bug bites & colds suck + recontracting

[nighstar]

my running conclusion: some bug decided to try something new this weekend. bit me once and liked it. went out and told its friends, resulting in a second bite. bites from bugs killed my generally wonderful immune system, resulting in me almost immediately catching a cold

Comments

[rdmiller3]

Those bug bites sound terrible!

Where is your hand when you're sleeping, usually? Under the sheets, under the pillow, or out in the air? Check there and the rest of the pillow end of the bed for small spots or lines of blood, since that's probably what the bugs are after.

I hate to bring it up, but it could be that you're not alone in that bed, and you may be allergic to the bite of whatever that bug is. Everything may seem clean, but it's really difficult to get insects out of mattresses, box springs and pillows.

[nighstar]

two problems with that, though.

i initially notice the bites after i've been out of bed for a while... of course, this doesn't mean i couldn't have gotten it while sleeping, but i doubt it....

also, i sleep on a futon, which i fold up and store in my closet, along with the sheets and pillows, every morning when i get up. :/ so i doubt a bug has constantly stayed on the futon that i havent seen... but who knows i guess. i'll check it tonight.

:[ it is weird, though, that i get the same kind of bite twice over 3 days. :/

[rdmiller3]

Bugs can hide in tight places and they can travel quite a distance. You *might* get 'em if you vacuum the seams and edges of the futon, blankets/sheets, pillow, and all the edges and corners where the floor meets the walls within several meters of your sleeping place.

It's possible that the little pest is hiding across the room somewhere and comes out to find your hand at night. It could even be a spider, so you might as well vacuum *all* corners and edges.

Think like a bug. Try looking upward from the floor. Cabinets may have a low overhang near the floor that can be vacuumed, spritzed with spray cleaner and wiped out with a rag. Insects can hide under furniture too.

Good luck!

[theidolhands]

A spider bite is another good suggestion. I've seen the worst swelling from that (it's real venom) and if they feel you are in their territory then they will come back to bite again.

[nighstar]

i dont have a vacuum... but i'll try checking corners and tight spots. i need to sweep anyway, so i'll do that too.

i honestly hope the bites aren't from a bug in my apartment because i am scared of bugs and will have a hard time killing the culprit if i do find him... :x

ty

[theidolhands]

I think bedbugs is a very good suggestion and worth dry-cleaning that futon as well as bombing your apartment just in case. Ugh, I once got them from a hotel along with scabies (skin mites), which cause an itchy rash.

If it's the same bite, then it's localized, it's coming from some place near you.