Had an experience I have never had before. I had bed bugs.
For a few weeks, I was having itching, mostly my hands and wrists but it spread to my left tricep area, seeming to skip my forearms. I had tiny bumps and slight redness which came and went. I thought I was having a fungal problem caused by my UC. It would make sense.
Recently, my gf started saying she had a lot of bug bites, which cause an allergic reaction for her. But she had recently been to the coast, then it started raining a lot and the mosquito count went WAY up. So I did not think much of it related to her being here. Besides, she actually saw a mosquito a couple of times bite her while she wasn't here.
Today the picture changed. I started thinking and noticed my itching was only on exposed areas of skin. I was wondering if maybe it was a heat rash but that usually happens on covered skin that is moist from sweat frequently. So not a heat rash. Then the gf texted that she had new bites on her leg which were not there yesterday. We had laid in bed for a while and talked yesterday.
I went and checked. Pulled back the mattress and sure enough, saw things scurry. Pulled up the mattress cover and saw more. Sure enough, bed bugs. Until today, I had never seen one in real life, only pictures.
It puzzled me where they came from. Another apartment? The one above me has been empty for months. I have not traveled anywhere in a year almost. Then it hit me. This was a going away present from my drug dealing next door neighbors as they moved out. They had parked trailers and trucks right in front of my apartment while they loaded their shit. Obviously bugs shook loose, made their way inside and infested my bed.
Within minutes of finding them, I told gf about it. She took it well. I'm glad. I was worried about that. I stripped the bed, packed the bedding in plastic bags. Went and got special poison for bed bugs. Got change. Tossed bedding in the wash. Came back and sprayed poison.
Then gf came over for a few hours. We stayed in the living room and watched TV. After she left, I set off bug bombs in my bedroom and daughter's room. I checked and saw no sign in her room but treated any way. I have one more bug bomb left and that one will be used in the living room when I go to work tomorrow night.
I intend to be thorough and get rid of these bastards all in one shot. It may be easy because they have not been here long. There did not seem to be too many of them. I do know they lay eggs and multiply quickly.
That led me to question how I had been treating my skin. I'd been using salt or Epsom salt and vinegar, which is appropriate for a fungal issue. (And highly effective.) It would ease for a short while and come back worse. Bug bites that raise welts or bumps are either alkaline or acidic, so you neutralize them with the opposite. I decided to try baking soda. It worked. The bites shrank rapidly. Still some itching but not all the poison from them is gone yet. I am hoping it's completely cured by morning now.
Sleeping on the futon while I allow the bug bomb to do its job and then air the rooms out tomorrow.
Work slowed down how many hours I am getting. Then tonight I get a text asking if I can work tonight. I could use the money but did not feel great and figured this may change their mindset. This is twice this week the night shift was short. One night a nurse left because she could not force the night nurses to giver her her way. Another diva.
For a few weeks, I was having itching, mostly my hands and wrists but it spread to my left tricep area, seeming to skip my forearms. I had tiny bumps and slight redness which came and went. I thought I was having a fungal problem caused by my UC. It would make sense.
Recently, my gf started saying she had a lot of bug bites, which cause an allergic reaction for her. But she had recently been to the coast, then it started raining a lot and the mosquito count went WAY up. So I did not think much of it related to her being here. Besides, she actually saw a mosquito a couple of times bite her while she wasn't here.
Today the picture changed. I started thinking and noticed my itching was only on exposed areas of skin. I was wondering if maybe it was a heat rash but that usually happens on covered skin that is moist from sweat frequently. So not a heat rash. Then the gf texted that she had new bites on her leg which were not there yesterday. We had laid in bed for a while and talked yesterday.
I went and checked. Pulled back the mattress and sure enough, saw things scurry. Pulled up the mattress cover and saw more. Sure enough, bed bugs. Until today, I had never seen one in real life, only pictures.
It puzzled me where they came from. Another apartment? The one above me has been empty for months. I have not traveled anywhere in a year almost. Then it hit me. This was a going away present from my drug dealing next door neighbors as they moved out. They had parked trailers and trucks right in front of my apartment while they loaded their shit. Obviously bugs shook loose, made their way inside and infested my bed.
Within minutes of finding them, I told gf about it. She took it well. I'm glad. I was worried about that. I stripped the bed, packed the bedding in plastic bags. Went and got special poison for bed bugs. Got change. Tossed bedding in the wash. Came back and sprayed poison.
Then gf came over for a few hours. We stayed in the living room and watched TV. After she left, I set off bug bombs in my bedroom and daughter's room. I checked and saw no sign in her room but treated any way. I have one more bug bomb left and that one will be used in the living room when I go to work tomorrow night.
I intend to be thorough and get rid of these bastards all in one shot. It may be easy because they have not been here long. There did not seem to be too many of them. I do know they lay eggs and multiply quickly.
That led me to question how I had been treating my skin. I'd been using salt or Epsom salt and vinegar, which is appropriate for a fungal issue. (And highly effective.) It would ease for a short while and come back worse. Bug bites that raise welts or bumps are either alkaline or acidic, so you neutralize them with the opposite. I decided to try baking soda. It worked. The bites shrank rapidly. Still some itching but not all the poison from them is gone yet. I am hoping it's completely cured by morning now.
Sleeping on the futon while I allow the bug bomb to do its job and then air the rooms out tomorrow.
Work slowed down how many hours I am getting. Then tonight I get a text asking if I can work tonight. I could use the money but did not feel great and figured this may change their mindset. This is twice this week the night shift was short. One night a nurse left because she could not force the night nurses to giver her her way. Another diva.
No comments:
Post a Comment