Long story short, I thought I had bedbugs since last summer but I have been unable to find any clear and concrete signs of them since. I threw away most of my belongings but I've been in limbo between thinking I'm paranoid and believing I actually have something to worry about for about 5 months now. I've also moved twice in the last five months. I will not be leaving the apartment I'm in now, probably forever or something close to it since it actually belongs to me and my family, so if there's bed bugs here, I'm stuck. Each time I moved I was more careful to inspect everything I owned and spray things down with alcohol. I shook out all of my books and inspected DVD cases etc. dried all clothes extra hot for like an hour.
My bites, or whatever the hell they are, are mostly on my butt (!!) and thighs. I occasionally get something on my chest, or my arm or back, but mostly around the derriere, which is funny but also really sad to me for some reason. I really liked my butt before all this happened. And my bed.
When I scratch them they blow up. Sometimes they go away within hours, sometimes they don't go away for weeks, but that's probably because I'm an obsessive scratcher. Yes, I sit at my desk and scratch my ass all day long and I don't even realize it. Good grief.
I haven't found any shells, no live bugs in my current place, haven't found feces on the sheets although every time there's a little black spot I freak out and it always turns out to be cigarette ash or lint or something. I have had climb-ups on the bed for weeks - nothing. Active BB alert monitor in the study, where I never sleep or spend any time - nothing.
I'm sick and tired of this whole thing. I have a stressful full-time job, I'm in night school full time with a double major, and quite frankly, I don't have the time or energy to think about it that much except nights like tonight when I just go ape with paranoia.
What else could be causing the bite-like symptoms? Sometimes they're in three's, sometimes in two's, usually just singular little hives. I have extremely sensitive skin, eczema since I was a child, allergies. I can't tell if I'm causing the hives myself subconsciously, somehow, just so I have something to worry about, is that even possible? The crazy things that go through your head after just a single bed bug spotting... I'll never be the same!
Encouragement would be GREATLY appreciated.
I haven't been inspected by a pro yet but seriously considering it. I figure it's been over 6 weeks since I've been in my current place and I would know if I had them by now if I really had been re-infested. I also know if I can't find any hard evidence, I can't confirm it's BB's, and I can't get treated. But I'll still be tormented day and night by this fear. Even if I don't have them, I live in NYC. I am in rush hour on the subway every day. I go to school, I go to work. I have to go outside for various reasons, like every one else in this city. I can't avoid them. Eeek!
Side anecdote: one of my Russian friends' old-world grandmas said this: You know socialism is coming to America, because the bugs are already here!