Over the last 2 months, I've had 3 bites that have appeared out of nowhere. The first on my foot went from a tiny little bump to a huge welt the size of a quarter, that quickly blistered and took weeks to heal. A few years ago I had what I assumed was a yellow sac spider bite (they're all over my house) - it followed a very similar progression, so I lumped them both together and went on with life.
Just after the bite on my foot healed, about 3 weeks later, I found another on my upper back. Similar pattern, though the blister was smaller (I was diligent in applying manuka honey, so that might have played a part). Another spider bite, I thought. Incredibly annoying.
Just as that one was healing (again, about 3 weeks later), my chin started to itch. At that point, I started wondering what exactly was going on. That one went away in just about a week and didn't blister, but I broke out the prescription hydrocortisone cream for that one.
Finally, 3 days ago (10 days after the last bite) I was in bed when I felt a sting on my thigh. I flipped back the covers and lo and behold I found something that looked very much like a bedbug. Unfortunately, panic took over and I flushed it.
Now, I'm just going to go forward with the assumption what bit me most recently was indeed a bedbug. I washed and dried the sheets and then searched the mattress/box springs. No evidence of any bugs/feces any where. There was a spot of blood on my sheets, but it was fresh from that most recent bite. The welt itself isn't blistering like the first two did.
I won't be putting my faith in coincidence - I've ordered a mattress cover and box spring cover, and I'll be following the tips given on this site - but is it possible that this was the work of just one bug (and perhaps a spider co-conspirator, given the difference in reactions between the first 2 and the last 2)? I'm the only one sleeping in my bed, and I very obviously react to the bites. 3-3-1 weeks between single bites make it seem like whatever it is, there aren't many of them. Is it absurd of me to hope that it was a single bug?