Is it all in my head? « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Detection / Identification of bed bugs

Is it all in my head?

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paranoid@home

newbite
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 5

Posted 2 months ago
Mon Aug 31 2009 17:58:54
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A relative visited my home about 3 weeks ago. His apt. was infested w/BBs and received treatment after arriving in my home. We attempted to take all good precautions - bagged all possessions in XL ziplock bags before they entered my car, only brought clothing and toiletries into my home, clothing had been prewashed prior to travel, but we dried them on high heat in my dryer for an hour; spritzed all non-dryer items with isopropyl alcohol.

I was feeling confident that there was no issue until one week ago when I found an odd cluster of about six blisters on my knee - they went away after an hour or so. Next morning, a similar cluster on my other knee, also went away quickly. The week prior there was a sunflower seed-sized spot of blood on my sheet, but my husband said he killed a mosquito in the night (Mosquitos have been a big problem for us.)

So, I have searched my bedroom, washed all bedding and cleaned, checked mattress and boxspring and have found no other evidence. This past week I have had no other unusual bites, but noticed at least a dozen red pinprick spots on my arms. Never noticed anything like that before, but I wasn't looking either! There has been no other evidence on my bedding/mattress, which I've been checking regularly.

I've been reading this forum, and it sounds like there isn't much you can do until there is a confirmation - which can take a while. My husband thinks I'm wacko as I continue to get out my flashlight and check various nooks and crannies. Do I just ride this out until I come across hard evidence? I feeling paranoid since I know the difficulties it has caused my relative, and would hate to spread it to someone else - if I actually have them! I would appreciate any advice.
upagain

junior member
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 164

Posted 2 months ago
Mon Aug 31 2009 18:10:20
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I feel your pain. For the past four weeks, I've felt like I have bedbugs. I did a massive inspection myself and found nothing. I am talking flashlight, mag glass etc. Nothing. I did the mattress, opened the box spring, turned over the furniture, even open the bottom of the couch in the living room. I've had the odd bite here or there, but could be mosquitos etc. but when bedbugs are on your mind, feels like everything is a bit. What I do have is those red pin pricks you are speaking off. Since this started I have been searching every inch of my body and I found them. I'm starting to believe that I've always had them. My wife has them too. (I even had a good friend of mine show me some of the same things on his arm because he saw how afraid I was. I really think they are nothing now) To get some piece of mind, I just put a nightwatch in my bedroom and living room. Expensive, yes, but, compared to how much time I've spent over the past for weeks searching my house, getting up in the middle of the night to check the bed, not being able to concentrate at work, these might not be so expensive. Heck I was afraid to have a dog come in or PCO because if I didn't have them, maybe they would track them from somewhere else. I even gave the nightwatch a through going over before I brought it in the house. Yes, I may be paranoid, but hopefully this system will put my mind at rest. I will post updates.