What's eating me?

Ames

Thanks - I did think fleas, but they're supposed to be itchy and mine aren't?


As long as it's not bed bugs I'll be happy! I think I'll sleep with a torch to hand so if I feel any more I can hopefully get a good look against the white sheet.

jenniewb

Maybe try a pharmacist if you have anything showing on your skin, But you really need to see a medically qualified person- even a dermatologist wouldn't diagnose via an email or forum- they would be able to run tests and may even be able to tell you what is going on by looking at it first hand.


It may not itch if your body isn't having a reaction to the debris left behind by the bite- normally it isn't the bite itself we react to but the venom or any sort of bad stuff left behind by a bite in which our bodies product something called histamine (hence requiring anti-histamine for various bites and stings). It could just be that your body isn't bothered by what is left behind and isn't alerting you to the bites/stings because it doesn't feel at risk.


It could many other things; but the fact you felt something whilst it was happening and that when you moved it went away just seems more like a bite than an allergy to anything in your bedding although it does seem a bit confusing that you only had to move to get the sensation to stop; not get out of bed and change your sheets.


The only thing I can think to help yourself out is to boil wash your bedding and night clothes, hoover and turn and hoover your mattress and then try to find an anti-insect skin safe spray (I think there is one among many called Incognito but look around as I'm sure there are other things you can try). And if you want to go the whole hog you could try eating more garlic (insects don't tend to like garlic blood) and cut back on things with sugar (insects prefer sugary blood).

Topcat1982

Does sound like fleas. The bites are itchy at the time but not the next day.

I know you don't have pets, but they can live off the mattress!

Ames

Thanks for the replies.


Jennieweb - it's unusual for my body not to react, I have an immunodeficiency. I'm not looking to find out what they are for medical treatment, just so that I know how to get rid of them. If it's fleas that's simple enough, but if it's bed bugs it's a whole other ballgame.


I don't actually have a hoover - I don't have carpets yet - but I'll get one when I get chance.


I didn't get bitten last night and there were no droppings or anything. From my reading though none of the usual suspect bugs need to feed every day.


I think for now I'll go with thoroughly cleaning the bedding, hoovering the mattress when I can, and spraying lots of tea tree, lavender and peppermint oils around - most bugs seem to hate those.

jenniewb

Ames wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.


Jennieweb - it's unusual for my body not to react, I have an immunodeficiency. I'm not looking to find out what they are for medical treatment, just so that I know how to get rid of them. If it's fleas that's simple enough, but if it's bed bugs it's a whole other ballgame.


I don't actually have a hoover - I don't have carpets yet - but I'll get one when I get chance.

Dust mites?

theoretica

This reminds me of a similar occasion I woke up one morning all bitten. Never did work out for sure what it had been, but they never came back. I rather suspect a strangely delayed reaction to some mosquitters the day before.

Ames

I did wonder about dust mites. I think I found a dead flea this morning though.

helcat26

Remember to treat all carpets. You can get this Bob Martin spray at the supermarket, kills eggs as well as fleas and stops the breeding cycle. Need good ventilation.


We got them once from next door's cat. bites did not itch but the bumps were unsightly, and obviously you don't want to keep getting them and I would be mortified if a guest was bitten.

Ames

I don't have carpets, haven't been able to afford them yet. I'm planning to get a new mattress anyway so I'll deal with it all at the same time. No need to worry about guests as no-one visits me anyway.

jenniewb

Ames wrote: »

I did wonder about dust mites. I think I found a dead flea this morning though.

Speaking from experience (cats!) it's usually likely you find fleas in their plural sense rather than just a random flea