To expect some sympathy - bed bugs

[TotalShitTimeOfIt]

Went away with work. Work booked some shitty Airbnb rather than hotel.

Got a couple of bites first night thought not much of it. 2nd night lots more. Left. I'm home now and I swear I'm still getting them. I've washed all clothes I went away with at 60 and washed all my bed linen at 90.

My right hand is swollen. Bites on top of bites. Went to pharmacy right now and pharmacist said one of the worst case of bed bug bites he'd ever seen. My arms feel like they are throbbing.

Husband is raging. Not exactly at me but just keeps saying "fucking hell, so gross"

Pharmacist said I won't have bought them home with me but I swear I'm getting more but he said some bites are just slower to appear. This seems unlikely to me. I had thought they absolutely can come home with you?

Husband and kids have no bites at all.

Firstly does anyone have anyone advice? Secondly AIBU to feel like a bit of sympathy won't go amiss? I'm so grossed out and really uncomfortable and sore. Husband is making everything a million times worse by just being so grumpy about it at me! It's not my fault is it?

Oh no, you deserve a lot of sympathy and understanding.
It’s very wrong behavior from your DH. It wasn’t your fault and it was out of your control. You did everything you could after coming back home.
By the way Im not sure about late appearing bites but I’m absolutely certain that some people react on bites more severe than others do it might be your case.

Oh no, that sound horrific. You can buy bed bug traps on Amazon that you put around your bed which might reassure you they you've not brought any home with you.

I’m very sympathetic - my DH managed to bring bed bugs home from holiday (thankfully before we lived together). He didn’t realise as he didn’t react to the bites but I suffered horribly when I stayed over (which is what alerted him to them). They really felt like burning.

I’d having a good look in your mattress seams / bed frame to check for any / look for any small specks of blood on sheets which might imply you’ve brought them back.

you can get people in to treat them if you have got them (they can stow away in luggage)

You can bring them home with you but I’ve never had them so I wouldn’t know how to treat them other than having your house checked over or treated by pest control.

They absolutely can come home with you

Ex pest controller here
Did you put any suitcases or bags on or near the bed? If so it's is likely you have brought them home.

Has any of your colleagues had any bites?
plenty of clips on YouTube about bedbugs

My bag was near the bed. But I was wearing pyjamas that then went in my bag at end with all my other clothes.

I thought they could come with you but pharmacist was sure it was highly unlikely

Husband is being so grumpy about it. Maybe that's fair enough but I feel shit enough it as it is!

Colleagues do not have bites. Nor does husband or kids. Only me.

So yes - bites can be slow to appear, up to a week.

But - they are also notorious for following you home.

Freeze anything you can’t wash for 3 days.

Everything in the wash at min. 60 and tumebledry.

And then hope for the best.

Only people who've been there know how bad it is. My utmost sympathy, for sure! If you're very worried, get a waterproof zippable mattresses cover that encases the whole mattress. It was the only thing that allowed me to get over the paranoia even after I had thrown away bed, mattress and half my clothes, and had the council fumigate. They were everywhere. Also, I now leave my suitcase in the bath in any hotel wher I have suspicions - any tiny grey mark left on a clean sheet. I check every inch every time.

My husband just told me my itching is "psychological". 🙄

Bed Bug bites are horrendous. I took an antihistamine and used Anthisan bite cream. They do seem to slowly appear and the itching is insane. I also have the unsympathetic husband who also has no reaction to the bites!

I don’t know how the pharmacist can be so sure you didn’t bring them home with you.

They don’t only live in beds, and are highly mobile. All it takes is for one egg laying female to have crawled into your bag.

I would be vacuuming your bag and spraying it.

I really hope you have not brought them home (I didn’t when I stayed in an infested hotel) and it is true that the bites took a day or so to come up. And lasted for ages.

Have you told the AirbnB? And work?

I remember when I had bed bug bites from a stay in a premier inn hotel they were bloody awful - I actually found bathing in hot water helped - it is like it overloaded the itching sensation.
Luckily we didn't bring them home with us, but I still had to sleep with the light on for ages.
Now whenever I stay away I always check the mattress and sheets for signs of infestation.
Sorry not much help - but you have my sympathies xxx

Oh that’s me for sure

I would be putting that bag in the freezer, in a bin bag, leave for a week.
I read about two libraries in London shutting down due to bed bugs 😩 any 2nd hand books I put those in the freezer too

They can also live in sofas too

You are best getting a professional come and spray. The problem is you cannot buy the level of pesticide that a pest controller can.

Oh god. I know what PP meant by hot showers. I want to put my hand in boiling water or the freezer

I've been washing every bit of fabric in the house at 90 and spraying any fabric surfaces like bed frames and mattresses with a excellent rated bed bug spray from amazon

I'm hoping that might be enough. I think I'm going to put the suitcase in the bin.

Oh and mine took a while to come out probably about 7-10 days as it took some figuring out what they were and where I got them from - wishing you a speedy recovery OP xx