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[KaraShannon]

All showered, moisturised, hair covered in fresh conditioner, hot hairdryer, off down to health food store for all things Neem.

I feel a bit better today, so I'll leave the pharmacist and doctor for tomorrow if I think there's still a problem.

[sheila99]

I would look at it under a microscope first. There isn't much the LL can do unless they know there's definitely an infestation ans what it is. Flea bites are usually obvious.

[VioletAquarius]

Hi KaraShannon

So sorry to hear this. To me, it sounds like some sort of infestation in the house, especially as it only started when you moved in.

Do you know who lived there before? Are you able to find out? And ask them if they had any issues.

As others have said, I would put them in jar and could you take a photo and do a Google search from the photo and see what it brings up.

And also what about ringing an infestation company up and ask what they think.

Also, I would wash all bedding on a hot wash, and wash everything you have wore that hasn't already been washed, and do it all in one day so they can't transfer back onto the newly washed items. And give the carpets a good vac, and any other things like sofas, cushions etc. Again, do all this all the same day. I know it's a lot but if you don't they will only transfer back onto the clean stuff.

Gosh, I'm itching now, thinking about it all, lol

[KaraShannon]

I would look at it under a microscope first. There isn't much the LL can do unless they know there's definitely an infestation ans what it is. Flea bites are usually obvious.

thanks Sheila, I think my anxiety is right up there atm.  It's a real problem but maybe not as bad as I feel it is.

I'm going to call the doctor again to try and get to the bottom of it. 

No idea where I'd source a microscope but have considered calling pest control for advice.

[KaraShannon]

Gosh, I'm itching now, thinking about it all, lol

My anxiety has blown this right up, lol. 

I just need to be logical about it and stop with all the drama    I've done what you said about washing.  I'm hoping I've brought something in and it's not the new place, or the new carpet.  But been alone mostly for the last month so would not know how I could have caught nits or anything like that.  Also the doctor said they couldn't find any on me so possibly I'm just having a reaction to being bitten by something.

Ugh, hope it's not the new carpet but I must stop with the drama 

[Penguin]

Thinking about it, it's unlikely to be a new carper, but it could have been caused by the old carpet (or whatever was there before) being disturbed and waking things up. That is exactly what happened in our house with the animal fleas. Either way, it is not your fault and it is fixable! Could you try flea bombs or similar, on the areas with carpets?

[Taz2]

I think you'd know if it was scabies. One of my children caught this a few years ago now while at uni. The rash was very easy to spot. There are images here https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/scabies/

If it's a flea infestation you would see them jumping around. One way to check for fleas is to place a shallow bowl of hot water on a sheet of paper on the carpet. The heat attracts the adult fleas into the bowl. You can hear them land on the paper before they jump into the water. We had a visiting stray cat while we were away for two weeks once and came back to find the house infested.

I hope your skin feels calmer today.

Taz x

[CLKD]

Well: the World is itching as apparently 'bed bugs' are now a thing in mainland Europe 

It's been recommended that we initially seal skirting boards to stop them crawling inside  .  I would be on hands and knees for about a week in this house!  We also have doors/windows open often ........ mayB a roll of sellotape ready?  For ants I put a jar of cheap jam outside the house so that they as well as wasps are attracted to the sweetness. It works.

I wonder what bed bugs like other than human blood 

[KaraShannon]

Well: the World is itching as apparently 'bed bugs' are now a thing in mainland Europe 

It's been recommended that we initially seal skirting boards to stop them crawling inside  .  I would be on hands and knees for about a week in this house!  We also have doors/windows open often ........ mayB a roll of sellotape ready?  For ants I put a jar of cheap jam outside the house so that they as well as wasps are attracted to the sweetness. It works.

I wonder what bed bugs like other than human blood 

I don't think they like anything else, that's the problem, plus they can survive for 2 years without a 'meal' and so will still be ready for you even if you've been away or not used a property for that long.

They wait for you to be asleep for about 2 hours before their whole family comes out to feast on you, they inject an anasthetic as they bite so you don't usually wake up. 

I woke up feeling really ill in a hotel once, and found a family of them, nymphs, adults, babies, I didn't know what they were but the hotel person told me and took me to another room.  I thoroughly washed everything on a high heat when I got home and showered immediately, just to be sure,  That was  years ago.

I read all about them then because the bites I did get left me feeling unwell and spotty for a week, so in that time I was so disgusted that I read up on them.

I have always thought they didn't come into houses unless someone brought them in, but if there's an epidemic then that's different I suppose.  I won't be closing windows etc, I love the fresh air. 

Washing bedding on a high heat and then in a dryer for 40 mins on a high heat kills them apparently, but got to remember they will already be hidden in walls etc, so if they are sweeping europe in the way they are saying (and it's not an exaggeration), the best bet is prevention, regular vacuuming of mattresses, sealing the skirting as you say, etc.  Sad, but I'd rather the hard work than bed bugs any day

[CLKD]

Sellotape to hand ;-).  I've never encountered bed bugs or a cockroach 

[KaraShannon]

Sellotape to hand ;-).  I've never encountered bed bugs or a cockroach 

CLKD, hopefully we won't see any, unless neighbours close to us have them and there's gaps in the walls. 

If you look on google, bed bugs have a very distinct appearance, tan colour, flat disc shaped body.  They look unusual but I discovered that's because they are from the aphid family. 

I've never seen a cockroach, but after reading about bed bugs, i'm more disgusted by them, I don't think the cockroach is after us particularly

[CLKD]

   a big woodlouse then ? 

[KaraShannon]

 

[CLKD]

Morning.  In the bath earlier I could see something running across the floor  - turns out to be a tiny woodlouse - it's out the window and gone.

[Taz2]

Well: the World is itching as apparently 'bed bugs' are now a thing in mainland Europe 

It's been recommended that we initially seal skirting boards to stop them crawling inside  .  I would be on hands and knees for about a week in this house!  We also have doors/windows open often ........ mayB a roll of sellotape ready?  For ants I put a jar of cheap jam outside the house so that they as well as wasps are attracted to the sweetness. It works.

I wonder what bed bugs like other than human blood 

Bed bugs have been around for years though. They have become really good at sneaking into luggage and travelling home with us. Not many people react to the bite either so we can have had an infestation for ages but not really noticed so it seems. Sofas are another place they really like to tuck themselves down into. I'm not sure if charity shops spray donated furniture or not. They only feed on blood and can go ages without a feed.

Taz x