Closing a Door on What Bugs Me
This next September when we celebrate our 6th anniversary it will be two years since the advent of the mysterious mites. Arriving at a time when we were very happy, within a week, these bugs had caused all normal life as we knew it to stop. We endured 2 and a half months of intense physical misery.
And yet I can say we are happy again now. Supremely blessed because we know how good we have it. We know something many people don’t. We fathom how wonderful it is to be in our home without incessant painful bites. We know freedom from that misery is worth more than any expensive upholstery or fineries. Just to feel good in one’s body is a luxury and a delight.
But there are days when it bothers me that I won’t be the same again. I can’t imagine the world as I did before and I lost a naivety I enjoyed. I knew that life was hard and the world held cancer and war and poverty. But I didn’t know there were creatures I couldn’t see waiting somewhere for me to stumble over one day. If there was anything I didn’t worry about, it was that! I didn’t know something so far down on my list of the world’s woes as to be unthought of could shake me so.
Many times I’ve wished I could go back in time and stop our visit to the second-hand shop in Saratoga. I’ve imagined how different everything would have been if we hadn’t caught them that day. And then…I stop. What if life wouldn’t have been as good? I’ve learned so much endurance and patience. I have more compassion. God chose this story to be mine. I don’t want to give up the additional wisdom I’ve gained.
But I also don’t want anybody to know about it. I never tell anyone (who doesn’t already know) about the mites. I don’t like to be some kind of mite expert. I’m passionate about sleep research, about faith and memory-keeping, about being a wife and momma—but not mites. Never that.
Still I have more hits because of biting mites than for anything else I’ve ever posted. I began my blog wanting to write of things I love, but became known instead for something I don’t even like to remember. Many times I’ve considered deleting every post about mites. A fresh clean blog as though this had never happened sounds wonderful.
But I couldn’t do it. Other people are hurting as we once were. And I have some help to offer. If our story only benefits a few, it is worth it.
For a long time I left the old posts intact and stopped writing many new posts. After all, if I didn’t want to talk about what we’d been through, there was no way I’d be giving out my blog address to anyone new. And since it seemed as though the topic of mites had taken over, I no longer wanted my loved ones to visit the blog. So there was nobody to write for.
I want to start over. And to do that, I need to say goodbye to the mysterious bugs. I’ll leave the most relevant posts, but I’d like to wrap up the topic with a summary of what happened to us and where to find the most useful posts.
If you’re new to the blog and came because of a biting bug problem, this will make finding things easier for you. Read the overview and you’ll know the basics of what happened to us. Go to the recommended posts and find what worked for us.
However, keep in mind one caveat: Don’t trust what worked for me to be best for you without doing your own research. I am a girl who likes to eat organic. I like nature. I hate having polluted rivers. I do not like pesticides on my food and certainly not in my house! So I wish that our solution hadn’t involved pesticides or anything that wasn’t natural. But it did.
Maybe you can find something better. If so, feel free to comment here and let others know. What people in this predicament most love reading is other’s success stories because it gives hope. But as far as my own advice goes, I can’t guarantee that everything is safe. I think it is, but what if I’m wrong? Please use wisdom and discretion and do your own research on the things we suggest.
Overview:
In September ‘06 my husband and I unknowingly picked up a mysterious biting bug after I’d tried on old coats at a second-hand shop while on a trip celebrating our anniversary. We started feeling itchy, creepy-crawling sensations on our skin the next day (though, of course, we had showered). We couldn’t imagine what it was. Within a few days, we started getting mild, stinging bites. Within another day things had gotten much worse—we were now getting sharp, hard bites that made us wince—and they came more and more frequently. Soon the bites were happening all day and all night. The nights were worst and we could barely sleep.
The obvious things we thought would help—showers, baths, washing our bedding and clothes—were useless. Nothing helped. An exterminator came and said that these were not bed bugs, which had been our first suspicion. He did not know what they were (later he treated for us, but the treatment did not work).
I began desperately researching solutions and praying—no begging—God for an answer. But no answer came and as the weeks and months stretched on, life became unbearable. We tried thing after thing to no avail. I found my faith severely tried and I ached with feeling as though God had left me alone. Yet I determined to praise Him and even thank Him for using this hard thing in our lives for good. I examined my life to see what He wanted to teach me and what He wanted me to change.
Gradually hope began to come. One day I got the idea that God was going to give us an answer that would help many other people. As I had been reading on the internet, I had been frustrated that no one had a step by step method for getting through this (there’s more available now, but then it seemed there was nothing but pieces). And then there were the ebooks. They promised help if you simply paid the author money. I bought one and then another and I only found tidbits of help, nothing substantial. I was so mad that these people were selling their answers instead of offering them freely. That was when I decided that if God gave us an answer I wouldn’t hide it or sell it, but openly share it. I was excited that maybe God was going to give a breakthrough that we could use to bless others.
We had times when our hopes rose and crashed. One night as I prayed, I began to cry, pouring out my heart to God. I cried and cried to Him, “Why are you leaving me alone? You could help, but You’re not. I cling to You no matter what, I cry only to You, please, oh, please won’t you help me?” It seemed I spent hours on my knees pleading with God, repenting of every wrong I could see in my life. I felt utterly broken.
Somewhere in that came a new hope. I believed He was going to answer. And He did. We begin finding the missing pieces that made everything else work. By the middle of December, we were well on our way to being free. By the end of December, we knew we were coming out of this. In early January we had a setback and got discouraged. We wondered why the itchiness continued long after the bites finally stopped. But gradually things kept improving. The worst of our ordeal—though it seemed like years—had really lasted only 3 months. Our lives—so drastically altered—came back to normal again. And we’ve never gone back.
Here is what worked for us:
Help! I’m Being Bit By Something I Can’t See! What do I do?
This is the post my husband wrote to give a logical progression what to do, step by step. I was proud of him for making it all clearer than I could have done. This is the plan that we came up with ourselves, putting together all that we had learned, and this is what worked for us. If you only read one post, this should be it.
Other General Tips:
- You can read all the posts on this topic by clicking here. To read chronologically, click on “previous” at the bottom of the page and go back as far as you can to the beginning. Go post by post. This has the advantage of allowing you to see if your symptoms are even the same as ours. If you have bedbugs or something else, this may not be the right system for you and you’ll realize this sooner.
-In the comments under this post, a woman named Laura asked me some detailed questions as her family experienced biting bugs. I answered in great detail and mentioned things I haven’t mentioned elsewhere—like the fact that we had stopped using our couch—and maybe this will be of aid to you and fill in gaps I’ve left elsewhere (it really is hard to think of everything!).
-I can’t emphasize enough that if you want to learn more details, many of them are embedded in the comments under the posts. As I learned things along the way, I often added them as comments rather than making new posts (sometimes I shared a better place to purchase a product online, etc). This makes it very tricky to wade through everything and many times people write asking me questions that are already addressed in the comments if they would persist in reading. I encourage you to read everything before you ask questions. I want to be a help, but I get worn out thinking about mites.
(One way to simplify is to open a Word document and cut and past all your favorite comment tips into it. Print it out and highlight and number things according to which you’d like to try first!)
Other people have also left comments telling what worked for them. Several things people suggested helped me greatly; others I never tried because I was all better by the time someone made the suggestion. Maybe they will work for you. Some of the ideas seem very good, some I’m not sure of, but I’ve kept them all there so that you can decide for yourself.
The last and very important thing I have to say is that, though we live in a culture that makes hell seem like a joke (or something that misguided ministers used to love going on and on about), going through something like this can make you certain that when the Bible says things can get really bad, there’s no exaggeration there. How can we look at all the pain in the world and delude ourselves into thinking that God shies away from ever allowing (or bringing) pain? When He says there’s a hell, I believe it (Luke 16:19-30). I wish it weren’t true, but I must trust Him.
This trial is nothing compared to spending eternity in misery in hell away from God. How I long for people to take their relationship with God seriously. Could Christ Jesus really be the Son of God though many religions teach He is not? What would it mean if He were? You need to know. May it be your wake up call if you don’t know Him that you really need to know Him. You need this more than food and water and being comfortable in your own skin. You really, really need Him. I believe He wants you to know that.
Here are some links to where you can read the Bible, listen to the Bible (I love this one), or download the Bible.
April 14th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Hi,
I just wanted to say that your list of things to do is really good. I’m so glad you haven’t deleted the posts. If you want to give your blog address to people who you don’t want reading about mites, it’s a good idea to start a new blog. I’ve had some 10 blogs in just the last few years, one of them completely on my current and continuing mite infestation that started some 5 months ago. I’m still looking for answers, but your blog was one of the first things I found starting my fight.
God bless you and I hope you will never have to go through this again!
Loviatar
April 17th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Hi Shannon,
I just wanted to say, first of all, that I am so relieved to hear that you are mite free! When I noticed you hadn’t posted on this in some time, I worried that you were reinfested. I think it’s just a symptom of my fear that this will never end.
And, I wanted to thank you for not deleting the posts. I’ve found I’ve come back to them and discovered things I hadn’t yet tried.
My situation is better at home, but my work is invested and that is proving to be a big problem. I would certainly appreciate your prayers. I really believe that makes a difference.
Thank you!
April 30th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Lovitar,
I think your blog has great information. I learned some things I didn’t know. I am so glad you have it available for others. As for starting a new blog, I did consider it, but I wanted to keep this site address to use personally and I was afraid that if I moved the posts about mites to a new blog, people who had visited before might not be able to find them again.
Thanks for your comment!
April 30th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Anon, I am sorry about your work! It can be so very frustrating to have things keep going back and forth between work and home. I do hope and pray you come through better than new at last.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Shannon,
I too have been living a life of these invisible mites. It has been 6 months now. I also have been married for 5 years to the most loving husband, and have an 8 month year old baby girl and 2 1/2 year old toddler boy.
What spoke the most to me on this post was the same thing that God laid on your heart during this time was laid on mine. When I read of many others experiencing this biting mite, I not only saw the same pain and depression that comes with it, but many talking of suicide. The first scripture that God gave me was Matt 13:41,42, where it talks of hell being a place of “wailing and gnashing of teeth”. All I could think about was many of these people leaving a place of annoying mites crawling of them to an even darker place of torment forever. I couldn’t get that image out of my mind and wept for the lost.
It brought me out of my complacency to a place of intimacy with the Lord again. I had been praying for this for 2 years, and although I believe God doesn’t cause bad things to happen to us, I believe he allowed it to come for the same reason it did you…to remind us of our desperate need of a Savior and that He desires all of our hearts. He desires us to seek Him with everything so that we can experience this fulfilling life He has for us.
I wish so much to talk to you. This has been such a lonely and difficult journey. Even our friends that we thought were close to us have abandoned us. It truly has made us look at life so differently. I desire friends that will sharpen and glorify God. I have thrown so many things away, material things are but nothing. And my kids and husband mean so much more to me as I dismiss petty arguments and long for quality time with my family even though it is so hard to do in a time like this right now.
You are an inspiration to others. And I pray people will come to know Jesus through your writings.
God bless you and your family, Shannon.
Love,
Tammy
June 5th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Why did I think you suffered much longer than two and a half months with the bug nightmare? Mind you it probably felt like two and a half years. I know, because I suffered from August until February…(7 months)…and would never want to relive that time….was hard to think about anything else at that time…..was hard even to hold a conversation when you felt like that.
Am so glad that all is going well for you…..hard to believe, but all bad things come to a good end, or so we hope!
Take Care!
June 16th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Tammy,
I am glad God has brought you closer to Him through all of this, but very sorry you are suffering. I know the ache a momma feels in fearing not just for herself but for her family. And it feels so isolating to have a problem that nobody understands and everybody is scared of getting themselves once they hear what you are going through. I did have nearby family and friends who were supportive and caring, but nothing they could do really took away the sense of loneliness I felt during that time. I was terrified of spreading the problem to someone I loved, so I couldn’t relax and enjoy being with them and I knew they couldn’t relax either.
I hope you and your husband and children grow closer than ever. I have prayed for you at various times since you left your comment and I hope that I will have the joy of hearing one day that you are improving and then at last that things are nearing normal again.
Praying you have God’s mercy and peace,
Shannon
June 16th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Ivorymist,
It DID seem much longer than two and half months! And we did have setbacks periodically even after that, making it seem longer. But, yes, the part that was a nightmare and seemed to stretch on into years was only two and a half months. My worst fear then was that it would never come to an end. I’m so glad it did.
So what was it that worked for you (if you know)?
July 21st, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Shannon,
Thank the Lord I found your blog. My family are experiencing these biting bugs and it is very stressful and draining on us all. My wife is expecting and we have a 3 year old, so things are hectic. Can you get in touch with me, I’d like to ask you a few questions and get the contact info for the Pest Control company you spoke with that knew about these bugs. Pray for us.
Stuart
November 15th, 2008 at 1:19 am
SHANNON I to have just got this problem. about two weeks ago i woke up with a few bites on my arm. i thought nothing of it and went about my day and went to work “i work for the public schools in Cambridge mass”. the next day was Wednesday and a few more bites this time on my other arm i did think this was strange and was now starting to think that maybe i had bed bugs or something like that. so i went to the store and purchased a few things for bed bugs and went home. well the next day it all started. the crawling and biting. i was unsure of what was happening to me. so to make a long story short it now been two weeks and this has been the worst two weeks of my life.a few days ago i was ready to give up and did not know how much more of this nightmare i could take. I would ask god why is this happening?? i am felling alone, scared and helpless “know doctor knew what was going on with me”. I am still scared and feel alone but know longer feel helpless because of your blog and what you and Jacob have shared with me.I found this page and i think it has been my blessing. I have been reading it for three days now “yes mostly about the bugs but i have read a lot of your other posts as well” and it has given me some good ideas to get these things out of my life. So i want to say thanks to you and your husband “the author of the master plan” for leaving this stuff up for all to see. I do understand you not wanting to be know as a mite expert I would not want that ether. And I don’t speak for everyone but i don’t think of you as that. i think of you as inspiration! as fellow christian i want to thank you and Jacob from the bottom for my heart. You have help me take the first steps so that i may bring peace normality to my life again . thank you !!!!!!
November 20th, 2008 at 1:09 am
Shannon first I would like to say thank you. This blog saved my much trouble and heartache. The list that Jacob made is exactly what I needed in a time when i could not find many answers. The lord lead me to you and your blog and I and for this I am truly grateful. I think I have read every post 3 times and have a few questions. Can you ask Jacob how often he applied the nylar if he can remember? And how did your family treat your body’s? Did you have them in your ears, nose and other privet areas and if so how was this dealt with? I am fallowing Jacob outlined plan to a tee and am happy to say I have made very good progress but did not see anything about these two areas so I was hoping you could answer when you had a moment. May god bless you and your family!!
April 11th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Dear Shannon,
Finding someone who has actually overcome this affliction is an inspiration, to say the least. My husband and I have been fighting this plague for seven months, and as you can imagine, we’re more than ready for an end to at all. You mentioned in an earlier post you found a PCO outfit with in-depth knowledge of the problem. If you wouldn’t mind emailing their contact info I’d be so very grateful, as we are in a rural area with only one PCO, and like most of his ilk, he’s clueless on the subject of mites.
Thank you for creating this wonderful site!
~vscribe
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:04 am
Dear Shannon,
My husband and I have been suffering with this problem for 7 months. Have read Jacob’s protocol and found it very helpful. We are up in age, so extensive cleaning efforts are a challenge, but we continue to try and are finding relief, but not eradication. Our contact with pest control companies, entomologists, and dermatologists have been met with the same brick wall – can’t treat if we can’t identify, found nothing in samples, you have delusional parasitosis. All the pest control companies contacted said they do not treat mites, including the national chains. Others said they have not heard of people having this problem and do not know what to do. Results with the few who agreed to treat were not successful. We’ve tried the do-it-yourself (Delta Dust, Onslaught & Nylar, DE, Home Defense with Bifenthrin, Steri Fab, and yard spray, as well as many personal care products). We’ve nearly exhausted all our savings and live only on social security income. What you and Jacob have done is a blessing to so many and we are grateful for your ministering spirit and dedication to helping others find a solution. If you could give me the name of the pest control company that helped you, perhaps they can give some direction. We live in Katy, TX. Thank you for all you do.
Sincerely,
Judy Reynolds