Ok I know this is going to sound nuts but I am desperate for some advice.
Has anyone experienced getting small tiny "bug bites" all over their arms when they wake up in the morning. At first I thought it was fleas (i dont have pets but my in-laws brought their two dogs for xmas and stayed in my room) but other circumstances makes me think not. Then I thought it could be bed bugs (which is a huge fear) but I dont just get these bites in my bed. I've gotten bit standing in my kitchen, watching tv or doing other things and they're only centrally located on my arms. A couple bites get on my legs but nothing compared to my arms. I must say that they do go away fairly quickly, most likely within a couple hours there is no evidence they were even there. I also admit that I get a skin condtion everytime my military husband goes away for long periods of time. So that's why I think I'm nuts too.
The soonest doctor appointment I could get was two weeks from now but I was wondering if someone else had this same problem. Any advice would be much helpful. Thank You.
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I am so thankful for the huge number of replies. Now at least I have some direction I can go toward. I am still skeptical about having bugs because my husband doesn't ever get them. But I am looking into it anyway since I am an insect-phobe. I did check the mattress at least a dozen times and its as clean as a whistle. I have started to make sure that I am moisturized completely and have noticed that when I get a good nights sleep without interruption I have way fewer "bites". There are a couple things that I will be trying in the next few days and we'll just wait and see. I do plan to do the "So What Happened?" after my doctors appointment so I can update everyone on this, just in case someone else just happens to get the same problem. Thank You all so much!!
Ok all, first thank you for your responses. I really appreciated them. Second, I've come to find out that its NOT bed bugs at all. In the weeks after I sent my request my condition got worse where the "bites" turned into giant hives. So I went to my PCM who then referred me to a dermatologist. He has diagnosed me with Papular Urticaria which pretty much means bumpy hives. I am now on a medication regimine that involves strong anti-histamines all day. I looked up what I could on the internet and its rather rare but more common in children who eventually outgrow the disease, since I'm an adult I'm not sure whats going to happen. From what I've read I most likely got it from being incredibly hypersensitive to mosquito bites. When I'm bit I swell up like a hot air balloon. I know I didnt put that in my request but I had no idea that the two would be connected. Anyways, I have to go back for more appointments to talk about causes and treatment. So far, the meds only help with the itching but the hives and bumps are still there and getting a little worse everyday. I will definitely keep this one updated just in case the diagnosis changes or my condition gets better which I hope will be soon. Again, thanks for your time.
It sounds like it might be an allergy - I am allergic to corn and get the same kind of itchy, biting rash on the fold of my inner arms. Google eczema or food allergy. (and fyi to save you a lot of headache if it is a corn allergy - you could be reacting to anything with corn, which is pretty much all processed foods, table salt, glue, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. etc. etc.! I REALLY hope that's not what it is!) Good luck.
Hi, T. - My daughters and I had something like that years ago. My husband thought we were all crazy. I finally insisted he "bomb" the house. The problem went away. Good luck!
It does sound like bed bugs. One time we stayed at a timeshare and my daughter said she was getting bites. We looked around and actually found several dead bugs. We took them to the office, and they said they were bed bugs. Of course they had to relocate us and have the unit professionally treated. I would suggest you try to find a bug and compare it to examples you find on the internet. If they match, you will need professional help. Just to think about bed bugs makes me itch! Good luck.
T.,
Not sure what the bug bites are, but i do have a solution. I have had problems with my kids bringing bugs home from their friends house, what I found that worked best was a product from Melaleuca called sol-u-mel. It smells great and works better than anything I found. The thing that I like best is that I can spray it on the kids things and the kids without hurting them, its very safe.
If you would like more information you can visir their website- www.melaleuca.com , or you can contact me at ekeller#wedeliverwellness.com.
I hope that this helps.
Do you have gerbils or other small critters as pets? I know two families who were getting tiny bites. Docs couldn't figure it out-- diagnosed chicken pox, rashes, etc., but the bites never went away. Finally they discovered it was teeny, tiny mites that lived in their gerbil cages. They were so tiny that they looked like moving dust particles! The mites got into the airduct system and ended up all over the house, airborne. YUCK. Once the families got rid of gerbils, cages, and did good cleaning, including washing all bedding and any surfaces, etc, that could have had tiny mites on them, the bites stopped coming.
Don't know if this applies, but good luck no matter what!
It sounds like you have fleas. If it is bed bugs you should be able to see them if you look at the seams of your mattress you should see tiny black bugs. Also if it was bed bugs you would have them all over your body and it would take longer to go away. I agree with the writer that said you should tell your in-laws (even though that might not go over very well).
You have bugs in your home. You have to get an exterminator, and wash all your linens and mattress (steam it). Get your carpets cleaned too. I would discuss this with your in-laws becasue you didn't have this problem before they came. They should foot some of the cost of getting your house cleaned.
Hi T.,
Next time this happens, call the appointment line (I'm assuming you use the military docs) and tell them you need a referral to go off base because the bites disappear quickly and you'd like a doc to see them immediately. They should give you a referral to go to a walk-in clinic if there's one near you.
D.
Hi T.:
It sounds like bedbugs, they are the very worst creatures. Check the SEAMS of your pillows and mattress plus the woodwork by your bed and under the bed. Their bites leave small red bumps that may be itchy. Notice if there are spots on your sheets and pillowcases. THey hide in seams and cracks during the day. I lived in an apartment bldg in which the apartment upstairs had them but the management was too cheap to spray my apt. I had to throw out my son's bedroom set and desk also my mattress and numerous other things I could not wash in hot water.
I pray this is not the case.
Hope this helps.
C. (Baltimore)
it really sounds like it could be fleas back in the summer we had the same problem with it always seemed it was in the morning after my little girl got up and they ended up getting pretty bad i too was worried it was bed bugs and at first really freaked out. i took her to the doctor and it was flea bites, so best thing would be to treat it that way get a flea bomb or something and if that takes care of it then you will know for sure that was it!
T.,
My aunt experienced something similar and it was bed bugs. She eventually had to throw away the bedframe because they were all underneath it (little black bugs), then she had to vacumm her mattress really well all through the seams. Problem solved!
good luck!
K.
Sounds like you've got some good advice so far about how to get rid of the bugs if that's what it is....
Meanwhile you sound like a pretty positive person and you deal with mental stress well - which means stress will sometimes come out physically anyway! My cuticles really get torn up when I'm stressed, tiny little strips just come up from the nail. Happened the first time as we were doing a DITY move from Texas. I'm pretty positive myself so I couldn't figure out why it happens.
BUT - I would check for the bugs first before getting worried about stress. Oh, and being stressed is not the same as being crazy! You're not crazy! Just a normal military spouse.
-S. Kav
It might be nerves are you about to pcs or is your husband being told he might deploy or something.
It might be hives, because they come and go so quickly. I would eliminate any new things in your diet or laundry or skin care regime. Oh and get a humidifier and take luke warm quick showers, just till you go to the dr.
Meanwhile go to the dr. Exercise, take a yoga class, journal everyday, and take extra good care of your skin. Wear a long-sleeve (washed in hotwater) shirt for the next few days and see if there is any difference. Also take photos of the bites to show your dr.
This could just all go away. Everytime we pcs lately I have hives off and on for months before hand....I hope that helps you feel better! (not something I like to admit).
Take care,
R.
T., one more thought -- I agree that this may not be bugs. Skin complaints can erupt very suddenly and fade before a doctor can ever see the problem, unfortunately, and the causes can be hard to pinpoint. But it seems important to me that you wrote that you don't seem to get as many bites after a good night's sleep. That indicates the problem could be stress/hives/allergies rather than bugs. I hope all goes well with the doctor but do be sure to see a dermatologist if seeing your regular doctor doesn't help. Dermatologists would be more experienced in asking all the questions you may need to consider. Good luck!
