabby older single bite closer to the elbow <a href="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r209/jennypea76/P1010105.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r209/jennypea76/P1010105.jpg</a> here, it's a bit dark but you can see these little bites in 2's on the middle and on the right... like a baby vampire bit him. the one on the right looks a bit bloody since he's scratched it. <a href="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r209/jennypea76/P1010106.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r209/jennypea76/P1010106.jpg</a> and here are some more of the small pin prick bites he gets, some which scab over <a href="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r209/jennypea76/P1010073-1.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r209/jennypea76/P1010073-1.jpg</a> he probably has 20 of them on his body at any given time these days. and I've also seen these types of blood stains on the sheets a few times (maybe 3 times in the past few months) <a href="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r209/jennypea76/P1010078.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r209/jennypea76/P1010078.jpg</a> and this is my ONE suspect fecal mark on the same pillow <a href="http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r209/jennypea76/P1010076-1.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r209/jennypea76/P1010076-1.jpg</a> so here is my evidence in photos. Do I just ignore it and trust it's not bedbugs? Logically we don't have bedbugs based on the k9, the passives and the inspections. But new bites like you see in the photos are appearing on my little boy almost every day or two, AND a few of these same bites have appeared on his baby sister who he shares a room with. I have an appointment to take him to a dermatologist, so I am covering that base. please tell me based on the photos that I can still trust we're not dealing with bedbugs. I'd rather be crazy and my fault being that I over-worried than that I failed my son by ignoring the 'evidence'. That I'm his only advocate since everyone else tells me nothing is wrong. PS- I've searched high and low for evidence of carpet beetles or fleas (we don't have carpets or pets) but can't find anything. only bugs I've found are psoids, a grain beetle, a red clover mite and harmless plant spiders. I need a drink!