Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Detection / Identification of bed bugs
Hand bites, black marks on me, what is this?
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buggy prevention princess
newbite
Joined: Jan '12
Posts: 5offline
Posted 1 year ago
Tue Feb 7 2012 10:41:29
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Well, my experience started in August. I had maybe 4-5 bites (but had been at the park all weekend) but I also had markings on my sheet that I believed to be bedbugs fecal stains. My landlord treated the apartment upon hearing the news, no proper inspection. Two Vikane sprays, three weeks apart. I didn’t stay at the apartment during that time because the fumes were so bad (I now realize that was bad for treatment) but when I went back, once a week I would still get bumps on my hands, about once a week, 2-3 bumps. And they were small and not really detectable by others – I would just feel an itch and then when feeling closely I would realize there was like a pinprick tiny tiny bump at the center of the itch. I also want to say there was an unpleasant smell that I can't quite describe. All the work with the laundry/personal belongings was done, everything was cleaned with alcohol and I proceeded to live out of bags for the following four months.
I continued to see the “fecal marks” which occurred mainly on the part of my sheet around my neck. Also on my stuff, like one day I was using my computer and when I left the room and came back in ten minutes, there were black markings on my computer mouse. The texture would move a little when I rubbed it, sometimes more like a make-up smudge and other times more like ash. I also found these markings near my hairline occasionally and sometimes around my mouth, sometimes on my chest. Really slight markings. I realize this is atypical. Even creepier was the fact that this would happen when I stayed at other places during this time. I would occasionally get the hand bumps and the fecal marks on my skin when I wasn’t even at my apartment. None of the places I’ve stayed at (sometimes staying as long as a month) ever developed my problem. Even if I was intimate with someone, never was this passed on. I haven’t had any evidence at my workplace, nor does anyone else complain of symptoms. We were declared “bug free” based on the CO2 monitor while I was living away from the apt and my landlord also had a dog come check it out. No bugs and no signs they said.
We were sprayed again in November. December was pretty good, then at the month's end I felt the intense crawlies over my skin (mainly near my scalp)and bad itchies… really bad and all over, not in response to any bites. I thought it was the reaction to the sprays, but when I moved a month ago, mid-January, all of the symptoms continued and I feel like the “allover itching” even increased. I saw one tiny mark on my sheet, like it was made from a pin, with like I said a mascara/ash-like consistency. But so tiny.
I did have a lot of pigeons who would occasionally come to my fire escape in my previous apartment and I think overall my experience sounds more in line with what I’ve read about bird mites... or some mite that like to bite people. But when I read about their markings being “specks” well, what does that even mean? Are they specks like what I’m seeing, or can mites ONLY leave specks like a hard piece of grit that you could pick up? I realize a lot of the treatment is similar, but I just want any help in learning what I’m up against because I want to be proactive.
Having just moved somewhere that I may be for as little as 4 months, I don’t have much to show a PCO right now, plus I’m not exactly on the lease, so I can’t call them in until I have a little better understanding. I will be vigilant with looking for signs, washing with borax and keeping the clothes sealed, the bed linens frequently laundered, steaming around and using natural sprays, vacuuming, etc. I was incredibly careful at the time of my move by the way. I just think if it were bb’s they totally could not have made the move. I took only my super-laundered clothes straight from the Laundromat and then resealed them at my new place. I just feel as though whatever "they" are, they may have hitched a ride ON me.
I realize that it’s impossible to make a diagnosis from a story and that I am to watch for concrete signs, but not knowing/not knowing how to act is making me beserk, so even any thoughts/input from experience or from experts would be so appreciated. -
buggerem
newbite
Joined: Jan '12
Posts: 8offline
Posted 1 year ago
Fri Feb 10 2012 14:56:59
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Hi,
Sounds like your experiences are similar to mine in some ways. I was out in Thailand and was eaten by bed bugs, still kept on itching all the while i was there and found tiny black non-moving specks. V. careful coming back to UK so can't bed bugs (though I was convinced for ages) but I'm still getting v. bad intense itches, stabs, pricks and crawlies, at night and in clothes/hair in the day. the same kind of ash like stuff you mentioned and seem to find things a bit like legs.....? Lots of washing all the time , soaking in ammonia etc. but this is not my house and my family member who is kindly putting up with me is not keen on lots of spraying and the like. I've only just really looked into the idea of, mites (was trying to put that one off.....) and sounded similar but all PCOs here say they dont live on humans. Everyone has been trying to convince me I'm nuts -wish i was.... but today i actually looked at one those non moving black specs under a microscope, and it's got legs! Now knowing what I'm looking for I'm finding loads.....they're so small how on earth do you get rid of these things? and what are they? I'm scared now and starting to lose hope as I can't get on with sorting my life out until this has cleared up - i really didnt want to find this 'proof' deep down.
have you had any joy yet with your biting things?
stay strong and good luck -
bbbbbbb
newbite
Joined: Feb '12
Posts: 7offline
Posted 1 year ago
Fri Feb 10 2012 18:38:57
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have you thought of scabies? my friend thought she had bed bugs but it was scabies that she brought back from costa rica. the thing about scabies is they live on you and under your skin. so... no matter where you stay they will always be there. there is a cream you can get that will get rid of it in 2 weeks. a sure sign you have them is if you are in the shower wipe a white clothe on your skin. if there is a greyish film on your skin that is definately scabies. try this on your itchy spots. some people don't react to the scabies. it all depends on if you are allergic to them or not. anyways. hope this helps.
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 13,732online
Posted 1 year ago
Sat Feb 11 2012 3:15:20
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buggy prevention princess said,
My landlord treated the apartment upon hearing the news, no proper inspection. Two Vikane sprays, three weeks apart.
I am not sure what your landlord (or landlord's PCO?) treated with, but it was not Vikane.
Vikane (sulfuryl fluoride) is a fumigant gas. It cannot be sprayed. The entire building must be completely evacuated of all humans and animals. You would not be allowed back the same night. And a landlord or normal pest control professional could not apply it. It takes a special license and special equipment.So you might want to find out what was used to spray and who did the work. This is your legal right, in my understanding.
Moreover, before getting any kind of treatment you really need to know what the problem is. An experienced professional should be able to find evidence of bed bugs in your home after 6-7 months of bites. Evidence includes bed bug fecal matter, eggs, cast skins, or bed bugs.
Also on my stuff, like one day I was using my computer and when I left the room and came back in ten minutes, there were black markings on my computer mouse. The texture would move a little when I rubbed it, sometimes more like a make-up smudge and other times more like ash. I also found these markings near my hairline occasionally and sometimes around my mouth, sometimes on my chest. Really slight markings. I realize this is atypical.
It's not that it's atypical. It does not sound like bed bugs.
We're told bed bug fecal matter does not move when you rub it. It is not like a dark or black sharpie marker on fabric, and like black paint dots on solid surfaces.
It is possible that your skin condition is scabies which can be diagnosed by a doctor and treated. So can other possible skin conditions.
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Alberta has bugs
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Joined: Sep '11
Posts: 147offline
Posted 1 year ago
Sat Feb 11 2012 4:04:58
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Ok, this is getting too weird.
LA Woman has described in my opinion similar feelings or findings on this problem. Perhaps she will read this and confirm.
Other people have described similar events.
I myself have been battling a similar problem for awhile.
Convinced it was fleas as the dog and cat are scracthing, but they have been on reveloution for 4 months now.
I have been using tea tree oil, camphor, borax in the bath as well as mineral oil.
I have sprayed flea spray, used DE and spread baking soda and Boric acid (powder) on the floor in the hope of getting rid of whatever I have. I have also used the scabies lotion twice.
To be honest today was brutal at work, where it felt like something was crawling and sometimes biting me.
I find black specs all over the place primarily around the sink, toliet and kitchen sink.
I check my white sheets and find black specs, I find little black specs on me.
I have banned the cat from the bedroom.
I have a feeling they are on the ceiling so have started to paint the ceilings.
I have been to the doctor and he beleives it is something external, not internal like a parasite and beleives I am not delusional because of the bite marks.So long story short, what the heck is going on? Mites if so what kind?
I had heat treatment for bedbugs in September and have torn up some carpet. Did the heat cause eggs to hatch that were in the carpet? I do not know.Some extremes I have tried have been shutting the furnace off and leaving the windows open when it got -40 a couple of weeks back.
Did the treatment get rid of all the spiders that keep another population of insect under control?
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