bedbugs

[figment]

I think we have bedbugs. I mean, I'm not sure they're "bedbugs" per se, but they are bugs, they are in the bed, and they bite me when I sleep. And the bites itch like a ... well. They itch a lot. I have gotten covered in bites, all over my arms and legs and stomach and... yeah.

We figured this out on Thursday night, so that's when I got my last bites. We have been sleeping on the couch since then -- well, other than Friday night, which we spent sleeping in Shenandoah National Park -- so at least I have not gotten bitten any more. (Ironic, to go camping and get bitten less than at home.) The bites are finally fading and I'm not itching madly any more.

But sleeping on the couch (which is a queen size futon, so it's not that bad) is really not optimal. Anyone coming in the front door of the apartment, we hear it. Noises from the street are much more audible. The streetlights mean that there's ambient light all the time, and the windows also get the morning sun. So this morning I was awake around 5:45 AM, and then managed to doze fitfully until 6:30.

Today I will call the landlord's recommended bug man and find out what the hell we can do. I think we may have to encase our mattress in plastic, but I'm not sure. We have to fix this, though. If nothing else, it's like we've gone from having a small one-bedroom apartment to a small studio apartment with a walk-in closet. Not okay.

Comments

[torcboy.livejournal.com]

not sure if they are large enough to see, if they are, that's actually better. If they are too tiny to see, you might have scabies and need medicine for your skin. Don't go the herbal way, as I've found that doesn't work. If you encase the mattress, but they are still living in your skin, it will just start up again.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

*shudder* Oh, that's nasty. I think, based on the descriptions of scabies I just read, that I don't have those. Ew. I did see the little bugs, and the spots are healing and not itching any more.