What is biting me? (Photos)

Beachy77 · 2023-04-16T17:26:17+00:00

Hi folks. Posting in AIBU for traffic. I've had bites coming up for the past 5 days and treating my home for fleas (have a cat) although no sign of them. I'm now worried these could be bed Bug bites and I'm feeling ill. I haven't been anywhere overnight for over a year. If anyone has had bed bugs or flea bites could you say what these might be?

Original poster

Beachy77 · 16/04/2023 18:27

Sorry should have said that they first showed up on my chest then legs and now arm too.

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Itsanotherhreatday · 16/04/2023 18:28

No idea but get some bug spray on yourself - stops them biting whatever they are.

Womanofcustard · 16/04/2023 18:31

I guess flea bites. I used to get them. Very itchy

JunieJay · 16/04/2023 18:40

Bed bugs can bite in a triangle pattern...I've not had them but a friend has..they were brought in from work (old sofa) they literally come from anywhere and hitch hike well. My friend had exterminators out and they found 1 single bug that did all the biting!

AloyTheNora · 16/04/2023 18:44

Best way to check for bed bugs is to check the seams at the edges of your mattress - if you see little blood spots tucked in the seams, then it is most likely bed bugs biting you.

LangClegsInSpace · 16/04/2023 18:46

I've had bedbugs.

The first thing to say is that the bites are harmless and should not make you feel ill (although the thought of them can certainly make you feel ill!)

You can't tell anything from the bites themselves. Look thoroughly underneath your mattress at the seams and tufts and in the nooks and crannies of your bedframe for little black dots, skin casts and the bugs themselves (see photo).

If you find signs, then whatever you do, do not go ballistic with pesticide spray as they are immune to most of it and it's more likely to spread them around your home. Get some Cimexa and watch a few youtube videos on how to apply it, or get the professionals in.

Thi time of year though, with the weather getting warmer, they could be mozzies or other flying biting insects.

Original poster

Beachy77 · 16/04/2023 18:58

Thanks everyone. I'm feeling stressed and if I could see either a flea or bed bug then I would know whether to keep up the hoovering following rhe flea treatments and give that time or to get the peat control people in.

@LangClegsInSpace It's definitely the thought making me feel ill. Thanks for the advice and I'm sorry you've had them. I've inspected every inch of my mattress (it's light cream) and no signs. My bed frame is solid wood with some joins so I'll have a good look with a torch.

@JunieJay I would love it if there was only one!

I have steam cleaned my mattress today and will take my duvet and sheets to rhe laundry machines for a hot wash this evening. Fun times!

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LangClegsInSpace · 16/04/2023 19:07

and will take my duvet and sheets to rhe laundry machines for a hot wash this evening

Just in case it is bedbugs, this is a bad idea - it's a really good way of spreading them. Can you launder the sheets at home? 60 is adequate. They're very unlikely to be on the duvet anyway because they like quiet, undisturbed corners.

JunieJay · 16/04/2023 19:07

Beachy77 · 16/04/2023 18:58

Thanks everyone. I'm feeling stressed and if I could see either a flea or bed bug then I would know whether to keep up the hoovering following rhe flea treatments and give that time or to get the peat control people in.

@LangClegsInSpace It's definitely the thought making me feel ill. Thanks for the advice and I'm sorry you've had them. I've inspected every inch of my mattress (it's light cream) and no signs. My bed frame is solid wood with some joins so I'll have a good look with a torch.

@JunieJay I would love it if there was only one!

I have steam cleaned my mattress today and will take my duvet and sheets to rhe laundry machines for a hot wash this evening. Fun times!

I was convinced we had them passed to us as sun had some bites (turned out he had scabies from nursery which made me feel more sick!) Bed bugs come out in the dark...I was setting an alarm for 3am to check with a torch. I think the thought of them are worse that the actual bugs. If it is them the exterminators treat the whole house and its really effective. Hopefully it's just midgies. But if it is Bb don't fret...they're more common than people talk about and easy to get rid of with professional help x

JunieJay · 16/04/2023 19:08

*son (I can spell🤪)

Original poster

Beachy77 · 16/04/2023 19:14

@LangClegsInSpace oh I hadn't thought about that. Thanks. Do you think using the machines that sit outside of petrol stations would be OK? I can wash rhe bedding at 60 at home but it was more for the dryers.

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Original poster

Beachy77 · 16/04/2023 19:16

@JunieJay thank you. That really made me feel better about itxx

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Sandra1984 · 16/04/2023 19:26

They look like bedbugs to me, I've had them a couple of times in the past. Bedbug bites are usually "itchy", they leave a blurry red mark and you feel like scratching them all the time (don't do it because it will make them bigger and redder). bed bugs usually live inside the mattress so getting rid of them is difficult, my quick way of stopping the bites was I bought this plastic mattress cover on amazon, don't buy just any plastic mattress cover, but one that it's specially designed for bed bugs. It's water proof and has a sealed zipper. You put the mattress inside the plastic cover and seal it with said zipper and you just leave it. You then put new sheets and duvet just like when you do your bed normally. What happens is that all the bed bugs get trapped inside said plastic cover and because it's perfectly sealed they can't get out. Problem solved and it only cost me 15 pounds.

LangClegsInSpace · 16/04/2023 19:33

Beachy77 · 16/04/2023 19:14

@LangClegsInSpace oh I hadn't thought about that. Thanks. Do you think using the machines that sit outside of petrol stations would be OK? I can wash rhe bedding at 60 at home but it was more for the dryers.

I wouldn't, as a pp said, they are very accomplished hitch hikers.

You could wash the sheets at 60 at home and put them straight in a bag that has been nowhere near the bedroom and then take them to use the dryers.

But I'd check the bedframe first and if there's still nothing and the problem persists, get pest control out to do a check.

Is anyone else getting bitten?

LangClegsInSpace · 16/04/2023 19:41

Sandra1984 · 16/04/2023 19:26

They look like bedbugs to me, I've had them a couple of times in the past. Bedbug bites are usually "itchy", they leave a blurry red mark and you feel like scratching them all the time (don't do it because it will make them bigger and redder). bed bugs usually live inside the mattress so getting rid of them is difficult, my quick way of stopping the bites was I bought this plastic mattress cover on amazon, don't buy just any plastic mattress cover, but one that it's specially designed for bed bugs. It's water proof and has a sealed zipper. You put the mattress inside the plastic cover and seal it with said zipper and you just leave it. You then put new sheets and duvet just like when you do your bed normally. What happens is that all the bed bugs get trapped inside said plastic cover and because it's perfectly sealed they can't get out. Problem solved and it only cost me 15 pounds.

Bedbugs don't live inside mattresses they live on the surface. They like nooks and crannies so can usually be found in the seams and tufts.

Many modern mattresses are impregnated with natural repellants so it's not unusual to find them only in the bed frame and not on the mattress. Again, they like nooks and crannies so check all the joints, underneath slats etc.

Mattress encasement is a poor solution because they don't only live on mattresses.

It's not worth buying anything or doing anything drastic until you have confirmed you have bedbugs.

Sandra1984 · 16/04/2023 19:46

LangClegsInSpace · 16/04/2023 19:41

Bedbugs don't live inside mattresses they live on the surface. They like nooks and crannies so can usually be found in the seams and tufts.

Many modern mattresses are impregnated with natural repellants so it's not unusual to find them only in the bed frame and not on the mattress. Again, they like nooks and crannies so check all the joints, underneath slats etc.

Mattress encasement is a poor solution because they don't only live on mattresses.

It's not worth buying anything or doing anything drastic until you have confirmed you have bedbugs.

Show quote history

It worked for me. I was being eaten alive for a couple of weeks and after getting a sealed bed bug cover they never bit me again, so whatever was biting me definitely got trapped inside that sealed plastic cover 🙌

Mycatisfatafatcat · 16/04/2023 19:48

Have you just put a picture of your bum on the internet?

Original poster

Beachy77 · 16/04/2023 19:59

Mycatisfatafatcat · 16/04/2023 19:48

Have you just put a picture of your bum on the internet?

Hahahaha no. Its my arm from the underneath, just chunky!!!

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gamerchick · 16/04/2023 20:02

Mycatisfatafatcat · 16/04/2023 19:48

Have you just put a picture of your bum on the internet?

I thought the same but knew it looked wrong and was another body part. First glance though.

gamerchick · 16/04/2023 20:03

Tbh they look like flea bites to me.

Original poster

Beachy77 · 16/04/2023 20:05

@LangClegsInSpace thanks, that sounds like a plan. I have ordered a mattress cover but inspected the mattress again and really can't see anything. Ill cancel the order.

Sounds like you were lucky @Sandra1984 that they were just on your mattress.

It's me and the cat and he would probably eat one if he saw it .

I think it will be the 3am alarm and torch tonight for me.

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Original poster

Beachy77 · 16/04/2023 20:06

I wish my bum was as small as that photo makes it look 😆

I would rather fleas and I don't know why. Fingers crossed it is, just wasn't sure with having them on top half of body.

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userxx · 16/04/2023 20:12

I thought it was a photo of your arse! Looks like flea bites to me.

JunieJay · 16/04/2023 20:15

My friend who has them had no signs at all...just the 1 little beast and bites. There are 4 of them in the house and he was the only one to get bitten too. Fingers crossed for you. I definitely think the psychological side is worse...I was like a woman possessed trying to find evidence when I thought we had them! Xx

Original poster

Beachy77 · 16/04/2023 20:20

JunieJay · 16/04/2023 20:15

My friend who has them had no signs at all...just the 1 little beast and bites. There are 4 of them in the house and he was the only one to get bitten too. Fingers crossed for you. I definitely think the psychological side is worse...I was like a woman possessed trying to find evidence when I thought we had them! Xx

Wish I could remove the (not my) arse photo but hopefully it's giving people a giggle.

Yes the psychological aspect is definitely the worst. Contemplating using spare bedding and sleeping on my couch tonight. With the torch to take in. The thing is, even if I don't find anything I might end up worrying for ages. Will ask how much it costs for someone to come out and inspect the room.

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