Your Bed Bug Questions, Tales of Bed Bug Woe, etc.

Thanks. I guess what i worry about is throwing away kitchen stuff, electronics and such. I am throwing away most stuff (good reason to down-size!) and am planning to spray everything in sight. Thanks all for your help!

Hi nobugsonme.
One question for you that does not seem to be covered in the FAQ. Although I do not have bedbugs anymore, I know that there are still bedbugs in the building. What should I do to prevent reinfestation?

Thanks in advance!

new_york_night….For what its worth…I have a hand bellows snd Drionne…when I was in an apt. ( I am in a single family home now) I continued to be proactive and dusted inside all of the electrical outlets on a monthly basis. I would suggest that you remain proactive. Why don’t you give the PCO a call and ask them, but use your Drione in outlets and smoke dectectors and around pipe chases. They travel via electrical conduits and pipechases…I would keep my bed away from the wall and continue to use high quality zippered mattress and pillow covers..deb

My PCO told me that around 5 years ago he treated another apartment on a different floor in my building for bed bugs. It’s possible they remained in the building, and possible more people have them other than myself. I think being pro-active as Deb and Bugged suggested is great, but in a multi family dwelling it has to be really difficult to ever know for sure—- and although I’m not religious, I would start praying!

Hey All!

NYN- If there are still bedbugs in your building, then your landlord or building management should still be working with a competent PCO who, in turn, should be using preventative treatments in the apartments adjacent to the ones with active infestations. If you are concerned, you could contact your landlord or management and express your worries and ask that their PCO routinely inspect your apartment and, if necessary (if apartments adjacent to yours are infested), take measures to prevent the spread into your apartment. Any landlord with a working knowledge of bedbug behavior should be more than willing to do whatever it takes to prevent bedbugs from infesting any more units (financially speaking, it just makes sense).

Brooklyn- The theory behind the Gentrol (now apparently disproved) was that it would affect any bedbugs that passed through it by rendering them incapable of reaching adulthood, therefore preventing them from reproducing, as immature bedbugs cannot reproduce. This would have, in time, helped to diminish the population as it would have eventually rendered all bedbugs incapable of laying eggs. That, in conjunction with residual chemicals, would have served to eradicate infestations. Unfortunately, according to Sean, our friendly PCO from Canada, a new study suggests that Gentrol has a much more limited affect on bedbugs than we originally thought, and so it’s not nearly as effective as previously purported.

Jess

New-york-night…National Allergy Catalog has deeper covers….Drion is not considered contact killer..it is a mechanical killer…dust lightly with it and it will stay in place..slicing the outer lipid skin of the bug..and/or dehydrating the bug..it does degrade with humidity..also you want to vacuum so dusting in intervals is probably best..As for the residual quality of Suspend..from what I have heard..in ideal laboratory settings it will last that long..but in the real world its residual is much less…it is photosentive..light breaks it down..as well as other conditions..like humidity..and maybe vacuuming..(of this I am not certain but it makes sense) Google Hydroprene..that’s what Gentrol is…the jury is out on whether or not its effective….Landlords are in a bind…this is an unseen “risk/cost” of doing business….the real estate industry has to speak up and demand something with a longer residual..or else they are going to go broke…bugalina

new – york -night….your information has been very helpful imho…I applaud you for having conquered the monsters..Unfortunately most landlords will not spend the money they must to treat bed bugs effectively….some will, most will not….Its a most unfortunate situation for all concerned..bugalina

2 days ago I found someones v. expensive looking furniture on the street in front of the building next door. The next day 2 pieces were gone. Won’t people learn? NYN- I too believe my building is affected- one of the reasons I feel I have to get out. Is it stupid to put some things in the freezer for 48 hours or more ? Will it kill the little #$%ers ?

Hi. First, thanks so much for the links that you have to my site. I appreciate that very much!

But I have some bad news to share. I hadn’t seen a bedbug in 2.5 years. Until yesterday. They are back. I have posted photos of my new bites. I’m trying to get an exterminator in here ASAP. I feel confident that this infestation is much smaller than what I dealt with in 2004.

I really have no words for it.

Strangedays,
The old furniture is a possible source, but I doubt the tenant lived with them for 12 years. While it’s true she might not have reacted to bites, I am not sure someone could be bitten and breed bed bugs for 12 years without them becoming so numerous as to be visible.
Either the offending object was brought in more recently, or there’s another source.
If the church is active as a church, there’s every possibility they rode in on a member of the congregation or a visitor. (Lots of churches even have shelters, soup kitchens, 12-step meetings, daycares–any of which has people, and a bed bug could ride in on ANYONE, anytime.) Having been brought in as a hitchhiker, somewhere in the building, it would be possible for the bed bug to find you, sleeping there, and set up shop.
Not sure where you live, but I think the church should take responsibility. It’s in their best interest–their congregation, if there is one, is at risk.

I live in a pretty big building. It sounds reasonable to me that they may have been mostly, but not entirely, eradicated last time. My neighborhood has had many infestations. (Caitlin lives in the same neighborhood I do.) Maybe they did re-enter. Who knows how they came back.

I got a bite Saturday, and was worried. The next night, I caught a bug. So, I knew for sure. But I talked to myself reasonably, and said that I have been able to identify it early (as opposed to last time, when it took me months to figure out what was wrong), so it should be much more manageable this time.

But now my emotions are catching up with me and I am quite upset.

I am so thankful that this wonderful community has formed. I was so incredibly lonely last time I had bedbugs (there was nothing like this online at the time). For so long, I’ve felt so good that I have been able to contribute to this community in my own way, by sharing my story and my pictures, especially at a time when there were few/none online.

But now I need you all. I need to be reminded that it’s all going to be OK, that I’ll get through it. I really can’t believe this is happening again …

strangedays….It sounds like the caretaker..but you must take actions..go online and read all you can about what good extermination is all about…bed bugs travel via electrical circuits and pipechases…you need to get treatments from a very qualified PCO..educate yourself as well..do not bring in any new bed , other than an air mattress..there are FAQ’s on this Blog ..you must read them..do you have a good vacuum?? Until you get into the hands of a qualifed PCO..you can start to clean and vacuum..someone just told us that Murphy’s Oil Soap with citrus is good to spray and soak your furniture with..but this is only something to do temporarily..you must contact an exterminator who knows about bed bugs..and isolate your sleeping area so you can get some rest.deb

Thanks to everyone for there advice, help, and consideration so far. Will read and do anything I can to get rid of these BBs., and will keep you all informed. Is there any specific questions to ask the PCO? He’s coming tomorrow morning. He seems knowledgable, but….
Is there any drugs one can take, like the ones you give your pet for fleas, that will make the little bastages unable to reproduce?
S/Ds.

Hey Caryn,

I saw a therapist last night. I’ve been dealing with bedbugs for over two months and my emotions are definitely catching up with me. She was very good. She suggested having a mantra, something that you can say to yourself when you are most worried. It can’t be too short-term, and it can’t be something you don’t believe.

My first mantra, which I created weeks ago without realizing it, was “Maybe THIS is my last bite.” Every time I had a bite, I would say this. But obviously, when each bite proved to NOT be my last bite, I was let down. The therapist said your mantra can’t be something that sets you up for failure. It can’t be too short-term.

My second mantra, which came from Jessinchicago, was “Every bite is certain death.” This makes sense if you’re confident that there is a chemical barrier along every path the bugs could take. This worked for a while for me, and each bite even felt like a little victory, but ultimately I kept questioning it and kinda stopped believing it. My PCO is pretty good, and there is chemical in all the obvious places, but I don’t feel totally sure that every bite is certain death. We still can’t find our bedbugs, so they could be in my ceiling, my car, or my coat.

So after last night, I wrote a new mantra. It started out as “We are doing everything we can.” But that didn’t work because I learn something new every day. I constantly realize that I’m NOT doing everything I can. So I changed it to “We are doing everything we KNOW. We can’t know everything because there isn’t enough knowledge out there in the world. But as we learn new things, we will do them too. Because we CAN do anything.”

So far, it’s helping.

Caryn,
We’re here for you. And you will get through this. You have the advantage of knowing what to do, and it should absolutely not get anywhere near as bad as it did when it “snuck up on you” last time.

Hey, Nobugs.
He was a strange dude.
Got so drunk every night and fell asleep that his carpet was burned by 2″ cigarette nasty’s. Thats why they reno’ed the place. Everyone on the house comm. was surprised the place didn’t burn down when they finally had a chance to get in and make ready for a new c/taker. Hence the new carpet, etc.
In all fairness, He was well liked and most congergationers were sad to see him go, but…
I have a PCO coming in the morning. I am throwing EVERYthing out. Bed, sofa, loveseat, clothes, bedding especially. I do not care. I AM WAGEING WAR!!. I will rip up the new carpet and… gone!. Does anyone think this is a tadd too much?
I do not want to take up to much space here and would like to have a victory story sooner, rather than.
Hali. is a port city, and there are 7 degree granting Intitutions on the main part of the peninsula, lotsa students. lotsa rambling parasiidic furniture hunters.Dumpster divers. And so on. how do we put out a warning?
Strangedays.

Strangedays,
Just be aware that if you toss all your furniture, you MUST destroy it first. We have many reports of people putting out sofas, mattresses, etc. with bed bugs taped on a sign, or spray painted on the item, and people STILL take the stuff and reuse it. So get your box cutter our and slash that stuff up on the curb, and you will feel much better.
THAT SAID, you should also realize that if the building is infested, it can be in the cracks in the floor, in the baseboards, in the wall–your furniture may not be the main harborage at all, and you may not have to throw it all out. I’m not saying you shouldn’t–but let your PCO inspect it all so you have a better idea. Mattresses especially are usually treatable and sealable in such a way to make tossing them not necessary. AND buying new stuff and bringing it in is a BIG no-no until the bugs are gone for multiple months. Otherwise, you may have brand new infested furniture.
Hali sounds a bit like Boston; the Boston city government has done something, along with a community group called Allston Brighton, to help students become more aware. The city has a special leaflet for students renting housing in the city, and it has a big section on bed bugs. Perhaps Halifax could do something similar. But everyone, students or not, is at risk, and this kind of public health education is something every city should be doing, and sad few are, so far.

First, I’d like to give Caryn my support, and I’m so sorry for the re-infestation.
sadly, I’ve been warning about such things as little as just a few days ago…and I fear it will happen to all of us again, and again.

wantmyskinback,
I would realy get my PCO to spray that desk on any open areas and inside the draws too.
I’m sure Murphy Oil Soap helps, but you must soak the item down in every spot compleatly…maybe even better then what we as freaked out bedbug victims can handle.

I did see a bedbug or two on my desk in the beginning, but after a few sprays, I have not seen any….my couch is the only item in my house that has bedbugs.
my infestation, is only isolated in that area of my couch at this time.
I’ve also sprayed my couch on some of the leather areas, to help kill off more bugs.
I also used Drione Dust inside the couch.
I’m at the end of my rope people, if it doesn’t get better over the next month…I’ll have to say “good bye” to the couch.

for all that have no idea (since I’ve only emailed Jess about this), I’m at my wits end.
I can no longer sleep even in my uninfested bedroom.
my body will not let me rest in that house any longer.
the last bedbug attack on that couch was all it took, but it was more then enough to freak me out for good.
every time I’m in that house all I think about is them crawling all over me in my sleep…walking on my face, arms and leggs, is not something I wish to think about, but my mind just can’t get that picture out of my head.

still, even today, I always feel like they are still walking on my legs and biting me…this feelings are from the old bites, even the ones that are no longer scabed over from all the scratching.

I will try sitting on that couch again someday, just not today.

totaly freaked out,
buggedinbrooklyn

having had my last spray on january 27th – i haave slept on the couch mainly. no bites there. the few times i have ventured into my bed – no bites. but i NEVER sleep well in my bed (had the bb’s in couch and bed only). im exhausted today and am at work and feeling itchy all over, seeing red where it is only dry skin and paranoid about my bed and bites like i havent been for a while. i think the more time that goes by that i have not been bit the more paranoid i become that they will resurface and i will have to face that whoe ordeal again.

does anyone else think each and every building in nyc should be exterminated? how else to surely know that they are eradicated? oh – even if this was done they would only hitchike back on someone. what is the solution so we dont all end up at belleview?

thanks.

HI EastHarlem,

I can relate to your story, since I also had extremely elusive bed bugs, and lived with someone unafflicted. It’s terrible enough being bitten, but having to convince other people it is not your imagination or stress, is infuriating (that was what happened in my case). It can take a very very long time to see bed bugs or shells, even when you are infested. There should be signs though–they excrete feces everywhere they go. Use white sheets, and inspect the sheets thoroughly for little black specks which can either be like little poppy seeds (but smaller), or moister and very hard to remove. If you touch the moist ones, they stain badly.

There was a NYT article about bed bugs in East Harlem last fall. Here’s a link. I would not take the mattress cover off the regular mattress (esp. if you sealed the bed bugs in with your own bedbug-proof cover!) However, it’s my sense that box springs are bad news. Lots of people remove the cheesecloth and find them inside. I’d have a friend ready with a powerful vacuum plugged in and ready to go, so if you do find them, and tape a few to a card (samples), you can suck the rest up. (The vacuum friend should also have a camera at the ready, so you can document them, if there’s anything to see.) Vacuum bags should be immediately removed into a sealed garbage bag (airtight seal) and gotten rid of. Have a mattress cover ready to seal the box spring–see FAQs (link at top) on covering the mattress.

However, be aware that they may not be in your bed. I was all psyched to find a bed teeming with them, and my vacuum-and-camera friend and I were perplexed to find no signs and a pristine mattress. They can be hiding in cracks.

Here’s what I would do, INSTEAD, seeing as your landlord is not going to help until you produce a bug.
Your landlord’s PCO should have inspected thoroughly BEFORE spraying your apt. If you cannot find them, in NYC, call 311. They will file a housing violation, and this is what your landlord deserves if he is not willing to have a PCO inspect your apt. PCOs need evidence to treat for bed bugs, but they do not necessarily need to see a carcass, and you certainly do not have to be the one to find it. It would help if you’ve got little black specks (either the little poppyseed type or the little black stains) on your bed. Pick up some of the specks with tape and tape them to a white card. The HD inspector will do a thorough inspection (I hope–but we’d love some feedback from people who went this route). THIS IS IMPORTANT: IF YOU ARE GOING TO CALL 311, DO NOT TAKE APART THE BOX SPRINGS. LET THE HPD INSPECTOR COME IN AND INSPECT IT AS IS. If there’s something there, you want them to see it, so they can file an accurate report.

By the way, if the PCO really did bomb the other unit, it may be why the bugs are spreading.

Nobugs,
I bet you are cute!

(Editor’s note: Strangedays, you left some pretty crazy cryptic comments last night, most of which I had to delete, but thanks, I liked this one. Careful with the language! All kinds of folk are reading this blog.)

Hey guys, I have a new development and therefore a new set of questions.

It’s been 11 weeks, it’s been 6 treatments, and I am still getting bit. My fresh bites look like Caryn’s newest ones – thank you Caryn for posting those photos! – and yet, both the PCO and his boss cannot find them anywhere. The inspection last week took three hours. They have looked EVERYWHERE.

Everywhere except the ceiling. Our ceiling is made of wooden slats, and there are thin voids between some of them. The PCO said he couldn’t imagine any other possible way that they were getting into our bed. He said there’s no way they could be walking up our sticky, oily, slippery bed legs, and the frame has been inspected mighty well and sprayed with Demand. New pillows, N.A. encasings, clean sheets and pajamas every night.

So next week, he wants to come by and try to inspect, and potentially treat, the ceiling. It sounds like he wants to try to dislodge one or more of the wooden slats, get a light up in there and see if he can see anything. He then said that he would try a “fogger,” not to necessarily kill any bedbugs but to dislodge them, ie, make them move. He said he typically uses foggers for other bugs, but that this one has a residual fogging effect and might work in this space (the narrow space between our ceiling and the floor of the unit upstairs). He also said that this residual wouldn’t drip – something about it being encapsulated so it would stick to whatever surface it touched, and not drip on us while we sleep.

I am nervous because everyone says fogging doesn’t work. However, this guy is the company’s Technical Director and he seems both intelligent and highly experienced with bedbugs. He said our case is still a mystery to him, and he wants to get to the bottom of it.

Does this sound kosher?

S… Bed bugs harbor in wood..cracks and crevices..Your ceiling is tongue and groove, and your beams are “rough hewn”..I think…..So..this is like the Hilton Hotel for bed bugs….You should listen to your PCO…they are really trying to make this work…You are a team…Deb

S- Yes, I do remember reading something from Sean saying that some “fogging” products are okay- I think these are flushing agents as opposed to what people think of as traditional bug fogs. It would be great if you’d write him and let us know what he says.

The one thing that really concerns me is that whatever your PCO uses may cause the bugs to scatter, which is kind of the goal, I think- but they might scatter UP to your neighbors. You might want to ask them about that and make sure they’ve taken it into consideration.

Jess

Nobugs, no updates on the neighbors. It’s making us want to break our lease and move out. Our landlady has asked the building manager repeatedly, and he has come back and said, “They haven’t noticed a problem.”

I actually ran into one of my next-door neighbors a few weeks ago, and asked if she was going to get inspected. She took it so lightly. She was like “Well, I’ve lived here for three years and I’ve never had a problem.” She also said, “I’m allergic to everything. If they spray chemicals, I’ll die.” I was like, “Well maybe they could just inspect?” And she was like, “If the building wants to pay for it, then sure, whatever.”

This is a goofy metaphor, but I felt like she was this little, innocent baby, and I could see this giant anvil hanging over her, and I just wanted to jump out and like, save her from it! But I know that I can’t save anyone who doesn’t want saving.

I told her that they are terrible, expensive and stress-inducing, and that they could easily travel from my apartment to hers. She was basically like, “That’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

I have tried so many times, and with so little response, that I’m basically ready to give up on the neighbors. We are already starting the process of looking for our next place (we are going to buy) and if we can make it happen sooner than August, then we will move out before then. Because yeah, this kind of life isn’t sustainable, and in this apartment, the bugs are certainly, somehow, being sustained.