Re: biting at night - kj's bedtime routine evolution and what works now

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Pic shows my sleeping setup. Lasts several nights if I replace the

disposable sheet (from medexsupply.com) each night. Blanket beneath

is coated thickly w DE+Borax mixture. After about 7 - 9 days enough

get up onto the edge of the blanket that I get attacked despite the

DE and Borax, but that beats washing bedding every night.

Disposable sheets are soft synthetic material for sleep side, thin

layer of plastic backing.

Can always add a disposable table cloth ($1 from Dollar Tree) if need

more insulation from bites, though the plastic back on the disp.

sheets cuts our scent and reduces the attraction.

My progression from years ago to now:

* originally only covered mattress with zippered vinyl cover, then

boxspring and pillow also. still keep mattresses etc covered in same.

* queen bed with lots of " habitat " (colonial cannonball posts with

lots of turns and molding), sheet set, blanket on top

* canned the queen bed, started sleeping separately as his critters

would climb off him and right on me. twin bed is a platform with

aftermarket oversized casters, wide rim on platform for better

protection. still using sheet set and blanket

* ditched the top sheet and started sleeping on a fitted sheet under

a vellux blanket

* ditched the bottom sheet too, started sleeping on the blanket, no

top cover.

* thought to look up disposable sheets and found some at Medex Supply

online. After some initial shipping and cust svc issues were ironed

out (permanently I hope), I started putting one on top of the blanket

for additional protection.

* Added thick coat of DE between blanket and disposable sheet

* Added Borax to the DE

* On very cold nights, use an additional disposable sheet for cover

Exactly 30 min before I can get horizontal, I take a sleep aid (not

too much or too soon or I can fall down, literally). This turns off

my skin like antihistamines reduce the histaminic response to

allergens. I take a half of a 100mg Seroquel (prescribed as a sleep

aid at 100mg dosage or below, antipsychotic at dosages of 200mg or

above).

Hope this helps

KJ

BTW, if you are going to send someone an email you may not want

everyone to read twelve times, send them a private email!!! I had to

laugh when I saw what happened...so funny. Lesson learned, though.