Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Tools/ideas for fighting bed bugs
NYC dermatologist & putting the bed back together?
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nycbedbug
junior member
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 51
Posted 1 month ago
Fri Sep 25 2009 5:29:25
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Hi all,
Synopsis of my story: had an active infestation in July, treated 3 times, and the bed bug dog found no signs of bugs two weeks ago today. I have three questions that I bet people here can help me with:
1. Does anybody in NYC (preferably lower Manhattan) know of a dermatologist who knows bed bugs/bed bug bites and could therefore differentiate between bed bug bites and other skin irritations? It seems as though the biggest hurdle to trusting that the bugs are actually gone is going to be figuring out what all of these random pimple-like marks are on my skin, which is usually completely clear.
2. I have been sleeping on my encased mattress on the floor (not on its bedframe) ever since I prepped for the first PCO treatment nearly 2 months ago. (This was part of the PCO's protocol, involving taking apart the bed frame and leaning the mattress against the wall). I am thinking that the first step back towards normalcy might be putting my bedframe back together and sleeping on it. My only concern might sound crazy, but I think people here will understand: IF there are still bugs here (in my apt. or in the building), I would want them to be able to bite me so that I KNOW they're here before I unpack all of my stuff from the plastic bags. I'm thinking I'm an easier target just on the mattress on the floor. My bedframe has smooth metal legs, so I don't know if bugs can get up. The way they got in before, I think, is that the headboard was touching the wall (and I had a bedskirt). Any suggestions one way or the other? Should I think about buying Climb-Up Interceptors?
3. Assuming there are no bugs in my apt./building, how long should I really keep living out of plastic? My PCO has mentioned that bed bugs living for 18 months are really lab-condition statistics and only maybe one bug out of many, and that they find in their lab that bugs die after several months. If this is the case, I figure it's better to keep my stuff closed up in plastic for as long as it could take the one bug that could have somehow gotten through my careful inspection/cleaning of all of my belongings to die.
Thanks in advance for your advice!
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Aris
junior member
Joined: Apr '08
Posts: 62
Posted 1 month ago
Sat Sep 26 2009 22:26:03
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Nycbedbug, there is no way any dermatologist, no matter how well-trained and how knowledgeable, can be absolutely sure that your skin lesions are due to bedbug bites. The best any can do is to say the the configuration and appearance of the lesions are consistent with (which is to say, could be due to) or even strongly suggestive of insect bites, possibly bedbug bites. There is no routinely available diagnostic test that can confirm the lesions are specifically due to bedbug bites.
So just try to find a good dermatologist to point you in the right direction and help you manage the lesions, regardless of their cause.
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Aris
junior member
Joined: Apr '08
Posts: 62
Posted 1 month ago
Sat Sep 26 2009 22:29:35
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As for putting your bed back together, are you still noticing new skin lesions appearing?
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