I need some help! « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Bed bug bites, skin, etc.

I need some help!

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adrian10104

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Joined: Sep '08
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Posted 1 year ago
Sat Sep 13 2008 16:38:52
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Hi everyone! I'm new to this site, but I was hoping someone might be able to help me.

I'm not too sure if I have bed bugs, but I'm worried that I do. For about two weeks now I have been getting what appear to be little bites. A few times I had some in clusters (like behind my knee or between my legs), but most have been single bites, and they are fairly small. They only itch for about 10 minutes or so, and then the bites seem to fade quickly throughout the day. Some have had little dots in the middle, and some don't (I think I usually see the dots in the ones I've scratched more). I have had them on my legs, arms, back, neck, chest, and even one on my scalp. Most mornings I wake up with one or two, but I have had a few pop up throughout the day or evening. My husband has a few bites on him, but he feels they are from mosquitos when he goes outside to smoke (he actually feels them and pretty quickly sees a mark). Neither one of my children have any on them (thank goodness). I have looked all over my mattress, box springs, and metal frame and don't see any signs. I have not seen any blood in my sheets or any dirt that isn't explained by something on my feet. We found one casing of some sort of bug in a hole in the box spring, but no other signs around it. I'm not sure if it's a bed bug, but when compared to a few pictures I have seen my husband does not think it's from a bed bug. I have also pulled apart all of my dressers and nightstands in the bedroom and didn't find anything, and I've looked all over our couch as well. We have not traveled anywhere in a while (my husband returned from Korea over 4 months ago and never saw anything in the year he was there). We had family visit over 2 months ago, and they slept on an air mattress on the opposite side of the house, and I don't believe they have had any problems. We have cats, but none of them have any fleas (never have, and they stay indoors). We haven't brought in any old furniture. The strange thing is this all started the day after my neighbor cut down some very large weeds and grass in his yard (probably at least 7 feet tall, on the side which happened to be just a few feet from my house). My husband and mom think it has something to do with that and not bed bugs. We've also seen a lot of gnats flying around outside, and have had a few in the house. I'm going crazy trying to figure out what it is, and I know it's really irritating my husband. I'm already incredibly afraid of bugs as it is, and now it's a lot worse. I just had a baby a little over two months ago, so I haven't had much sleep as it is, and now I get even less, even though she's sleeping more at night now. I also have lost my appetite (and several pounds) since this all started. No one seems to think it's bed bugs except me, and I don't really have the money to pay for someone to come in and look (and I've already done a lot of that myself and haven't found anything besides that one shell). I'm sorry I've rambled on so much, but I've gotten to the point where I don't think anyone wants to listen to me anymore and I'm just very stressed out. If someone has any theories or ideas please let me know. I live in south Texas by the way, if that helps at all. Thanks for listening!
busy with my kids

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Posted 1 year ago
Sat Sep 13 2008 18:39:18
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Could you take a close picture of the casing and post it here? People could help you identify it. I'm sure there are other things that bite, my PCO suggested clover mites when he wanted to stop treating for bed bugs. But acting quickly is sooooo important if it is bed bugs, so keep looking.

I sure hope that's not what it is for you. But if it is you can get through it. I had a very, very tough time emotionally when I went through it. (I also lost a lot of weight.) It's normal. Just try to do little things every day that would be helpful if it does end up to be bb's, such as getting rid of clutter, caulking, bagging stuff you wouldn't need for a long time, learning about treatment options in your area and what is best. Maybe that could help you feel more in control.

Every day try to see something wonderful that your kids do and enjoy things they do. They are why you would work so hard to get rid of this. You have to appreciate blessings to try to counterbalance the hard thing you're trying to handle. It's good you're starting early.

I once made a tiny cardboard "house" with open sides and a really sticky mouse glue trap on the bottom. Right before bed I activated a disposable hand warmer and put it on it's side in the middle. (I had to use the top to balance it.) Then I put a little paper ramp up to the trap and put the whole thing on the bed frame. I caught a few little bugs in it, they were too gunked up to identify. But maybe you could catch a bigger one that way. That's the only thing besides looking that I can think of. Good luck. Hug and kiss those kids for me. Just take baby steps toward your goal and I pray it's something else.
adrian10104

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Joined: Sep '08
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Posted 1 year ago
Sat Sep 13 2008 19:59:33
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I don't think my camera will take a good enough photo to post, but we think it might be from a carpet beetle. I found a picture online and it looks really similar to what we found. Hopefully we're right!

My mom thinks I should have a pco come in and inspect, but I feel like it's almost pointless when I can't find anything myself. I just think they wouldn't find anything and then it would be a waste and I'd just have to wait and see anyways.

I have noticed that with the bites (or whatever they are) I have, after the bump goes away, there still seems to be a tiny red dot that lingers for a few days. I don't know if that's typical or not (but I also know that everybody has a different reaction). I know they're not from a mosquito because with those I get large welts that itch like crazy for days. This is nothing like that.

My husband really thinks that I'm just doing so much research on bed bugs that I'm just linking my problem to what I find (he's says I'm trying to rationalize it all). I hope he's right. I really don't want to deal with a problem like bed bugs (especially since in two weeks my parents are coming for a visit, and as soon as they leave my husband has to leave for about three weeks for a temporary assignment, so I'll be here by myself with the two kids dealing with whatever is going on). I feel so sick.....
adrian10104

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Joined: Sep '08
Posts: 3

Posted 1 year ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 14:33:04
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I'm still going crazy....I have more marks popping up today, and still no signs of the little buggers. And none of them seem to look the same. I have one on my ankle, which my husband feels is a mosquito bite since they like thin skin. I had one by my wrist, which has now almost completely cleared (if I hadn't noticed it before, I wouldn't see it now). And now it appears I have a little tiny dot on my hand but not really a bump with it (I only noticed it because I scratched). My husband just thinks it's something else biting me, not bedbugs. We have had a problem with a lot of spiders coming in lately, but I just don't think they would bite like this. Is it possible to be bit at night but not see the bites until various times throughout the next day? I am just really scared and I don't want to put my family through all of this madness. :(
tisIsaidthefly

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Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 103

Posted 1 year ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 15:50:18
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I am not an expert and I could be wrong. I can only speak for myself. When I am bitten by a bed bug, I wind up with either two tiny holes or one big one in the middle of the bite. Of course, I am very allergic to them and you might not react the same way.
If you have a really strong magnifying glass or eye piece, it MIGHT help to determine if there are two holes in the bite. There are spiders that bite though as I've always had them. They're tiny little things but leave a nice welt. However, I'd rather get bit by those spiders because they don't hurt me nearly as badly as the bed bugs do. I hope you don't have them and I'm so glad your children are not being bitten.
spideyjg

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Joined: Jul '08
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Posted 1 year ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 16:17:31
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adrian10104 - 1 hour ago »

We have had a problem with a lot of spiders coming in lately, but I just don't think they would bite like this. Is it possible to be bit at night but not see the bites until various times throughout the next day? I am just really scared and I don't want to put my family through all of this madness. :(

You may want to get pictures of the spiders and ask on

http://bugguide.net/node/view/15740

for an ID. With very few exceptions, the widows, hobo, and brown recluse, spider bites are harmless unless you have an allergic reaction. Jumping, Wolf, and Running Crab spiders are roaming predators and may be eating some of the BBs. As would any spider that gets a chance.

Back in the 30s a scientist found a species of Running Crab spider that was a voracious BB eater. They are the Thanatus family and there are relatives here in the US. My Gravatar is the US Thanatus.

If the spider is about 1 CM or so it may find a BB tasty. The real large wolves may ignore the tiny BB.

While not a cure all or even a treatment, roaming predatory spiders can be your allies in the war. Web builder not so much because BBs may not walk into their webs but if they are out of the way leave 'em. Web builders usually stay put if food is available.

If they really skeeve you out you can get rid of them but just consider their feeding habits.

Jim
busy with my kids

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Joined: Jun '08
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Posted 1 year ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 16:34:29
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It is possible to be bit at night and have the bite show up later.
Itchy-Scratchy

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Posted 1 year ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 17:46:09
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Yes, busy, it is possible. Bites can take days to show up.

I have to admit, I had a variety of bites, so it's hard to describe what a bite looks like. Some of mine were bright red, some just a small mark, some white... which just makes it all that much harder to judge if the BBs are still biting!
ohpleaseno

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Joined: Sep '08
Posts: 6

Posted 1 year ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 23:32:19
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adrian10104 - 1 day ago »
No one seems to think it's bed bugs except me, and I don't really have the money to pay for someone to come in and look (and I've already done a lot of that myself and haven't found anything besides that one shell).

Some companies will do an inspection for free; Terminix is one. (I'm not employed by them or anything and am not making any recommendations.) I wouldn't be surprised if other big companies - and possibly small ones too - would inspect for free as well; it's probably worth calling around to see if you can get a free or cheap inspection.
sodepressed

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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Sep 15 2008 4:36:52
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ive also been wondering if the bites has a little red dot as a 'leftover'. my 3 yr old gets these tiny pimple like dots that goes on to be a red dime sized welt and over the next day it will calm down and leave a tiny red bump/dot. not a puncture mark i think...he gets one or 2 for the last few nites...getting worried
Itchy-Scratchy

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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Sep 15 2008 5:59:16
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sodepressed - 1 hour ago »
ive also been wondering if the bites has a little red dot as a 'leftover'. my 3 yr old gets these tiny pimple like dots that goes on to be a red dime sized welt and over the next day it will calm down and leave a tiny red bump/dot. not a puncture mark i think...he gets one or 2 for the last few nites...getting worried

I think those red dots are bites. My daughter and I have a number of those type of marks on our bodies.