I think I've got bed bugs!

[biryani]

I've been getting bites for years and put them down to midges or something. They're mainly on my face, in my hair and around my shoulders. And, embarrassingly, on my bum, where they they form quite large weals and appear in groups.

They don't cause a problem and they're not getting any more prolific. Having googled 'bedbugs', I'm getting more and more convinced I've got them. Anyone with any experience of them?

Thanks.

Check down the seam of your mattress and see if there are dark dots, then report back.

Omg it is a nightmare. Good luck to you.

I haven't seen any dark spots, but then my mattress is ancient so I could't tell anyway! I''ve found some gritty deposits in there and a sort of roundish brown thing the other day. No-one else in the house is affected, so hopefully I'm overreacting.

Have you flipped your mattress over?

Just to say my mum thought she had bedbugs, despite having moved house etc. she'd had a couple of itchy welts on her arms that bled for a while, then they covered her arms and legs. She got an emergency appointment with a dr at her practice who happened to be a dermatologist who diagnosed a skin condition, definitely not bedbugs. Will try and remember the name of it and report back!!

Yes, flipping mattress regularly.

Yes, may be a skin condition, but not bad enough to go to the doc. I tend to react to bites badly, and I'm constantly scratching if dd has nits, or the cat has fleas. Maybe I'm just ultra-allergic or something.

Thanks. Feeling a bit more reassured now!

There is probably a case for a new mattress. And if you hoover them regularly that keeps dust mite at bay.

Cheers Boffin. Shame about mattress though-I've only had it 30 years! Was hoping to get at least another 20 out of it!!