Please help!!! Are these bed bug bites?? « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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Please help!!! Are these bed bug bites??

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onefineday

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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Mar 20 2010 13:56:09
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Hi,

Please help me determine whether I have bed bugs!! My OCD has been going crazy at the thought of it, and I'm at the verge of tears. I'm frightened out of my wits at the thought of having bed bugs.

I live in a college dormitory, and about three to four months ago, I received one bug bite on my leg. I didn't think much of it because I had been outside, but every once in awhile (several weeks in between each one) I would receive another.

Two weeks ago, however, I began to receive multiple bites at once. I woke up one morning with my right arm, back and belly covered in bites. There were approximately 15 bites total. The following days I continued to receive more. There were two days in between when I did not receive any new ones, or at least none I detected. The bites range from one to three centimeters in width; some are round, and others appear to be more welt-like. They itch, but they are relatively mild in comparison to flea bites.

My bites always occur at nighttime, and they appear most often on my arms, back and belly. Recently, however, they've begun to appear on my legs. I wear a T-shirt and shorts at nighttime, so if they are bed bugs, I don't know whether I accidentally expose my back and belly at night, which allows them to bite in areas I have clothing.

After looking at other people's photos of their bites, mine don't appear to be as severe, but they are grouped together or roughly "lined up". I've gone to speak to my campus health center, but the doctor characterized it as a rash, which I'm absolutely certain it isn't. My roommate has not received any bites, though she told me she encased her mattress with a bed bug protector.

I've searched for signs of bed bugs on my sheets and under my mattress seams, but I haven't been able to find any telltale signs. I haven't detected blood smears or sheddings, but I'm unable to take apart my bedframe to check.

I'm at a loss as to what I should do. I have contacted dermatologists in the area, but none offer appointments until one month later. Should I have someone come in and determine whether there are bed bugs?? Are my bites even from bed bugs?

My camera isn't very good, but I took photos of what I have. Some of them are old bites and are now smaller and fading, but the new ones are itchy, slightly red and raised from the skin like welts.

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/5347/82925463.jpg
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/3918/37951301.jpg
http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/9013/45897454.jpg
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/4990/44556941.jpg

Please help!! I have no idea what I should do! Thank you
greenapplepest

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Joined: Mar '10
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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Mar 20 2010 16:02:32
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onefineday - 2 hours ago »
Hi,
Please help me determine whether I have bed bugs!! My OCD has been going crazy at the thought of it, and I'm at the verge of tears. I'm frightened out of my wits at the thought of having bed bugs.
I live in a college dormitory, and about three to four months ago, I received one bug bite on my leg. I didn't think much of it because I had been outside, but every once in awhile (several weeks in between each one) I would receive another.
Two weeks ago, however, I began to receive multiple bites at once. I woke up one morning with my right arm, back and belly covered in bites. There were approximately 15 bites total. The following days I continued to receive more. There were two days in between when I did not receive any new ones, or at least none I detected. The bites range from one to three centimeters in width; some are round, and others appear to be more welt-like. They itch, but they are relatively mild in comparison to flea bites.
My bites always occur at nighttime, and they appear most often on my arms, back and belly. Recently, however, they've begun to appear on my legs. I wear a T-shirt and shorts at nighttime, so if they are bed bugs, I don't know whether I accidentally expose my back and belly at night, which allows them to bite in areas I have clothing.
After looking at other people's photos of their bites, mine don't appear to be as severe, but they are grouped together or roughly "lined up". I've gone to speak to my campus health center, but the doctor characterized it as a rash, which I'm absolutely certain it isn't. My roommate has not received any bites, though she told me she encased her mattress with a bed bug protector.
I've searched for signs of bed bugs on my sheets and under my mattress seams, but I haven't been able to find any telltale signs. I haven't detected blood smears or sheddings, but I'm unable to take apart my bedframe to check.
I'm at a loss as to what I should do. I have contacted dermatologists in the area, but none offer appointments until one month later. Should I have someone come in and determine whether there are bed bugs?? Are my bites even from bed bugs?
My camera isn't very good, but I took photos of what I have. Some of them are old bites and are now smaller and fading, but the new ones are itchy, slightly red and raised from the skin like welts.
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/5347/82925463.jpg
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/3918/37951301.jpg
http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/9013/45897454.jpg
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/4990/44556941.jpg
Please help!! I have no idea what I should do! Thank you

Hey,
Sorry to see you are dealing with this. First Bedbug bites are hard to diagnose in general,the pictures are not clear enough. Number 1 I suggest that you get an inspection by a licensed PCO or do a thorough check of your bed and room. Once you have confirmation you will know that you need to commit to a plan of action.

Good Luck to You,

Mike S
Green Apple Pest Management Solutions Inc.
onefineday

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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Mar 20 2010 20:26:47
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Thank you! I will call someone as soon as possible.
cilecto

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Joined: Aug '08
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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Mar 20 2010 21:02:06
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As you are in a dorm, I'd expect that mainenance and pest control are the responsibiliy of your school's facilities department. Some schools have been very innovative at fighting BB. U of Florida, for example, has pioneered their own flavor of thermal treatment for dorm rooms and furnishings. Other schools have catching up to do. You questioned why BB would attack a covered area. I'm not an expert, but the bugs might be getting inside your shirt while you're "away", then feed on you when you're asleep. Or, as you indicated, you might be exposing yourself. Or, you are having delayed reactions to bites that are happening at another time and place. Or, it's not BB. Stay vigilant and keep investigating while you develop practices that will help you if you ever do encounter BB. And let me reiterate my first point: in a dorm, it's "facilities" job. If they're not up to it, you can use the student advocacy systems available at your school to get action. Please do not attempt to handle this alone or to contract for your own PCO. Best of luck.
FreetoSleep

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Joined: Mar '10
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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Mar 20 2010 21:42:14
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I know you're worried, but as a student who is facing this in her own apartment, here are some positive things about your situation.

Since you are in a dorm, you probably won't be made to pay for the treatment, which is expensive.

You can usually assume that they bite 2 to 4 times each. So not every bite is a new bug, if it is in fact bed bugs. You probably caught this very early.

Bed bugs are freaky things, but if you just think of it like camping and being bit by mosquitoes, it's not as bad. That's all they do really.

If you are SURE its them, best thing you can do is get all the cloth in the room except for the sheets you'll sleep in and wash and dry them as HOT AS POSSIBLE. Put them in airtight bags and live out of those until the problem is solved. That way there are less places for them to hide.

Best of luck, hope you're just mistaken!
lieutenantdan

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Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 1,222
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Posted 3 years ago
Thu Mar 25 2010 12:21:38
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Hard to tell but my skin at times looked like this during our war with bed bugs.