Brooklyn bites + stains - detailed pics - can anyone confirm?

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Brooklyn bites + stains - detailed pics - can anyone confirm?

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txe8

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Posted 2 years ago
Tue Feb 8 2011 16:50:51
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I suspect I might have bedbugs.

1) NYC>Brooklyn>Bay Ridge are known to have bedbug infestations. Several buildings nearby on the BB Registry confirm this.
2) Rusty stains on my mattress (pictured)
3) Bites on my legs. wtf? I've been shrugging off those marks which were almost exclusively on my left leg, but now I've got almost the same array on my right leg a few weeks later, with stains on my mattress, pictured. note the linear, small marks as well as the bigger, weird triage of marks on my foot. 99% are on my shin/foot/leg area, might have a mark or two on my hands but very rare.

Also these only appear on the side of the bed I always sleep on.

Are these bedbug bites?

here's a view of my shin/foot a few weeks ago:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59258178@N05/5428578165/

here's my left shin closer up:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59258178@N05/5429179312/

here's my right shin today (my left leg has maybe one bigger sized mark, all others have disappeared):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59258178@N05/5429178536/

corresponding stains on white sheets:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59258178@N05/5429177698/

stain 2 (bigger, put an advil next to it)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59258178@N05/5428574885/
BugsInTO

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Posted 2 years ago
Wed Feb 9 2011 1:26:25
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txe8 - No-one else has replied, so I will comment. I'm not an expert.

The blood on the sheets in the photos doesn't seem to be like other photos I have seen of bedbug "signs".

I think geting your skin rashes checked by a doctor in case it's something else would be a good idea.

Read the FAQ's here on the site and do more checking of your sleeping area (and other areas like sofa / chairs etc.) to see if you can find something more definitive.

Good luck and certainly post again if you have more questions
Nobugsonme

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Posted 2 years ago
Wed Feb 9 2011 1:37:26
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My understanding -- I'm not an expert either -- is that actual blood on sheets can come from us, from any bleeding scratch or scab or bite. But bed bug fecal stains are not blood, but fecal matter.

You may have bed bug bites, but they may also come from fleas, or another pest, or some kind of skin condition. (Even dry skin can be itchy and we can scratch ourselves while sleeping and be unaware.) No one can diagnose bed bug bites on sight.

I would rule out fleas (which typically bite below the knee) with a plug-in flea trap, and you might consider employing a passive monitor to rule out bed bugs. See this FAQ on detection methods.
Killshot

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Posted 2 years ago
Wed Feb 9 2011 3:40:13
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hello txe8,

This looks like you have an allergic reaction, which is very similar to some allergic reactions caused by BB bites. In most cases it can be very difficult to give a true visual confirmation on BB reactions. What makes this difficult to confirm, is that bite victims tend to have different levels of reactions, pending on their bodies ability to fight off the allergic reaction from the BB's Saliva. I would first suggest seeing your doctor and/or a dermatologists in order to get a medical conformation on your reactions. I noticed in your photo's you have multiple scabs showing around 30+ on your legs and feet. If these are indeed BB bites, you should be able to spot some BB activity within 3-5 ft. of where your locating the fecal spots. Using a flashlight, I would do a detailed visual inspection of your mattress(seams&crevices), box spring(Remove dust cover and check all crevices), and headboard/framing. You will be looking for fecal stains or any BB's in these areas(Use online images to compare and match). But no matter what you may or may not find, you should definitively visit your Doctor and receive treatment, in order to prevent scaring.

Hope this helps and good luck!
Thanks,
Nick
txe8

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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Sep 5 2011 3:00:00
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Hi guys,

Just wanted to thank you for the detailed responses. I had forgotten about this account since I figured out I didnt actually have bedbugs..

To this day I dont know what the hell the weird spots/scabs are on my ankles/lower legs but, I have found absolutely 0 evidence of BB activity so.
That's that!

Thanks!