Freaking out again-- this time, bites ID/help; also, places to seek help in nyc?

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Freaking out again-- this time, bites ID/help; also, places to seek help in nyc?

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nycanon18

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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Dec 7 2011 22:08:42
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All, I'm sorry to continue to use you as a crutch, but living alone with no one to immediately to turn to (I am incredibly shy and afraid of causing this tremendous mental breakdown upon the few people i know here) I figure I'll see what happens. Let me preface by saying I have never actually seen a bedbug in my room; however I have found spider beetles (don't bite) and spiders (do bite, but if provoked i hear). I also found some 2 blood drops on my pillowcase (and on another one) and from the mediocre pictures I took, was told not to worry by the generous people of the site.

3 days ago, I woke up and noticed a single bite/welt of some sort under my forearm. Freaking out, I took my shower before work, and realized it was gone when I arrived at the office. Passing it off as something else, I forgot about it. Today, I decided to examine (as fully possible by a single person) my entire mattress and boxspring. Aside from cutting my finger and breaking part of my bed frame (damn wood), I wasn't able to detect anything out of the norm (again, I was acting alone, so didn't have the best look around). Anyway, after doing so (and sweating), I noticed not one, but 3 bites/welts under the same forearm and some other marks under the other forearm. Now I know sweat can cause bites to reappear, but is this exclusive to bedbugs? or could it be something else? I have taken pictures linked below; again, I know people react differently, but maybe someone can shed some light.

http://imgur.com/a/UQx4j

Again, I'm sorry for all of this hysteria, but I am literally freaking out. I started crying IN THE OFFICE the other day (clearly i'm not focusing well); haven't had dinner at all this week (have had other meals, though); and am absolutely terrified of traveling home over christmas (fear of spreading to my family). I'm not looking for pity or anything (this is my own fault!), but if anyone knows a good number for pco's (landlord won't do anything until i actually present a bedbug!) or psychiatrists (this might be the best thing) or anything in the NYC area, I'd be indebted.

sorry again
punaisedelit

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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Dec 7 2011 23:08:30
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Hello, I'm not a specialist, but I know, and I'm sure others will confirm, that bites alone cannot be used to confirm a bed bug infestation. You could get passive monitors, or have a dog inspect your apartment so that you can relax.
Do you have any reason to suspect you have bed bugs, other than the rashes (which by the way look like any marks you could get when doing stuff such as inspecting a bed)?
rs1971

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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Dec 7 2011 23:56:29
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Hi,

Having just gone back and looked at your posts it's really obvious that you don't have bed bugs. What you have is an irrational bed bug paranoia. Having read this site for over a year now, it seems that this is actually a fairly common condition. I don't know what it is about these bugs that even the possibility that they might exist gets so deeply into some people's phyches, but they definitely have that power.

I have no doubt that so long as the topic stays in the media at current levels, this condition will eventually be codified by psychologists and added to the literature. In any event, if you feel that you have to do something you might want to invest in some passive monitors which might give you some piece of mind. More than anything though you just need to convince yourself that you have no reason to think that you have bed bugs and put them out of your mind. (I know that that's easier said than done).

Good luck.

-rs1971
bed-bugscouk

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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Dec 8 2011 8:03:37
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Hi,

Although it is true that you cant tell anything accurate from bites I have to say that your skin reactions are not typical of bedbugs and look more like a rash or heat hives to me.

At this stage if you are worried I would suggest an experienced visual inspector, K9 scent detection with visual confirmation or monitoring of the area but nothing in the images or from what you have posted makes me think its bedbugs.

Hope that helps.

David Cain
Bed Bugs Limited
ohnotooks

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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Dec 8 2011 22:58:57
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rs1971 - 22 hours ago »
Hi,
Having just gone back and looked at your posts it's really obvious that you don't have bed bugs. What you have is an irrational bed bug paranoia. Having read this site for over a year now, it seems that this is actually a fairly common condition. I don't know what it is about these bugs that even the possibility that they might exist gets so deeply into some people's phyches, but they definitely have that power.
I have no doubt that so long as the topic stays in the media at current levels, this condition will eventually be codified by psychologists and added to the literature. In any event, if you feel that you have to do something you might want to invest in some passive monitors which might give you some piece of mind. More than anything though you just need to convince yourself that you have no reason to think that you have bed bugs and put them out of your mind. (I know that that's easier said than done).
Good luck.
-rs1971

I have to admit that I am suffering from "irrational bedbug phobia". The condition is already on the books, at least in my case, and its called OCD. I became obsessed with the idea that I was going to get bedbugs in my house. I am actually seeking treatment right now to move on with my life.
P Bello

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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Dec 8 2011 23:24:11
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You can also take the following steps:
> Insulate your bed from the surroundings.
> Use bed bug climbing blockers such as commercially available Climbup Interceptors or simply suitably sized & smooth surfaced bowls.
> Construct a BB trap or use a commercially available type trap.
> Review the article "The Human Side of Bed Bugs" (google)

Good luck and let me know if any additional questions or cocnerns.
Paul B.
rs1971

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Posted 1 year ago
Fri Dec 9 2011 2:54:19
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ohnotooks - 3 hours ago »
I have to admit that I am suffering from "irrational bedbug phobia". The condition is already on the books, at least in my case, and its called OCD. I became obsessed with the idea that I was going to get bedbugs in my house. I am actually seeking treatment right now to move on with my life.

Yes, OCD is definitely related. Quite frequently the posters who fall into the 'irrational paranoia' category also describe themselves as having issues with OCD. I should add that my interest in this sort of bed bug related subtopic has something to do with the fact that I am very, very mildly OCD myself and when I went through my period where I thought I had bed bugs I remember thinking that my heightened level of concern was definitely related to that fact.

For better or worse, the small degree to which I suffer from OCD is more than offset by my laziness with the result that, for example, during my bed bug scare, though I often contemplated compulsive behaviors (ie, taking the bed apart again, changing the sheets again) I rarely actually acted on them.

It occurs to me that there really wasn't much point to any of that but since it's already written, I might as well press send.

-rs1971
ohnotooks

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Posted 1 year ago
Fri Dec 9 2011 8:37:18
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I am happy that you did press send. I had contemplated starting a topic here about Bed bug paranoia/OCD when bedbugs were not actually present. But I did not know if it was appropriate.
AshamedandScratching

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Posted 1 year ago
Fri Dec 9 2011 12:16:02
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It's totally appropriate. I have compulsively searched and compulsive avoided searching for years until I saw my first bedbug.

It's helpful for people to know that they may just be worried. It's totally normal. They crawl on you, feed on you. They cost a lot of money to deal with all things relative, and the more you can afford the easier they are to deal with. It's no wonder people who live in cities with an exposure risk worry.

My thing is anxiety, obviously.
lsdrg706

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Posted 1 year ago
Fri Dec 9 2011 12:52:41
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AshamedandScratching - 35 minutes ago »

My thing is anxiety, obviously.

Right there with ya. Family history of and previously diagnosed anxiety disorder made exponentially worse through dealing with this problem.
P Bello

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Posted 1 year ago
Fri Dec 9 2011 14:18:09
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Dear Folks,

None of you are alone in this situation. I am contacted by people from across the country with similar laments. In fact, I have at least two boxes of samples for microscopic examination to go through from numerous sources which will be how I will spend a portion of the weekend in confirming the presence of parasites or not.

In my experience, and I am NOT a medical doctor, the mental portion of bed bug problems can be difficult to deal with. For what it's worth, all I can do is provide you with viable and credible information or answers to questions as doing so may result in arriving at some degree of releif.

Best of luck in your quest to become BB free !

Yours in pest management,

Paul B.
ohnotooks

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Posted 1 year ago
Fri Dec 9 2011 16:41:53
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The "crazy" thing is that some of us with the irrational bed bug phobia have never had bed bugs. But like rs1971 said, the mere thought that they are out there lurking in hotel rooms and the like is enough to cause serious OCD issues in those prone to such which is my case.

The travel bug had me biting me for years. But the THOUGHT of something else biting me is now keeping me home.
P Bello

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Posted 1 year ago
Fri Dec 9 2011 17:55:05
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We need to be informed and vigilant while at the same time avoiding panic.

Arm yourself with knowledge, take the necessary steps and win the battle of the bugs !

paul b.
nycanon18

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Posted 1 year ago
Sun Dec 11 2011 18:45:51
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All,

Thanks for the replies, advice, and discussion. It definitely helps to know that I'm not alone. The more I try to convince myself that it's just paranoia, the more I worry about spreading (if I even have anything) these bugs to my family when I visit over the holidays-- it just tears me up.

At current, I've put the ClimbUp "detectors" as they seem to be generally well-received among people on this site (am I correct on that?) Are there any other precautions I should be taking?

I'm looking into having an inspection, just for mental stability, but want to make sure I find an appropriate PCO in the NYC area.

Thanks again.
ohnotooks

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Posted 1 year ago
Sun Dec 11 2011 19:10:14
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The problem I have had with step ups is that they break! Anybody have a solution? I am on my second set. This time I put tape underneath them as if they were windows in a hurricane's path!
P Bello

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Posted 1 year ago
Sun Dec 11 2011 22:12:40
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I know some dependable pcos in the nyc area but I'm unsure if I'm allowed to post this as per the rules ???