FAQ: Think you have bed bugs? Some dos and don’ts
By nobugsonme on Jan 20, 2007 in FAQs, bed bug bites, bed bug dos and don'ts, bed bug treatment, bed bugs, bedbugs, bug bites, bug bombs, foggers, get rid of bed bugs, how to get rid of bed bugs, information and help, multi-unit buildings, pest control, spread, tools and weapons, treatment
If you think you have bed bugs, these are the essential dos and don’ts.
If you suspect there are bed bugs where you sleep, don’t begin sleeping in another bed, on the sofa. Do not go to stay with someone else. The bugs may follow you to your guest room or sofa, and then it will be much harder to get rid of them. They may hitch a ride to your relative’s home, and you can cause them to become infested. (All of these situations have happened to Bedbuggers we know.) Also, staying outside of your home means the bugs may become dormant. They can live without feeding for up to 18 months. When you come back, they can begin biting you again. So staying in your home during treatment, and sleeping in your usual bed, is the way to kill bed bugs. Read our FAQs, isolate your bed, and sleep there while you’re getting a Pest Control Operator (PCO) to treat your home. Once you are being treated, you must remain in the bed–you are the bait, attracting bugs to the poison and their deaths. If you isolate the bed, they need not bite you.
Do save any bed bugs you find. Do not part with these– you may need to show them to landlords, pest control professionals, and so on. Entomologists at colleges or science museums in your town may identify these, and a pest control company can too. Pick it up with clear packing tape, and tape it to an index card. Don’t assume you’ll see lots of them, some people don’t.
Do rule out other possible conditions, like folliculitis, scabies, and bites from other insects. The FAQs may help. Be warned, though, that many of us are told by doctors that we do not have bed bugs, and later find they are wrong. Many of them have never seen bed bug bites, or have seen only some patients with them. Bites can range from large welts to small red bumps, to scabby pimple-type bumps. See the photos in the left sidebar links on the blog (even Caryn’s bites look different on different areas of her body).
Don’t start throwing your bed and other furniture out. As per the FAQs, you can cover and isolate the bed. Most furniture, including mattresses and sofas, can be treated by a PCO, and you can ask the PCO if throwing them out is a good idea. And he or she can help you do it safely, so as not to spread the bugs around your home or building, and so that others do not pick up infested items.
Don’t start buying a load of chemicals and treating yourself. We have FAQs about choosing a good PCO and about why doing your own pest control in lieu of a PCO is not a good idea. Yes, sometimes supplementing a PCO’s work makes sense, but only if you know what they’re doing, and what you should do. Remember, pesticides have different qualities (repellents, contact killers, residual killers, growth regulators, etc.) Bed bugs are probably the most complicated pests you’ve ever encountered at home. If you start spraying pesticides, you may disperse the bugs, and the professionals may have trouble treating them. You may spread them around your home. Get good professional help and follow instructions.
Do not, absolutely do not release a fogger or bug bomb. Do not allow your landlord to do so. Do not allow a so-called exterminator to do so. Bug bombs / foggers do not work for bed bugs, and in fact, will spread them. Your problem will be magnified. Trust me!
Don’t start bagging everything you own. With the exception of washed and dried clothing (according to specific instructions below and in the FAQs), do not seal up everything you own in bags. Some PCOs will want you to inspect, vacuum, and seal all your posessions in bags. Most won’t. Following their advice is crucial, since they know what they’re using on your problem. If you decide to bag things, you may be sealing away bed bugs– and this is only a way of dealing with the problem if you put these items in storage for 18 months, unopened. Instead, most PCOs will vigorously fight your problem, and bed bugs will be attracted out of your posessions and towards poisons which will kill them.
Do start dealing with your clothing and linens. Though you should not simply seal your posessions in bags (as above), it is probably a good idea to start working on clothing and bedding, since the PCO is going to tell you to do this, and it takes time. You should take clothing and other items, wash them in a machine on hot, dry them on hot for 1-2 hours. Remember, driers vary as to their strength and how long they take with what size of load. My personal method is that items should at least be dried on hot for 20 minutes after they appear to be fully dry and very hot. If you want to be cautious, go for two hours on hot. Dry cleaning is okay too. Keep in mind that pillows, comforters, down coats, and other thick items may take longer. Here’s the key: after washing and drying, bag items in sealed, airtight bags, and do not remove them until use. Our FAQs give more explicit suggestions.
Don’t assume bed bugs are only in your bed. While bed frames and mattresses and headboards are the most likely location for bed bugs, they can and do often hide out in sofas and other soft furniture, electrical sockets (behind plates), light fixtures, baseboards, floor crevices, and other crevices in the bedroom and living room. Bed bugs are occasionally found in kitchens and bathrooms. This should not make you panic: most cases, especially smaller ones, are quite concentrated, usually 10-20 feet from where people sleep (or where they sit for extended periods). However, if a PCO tells you bed bugs are not found in living rooms, realize that many Bedbuggers have infested sofas, computer chairs, and so on. Don’t believe that bed bugs only bite at night. They prefer a sleeping, stationary host who is fast asleep. But if they’re hungry, they’ll take what they can get. You can be bitten while in a chair, awake.
Once you get a PCO treating your place, don’t assume this will be solved overnight. If your PCO treats and you are still being bitten, this is normal. The bites should decrease and eventually disappear. If you see bed bugs or are bitten, do have another treatment within 10-14 days of the first. Do insist the PCO repeat treatment every two weeks until you feel no more bites, and see no live bedbugs or new signs of bed bugs (like bed bug feces stains in the bed). Do not assume you have a bad PCO because it takes three or four treatments to solve your problem. This, unfortunately, is common, even if you follow all the advice. However, do ask questions, from the first treatment on, and take notes: what is the PCO using? What does each substance do? Make a note of where each substance is applied, and how long the process takes. If a few treatments go by and you are suspicious, post a question here with these details– experienced Bedbuggers and reputable PCOs read this site and may be able to offer advice as to whether you’re getting good service or not. Stay on top of what’s happening, but be honest with the PCO about what you’re doing, and ask what you can do to support treatment. If they are good, they will welcome your involvement. Vacuuming every day in some cases is a good idea, in others, it may sabotage the work of certain substances left down to kill bed bugs. The same is true of bagging everything you own, as above. Never assume that you should do what someone online is doing, since they may be working with a different pest control protocol.
The following two suggestions came from Geof Day:
Do post your infestation on the bedbug registries. There are at least 2 of these: The Bedbug Registry and BedBugCity . I understand Travelocity also shows infestations in hotels. This will help you feel better. You can do this anonymously and doing this will help others understand where and how big this problem is.
Do read “Can Information Spread Faster than BedBugs.” Add to it if you would like. (Note: you can add to it by signing up for the Yahoo bedbugger group at that link, and resplying to that message.)
Editor’s note: Thanks Geof! I recommend everyone take a moment and enter your address into both of those bed bug registries. Instead of using one, make them both as complete as possible for yourself and others. And do read Geoff’s commentary, which succinctly conveys ways in which spreading information can help stop the spread of bed bugs.
Suggestions for additional do’s and don’t welcome in the comments below. If you have questions or problems or are seeking advice, please comment in the latest Tales of Bed Bug Woe post instead; you’re more likely to get help there!
Bugalina | Jan 21, 2007 | Reply
Everyone should read the above post…read it thoroughly…take the time to read it PLEASE….two BIG mistakes I make….first one was throwing the molted skin and excrement evidence down the toilet…the exterminator wanted evidence…I only found this out AFTER I threw the evidence away…AND the SECOND BIG MISTAKE was that I moved from the bed to the sofa….I ignorantly thought that I had killed them by initally spreading some DE around …I threw out my expensive mattress and moved to the sofa…..Well it took them two days…but them found me on the sofa….so now I had a lost a good mattress AND I infested my living room…..STAY PUT…. and fight the war from there….Bugalina aka Deb
buggedinbrooklyn | Jan 21, 2007 | Reply
great new FAQ page…wish I had all this info at the start of my fight.
keep up the great work NMBOM…this is the best info/help site on bed bugs.
buggedinbrooklyn
nobugsonme | Jan 21, 2007 | Reply
Thanks BuggedinBrooklyn — much appreciated.
Deb– so many people panic, understandably so, when they see or suspect bed bugs–and sometimes they do the wrong things. Hopefully we can catch more people before they make the same mistakes.
S. | Jan 21, 2007 | Reply
I have a question regarding the bagging of stuff. I understand the theory that you should bag and seal your clean clothes and bedding. We’ve done this. This is so bedbugs outside cannot get in. I also understand the theory that you should NOT bag and seal your other stuff (purses, shoes, books - ie, clutter). This is so any bedbugs inside CAN get out, try to find you, and walk on poison. So far, we’ve done this too. Most of that clutter is either still in its original place, or in open garbage bags or boxes away from the bed.
However, we are in a slightly different situation right now. After 3 PCO treatments and six weeks, we finally isolated our bed on Tuesday night. I’ve had no bites in the bed since then (5 nights!) However, on Wednesday night, I had a bug bite me twice while sitting on the couch. I happened to look down, and saw it running across my hand. (First live sighting - very scary). They are indeed virtually weightless - I couldn’t feel a thing.
So now we know that the isolation has worked, and that the bugs are more hungry/desperate/stupid/unpredictable than before. If they can’t get us in bed, they will try to find us in the rest of the house. They may come out during the day, or in light, or when I’m awake. They may be living in the couch, the living room walls, the office furniture - anywhere we are.
So we had a big talk with our PCO, and he’s agreed to treat the whole house. In other words, the bedroom, living room and office, and specifically all the “highways” where bedbugs would travel - baseboards, wall borders, electrical sockets, and furniture.
He said that for our part, we needed to get everything out of the way that wasn’t furniture. This is mainly so he can have access to all the borders of the rooms, and all the furniture (shelves, bookcases, couch, table, chairs). So he recommended that we rent a storage unit, then carefully inspect, bag and seal all of our stuff, and get it outta there.
We started this process yesterday and plan to finish it in the next two days. Obviously, it’s a crazy amount of work - I have inspected with a bright halogen lamp every single book we own, inside and out. We’ve gone through all the DVDs and picture frames and stuff in the living room. We have inspected, then ziplocked, in a most meticulous way.
Now normally, I would think we wouldn’t need to do this. Ideally we’d just take all the clutter off the shelves, put it in cardboard boxes in the middle of the floor, and invite the bedbugs to come on out. But our place is small, and the PCO needs ACCESS. He kept stressing it - access to floors, walls, corners, furniture. And so in clearing out stuff, we have nowhere to put it. We have to get it out of the house. And we don’t want to take it out of the house with bedbugs.
So we’re feeling a bit stuck. I don’t see any other option besides inspecting, sealing and removing. I mean, we are leaving behind the larger things (like bikes) and the impossible-to-see-inside things (like stereo speakers). We are categorizing it with the furniture, and treating it the same way (just moving it to the middle of the rooms).
But this is still worrisome. Has anyone ever done this? Taken stock of your entire house? All your life’s possessions? I am confident that we are doing a good job of inspection, and we have bought Target out of ziplocs. But I still worry that we could have missed something.
We are also wondering if there’s any other way to rapidly ‘disinfect’ things of eggs. Our Kleen Free is on its way, but we don’t know if that kills eggs. Would it be an okay idea to put items in the microwave? (Silly as that sounds). Or is there any other method of ensuring that something is egg-free, like a book or toy?
I guess we’ll be slow to reintroduce stuff back into the house. Like, maybe 18 months slow. (haha. Sorta kidding).
I’d appreciate any comments or advice on this. Thanks!
buggedinbrooklyn | Jan 21, 2007 | Reply
hi S.
you said, “I guess we’ll be slow to reintroduce stuff back into the house. Like, maybe 18 months slow. (haha. Sorta kidding).”
I’m going to keep this simple, because I got alot on my plate right now. if I were to pack up all my stuff and place it in storage, YES, YES, YES, it would be for at least 18 months. no shorter then this. Bugalina has almost everythig in storage if I’m not mistaken, and I’m sure she’ll chime in soon on the matter.
also, please look at early DEC articles from this site…there are a few pics of bedbugs, but I want you to look at the “pic of a finger”…after looking at the size of that baby bedbug (is it called onstar? first star? what ever..) could you honestly tel mee you would “see” that bug in a CD case? a book? or maybe a picture frame or photo book?
I don’t know what to tell you…unless you keep them in storage for more then 18 months, you could be bringing LIVE bugs back into your house. I’m wondering what’s the point then?
Kleen Free does NOT kill eggs. nothing kills eggs that I know of.
buggedinbrooklyn
buggedinbrooklyn | Jan 21, 2007 | Reply
the photos are from a Dec 10th article…I don’t think it can be linked from here, but it’s on this site from Dec 10, 2006. look it up please.
buggedinbrooklyn
Editor’s note: you can now go to “Photographs and Video” in the links on the left hand side of the main Bedbugger page. Or look here: http://bedbugger.com/tag/photos-of-bugs
S. | Jan 21, 2007 | Reply
Hey buggedinbrooklyn, thanks for your comments. And no, I can’t tell you that I would FOR SURE see a nymph or an egg or even a bug. I realize there’s a good possibility that my boyfriend or I could miss one. We’ve looked at pictures of eggs, nymphs and bugs. We are keeping our eyes peeled for anything moving, and for anything white or clear. We’ve sure seen a lot of dust fuzzies and bookbinding glue. We’ve had a thousand false alarms, and whenever something looks minorly suspicious, we put it in a small ziploc and throw it out (ie, my harmonica had this problem, we saw little white bumps inside and we couldn’t get to them).
That said, let’s assume we still miss one. Or more. Let’s figure there are bedbugs in this one purse, which is in this one ziploc, in the storage locker. The PCO sprays the whole house on Wednesday morning. I guess I’m seeing two options.
#1 - We leave all our stuff sealed in ziplocs for 18 months.
#2 - We bring it all back on Wednesday night, open up the bags in the middle of the room, and leave it all there, open.
The first theory seems a little tough. Though I do think we’d be okay without a lot of this stuff for a long time, it would just be hard. The clothes I could dryclean, that would be okay. But I guess I’d rather find a better option if possible. (If people think sealing for 18 months is our only real option, please say so!)
The second theory (opening it all up right after spraying) seems somehow crazy, like “But why did we take it all out, just to put it all back again?” However, I think our decluttering process these past couple days has been useful, both for the PCO’s access, and for us to take stock, throw out unused things, and of course, inspect.
The other fear with the second theory is, “But now we are giving them new places to hide! What if they just live in the stuff in the bags forever?” I don’t know what to think about that.
I suppose a third theory, probably the one I was originally thinking, is to wait until the bites and bugs are gone (weeks, months, however long it takes) and then spray every item with Kleen Free upon its return. Would that be an acceptable way to proceed? Because if stuff was away for a month, let’s say, that would give any eggs time to hatch. And Kleen Free would kill those bugs. We wouldn’t have to worry about eggs.
Thoughts from the community? Should we bring our stuff back after the whole house has been sprayed? If not, how do we ensure its safety? We are being very VERY careful, but is there any way to know?
Thanks very much.
nobugsonme | Jan 21, 2007 | Reply
S,
Some people have stored things for 18 months (Bugalina is in the midst of that process). But I think there may be other ways.
What you’re describing, the CAREFUL cleaning and bagging, and storing, seems to be similar to what Pest Away recommends (though apparently they require people to vacuum every book in a particular way). You can get more on this from people who’se used Pest Away as a PCO–just send an email about that to the yahoo group, or search old messages on the yahoo group.
However, I could be wrong, but don’t believe Pest Away expects you to store things for 18 months. I think you should find out about their protocol, which is unusual.
Here’s another idea: the second one. I think bringing it all back and opening it all up means they can come out and die.
I strongly suggest you carefully read the bed bug archives of Windy City Mike’s experiences (see the links to Personal Stories in the sidebar here). Mike is in Chicago, and I believe you’re using the same PCO. He was told to carefully bag everything and then open it up– NOT 18th months down the line, but at a certain stage during treatment, so the bugs could come out and walk through poison and die. I believe his PCO told him to do this.
You should read Mike’s stuff and ask your PCO when they recommend reintroducing the stuff. Mike is great and has been on our site recently, though he may not see this.
Bugalina | Jan 21, 2007 | Reply
I think my bed bug “experience” is the perfect storm….I did fill an entire POD with my furniture and belongings…and I have 3 storage units rented out..packed with stuff…I am afraid to set foot in the storage units because by now I am thinking that people with bed bugs are storing their stuff there and their bed bugs could be crawling into my stuff ! I think it’s best to try and put whatever you can into CLEAR plastic ziplocks or large clear plastic doubled lawn and leaf bags…( dusting all of them inside with Drione or DE ) and then put them into large rubbermaid containers…and stack them up on your premises…I wish I could have done this…I get very upset and feel like I am on unstable ground when I think about all of my stuff sitting in storage units and in a POD…
The whole idea behind isolating a bed is because 1) people need to get some sleep…and 2) feeding them allows them to get to another stage of growth, closer to breeding capabilities…but when you isolate the bed they get desparate and start to appear in the daytime…I would try to store as much as I could on site…and if the stored stuff is in clear plastic then you can see any activity going on inside…like I said I would dust with DE and/or Drionne…I did read on a very informative site that Microwaving things will kill the eggs…but of course I don’t know for how long and not all things can be microwaved..ie metal …but I did read it on a good site from Australia.. I hope this helps you somewhat…Can you put a storage POD on your property?? Bugalina
twodogsathome | Jan 21, 2007 | Reply
This is very interesting stuff. I am learning quite a bit. Thank you. It is perplexing that after all of this effort, the tiny terrorists themselves can be reintroduced into our homes once again.
S. | Jan 21, 2007 | Reply
Hey guys, thanks for this feedback. Bugalina, your situation does sound like the most extreme, at least in terms of what you’ve done to fight. Thanks for sharing. Maybe you could teach Honors Bedbugs to the more advanced students out there.
Nobugs, thanks for the pointer to Mike. I read his blog a while back, but now it may make more sense to me. I’ll read it again. I believe he was also using Smithereen.
I never even thought of dusting Drione inside the ziplocs themselves. Huh. That’s a really interesting strategy. I suppose anything living inside an XL ziploc wouldn’t have to go that far to walk on it. Would the Drione hurt the integrity of the plastic bag walls? Has anyone else dusted the inside of their bags? It’s like creating a mini-apartment!
For the next two days, we’ll continue to inspect, bag and get stuff out of here, but with the intention of reintroducing it at some point soonish. Maybe we’ll just open the bags and leave them out, maybe we’ll put chemicals inside them first. Either way, I think I’d want to wait until any eggs inside had hatched, so at least two weeks.
I’ll also talk to the PCO on Wednesday about this.
Thanks guys! Keep your comments coming!
Bugalina | Jan 21, 2007 | Reply
Get a hand bellows…they really puff out and distribute the Drionne nicely..I don’t think that the Drionne would compromise the integrity of the plastic..its not like it would eat away at it..its not that kind of substance….but if you use the clear plastic, and puff the Drionne….in a few weeks or a month or two you should be able to see any activity inside…I just hate that all of my stuff is somewhere out there…its an awful feeling…..and like I said..I am now terrified of having to walk inside one of those storage facilities…I think that when I do, I am going to suit up…and have some bed bug terminator in my hip belt !!!
S. | Jan 22, 2007 | Reply
Hey Bugalina, I know what you mean about the storage facility seeming unsafe. Everything we’ve got in there is sealed up in bags, but who knows if other people’s is.
So what we’ll probably do is bring it home, no matter what we decide to do with it. (We can either leave it at home, open; or leave it at home, sealed with Drione dusted inside each bag).
Somehow the Drione dusting seems more foolproof than the ‘leaving it open’ plan. Has anyone else done this? Is Drione safe to spray on our books and stuff?
Thanks.
parakeets | Jan 22, 2007 | Reply
This is just such incredible wealth of quality information!
I’d add one suggestion–no matter what else she or he is doing, the “bedbug-ee” (do we have a term for a victim of bedbugs?) can also immediately start to get rid of clutter. The less you have, the less you will have to make decisions about and the less harborages that exist. If you do move things into pod storage or wherever, you will also be glad you got rid of things because the moving and storage fees will be less. The decluttering project can take a long time, so start now. (This is a particular challenge for me).
Bugalina | Jan 22, 2007 | Reply
Hi Parakeets !!!
Jess you need a buggy name !!
I think the storage facilities themselves are “iffy”…S ..I did pack up all of my stuff in plastic…but not everything…like some of my wooden chairs and an antique table or two…some of my paintings I just put into a cardboard box…see what I mean..I did this in a hurry, back in April…someone else could be bringing them into the facility….terror sets in on me when I think of going in to get my stuff..even if I wait 18 months…because I think that a hungry bed bug from an adjoining space could so easily crawl onto me…I am serious when I say that I will probably suit up in a Tyvek suit and I will douse the bottoms of the legs and my shoes with something like BedLam…or Bed Bug terminator…or Raid…something..I am serious - Bugalina
nobugsonme | Jan 22, 2007 | Reply
S,
Talking to the PCO is crucial.
I do think leaving the bags open is better. I know Bugalina has her stuff sealed away, but others HAVE opened bags and seen success (as Mike did). They aren’t here to explain their choices but you can read about them.
Sealing in a bag with Drione probably won’t hurt in Bugalina’s situation, where she’s willing to wait 18 motnhs. but if you are leaving the bags open, you want the bugs to sense you’re around and come out. putting poison in the bags might repel them and make them hide in the bags. I am not sure, but this is possible. When I’ve heard of success, it’s been someone actually unpacking the bags, not leaving poison in bags. I think open bags would work.
The bottom line here is that while we do have lots of pretty-definite advice on this blog (such as that above in the post), there’s a lot of stuff that’s speculation. I feel like I have to say, as an example, that it freaks me out when someone mentions in the comments (another thread) that they’re quitting a job (where bed bugs might have been present previously, but are thought to be gone now) because someone else here recommended it. Everyone here has something to offer, but people have to think carefully about what they’re doing and why. Panicked people may be scrambling for advice. But the choices made can backfire, and things you do to try to solve the problem can make it worse.
While I’d encourage anyone to try something that worked for someone else, I’d caution anyone against combining what worked for one person, with what worked for another, without regard to how those procedures might conflict. The PCO, if s/he knows her/his stuff, is the best advisor. As much as a bad PCO is a liability, a good one (and there are more everyday who know their bed bugs) is worth their weight in gold.
I haven’t seen any PCOs advising people to seal everythiing away (inside or outside the home) for 18 months. It’s a desperate action, an an expensive one. It also may be overkill. I am not judging Bugalina’s choice at the time, and in her case it was probably a good choice, or at least, it was what she could do at the time with the knowledge she had. but I don’t want people to think they should rush to do this (or toss everything, or whatever).
The bottom line is if the bugs are coming from another unit, that needs to be sorted out. If they’re coming from your home only, they can be eliminated if treated aggressively — and this should not take forever.
As always, I respect everyone’s POV here, and I want to be quite clear that dissent and disagreement are VERY welcomed. But I do want everyone to be cautious and do your research thoroughly.
parakeets | Jan 22, 2007 | Reply
I realized I have to change my name from Parkeets to
BED-BUDGIE.
Don’t know how to do that, but you all have cute bug names, and I signed up before I learned that we could pick bug names.
Sincerely,
Bed-Budgie (formerly parakeets)
nobugsonme | Jan 22, 2007 | Reply
Parakeets, I have grown quite attached to your moniker.
You can change it by — the next time you comment, just delete and replace the name in the box. But please reconsider. Some of us are getting our cute bug names confused
Bugalina | Jan 22, 2007 | Reply
The background of my initial infestation is that the bugs showed up in a rental home..fairly large…12 rooms including the bathrooms…160yrs. old..approx.. For reasons I don’t need to bore you with upond discovering the infestation, we decided to leave this house and move into my mother in laws smaller capecod…I had already spoken with two PCO’s who told me that the old house would be “impossible” to treat..At this time they both handed me an “instruction sheet” on how to prepare for treatment…the the sheet required that we pack up EVERYTHING that wasn’t tied down !! It was under their directives that we were told that all drawers had to be cleaned out..all books had to be packed up…even my dishes ! The PCO salesman said that the clearer the space the better the job they could do….but don’t forget , he also said that this big old house would cost 400 dollars a room and it wouldn’t be an easy task…this is what prompted us to make the decision to move to mother in laws home…so we made the decision to put the majority of our furniture into a POD…I paid 900.00 to have the POD dusted with pyrethrins…..Because we didn’t want to bring all of our stuff to my mother in laws we decided to put a lot into storage..this is besides the POD…at the time there was a whole lot less info available to me….I was told by one person on the bedbugger blog when I asked the question about my books that ” they are NOT called BOOK BUGS ” “they are called Bed bugs.”..so I shouldn’ t be concerned with them being in any of my stuff…( BAD INFO)…so we packed up a POD and 3 storage units and took the rest of our things to mother in laws home…I had been self treating in the rental with Suspend and Drionne…I did take furniture to mother in laws home and put into attached garage.not before I had the garage power washed and plastic tarps put down.. everything I took from rental was sprayed and inspected…or so I thought…Please remember I had recently sold a home I owned for 28 yrs . and had raised three children…one son, two stepsons…so we had stuff ! Ok the first nite in mother in laws I was bitten…I called the PCO next day..he came out and told me once again that all the clothes I had brought there and anything else, like all my mother in laws collectibles had to be packed up in plastic bags…So I started again…he said he never saw anyone co operate as much as I did ( this was the salesman, not the techs who insulted me)…so the POD was in the driveway…once again I had it sprayed for 900 dollars and then hauled away to G-d knows where…then they treated the house two times for $3400.00 and I continued to get bitten…my son was due home soon from college and I knew that living in his dying grandmothers home with bed bugs would not be good for any of us..so we found a small home and took over a lease…the man who was occupying the home was dying of cancer..Bless his soul..he sold me his table and chairs, couch, dishes and pots and pans…he died in hospice a few weeks after we moved in…but here are some points I want to make…It was the PCO who told me that EVERYTHING HAD TO BE BAGGED UP…They never gave me any directions for unpacking only the fact that I had to pack it all up..It was the PCO who told me that bed bugs only come out at night, ..I followed the directives of the PCO …BUT also..keep in mind that I MOVED…with a whole lot of stuff..so I had to bag things up…I had to find storage…remember my mother in laws home had her furniture in it…of which I sadly threw away most of it…I think that my PCO should have given me better advice…but maybe they just didnt’ know…just like the young lady who scolded me for thinking they could not be found in my books…or my electronics…So..I say..S..or anyone…if moving isn’t in the equation…its best to inspect everything you can…IF your PCO says that you must bag things…I recommend that you bag them into CLEAR plastic bags…and spray in a little Drionne….then let them come in and do their thing and then before a second treatment maybe open up some of the bags…but if you spray with Drionne and the bags are clear at least you have a small chance that you may have killed them and you can see any instar activity…seeing inside of them gives you a little more control….then slowly carefully inspect and open them upon each treatment…I have no idea what PCO’s are saying now,,,but I do think that they are still requesting that all clutter be bagged up…so…if that’s what they want then ask them how they want to deal with the things you were asked to bag up..I wish to this day that I had brought more stuff to my mother in laws house..what was the difference..the bugs came anyways…now I have to deal with the future angst of going into storage units and a POD filled with all of my treasured furniture….and of course my mother in laws home…we have since purchased a home….the only furnishings I have came from Barry…the man who died…I thank him all the time……Bugalina
Bugalina | Jan 22, 2007 | Reply
I love your Parakeets moniker…remember why you have it !!! xo Bugalina
nobugsonme | Jan 22, 2007 | Reply
Bugalina,
Your story fits with my suggestions above: you followed PCO’s advice.
But all PCOs are not giving this advice. Read WindyCityMike’s account via the personal stories links. He was told to empty out all his bags during treatment, and let the bugs come out and die. It worked. All PCOs are not using the same plan and people should follow their advice.
Bugalina | Jan 22, 2007 | Reply
I know…my bed bug experience is different because I moved…and had to find a place for my things…but I do think that its better to fight the battle en place ! …not move if one can help it…I moved because I knew that house was a nightmare…The PCO’s work better if the space is uncluttered but where they fell short with me, was giving me directions in how to deal with the bagged stuff…I hate to say this, but I think they just wanted their money..and they weren’t really concerned with my situation…but I can’t go back…I think that we are on the right track here….learning through mistakes….By putting ones stuff into storage it creates an unknown…..I don’t like unknowns…..I would prefer to get the bad news first and then deal with it…..Its all an informational process of elimination ! xo Bugalina
jessinchicago | Jan 22, 2007 | Reply
Hey Guys!
I love the banter going on here.
I just wanted to say one thing (which will, of course, turn into several things, sorry!): BE CAREFUL WITH THAT DRIONE.
Remember, it’s a pesticide, and a nasty one at that. It’s not baby powder or anything. I got a couple big blood blisters on my lip from accidentally inhaling Drione that I had put down a couple weeks before I encountered it. Aren’t we supposed to be using gloves and respirators every time we contact Drione? What will you do when you pull your things out of the Ziplocs at whatever point in the future? Use gloves and respirators? And what if it gets into your books/CDs/DVDs/clothes, etc? Are you going to use gloves every time you read a book or watch a movie from now on? YIKES!
It’s my understanding that Drione is typically used in places where it will not be disturbed or touched- like outlet plates, wall voids, inside and along baseboards that are not in the path of traffic… And I know for sure that it’s not used by PCOs in places where pets wander freely- and for good reason!
BE CAREFUL WITH THAT DRIONE!!!
Hugs from Chicago,
Jess
S. | Jan 22, 2007 | Reply
Hey guys, I met with my landlord tonight and she agreed to pay for any future PCO treatments! Hooray! This is a huge victory - she has been sympathetic so far, but has always implied that we are financially responsible. But I made up a detailed day-by-day timeline, showing everything we’d done each day, what costs there were, and if & how many bites that day. It was good to take stock. And she said okay, she’d pay for any more extermination. We both agreed that we didn’t want to go to court, and that we could resolve this fairly. It was a bit of a tough talk, but I’m sure glad I did it.
We also decided to delay the PCO treatment by another few days. It was originally scheduled for this Wednesday, but we are going to New York on Thursday. This would mean that except for Wednesday night, when we’d still be there, they would possibly just stay put (or worse, go next door). It’s four nights in a row when the poison is here, but we are not. And we want to be here as bait right after the treatment.
So we’re going to reschedule for next Tuesday. We also decided to bring stuff back from storage, and open it up, right after treatment (maybe the next day). While putting Drione inside the ziploc may work, I can envision some nymphs just hanging out inside the pages of a book for a month, then coming right back out, alive. Going along with what Windy City Mike did, which was just box it all and put it in the middle of the rooms (at least, I think that’s what he did), we are going to attempt to do the same.
The plan right now is to continue taking stuff out of the house (ziplocked carefully), and then spray everything with Kleen Free that’s coming to New York. And only pack just-washed or just-drycleaned clothes. In ziplocs.
Our house is in shambles, but I’m feeling good.
jessinchicago | Jan 22, 2007 | Reply
WOOOO-HOOOOO!!! Go S.!!!
buggedinbrooklyn | Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
thanks Jess for the reminder of just how HARMFUL drione can be.
I can not say it enough, this suff can be so dangerous that I wish that many of us, including myself, would keep reminding people that this should be left to the pros to handle. Drione dust is just not safe, unless go go to extreem measures to handle it properly. if you don’t have and use a respirator in the proper way, use gloves, dressed in full clothes, shoes or boots, eye protection is a good idea too….man, just let the pros do this work.
folks, be careful please.
buggedinbrooklyn
nobugsonme | Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
S. — sounds great. Glad your landlord is taking their responsibilities, and hope they will check out neighboring units if applicable.
Jess and BuggedinBrooklyn– Yes. Professionals are the best idea. People can hurt themselves, friends, neighbors, children, pets, etc. with these substances. Anyone who is going to do anything with these poisons should know exactly what they’re doing and use proper precautions, but most of us just plain shouldn’t do it.
Buggylicious | Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Re: Drione, the Pco came to my place last week for a second time. He opened all the outlets and sprayed dust in there. Especially the outlets near my bed. I have a little doggy , and it would break my heart if anything happened to him. But it does concern me that the dog walks around on the residual spray.
Bugalina | Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Buggylicious…It takes more than that to kill …..He might have dusted the outlets with DE, not Drionne…Drionne is a dried silica gel with a pesticide included…it is dangerous if inhaled…..but I would think that it would have to be inhaled in large amounts…so a light dusting inside your outlets is minimal….but its probably DE that they used….Living in NYC you are exposed on a daily basis to a questionable environment…so I wouldn’t fret too much..I still think that Stress is the biggest detriment of all to our bodies…Bugalina…
allergicgirl | Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
wow! you guys have been having all kinds of interesting conversations! i wish you all the best!! i’m praying these critters dry up and die for all of us.
anyway, quick update. i was never bit in my roomates beds. they haven’t been either. i slept in my new isolated bed for the first time last night. no bites! my clean stuff is in ziplocks. i still have a bit more laundry to sort out. redoing it all was a lot. i’m nervous, since it didn’t work kthe first time. day by day right? i’m seeing a hopeful future! i hope it’s true.
you guys are all so awesome, supportive , and helpful! i’ll keep checking in. hopefully i won’t have much to report though. we shall see.
nightshirt | Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
i have been being treated since october - that pco didnt work so i got a new one and was sprayed once, then again. after second time i got bit once and freaked so the pco came back for an interim mini spray in between the second and third total apartment spray. the third will be this saturday. i have had only that one bite since the weekend before new years. well, my maltese, Freddie Mercury - had MLS surgery so he has been pretty imobile. then he developed kennel cough from the hospital stay and NOW IM SCARED THAT HE DRIONED HIMSELF. he was licking a white spot near my bed the other morning from the spray two weeks ago. WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK - KENNEL COUGH OR POISONED? also how long should you NOT clean your floors? i was thinking that the longer i waited that the chemicals would keep working. im feeling nervous about my pooch. the previous entry gave me some consolation but is that factual regarding dog licks?
also, i live in a coop in forest hills, ny (queens). i have not told the managing agent b/c i dont know who is responsible financially for treating the whole building - the owners or the managing agent? our reserve is semi-broke and i would hate to have to go out of pocket any more. and ideas? thanks all you guys. bugalina - where do you live?
Bugalina | Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
I live on Long Island….and calm your nerves…Drionne is a powdered dust..it is not sprayed on by the PCO’s esp. on your floors…they only use it to dust inside electrical outlets and around baseboard….I have a pooch and the place where I board her always requires the Bordatella vacinnation ( might be spelled wrong) this is the kennel cough vaccination….don’t worry your dog is not poisoned…Probably you are responsible for extermination costs because it is a co op but then again your co op board collects fees and dues and maybe there is something in their .. I don’t what the word is ( something like manifesto ) but their rules and regulations might have something about exterminations ..I think you should tell them..because really in order to do this correctly the entire bldg. should be treated….but the white spot on the floor is not drionne…and in my opinion one little lick of some sprayed on stuff would not be enough to poison your dog….it takes more than one lick…..and I am sorry about your pooch’s operation…I hope hes ok…..he has a great name !! Bugalina
jessinchicago | Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Hey B-Licious and Nightshirt-
Listen, Drione is supposed to be applied in outlet plates- that’s good, that’s where it’s supposed to be. The PCOs (I believe) put it there for a couple reasons: first, because the bugs use those plates as methods of travel; second, because Drione, if left untouched, as it would be behind an outlet plate, lasts a long time; and third, it’s less likely to be disturbed into the air when it’s not out in the open.
B-Licious, the Drione, if puffed into the outlets, shouldn’t be on the floor for your dog to walk into. I understand your concern, but rest assured, from what I’ve been told, the residual sprays- which are different from Drione- are harmless to pets and to people once they are dry.
Nightshirt- that applies to your situation as well. There wouldn’t be a reason for your PCO to put Drione where your dog could get to it. And any “spray” used should be safe after four hours or so.
I didn’t mean for people to get alarmed. If your PCO knows you have pets, I think it’s safe to assume that they will/would have taken every precaution to ensure your pets are safe. That’s one of the reasons we hire them- to do the job right so we don’t have to worry.
My concern was for inexperienced people using pesticides on their own. I guess I just pictured a bunch of people with hand bellows, puffing Drione onto every surface in sight, and it scared me a little. I wanted to make it clear that if people do choose to use it- for whatever purpose- they should be CAREFUL and use respirators and gloves, which might make certain purposes, like dusting Ziplocs filled with personal items, impractical for them.
As always, this is just my opinion, and I could very well be wrong!
And for the record, our Bugalina (aka Deb) has an amazing track record for coming up with incredibly creative ideas that WORK. I’m not disputing that the Drione-in-Ziplocs idea will be effective- it might be. I just want you all to be safe!
Many smiles to all of you from the VERY windy city.
Jess
nobugsonme | Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Just to add to what others have said– Nightshirt and BuggyLicious should check with the PCOS to see what they used. BuggyL it may well be DE, which he still shouldn’t lick, but it is not the same as a pesticide. Also, the PCO probably did use caution if s/he was aware of a resident pet. Nightshirt–check what your PCO used. Ask him/her about possible concerns with the dog. It is likely Freddy Mercury (Goodness, that is a fabulous doggy name!) just has kennel cough and needs a course of doggy antibiotics from the vet. But you have to check with the PCO about what s/he’s using, and if any of it might have been eaten or sniffed, just to put your mind at ease and just so you can give your vet all possible relevant info. After asking the PCO, google the substance and get info online about dangers–if there’s anything that could harm pets the way the PCO used it, you can take the info to the vet. No reason to panic, but I know my vet would want you to double check with the PCO. By the way, my furry friend got kennel cough last summer — they can sometimes even get it with the vaccine, but you should have it anyway. I think bortadella’s been bad the last year or so.
nightshirt | Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
you guys are all so wonderful. thank you so much for the info. freddie has an appt tomorrow to get his stitches out and i will ask the vet then. first they thought it was from the tube down his throat during surgery and they did change is antibiotic to one for kennel cough and gave him an antibiotic boost shot but he is still sneezy and coughy.
dont you all just LOVE PETS?
also, i had a dream last night that after so long (about 1 month) without getting bitten i was sleeping on my couch and go so bitten that the skin on my legs began oozing pus and falling off.
can the co-op also pay for the therapy.
makes me cry.
nobugsonme | Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Geoff Day, of the yahoo group, emailed me the following really good suggestions.
I am going to add
Do post your infestation on a bedbug webmap. There are at least 2 of these: http://www.bedbugregistry.com and http://www.mappost.org/bedbugcity.php . I understand Travelocity.com also shows infestations in hotels.
This will help you feel better. You can do this anonymously and doing this will help others understand where and how big this problem is. Read “Can Information Spread Faster than BedBugs”. Add to it if you would like.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/bedbugger/message/3555
Pass on what you learn.
Geoff Day
— Note from Nobugs: I was previously recommending only the BedBugRegistry: I have swapped a number of emails with the owner and like their site. Until recently, the other one, BedBugCity, was not showing the addresses they received–it was a blind map (a bug in your neighborhood, but where?) Anyway, they’re showing addresses now too, and though I still prefer BedbugRegistry, I think we should use them both and make them both work as best they can.
S. | Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
I am feeling slightly panicked. It’s been 7 nights with no bites in the bed, and I think we have good control of our (isolated) bed.
But just now, 3:30, at work, I found a bite on my face. It’s not a pimple, it’s a bite - it’s whitish with pink swelling around it, and the familiar itching/burning combo.
Could they be in my coat? I keep it in a ziploc bag whenever we are at home, but I never drycleaned it originally - it’s a puffy down North Face. I have checked the pockets numerous times, but just like a down comforter, I suppose bedbugs could be ‘on the inside.’
Could they be in my laptop? I’ve used it minimally at home in the last week, usually under bright lights on the kitchen counter. When I’ve taken it home, I’ve mostly kept it in a ziploc.
Could they be in my clothes? These pants were drycleaned originally and the shirt is new, and they’ve been kept in ziplocs at home too. But did my pants drag on the floor this morning and pick one up? Or worse, is my bag of clothes somehow contaminated?
Could they be in my purse? I emptied my purse into the bathtub the other day, and looked closely at each item. I’ve kept it in a ziploc at home too.
Or, could my bed isolation barrier be broken? I’ve never had one appear this late in the day, but I suppose the bite could have happened last night.
I don’t know which of these options is worst. Our Kleen Free should arrive today or tomorrow, so I guess I’ll spray the purse and coat and shoes with it. Can I spray my laptop with KF too? Can I spray clothes?
And the biggest fear - might I have brought them to work? And if so, would they be inclined to live at my desk, for example, and bite me while I work, or would they try to find a host to take them home? I’d obviously rather them be in my home, and biting only me, than spreading around my workplace.
Sorry for the ’stream of consciousness’ post, but this is the most worrisome thing that’s happened in a long while.
Thanks.
buggedinbrooklyn | Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
hi S.
yes, it’s posable that they can be in your coats, books, laptop, almost anything….
my best thoughts are to always try to keep as “bare” as posable. don’t carry pocketbooks, laptops, and bags of any kind…helps stop the spreading. simple shoes, pocket books and stuff can be sprayed with Kleen Free to help stop the spreading, but if your pocket book is complex and has many hiding spots, then it might not be worth it to even try. remember that once Kleen Free drys up, it stops killing the bugs.
also, about clothes….once used, they need to go into a ziplock bag for soiled clothes. once washed, they go into the clean clothes ziplock bag. I wont say what you should do, but I’m only using a small amount of clothes, and washing every 4 or 5 days. only 2 sets of brand new sheets are used for my beds, one may be in the laundry ziplock, while the clean one is on the bed. all old sheets are not used…most were tossed out.
yes, bugs can be any place you might bring them. you might wana think about buying a new coat and start to bag it from the begining. or at least dry clean your coat you think could be infested.
it’s a hard long battle. keep fighting, and listen to the people here for added advice.
update:
no new bites for a long time now, but I have not gone to sleep on the couch in days…have to try soon. (I hate having to playing “bait” for them vampires!)
I did see 2 dead bedbugs today after cleaning up the end table by the couch. a dead “no see um” was by them too.
no live sightings since the day after xmas, but dead bugs are showing up if I go nuts while cleaning.
buggedinbrooklyn
Bugalina | Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
S….the scenario could be any one of the things you mentioned.. ..You can wash and dry your coat…I always used to wash my down pillows…and comforters…I would wash it and dry it on hot..When the bed is isolated they change their behaviors and come out in the day…it happened to me…Its only one bite S…so just do all that you can do to try and kill it….I recommend bringing a spray bottle of Kleen Free or Bed Bug Terminator to work with you and spraying all around your pants bottoms and your chair and your SHOES….Keep your shoes in a ziplock …keep your pocketbook in your freezer for the nite…Be very careful with your laptop…Bed bugs are very hard to kill…Its what I have been saying all along…this is why they freak people out…because getting rid of them completely is not easy to do…I know people don’t like to hear this..but its honest…it is a war…and you cannot stop fighting..Check around your bed..making certain that you take nothing in there with you..
nobugsonme | Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
Bugalina is right about putting it in perspective–it is one bite. That’s good. If a lot more follow, I’d assume a new batch of nymphs was somehow born. If it’s the isolated bite, then you may have one sucker walking around. You’re doing great and even if there are more bugs, you do not need to panic as you’re still being treated.
I would not wear any coats or shoes you haven’t treated or which aren’t new, and I’d isolate them when I was home.
If the laptop does not need to leave the house right now, I’d use the same concept with the laptop that you’re going to use with the stuff in boxes in the middle of the room: leave it unwrapped and at home, so the bugs will come out and feed. zipping the cleaned coat and shoes is a good idea since you don’t need them at home.
Or what about putting outside stuff in a secure area. surrounded by a ring of drione or DE? Someone had a wire clothes rack that they’d “isolated” like a bed and they hung things on it. If it’s also surrounded by drione or DE, then anything coming to or from it has its days numbered. In other words, taking the laptop to work with a bug that has walked through this stuff is not such a problem.
Also, cars and workplaces can become infested. Don’t panic, but keep an eye on the situation, and use caution when going out (as I know you’re doing). I personally shower and change right before leaving my home, every time, if I am going to the car, work, or anyone’s place. I don’t sit here before I walk out.
Finally, could they be biting you while you sit in a chair at home? If not, why not? Most people who isolate their beds do not isolate their chairs, but bed bugs are very happy to walk up to 20 feet for a meal and to have it in broad daylight.
Bugalina | Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
S I think the idea of an isolated, safeplace clothing rack is a very good idea…safezone it with the legs resting in mineral oil bowls..or vaseline the legs..but don’t panic…in time you will win….its just going to take time…I also want to remind everyone that if they are using vaseline it should be refreshed at least every week because it gets kind of dry and I think it should remain slimey…just a thought…..you can buy the wire clothing racks online ..they sell some at Fortunoffs but they are lousy… I purchased one online and I loved it..(its in my mother inlaws garage ! yuck ) bugalina
jessinchicago | Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
S.-
Also keep in mind that it’s highly likely you got that bite at home. Many times, bedbug bites do not show up for several hours- sometimes even days- after the bites actually occured. That’s a fact.
This doesn’t mean that your isolation barrier was broken. You could have been bit in your living room or dining room or office.
Remember that you’re doing a great job on all fronts, with your PCO and your landlord and your own efforts. Hold on to the glory of your victory from last night.
And, of course, take the advice above. Do what you can to make sure the bugs can’t possibly come to work with you, and then take comfort in knowing you’re doing everything you possibly can. We can only do so much in this battle, and the rest is left up to chance.
Pay attention at work, but not so much that you’re distracted. If there are bedbugs there, it will come to light eventually, and you’ll deal with it. And we’ll help you.
Jess
S. | Jan 24, 2007 | Reply
Buggedinbrooklyn, your progress is encouraging! I can’t wait to start seeing dead ones in my house. Good luck being couch bait - that’s almost scarier than bed bait, since you’ll most likely be awake. Ahh! But if that’s a good ‘test’ for you, then go for it. We’re rooting for you.
Thanks all for the encouragement and the perspective. It is only one bite. It most likely happened at home. Just in case it didn’t, here’s what we are doing:
The down coat is in a bag. I will wash it and dry it on hot. I didn’t think that was possible, but it’s worth a try. I don’t think drycleaning will help since it’s down.
I wore a different coat today. It’s a light peacoat and I was freezing (24 degrees!) but it’s only one day. Tonight, my boyfriend and I get our ‘primary’ coats back from the drycleaners. We will treat them like they are new, keeping them in ziplocs in the house and only putting them on as we leave.
I consolidated the purse and laptop bag, putting the main stuff I need in the laptop bag. I left the purse at home (in a ziploc). It does have a few different compartments and is kinda big. Maybe I’ll get a new purse. I also don’t need to bring the laptop home - it’s a work laptop and should probably just stay at work.
We bagged all our shoes, except for two pairs each. Those we will keep in a separate ziploc. We’ll spray them with Kleen Free every morning and evening. I hope the KF comes in the mail today. I paid for expedited shipping, dammit!
Finally, we are implementing stricter ziploc rules than before. Clean things go into the “clean” bags. Once worn, they go into the “dirty” bags. And we now have two “dirty” bags, one for dirty-washable, and the other for dirty-drycleanable.
Because, to be honest, I wasn’t doing that before - I was usually just putting my worn clothing back in the bags with the rest of the clothing, for two foolish reasons. First, I had worn the clothes that day, and didn’t think I had any bites from them, so I’d just look them over and then put them back. And more significantly, almost everything I wear to work is dryclean-only, so I wasn’t envisioning drycleaning it all over again after just one wear. I guess I’ll have to. (Obviously, I was putting my worn washable clothes in the laundry basket - but I’d say that’s less than half my stuff. Argh).
Nobugs, the safezone is a good idea. We haven’t taken the leap to buying any DIY chemicals yet, but maybe we will today. It would be nice to have a table, a chair, something - to put my purse and laptop bag down on. Maybe we could ask the PCO next week to spray a circle on the floor in the office, and we’ll put my little metal shelf there.
Also, Nobugs, you mentioned that you don’t sit before you leave the house. I don’t think I’ve sat, for more than five minutes, anywhere in my house (but the bed) since I was bit on the couch last week. I was starting to think that was needless paranoia, but you sorta confirmed my thoughts - that if I don’t sit anywhere for long, they might not have time to come bite me. Unless, I suppose, they happen to be in that particular piece of furniture. (I’ve mostly just sat on this one stool, which I pick up and check before sitting down).
Also, I don’t think the bed barrier is broken. But I did have a crazy scare last night. I pulled the sheets back, and there was this big blood stain right in the middle. Like, huge - bigger and different from the smears we’d seen before. I felt like screaming, Alfred Hitchcock-style. But then I realized it was on my boyfriend’s side of the bed, near where his legs would be. And I remembered that (this is gross) he had a pimple on his leg that like, burst. He had put a bandaid on it the night before. Sure enough, when he got home we looked and the bandaid and the skin around it was bloody from the pimple. This story is obviously only funny to people like you guys, but I thought I’d share. What a false alarm!
Thanks Jess for the encouragement. I’ll try to stay calm at work. And do everything I can to keep them from leaving the house alive.
nightshirt | Jan 24, 2007 | Reply
i have tried the registry before and when i click to enter my address it never stops loading so i did give my address on mappost.
aside from my initial gut feeling that i got the bb’s from my bathroom demolition - i would assume they came from the demolished walls i am also reminded about my office.
this guy who sat across an isle was having an argument in september with someone regarding his REFURBISHED MATTRESS and that it had them. i then sat in his chair to do overtime work.
there seems to be NO DEGREES OF SEPARATION concerning these bugs. i mean you could really go nuts and just isolate yourself for the rest of your life. i mean how many months do you have to shower 8 times a day? i dont feel we are ever safe.
PS - freddies lungs are clear - just a persistent kennel cough. thanks for the support on that one.
Bugalina | Jan 24, 2007 | Reply
Oh my Gosh nightshirt….I hate to think this but it sounds like you may have gotten them from your co-worker..I take it he is not there anymore ??? Get into the habit of carrying a spray bottle of either Kleen Free with you or Bed Bug Terminator…you can always just remove the label….although these substances are contact killers only.and non-toxic, .they may deter a bug from coming onto you at work..in the future I would spray an ample amount whereever you feel it necessary…So glad to hear about Freddie…how is his singing voice ? Bugalina
nobugsonme | Jan 24, 2007 | Reply
Nightshirt, I hope you’ll try the registry again. I think it was down for a short time but I told the owner and it was fixed. If anyone has trouble with Bedbugregistry.com, email me at nobugsonme at yahoo dot com, and I will pass it on to the people who run it, and are very dedicated.
(UPDATE 1/24: There is currently a “bug” with the BugRegistry. I will let you know when I hear back from them about it. They’re usually good about quickly fixing problems.)
nightshirt | Jan 25, 2007 | Reply
registry still not loading.
nobugsonme | Jan 25, 2007 | Reply
Like I said above, will let you know when it’s fixed!
Thanks, Nightshirt.
nobugsonme | Jan 25, 2007 | Reply
Everyone,
Please take the general “question and answer and status report” discussion to the latest Tales of Bed Bug Woe thread, in the forums:
http://bedbugger.com/forums/
I am leaving the comments open, should anyone wish to comment on the FAQ (!)
Thanks!
BuggedNewYorker | Feb 5, 2007 | Reply
I’m the President of a NY Coop. A shareholder in my building reported being bitten by bedbugs today. We immediately called exterminators experienced with this problem. This is the second case of bedbugs that the building has had. The other case was last year on the same floor. That apartment was treated several times by a professional and there have been no further complaints. The two apartments infected share a common wall, so I suspect the bugs moved to the next guy when the other apartment was treated.
May I ask all of you what your buildings did to inform the other residents (if anything)? Did your buildings take any proactive steps or just wait until more cases were reported? I don’t want to cause a panic, but I’d like to take a smart approach and make people aware of what to look for and what to do in case of a bedbug discovery. I don’t want these creatures making their way to my apartment either. I’m very concerned. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!
Bugalina | Feb 5, 2007 | Reply
BuggedNewYorker….My bed bugs surfaced in a single family dwelling, but you welcomed any thoughts. I have been involved with this Blog and the Yahoo group since April of last year. My suggestions, Your bldg. should adopt a comprehensive strategy for dealing with bed bugs, based on the professional advice of a capable experienced exterminator and get it into your bylaws Asap..imho the exterminator you used should have proactively treated all apts. adjoined to the infested one, adjoined meaning sharing a common wall or floor - and all adjoining wall voids should be treated. What you shouldn’t do is to- in any way -ostracize or blame the occupant who may have the “alpha” infestation. There is an undue shame that goes along with bed bugs, the more uncomfortable for the occupant to expose the infestation, there is a possibility they might try to self treat, in order to save face. This will only cause a spread Make it easy for people to expose their infestation. Its not their fault if their spouse travels or their kid lives in a college dorm, or they live next to the infested apt., If necessary appoint a bed bug “official” with whom they can speak to comfortably. Also I don’t know the laws but I would try and enforce something that says the people must allow entry into their units by your bonded exterminator. If one unit is left untreated, its not a good scenario. If its one thing I have learned its that there are many variables with bed bugs, and that in order to get rid of them one must fully co operate with the PCO. These are just my opinions, but having had/have bed bugs I want to help others so I hope my advice doesn’t offend you in any way.
The more educated your bldg. becomes the better off you will be. Bugalina
nobugsonme | Feb 5, 2007 | Reply
BuggedNewYorker,
Your building should make sure that AT THE VERY MINIMUM, the apartments adjacent to the two infested apartments–on every side as well as above and below–are thoroughly inspected by a PCO. The inhabitants should be fully educated about bed bugs and how to look for them. BUt you and they also need to know that many of us are bitten for a very long time and either do not react to bites, and so are unaware, or do not know what is causing the bites, because we see no bugs, or other typical signs.
So the best thing is to have a PCO in and if they can see any evidence or are willing to treat adjacent units in absence of evidence, they should. And every inhabitant must cooperate fully with the protocols.
I have gotten emails from 40-unit coops that are completely infested in every single unit. You are very right to take this seriously before that ever happens! Bed bugs can spread through walls and pipes, so take care with those adjacent units. I’d also educate the entire building, so if they have spread further (unbeknownst to you), people will be less hesitant to come forward.
Buggylicious | Feb 6, 2007 | Reply
I applaud Bugged New Yorker for taking this seriously! I know of 4 girls who are renting a condo from someone and their landlord (an independent owner) is paying for their sprayings. The entire condo building is infested (near Columbia University), and the board, management and super intendent know about it for a year and are trying to get all the tenants and owners to cooperate with spraying. Only problem is, some people are not home when the exterminator (paid for by the managment) comes, or won’t let him in, etc. These girls are lucky they have independent means to an exterminator via the owner of their condo!
S. | Feb 6, 2007 | Reply
BuggedNewYorker, it’s great to have you here. I rent in a condo building and our management is minimally concerned - probably because they don’t live here. Thanks for being proactive.
My PCO calls it a “Clover Leaf Inspection” - the four units on either side, and above and below. He has recommended this to the building manager, and the manager is currently waiting for “approval” from the four units. But because there are like four degrees of separation between me and my next-door neighbors (me -> my landlord -> the building manager -> the tenants) the message gets diluted. And since they “haven’t seen anything,” they are apparently not that concerned.
I think the key here is for you to educate everyone. And you can’t educate a little - that could cause panic. You have to educate a lot. Have the PCO inspect (and maybe treat) the neighboring units, but inform the whole building. And if possible, don’t reveal where the original infestation was found - those tenants may get unfairly ostracized.
A good overview of bedbugs is the NY Times article called “Everything you need to know about bedbugs but were afraid to ask.” There is a link to it at the bottom of the wikipedia entry on bedbugs. Maybe give this article (a credible source) to everyone in the building?
Thanks and good luck!
cincybugged | Feb 6, 2007 | Reply
I live in cincinnati, ohio, and have been dealing with bed-bugs for over two months. When I moved into the apt. in August of 2006, a friend said some tenants had left a mattress, and it seemed to be in good condition. Ignorant to bed bugs, I took it. I started noticing “the spots” on my sheets in december. I was in denial for awhile about my situation until January. I called my landlord,and evacuated the premisis. I am now staying with a friend, while I decide what to do next. I have laundered all clothing, and havent seen any bed-bugs in his place. (please God)
I talked to my landlord about moving into another unit, but see that is not exactly the way to handle the situation. Ihave also considered putting some of my belongings outside, as it is very cold here now, and have heard that the cold will kill the bugs. I have to say that this has been an unbelievable nightmare. I tossed my mattress, and am going to throw out what little upholstered furniture I have.
When I discussed the problem with my landlord, he said that another tenant has conplained about bed bugs. I get the feeling that he does indeed think that I have brought in the problem bugs.
I now do not have a mattress, and cant really afford one right now. I am terrifed to sleep on an air-mattress in my apartment, and have no couch.
An exterminator has sprayed twice, but I have still found live bugs. I have seen, according to your blogs, that I have not handled this in the best way possible. I guess I will return to my aprtment, and fight these buggers till they die.
nobugsonme | Feb 6, 2007 | Reply
buggedNYC and Cincy, can you please post any responses or further questions according to the following directions? You’ll get more readers and it will help to keep the FAQs on topic. I appreciate your cooperation!
We’re here for you. Click here, and at the top of your screen, you’ll see the latest in our series “Share your tales of bed bug woe.” Click “comments” on that latest post, and leave your message there. You can also email me: nobugsonme at yahoo dot com.
To our regulars: I deleted responses to Cincy and moved them to the other thread. I won’t have time to keep doing that, so please read this: the directions above are now linked to the new “Need advice? Got questions?” link at the top of the main blog page. It would be a big help if you would direct people to the current “Share your tales of bed bug woe” thread as below (that link at the top of the blog is always there to refer to). That way, we can have one Q and A thread going at all times. We’re having a lot of activity right now and I can’t keep up with copying and pasting these threads where they should be (as I have been), though having one conversation helps our readers find the relevant information, and keeps the FAQs and other posts on topic. Please resist responding until the comments are left in the “Share your tales thread,” rather than adding your feedback to these other threads, because otherwise the conversation takes off and then can’t be moved easily.
I am working on a new website design which I hope to unveil in a month or so, but right now, please bear with me and do what you can to redirect conversations and keep them where they’re on topic. Thanks!
S. | Feb 8, 2007 | Reply
A quick DON’T to add to the list: Don’t let your PCO schedule treatments more than two weeks apart. I have now had 4 treatments, but their spacings were 14 days apart, then 19 days apart, then 20 days apart, then 10 days apart. I am looking back at the calendar and kicking myself for not sticking with the two-week-max rule. It feels like maybe the longer times between PCO visits are part of the reason why, with our 5th treatment scheduled for tomorrow, the bugs are still not gone.
nobugsonme | Feb 8, 2007 | Reply
Good point, S. And I appreciate the feedback. But it’s already there–that PCOs need to come back every 12-14 days until bed bugs are gone and there are no signs of bites.
buggedout | Feb 9, 2007 | Reply
Hi all,
I think I have a very heavy infestation of bed bugs that have gone onto my clothes and are eating me alive! Has anyone else had such an experience where they are bitten constantly during the day because the bugs are on my clothes? I can’t sleep or work and I think they are making me literally sick and very weak/low in iron. Can someone please help! I am afraid I am passing them onto others because they are scratching too…
buggedout | Feb 9, 2007 | Reply
Hi,
Sorry, just realised I posted this on the wrong page. I am new to this and very desperate, so I’m not sure where I should post this.
nobugsonme | Feb 9, 2007 | Reply
Hi Bugged,
I moved your comment here.
ladonnamya | Feb 11, 2007 | Reply
I have had these things for ever! I am getting sick all the time hard to breathe vomiting diareaha. I have had my place treated 4 times in a month. I live in Knoxville Tn. Should I see a doctor? When I blow my nose they come out there as well. Some one please help me!!!!
I feel as though I am dying from this infestion.
nobugsonme | Feb 11, 2007 | Reply
Hi Ladonamya,
I’m really sorry to hear that.
Bed bugs should not cause vomiting or diarrhea. They should not come out of your nose. The treatment of a PCO also should not cause vomiting or diarrhea. You should definitely see a doctor, since there must be another cause there.
Good luck!
can't sleep..... | Feb 28, 2007 | Reply
Hi,
I was wondering if somebody give me the idea.
I live in tiny 3 bedrooms apartment, East Village, New York. I’ve been having bedbug problems past 3 weeks. Last night, I found out a bedbug on my bed and killed it so now I am positive that all the skin problems I’ve been having were from bedbugs…
Anyway, my question is do you think if it is better to have entire apartment treated by professional? My 2 other roommates haven’t bitten even once. I have a feeling only my room is infested. I would like to schedule treatment as soon as possible. Do you think it is better to do entire apartment? Or it would be ok to do it after if they found one in their room?
Thank you.
buggedinbrooklyn | Feb 28, 2007 | Reply
hi can’t sleep,
I can’t sleep too.
as for your question, I feel that not only your whole apt needs to be treated (and cared for by you and your roommates.), but the apts above, below, and to your sides, needs to be treated as well.
if the building is bad off with bugs, then maybe the whole building needs to be treated.
buggedinbrooklyn
can't sleep..... | Feb 28, 2007 | Reply
Thank you for your rapid comment. I really appreciate it.
I wake up without any welts this morning (YES!) but I feel it’s kind of itchy on my back but again doesn’t seem bitten. I don’t know if it will show later or I’m just tooo sensitive at this point . I used permethrin cream 5%, a doctor prescript me the first time last night. Do you think that’s way I didn’t get bite last night? Does anybody use this cream?
nobugsonme | Feb 28, 2007 | Reply
Can’t sleep, welcome!
YES–as Bugged says, you need a PCO to treat your entire apartment. If you’re renting, the landlord will pay, tell them right away.
NO– permethrin cream is probably being prescribed for scabies. If you have bed bugs, do not use this again. You cannot keep them away with a cream. Get a PCO right away. Read the rest of our FAQS which will explain what you need to do — selecting a PCO, treating your clothes, etc. The FAQs are linked at the top of the page.
Also, if you need further advice, please do not post it on this thread. Instead go to the top of the screen and click “Need advice?” which will take you to the right place to leave any further questions.
Thanks!
can't sleep..... | Feb 28, 2007 | Reply
Thank you. It is so nice to share my problems with somebody and getting answer immediately. I scheduled to have PCO tomorrow so hopefully I can sleep better.
Geoffrey Day | Mar 3, 2007 | Reply
holy moley! -
Every now and then I drop in to take a look here and am increasingly amazed at both the level of effort and the level of infestation.
Bed bug sufferers who become bed bug warriors deserve to be nominated to win a “NoBugs Prize”!
Everybody needs a little DE ! In fact, I’ll bet it is already in your home and you don’t even know it.
Sure, I work with http://www.dirtworks.net which sells lots of DE and other good natural pesticides and herbicides - so while I’m biased, take this with a grain of salt but please listen up:
Somebody needs to really do some objective studies on the efficacy of DE and bedbugs. And if Drione gives you blood blisters, I think that’s a good sign that it may be hazardous to humans…
Just an aside, DE (fresh water / food grade variety) is a very common substance long found in most foods and grains. It won’t hurt you if you or your pet eats it. In fact it might help.
Ask Angel. She’s one of the forces behind Dirtworks. She gets some DE most every day and I wish I had the life and health Angel has. She gets to hang out in Vermont and go for walks every weekend! Plus she helps out a lot!!
Oh yeah, if you end up ordering DE or anything from Dirtworks, tell ‘em Angel sent you.
Bugalina | Mar 3, 2007 | Reply
Geoff…I would like to see some labs results posted for DE..exactly what you say….objective studies…I don’t understand why none of the people who work with bed bugs aren’t willing to give some much needed information on this product. Also, I have said before and I must say it again. I purchased DE back when my infestation first appeared ( RESULTS) was the name of the product. Spreading it lightly was a big problem. I found the hand bellows to be a good tool. If people find that the DE clumps then maybe adding some white rice inside of the bellows, similiar to what they do with table salt shakers , will help. But, are you selling a good tool, along with the DE, because one without the other is only half the job…Also, are you giving people info on the importance of keeping it as moisture free as possible ? You have my other email..can you please give me your perspective on this…..Deb
nobugsonme | Mar 3, 2007 | Reply
Bugalina,
Studies on DE would be good to see.
I think it’s an especially good thing to try for a small infestation (though people have a hard time determining what that means!) and for ongoing use (for the reasons Geof mentions). But more data is needed.
AGoodBugMeal | Mar 10, 2007 | Reply
Hello,
I ran across your site in my nightly search for answers on what is bugging me and biting me. If you can help me by quickly looking over my bullet points on why I think I have bed bugs as well as points that don’t seem like bed bug behavior.
I believe it is bed bugs for the following reasons:
-Everything started in August last year when I returned from a trip to New Jersey and New York City. While in NY I did stay at a hotel and heard they are having lots of bed bug problems.
-I was severly bitten the night after I returned home to Los Angeles in my own bed. Those bites were characteristic large, red, itchy bites that lasted for over a week or more and were on my hip all in a row. (However, after I got those first bites, all bites after that were not as itchy, not as large and only last about 1-6 hours.) I did read that some people can start to develope an immune response - do you think that is why my bites have not been as bad since the initial reaction?
-I get bitten mainly in my bed, within an hour or two before dawn. Or I should say, I feel the bugs crawling on me at this time and wake up later with bites.
-The bugs I feel crawl across me very quickly.
-The bugs do not discriminate where they go. They are literally everywhere, when I am in my bed,… my legs, toes, hands, arms, waist, armpits, under breasts, in my private parts. They also crawl up my nose and in my mouth on occassion. I have even been bitten in my ear, which was very itchy.
-Although I have never seen a bug, I do have black pepper specks in my bed often when I wake up looking for bugs in the middle of the night with a magnifying glass.
-I feel the bugs bite me during the day particularly crawling in my shoes and then they make it up to my underpants after I sit at my desk or on my couch for an extended period of time.
Reasons for why I am not sure if I do have bed bugs:
-I have never seen one, I think. I do have some specimens that haven’t been identified yet.
-I have had two exterminators look with flash lights at my bed and bedroom. they couldn’t find anything. (however I did read that many bug guys aren’t that familiar with diagnosing the problem yet.)
-My bites are not classic - three in a row - anymore and they are small and don’t always last that long. I feel bugs running across skin as much as I itch from the bites they give.
-I feel the bugs in my hair occasionally and I read they do not like to be there, however I do not get bites on my head.
-I have two cats and they seem to be like little mops that pick up the bugs around the house. When I put a cat on my lap or in my bed, I seem to feel more bugs crawling on me. The cats don’t itch, but I do seem them biting at their paws every now and then. I heard bed bugs mainly feed on humans.
-I have sticky bug traps around my house and I don’t think I’ve ever caught one. The traps I turned into the exterminator after two weeks, didn’t come up with anything.
-Other people that have stayed at my house for one night, haven’t felt anything. Nor have they taken any bugs with them. Of course I cleaned, a lot prior to their arrival.
Your opinion here is greatly appreciated. at this point I was ready to move, but then I read your website.. Any advice on catching a sample would be good.
Thank you,
wantmyskinback | Mar 10, 2007 | Reply
Hello AGBM— I’m sorry you are here, but you are in the RIGHT place for sure… you will find and receive excellent advice and support here. Your bites could be from bed bugs. I have been battling this for a year—but it was only 4 months ago that I determined that these bites were the result of bed bugs. I still have never seen a bug (saw molt and blood though) and I get pepper grinds on my sheets. My bites come singly or in groups, there is no classic appearance in my case. I also feel crawly things on me, but the PCO and the dermatologist said this is just an after effect. I am not sure that is true, but their reasons are that my skin has been insulted and assaulted, and it is sensitive and raw. I feel the crawly movements due to my nerve endings. From what I’ve read from the entomologist on here, we are not supposed to feel being bitten—due to the bug’s naturally perfect design of first giving our skin a novicane like injection before taking thier meal. Keep reading— there are links all over this site that will answer so many of your questions. It will become clear to you thereafter what you will need to do. It sounds like you are taking the right steps.
nobugsonme | Mar 10, 2007 | Reply
Hi AGBM,
WMSB is right–you probably have bed bugs. They can hide very well, and as WMSB says, the itchy crawling feeling (doctors call it formication) generally comes on some time after a bite–not while the crawling and biting are happening. So if you expose the relevant skin while you feel this, there’s nothing.
If your house guests did not stay in your bed, sleeping instead in another room, it’s possible that they weren’t bitten. It’s also true that many people are not allergic (it’s common for one member of a couple to have a reaction and the other not), so this may also play a part. Follow the instructions in the FAQs. Get a PCO that knows bed bugs and let him or her look in your sheets and see the black specks. In my understanding, a good PCO should be able to go by clues like this in the absence of a bug.
And please, if you want more feedback, re-post your question according to the directions here, which will take you to a thread where you’ll get more feedback.
AGoodBugMeal | Mar 10, 2007 | Reply
Thank you for your help. It is nice to be validated as opposed to the reaction that I am getting from professionals at vector control, my bug guy and other - which is that they think I have delusional paratosis. I know bugs jumping in my mouth and up my nose and the bites are not delusional… thank you. I will post this in that other section.
Ihatebedbugs4eva | Mar 14, 2007 | Reply
So here’s my story. Like many, my roommate and I didn’t know we had bedbugs. She complained of a “rash” on her feet and when she wore socks or used some mint foot cream the rash didn’t come back, but when she stopped using those, this mysterious rash returned.
I on the other hand had only one odd bug bite on my ankle (at least that i can remember), and thought it was weird to have a mosquito bite in late November in the Northeast!
So my roommate, a month later, looks more closely at her bed, oh, and she let me know what she found. I almost cried. So I looked at my bed…yes there they were! It wasn’t as infested as my roommate’s, but they were there…ok so we got rid of a lot of them, and had been sprayed 4 times I believe by professionals.
Because of the extremely cluttered condition of my roommates bedroom, it was almost impossible to get at least most of them in there, and i guess they started to spread into the closet near her room and into the living room. So a futon and couch in the living room were sprayed, but we still found 1 or 2 here and there the next few weeks.
So here is what i did. After everything was sprayed, i started throwing away junk i didn’t need, while anything i was in question about, i bagged and brought up to some family and i left it outside in the dead of winter (around the time when the wind chills were in the negatives). Almost everything i owned had been sitting in the freezing cold, collecting ice on it for about a month and a half. Oh i also sawed my couch in half ( i needed to get rid of it anyways) with a saw the size of a butter knife, threw it away, and threw my bed away when i moved, along with my futon and pretty much all of the furniture. The only thing i took with me was my grandmothers nightstand (frozen) and a bistro set (metal with no place for those f-ers to hide)
I moved from my old apartment. It really just ruined that apartment for me and I was extremely depressed being there, knowing I couldn’t do anything that I used to for fear of bugssssss (although I never once saw one actually on me, I always thought I felt them)
So my new apartment…in 6 weeks i found i believe 4 live ones (one in the living room, one on the floor behind my bed, one crawling up the bathroom door and one when i just first moved in, on my comforter!). I haven’t been bitten since november though (could it be that I was lucky, or what? I don’t understand), no bumps, nothing…just really dry itchy winter skin, a little eucalyptus body lotion helped that!
I don’t understand how bad my new infestation could be, but we found some dead/frozen bugs in our stuff and then 3 of the 4 live ones were dark in color, not red, but almost black and one was smaller and yellow.
I did order my own pest control, I have been researching for now 3 months on how to do this and i understand i shouldn’t, but i will. I can’t remember the name of the spray i got, I will check later when I am home, but (how gross is this) it smells like the one that was used at my old apartment. I sprayed it in all of the cracks of the whole perimeter of the bedroom, will do my closet (did some with Drione), and living room soon. I also have Drione dust that I am scared to use, but i will in places that my cats won’t go, and i also have regular DE.
Why are people afraid of DE? Its non-toxic if you buy the garden kind (i had some leftover pool-grade from last summer, but then saw how bad it is for animals and humans). I will be spreading this all over the floors and sweeping it into the cracks (its old wood floor).
The spray i bought is a residual, works up to 8 weeks, the Drione is also a residual up to 6 months i believe. I was going to get Gentrol, but I didn’t and was thinking maybe i should have as well, but i dont feel that the infestation is really that bad. Luckily, I am no longer freaking out like I used to when this was new to me. Now its been 3 months of knowing what they are and at the very least 6-8 months of actually living with them and not knowing.
I do want to know if anyone has any suggestions to my situation, opinions etc? Like I said 4 live ones in 6 weeks, haven’t been bit in over 4 months (maybe the cats? But they don’t scratch out of the norm). I no longer live with the infested roommate (which is weird she only said she saw one bug since shes moved, we will see about that!)
I am so glad i found this website!
hopelessnomo' | Mar 14, 2007 | Reply
Hey Ihatebedbugs4eva, come with me here and let’s talk.
hopelessnomo' | Mar 14, 2007 | Reply
Actually, sorry, there seems to be a broken link or comments are not open on the post I’m sending you to. Nobugs?
The place for advice is somewhere else on this site.
Just a moment and we’ll figure out where we should take this.
Ihatebedbugs4eva | Mar 14, 2007 | Reply
oOps sorry! i tried to find it right after i submitted as i realize this was the wrong place.
My big DONT = don’t allow your home to become cluttered as it will be a nightmare
DO: try to stay calm…i had to tell myself this over and over “theyre just bugs, they do the same as mosquitos and ticks” yes although they live with me..I called them my new roommates
nobugsonme | Mar 14, 2007 | Reply
Nomo–thanks for the heads up– NO idea why comments were disabled on the new “Woe” thread, but it’s fixed. 4Eva, go here and thanks for your patience!
ps I like your do’s and don’ts!
buggedoff | Mar 23, 2007 | Reply
Hey sorry to barge into your very long conversation, but i am worries and maybe you could help me?
My friend brought bugs into our house possibly 16 months ago? Anyhoo it was about this time last year things got really bad. We didn’t know what was happening at first, it was only me getting bitten, and badly, eventually they moved to my sisters room and then we researched it and searched our rooms and yup, found bugs.
I was very upset, because it had started in my room and they had been there for so long that apparently there were heaps! (i didn’t want to look at what i had been sleeping on for 3 months)
Long story short we had the house treated twice, bagged everything ( thats what we were told to do, we still have bags in the garage we regularly put out into the sun to heat) we rubbed down all the surfaces of my bed and draws and surfaces with meth, we bombed every month and we also renovated some time after, so we got new carpet and furniture and paint, so walls and everything were clean and inspected.
We were pretty sure we were free of them. I have been getting a few bite few bites since jan and although suspicious couldn’t understand how any bugs could have survived after we gutted my room and most of the house.
Anyhoo, the other night i was having a shower and noticed a group of maybe 5 little red bites on my upper arm, thats how they appear on me, little red itchy bites in groups. So i was all humming abd thought i would check the bed, so i am checking and find nothing and then i find a small shell thing that looks like it could be a dead bug but maybe i am being paranoid, so i move along and find a little see through bug, call my bf in and show him, it didn’t look like the last ones so we think maybe its nothing.
I keep looking, get to the side i usually lie on where my head is, flip the top seam of the mattress up and get the shock of my life!
Icky bugs! And two big fat ones! All around where my head sits! (which also explains why i was only getting bitten on that side of my body, lazy bastards)
I broke down crying, all i could think about was having to go through that nightmare again!
So now we are trying to treat it ourselves, we can’t afford to bring in a professional again.
So i am just asking if anyone has any advice as to where i should start or what i need to do to make them go away for good or atleast get them under control?
I hate them so much, eating me every night without asking my permission, sleeping in my nice new bed and mattress
nobugsonme | Mar 24, 2007 | Reply
hi BuggedOff, please click “Get Advice” in the links at TOP and follow the advice there for posting this in “Tales of Woe”. You’ll get more advice if you copy and paste it there.
simplebead | Mar 25, 2007 | Reply
I was recently exposed to bed bugs…in a hotel, My question is can (do ) they stay on people?