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New welt and corresponding blood mark. :(
(17 posts)-
Well, how about that? All this time I figured I've been insane with wondering, and just shortly ago I felt a small welt on my chest. I've had itchless welts on and off since this nightmare began, and probably always have had strange skin circumstances. Still, I looked in the mirror and there's a tiny red bloodmark beside it. I looked over my sheets and found a very small blook mark on them, which might correspond with where I laid this morning.
I can't begin to tell you how upset I am. I'm supposed to move soon. :( Why is this happening all over again? I've emailed my PCO and K9 unit to come in again. Any other suggestions/assurances anyone can offer?
I'd found some powdery substance in my sheets this morning, and what looked like grey streaks. I worried for a minute but brushed it off as the cat probably dragged something in, as she's known to. I guess I should have wondered.
And maybe still this will be nothing, but I'm highly frightened at this point.
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losingit
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Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 292
Posted 9 months ago
Mon Jun 8 2009 15:08:55
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It could very well be just a pimple or other skin thing. I know how terrifying it is (I'm going through it right now) to see 'stuff' appear on your skin. If it's a pimple or something innocent then it makes sense that you'd see a spot of blood on your sheets, especially if the scab or whatever came off overnight. Have your previous bites looked like bloodmarks?
As for the grey stuff on your sheets, my cat tracks endless specks of cat-litter (grey!) onto bed all the time. It used to freak me out until I realized what it was.
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See, the grey/black stuff could literally be anything. I've lately found litter pebbles sometimes in my bed after switching litter (guess I'll be going back :P), from when the cat comes in. Not to mention, they very much corresponded to where the cat would sleep with me, so I figured she found dirt or dust and brought it in.
Welts I can brush off when there's nothing else, or no itch to them. Red marks, random stuff, no problem. This blook mark is the thing that throws me so much. I don't recall red pinpoints on my skin being bites, unless it was random tiny red marks on my actual bites that could have been from the stinger or from scratching. Truly, my chest takes a beating from the elements and hot showers and all that. I've had a strange hive-y rash-like thing on there before, recently even, but figured it was nothing. If there wasn't a VERY small blood mark on the underside of my top sheet, I wouldn't worry about it.
It still could turn out to be nothing. In fact, I had a pretty drastic ring burn that had blood marks on the weekend, and it could be that. I sprayed hydrogen peroxide on it and couldn't see a fix, though it certainly became "fresh" after that.
Honestly, who knows? I'm calling in the dog and spending money I might not have on that. :(
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Lovely. I just got an email back from the K9 unit saying the welt could be anything, and just to stay vigilant.
I agree, the welt could be anything, but the blood mark??? I know it's a tiny spot, but it could be anything, too. Why ignore it? Why turn down my money? Or is he afraid I'd press a free screening considering the other dog (same company) came less than a month ago.
If we have them still, I'm trashing everything, getting a packtite and moving. I can't deal and I don't care to. I just wish I'd done that in the first place instead of going ALL THIS TIME with NO signs such as that, and believing things would be okay.
These bugs are ridiculous.
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bedbugbubble
newbite
Joined: May '09
Posts: 15
Posted 9 months ago
Mon Jun 8 2009 17:55:53
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So sorry to hear it, Em. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it's sun/cat/misc. related. I'm paranoid too. Moving in three and a half months. Reduced my apartment to a quarter of what it is. I vacuum like crazy every other day, live out of zip loc bags. Even sent away all my stuff to this great place (Bugs r Gone) in T.O. to wash all my stuff. Such a relief that. But, like you, it's all I think about. I check my skin everyday. Always unsure.
But it will end. It will pass. Just breathe and know you've got an entire forum of support. Again, my fingers crossed that your welt is nada.
In the meantime, I think I remember in a past post that you said you used Vapona. You're in Toronto right? Where did you get the V?
Take care!
BBB
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Thanks, bedbugbubble. Maybe you can PM me more info on Bugs r Gone? If I wind up trashing everything, I may send my clothes to them to do instead...
My boyfriend is already being more supportive than my mom. If I get rid of everything, he'll lend me money to get some basics, we'll invest in a packtite together and move.
As for Vapona, I believe it might be called something else now, I'm remembering. We don't have a package here anymore-- my roommate tossed them. Look in Canadian Tire or Walmart. It's a flat, plastic (soft) package in the bug section. It'll say "formerly Vapona" on it. :) Good luck!
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Emmm,
Read the other threads tagged Bugs R Gone. There's a thread with information from the proprietor, and a link. (I had a lot of questions for this guy and so that can be helpful too!)
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losingit
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Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 292
Posted 9 months ago
Tue Jun 9 2009 8:23:29
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Emmm, the blood on your sheet could be from the scratch/mark on your chest. If your sheet pressed against your skin then of course you'd get a little blood on the sheet there too, right? You've probably thought of that I know, but it's a possibility. I once freaked out when I saw small red splotches/stains on my pillow, until I figured out I had had pasta and (ok, yuk) I hadn't brushed my teeth or washed my face before bed that night.
I know the K9 team you use and I know he can be a tad reluctant to do repeat visits. Lordy, I had him out to my apt 7 (SEVEN!) times last year. Good guy and very professional, but he often seems a little unwilling to do follow ups. You could try the other PCO in Ontario who just got a dog too, so you have a choice.
I can p.m you the name of them if you want to check it out.
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That sounds good, losingit, but are they reputable, this new dog and handler?
I'm sure the K9 team is reluctant to do repeat visits, but they were just here under a month ago, and he sent the new dog and handler when I thought the experienced one was coming. And now I find an honest to goodness blood spot that could very well correspond to a very small and itchless welt on my chest. I didn't ask for a discount, I asked for another visit. I really hope he'll just come by because this is ridiculous.
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losingit
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Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 292
Posted 9 months ago
Tue Jun 9 2009 8:57:03
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I don't know anything about the new K9 team, sorry, I do know it's a Beagle. If you're not keen to try the new pooch then you can do two things: wait and see, which is not good if IF you have a bb problem or call the original K9 guy and be firm: you want the experienced dog to visit again.
Strange thing is that I still have mystery marks/bites/folliculitis going on (freaks me out each day) and only yesterday after a REALLY bad skin week I seriously considered asking my employer to call him again (this would be the 5th time) for the office. I didn't ask though, but I can only imagine the eye-rolling...
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Have you seen a new dermatologist, losingit? There could be something very un-buggy going on with your skin, and you do deserve to breathe easy if all these "all clears" keep coming up.
I just don't know what to do at this point. I have no more money to fight this. I spent so much on bags, replacing a few things during interim, treatment, hauling away some furniture, etc. etc. If I'd known I'd have to get rid of everything in the first place, I would have instead of throwing away so much money. And we had the all clear! We were supposed to be fine! We didn't unpack anything we didn't go through with a fine tooth comb (like my chequebook-- I have to pay rent somehow), but this is ridiculous. :(
I just want to speak to some professionals so as to either go forward with trashing and buying a packtite or to relax, but this "who knows" is killing me!
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losingit
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Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 292
Posted 9 months ago
Tue Jun 9 2009 9:50:40
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I don't think you can buy a Packtite yet in Canada?
Honestly, I say bite the bullet and call either of the K9s and just get it done with. You'll feel a WHOLE lot better just making the appointment. It's a step towards knowing either way. You're right, the 'not knowing' is almost as bad AS knowing.
What have you got to lose (apart from $250.00)? Your peace of mind is priceless (sorry Mastercard!). I am financially and mentally broken from my experience and to make matters worse I got a new boss 5 months ago and she's the nastiest B*&@H from Hell who is threatening to cut my hours at work. That's just great; I hate my job; scared I have bbs still at work; I am broke; and could lose my job and still don't know how to feel about anything anymore. I'm scared to lose my job but I often think it would be the best thing = unbelievably stupid thinking! Arghhhh!
What you could do is contact the original K9 and tell him you'll wait 2 weeks or 3 to see what happens and will then call him out, that kind of gives you a deadline and gives him the heads up to expect a call so he may not be as reluctant when and if you DO call?
And I've considered seeing a new derm but I don't think I'd believe them, I'm so skeptical of derms now, plus I lost my referral so I'd have to make an appt to see my MD, then get referral, then find (ha!) a reputable derm, then get appt in 4-6 weeks... No wonder I'm drained.
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You can't get packtites in Canada??? What the hell? No thermal, no vikane, now no packtites? Honestly, sometimes my country can stuff it with how useful it is. I mean, what options does a Canadian have????
I don't know if I can wait so many weeks. If there's a problem, I want to know now so I can proceed with my move accordingly or put it on hold. :( We'd be moving into a place with seven units, and the idea of infecting so many people just drives me insane with potential guilt. I don't know what to do, but i can't stay here. My boyfriend and I have put this move off so long already and just want to be together.
I know another derm referral seems more struggle than it's worth, but you just said yourself that peace of mind is priceless. Maybe you aren't being bitten by bed bugs, and maybe it's not folliculitis either. Maybe it's scabies? Maybe it's stress and newly sensitive skin from everything. You have a RIGHT to proper treatment and identification. There are family practices that have dermatologists come in once a month, and they also have recommendations for others. I know mine does. I can refer my health office, if you'd like.
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losingit
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Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 292
Posted 9 months ago
Tue Jun 9 2009 10:08:27
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'what options does a Canadian have????' - We treat the bbs with respect and understanding of their heritage and then politely ask them to die a natural death.
I just realized we're in a similar boat! You don't know if you have them at home and I don't know if they're still at work:) We can both do something Emmm, you can call the K9 and I can call my Md to get the medical-circus parade started. Deal?
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losingit
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Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 292
Posted 9 months ago
Tue Jun 9 2009 10:20:56
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emmm - check your messages.
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Deal. :)
But, yeah, Canadian bed bug sufferers clearly are at a SEVERE disadvantage here. I can't believe it. We can't get half the pesticides used in the USA, we can't use thermal, and now packtites aren't even an option. And even if I could find one in the States and bring it here, it could void my insurance (I'm sure) if I use it and something goes wrong.
New York has Killer Queen. The UK has David. WHAT exactly does Toronto have? Even our "bed bug hotline" is useless and I know has given some people WRONG advice.
Here I was hopeful I could save a few books, maybe my laptop and a few other items that have meaning (papers, pictures, etc.), but no. Apparently IT ALL GOES if we end up having these monsters again. I've never wished to be in the USA before, but I guess there's a first for everything...
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losingit
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Joined: Nov '08
Posts: 292
Posted 9 months ago
Tue Jun 9 2009 10:48:03
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Don't throw out anything you really, really want to keep. I have about 400 books as I LOVE my books, bike, painters easel, a typewriter from 1886, and TONS of old journals (my entire 26 years of writing:) all in storage; Been there since Nov 07, costs about 100 bucks a month but I refused to lose my prized possessions because of bbs. I lost all my furniture, most clothes and other stuff as it is. Storage is an option if needed sure it's gotta stay for at least 18 months but at least it's not in a landfill being picked over by seagulls!
Ok, so you're going to call the K9? You WILL feel better and you know it. The worst that can happen is he can say No. Then move on to the other new K9 and see how that goes.
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