Mentor Away: Little or No Internet Access Until Monday

[Astronuc]

What can I use to stop the itching? I bought some cortisone cream and it has zero effect.

Benadryl topical lotion or ointment, and perhaps one should consider benadryl (diphenhydramine) tablets. Of course, that might make one sleepy. I use both if I contact poison ivy.

Also, vitamin-C supplements would be good. Apparently fleas don't like it. I'm not sure about bed-bugs.

We have this or something like it at home. I'll check.
http://www.evitamins.com/product.asp?pid=5364 (organic and biodegradable insect repellent)

For some reason, fleas and other insects tend to avoid me. Could be all that hot sauce I consume.

More product information:

Benadryl (topical)

http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/Uses/0,3915,208%7CBenadryl+Topical,00.html

http://www.allergyadvice.co.uk/en/benadryl-skin-allergy-relief.asp

http://www.drugs.com/cdi/benadryl-cream.html

http://www.pfizerch.com/product.aspx?id=367


The other stuff my mom used on us when I was a kid was Caladryl.

GENERIC NAME: PRAMOXINE/CAMPHOR/CALAMINE - CREAM (pram-OX-een/KAM-for/KAL-uh-mine)
BRAND NAME(S): Caladryl
http://www.medicinenet.com/pramoxine-camphor-calamine-cream/article.htm

http://www.pfizerch.com/product.aspx?id=377

 

[rewebster]

Yes, but bed bug bites look the same.

If those fleas are the new 'spray resistant' ones, one way to keep them from biting is to rub your whole body down with garlic and onion juice--they'll keep them away guaranteed.

 

[turbo]

If those fleas are the new 'spray resistant' ones, one way to keep them from biting is to rub your whole body down with garlic and onion juice--they'll keep them away guaranteed.

That would put Evo under increased consideration from decent French/Italian cooks who would see her as the base for marinades, sauces, etc.

 

[Moonbear]

If those fleas are the new 'spray resistant' ones, one way to keep them from biting is to rub your whole body down with garlic and onion juice--they'll keep them away guaranteed.

And almost everyone else too.

 

[rewebster]

are you saying she's saucy?


(then she'd be whine saucy!)

 

[Evo]

I'm bloody, swollen, itchy and in a REALLY FOUL mood.

 

[rewebster]

I'm bloody, swollen, itchy and in a REALLY FOUL mood.

hmmm--chicken(hawk) pox

 

[Astronuc]

I'm bloody, swollen, itchy and in a REALLY FOUL mood.

I am sorry to hear that. In addition to the anti-itch lotions I mentioned above, the oral benadryl will probably help, but it will likely make one drowsy.

Also, try this insect repellent - Liquid Net - http://www.liquidfence.com/liquid-net-insect-repellent.html.

Also consider a flea and tick collar for Fruit Bat - if the problem persists. One might have had a hatching (if it's fleas). Pets such as dogs and cats are not a major host for bed bugs, but could be.

Vacuum everything.

Here some advice on bedbugs - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedbug#Controlling_Infestations - if that's the problem.

Can spiders be ruled out?

 

[Moonbear]

Have you considered seeing a dermatologist? They can at least give you something for the itchiness and could probably tell you what type of bite it is so you can track down the right culprit (if it's even a bite...maybe you're allergic to something in the new place and getting a skin reaction to it). Maybe that *goshawk* left behind an exotic mite.

Edit: Actually, it REALLY sounds like fleas now. They have about a month-long hatching cycle, so any eggs already laid when you started moving in would be hatching now. It's good you already set off a flea bomb to kill them quickly before they breed another cycle. You may need to do it at least one more time to get any that were quick to breed this cycle. For a persistent flea infection, I also recommend getting Revolution for both Dr. Foofer and the Fruit Bat. It's one of those once-a-month topical treatments, but will stop the flea eggs as well as killing adults, and they don't have to wait for the fleas to bite them for it to work. Get enough for 3 months of treatments, because with as bad of an infestation as you have, it's probably going to take that long to get rid of them. That just leave YOU as flea food. Vacuum often, and keep treating the carpet every 2 weeks with a flea spray...that'll break the cycle of hatching even for the ones that are not in your heavy monthly hatching cycle.

 

[Math Jeans]

I'm bloody, swollen, itchy and in a REALLY FOUL mood.

Bloody? How much have you been scratching these things?

 

[turbo]

Have you considered seeing a dermatologist? They can at least give you something for the itchiness and could probably tell you what type of bite it is so you can track down the right culprit (if it's even a bite...maybe you're allergic to something in the new place and getting a skin reaction to it). Maybe that *goshawk* left behind an exotic mite.

I didn't want to bring this up due to the touchy nature of the subject [Evo from hell!], but it really does seem like a classic case of goshawk mite infection.

 

[rewebster]

http://moblog.co.uk/blogs/1383/moblog_f1eeab0229a93.jpg



http://moblog.co.uk/blogs/1383/moblog_10f6bfcd19988.jpg


http://student.bmj.com/issues/05/07/reviews/images/view_4.jpg


"Flea-bite woman claims sex discrimination"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/uk/55400.stm

 

[Moonbear]

"Flea-bite woman claims sex discrimination"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/uk/55400.stm

Were the fleas only biting women? If so, yeah, sue those little fleas!

 

[turbo]

The fact that your dog doesn't want to go into the bedroom means that the little rascal knows where the problem is. It's not fleas, it's bedbugs.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/18031/bed_bugs_how_to_eliminate_and_control.html

 

[Evo]

The fact that your dog doesn't want to go into the bedroom means that the little rascal knows where the problem is. It's not fleas, it's bedbugs.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/18031/bed_bugs_how_to_eliminate_and_control.html

That's what I'm afraid of. I've sprayed for bed bugs also. And spiders.

I read that 2 days at zero degrees fahrenheit will kill bedbugs. I guess when the temperature goes down, I can turn off the heat and open the windows.

 

[Math Jeans]

That's what I'm afraid of. I've sprayed for bed bugs also. And spiders.

I read that 2 days at zero degrees fahrenheit will kill bedbugs. I guess when the temperature goes down, I can turn off the heat and open the windows.

But you would have to fully expose them to keep them from getting any warmth. I suggest you freeze your bed .

 

[Evo]

But you would have to fully expose them to keep them from getting any warmth. I suggest you freeze your bed .

I was thinking a tank of liquid oxygen, but then the side effects of freezing everything in the room made me chuck the idea.

 

[Math Jeans]

I was thinking a tank of liquid oxygen, but then the side effects of freezing everything in the room made me chuck the idea.

Does anyone near you have a walk-in freezer with very low temperature control?

 

[Evo]

Does anyone near you have a walk-in freezer with very low temperature control?

If the bites don't stop, I would be willing to sleep in a walk in freezer.

I still like the idea of Red Rum beating the bugs to death with his hurling stick.

https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=1494916&postcount=326

 

[Math Jeans]

If the bites don't stop, I would be willing to sleep in a walk in freezer.

I still like the idea of Red Rum beating the bugs to death with his hurling stick.

https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=1494916&postcount=326

Lol. He lives up to his name then according to "The Shining".

 

[rewebster]

a test for:

FLEAS:

FLEAS:


Subject: Re: how do I get rid of fleas from my house?
From: strawhat-ga on 05 Jul 2002 00:55 PDT
An alternative to chemicals...

Build a flea trap (one in each room is good)...

a) suspend a lightbulb over a shallow pan of soapy water - you can
purchase those adapters that allow you to screw lightbulbs into them
and plug them into an AC outlet, then use a disposable aluminum cookie
sheet underneath and pour the sudsy water into it.

b) at night, fleas will jump towards the light and drown

This may not be the whole answer, but it definitely helps. You can
replenish the soapy water (I used dish detergent) when the water
evaporates.

Subject: Re: how do I get rid of fleas from my house?
From: philipa-ga on 07 Jul 2002 06:50 PDT
To strawhat-ga:
I tried your system within 15 minutes of reading it, and in our
bedroom it caught 13 fleas within the first 10 hours! I then had a
flea-less sleep. Since then the rate has dropped, but that may be
because there are no fleas left!
Great and easy to implement recommendation, I'm going to put one in
each kids bedroom. Thanks a lot.

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=36548

FLEAS:

 

[Evo]

I've decided to wrap myself and my dog in plastic wrap before we go to bed at night, much easier, will prevent all types of bugs, and no chemicals. Sooner or later the bugs will starve and move on, how many years can they stay dormant?

 

[rewebster]

They found dormant fleas that came back to life in the sealed pyramids

 

[Evo]

They found dormant fleas that came back to life in the sealed pyramids

I guess I need to buy a lot of plastic.

I'm going to try the water thing, sounds better than the idea I read about smearing the sides of the bed with a thick layer of vaseline.

 

[Math Is Hard]

I've decided to wrap myself and my dog in plastic wrap before we go to bed at night, much easier, will prevent all types of bugs, and no chemicals. Sooner or later the bugs will starve and move on, how many years can they stay dormant?

I worked for a small software developer/publisher once where we did all the product packaging in-house. We had a nifty machine for shrink-wrapping the boxes. I was thinking that would be very convenient for you!

 

[rewebster]

another way I've heard for testing for them is laying down strips of 'contact paper'/shelf liner upside down/sticky side up with a light over them---

-----------------------

if you didn't get 'bit' since you sprayed, you may have gotten most of them

 

[rewebster]

I have so many bites, I can't tell if I got any new ones.

I think we need and deserve to see a photo of these 'bites', little lady!

 

[Moonbear]

another way I've heard for testing for them is laying down strips of 'contact paper'/shelf liner upside down/sticky side up with a light over them---

-----------------------

if you didn't get 'bit' since you sprayed, you may have gotten most of them

The "sticky" paper idea certainly is a good way to find out who the culprits are. It might not catch enough, but will tell you which critters are wandering the room at night other than you, Fruit Bat and Dr. Foofer.

 

[Evo]

The "sticky" paper idea certainly is a good way to find out who the culprits are. It might not catch enough, but will tell you which critters are wandering the room at night other than you, Fruit Bat and Dr. Foofer.

I'm just afraid that the Fruit Bat will get caught in it. Maybe I could coat the FB with a thick layer of vaseline and see what turns up?

 

[rewebster]

Coat everything with vaseline ---

do it just before your home warming party

 

[Evo]

Coat everything with vaseline ---

do it just before your home warming party

That could make for an interesting party.

 

[rewebster]

That could make for an interesting party.

I only meant it would get rid of the fleas


-----------------
"There are over 1900 flea species in the world."

-----------------------------

hey---did you get totally moved yet?

 

[Moonbear]

That could make for an interesting party.

Everyone would have to enter through the back door,huh?

If you just put down little strips of double-sided tape, you won't have to worry about Fruit Bat getting stuck...worst case scenario, he gets it stuck on his fur and you have to trim it off, but if it's just a small strip, it won't be too bad. You don't have to coat the whole floor in contact paper to check...a few test strips a few inches square will be sufficient to survey for the bugs roaming the room.

 

[Evo]

Everyone would have to enter through the back door,huh?

Moonbear!

If you just put down little strips of double-sided tape, you won't have to worry about Fruit Bat getting stuck...worst case scenario, he gets it stuck on his fur and you have to trim it off, but if it's just a small strip, it won't be too bad. You don't have to coat the whole floor in contact paper to check...a few test strips a few inches square will be sufficient to survey for the bugs roaming the room.

Well, I put down the dish of heavily soaped water last night and this morning it was empty. Since the cat and dog have a bowl of fresh water, I can't imagine why either would drink dish soap. And it was under the bed.

I might try the strips, but I'm positve the next morning the Fruit Bat will be covered in them, or after the soap incident, he might eat them.

Red Rum thinks it's bed bugs. I'm thinking it's fleas, bed bugs AND spiders. Knock on wood, I didn't notice any new welts this morning. But since most of my body is covered, I don't know if I'd be able to tell.

 

[rewebster]

Moonbear!

Well, I put down the dish of heavily soaped water last night and this morning it was empty. Since the cat and dog have a bowl of fresh water, I can't imagine why either would drink dish soap. And it was under the bed.

I might try the strips, but I'm positive the next morning the Fruit Bat will be covered in them, or after the soap incident, he might eat them.

Red Rum thinks it's bed bugs. I'm thinking it's fleas, bed bugs AND spiders. Knock on wood, I didn't notice any new welts this morning. But since most of my body is covered, I don't know if I'd be able to tell.

well, you'll find out whether the cat and dog drank it or not today---soap causes diarrhea

too much soap ingested can cause dehydration too


--maybe the 'bugs' drank it

-----------------

it only needs a few drops of soap in the water to work. The soap removes the surface tension of the water in that the bugs usually have a 'waxy' or water repelling layer so they don't sink into water---it really needs a light over it too

------

I put about a tablespoon of liquid soap in a gallon of water to spray for aphids. The soap disrupts their waxy skin layer and they drown.