http://bedbugger.com/forum/ Bed bug support forums en Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:40:28 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/faqs-about-bed-bugs-for-bedbugger-forum-users#post-62628 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:36:26 +0000 BBcoukHome 62628@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>could you please add this post to the bites and mysteries section of the FAQ list.</p> <p><a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/urticating-hairs-and-scales-a-mystery-bite-cause#post-59297" rel="nofollow">http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/urticating-hairs-and-scales-a-mystery-bite-cause#post-59297</a></p> <p>David </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/fecal-matter-dry-ice-home-made-interceptors-and-aerobeds#post-62544 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:56:41 +0000 samson 62544@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>A few questions, please respond even if you know the solution to just even one of my questions</p> <p>How sticky is the BB fecal matter? I see a few dark specks on my linens but they are very easily swept away. Not sticky at all. Should I rule out BB's because of this fact? Perhaps another insect, ash or specks of dirt?</p> <p>Has anyone used dray ice as a detector? This being the theory of BB's being attracted to carbon dioxide. Anyone know of any dry ice suppliers in NYC?</p> <p>I would like to buy the inteceptors for the legs of my bed but the bedframe legs are much, much larger<br /> than the ones advertised. Any homegrown solutions?</p> <p>I see many posters seeking temporary refuge before/between treatments on an areobed. What makes it so magic? Is it jus because it is removed from a bedbug harborage? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/seriously#post-62391 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:25:40 +0000 catdog 62391@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>hi- new, and unsure what todo..longstory short, approx.6wks ago, found about 10 bb's on pillow - seen the streaks &#38; blood spots too, threw it all out in trash ~ and vacuumed all over the bed, in tufts and floors, cracks,etc... havnt slept in bed since, been sofa city....kept cking bedrm and doing vacumming constantly and used bb spray from store that i read some ingredients off many sites/cant recall name, medicated talcum, alchol spraying like and idiot.... no bb's in bdrm visable to my eye...BUT...seen one on couch 5nites ago... lovely.<br /> After searching and determined to find where their hideout is, I cannot locate a one. No signs anywhere? So confused.<br /> did the whole routine again...and have been cking like a madperson every other second... cant find one anywhere! No stains, streaks since the first sight...</p> <p>figured i best call the PCO, and have been rreading alot on here...just wanna be sure i get the right one!</p> <p>Please Advice would be so greatly appreciated!! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-62138 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:51:22 +0000 2manybb 62138@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I got 55 days from this forum. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-62082 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:18:02 +0000 BuggyinLA 62082@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p><strong>2manyBB</strong>: Is 55 days the amount of time they told you to wait before you really know that the bugs are gone, and are not coming back? </p> <p>(I ask becaue we've been trying to figure that out ourselves, since we haven't been bitten in our apartment for two days now, but have no real idea when we'll know if the treatment was actually 100 percent successful.) </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-61987 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:49:17 +0000 2manybb 61987@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>the bb sniffing dog just left and found nothing, His handler said the house is clean. I guess I can start my count down to 55 days. The dog didn't alert to anything in the minivan. The handler said the dog is not trained for cars so not sure if it is accurate </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-61964 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:56:44 +0000 2manybb 61964@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>i can't believe you are posting about a car today. I haven't heard anything about cars. I am just today thinking I may have them in my minivan. I have been wondering what to do about it. The company I have used in the house said they can fumigate the car at their fumigation center, for $775.<br /> I don't know what to do because, i haven't found any in the car, so I am not sure they are even in there. I have vacuumed like crazy in there but there are so many places for a bug to hide.<br /> I am having a dog come sniff the house today. He will also sweep the car, although the company told me the dogs have not been trained for cars, so they don't know if it will be reliable. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-61961 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:33:08 +0000 buggyinsocal 61961@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p><blockquote>I'm worried about steaming the seats of the truck due to mold growth within the cushioning, any thoughts? </blockquote></p> <p>That would be why people here generally recommend dry vapor steamers rather than the kinds that are less expensive and more generally available. Dry vapor steamers can reach the temps needed without leaving behind the kind of moisture that could cause a mold problem. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-61933 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:08:58 +0000 shaye 61933@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Well I can tell you that I found them in 2 spots, in a sense, their cast skins werw found in the hatch area of the back (carpet) which is where I always put my moms laundry for transport...oh if we had known! But the place that's got me the most freaked out is the drivers seat! Was not there before but sure became their spot as I learned the hard way from the bites on my tooshy, I did lightly brush in DE in the carpets and behind the seats of the back row, their was a small hole (very small) on the side of the drivers seating and I puffed a little DE into that hole. I had already sprayed my truck with the OTC stuff I had bought which took out momma as well as the older kids, but the babies are what are getting me through the seat. Spraying the truck was probably a NO NO but in my desperation I panicked. Now that vehicle just sits. I refuse to drive it, refuse to let my kids back into it. I'm worried about steaming the seats of the truck due to mold growth within the cushioning, any thoughts? Thanks all for your encouraging and heart breaking replies lol. Hope santa brings me what I want for xmas! A BED BUG FREE LIFE </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-61857 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:02:16 +0000 BugBoy911 61857@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>A car would be a difficult playing field compared to a bedroom, yet a car should be easier to exterminate than a bedroom for a few reasons. One bedbugs would respond to a pyrethrum flush faster being that the care is a very small space volume wise. Second a car has many area's that a bedbug could harbor yet there favorite material "wood," is not in car's now adays which makes the bedbugs less comfortable and possibly more exposed. Flushing is one of my most practiced techniques in finding bedbugs. Flushing can be used very very effectively when treating car's, trucks, ambulances, and other vehicles to quickly identify were they are harboring and to see if indeed you have a bedbug infestation. I have used ULV machienes in the past or Ultra Low Volume application equipment that releases a controled fog of just pyrethrin concentrate or combined with Hydroprene for long lasting reproductive prevention. DE dust can also be carefully combed into the carpets of the vehicle ensuring a very long lasting residual safe for you and your family. Steam cleaning can also be used to further your positive state of mind but must be done slowly to ensure you heat up the fabric within the car to indeed in fact kill any eggs or 1st instar nymphs, don't forget about vacumming before your steam. God Bless Good Luck!! BugBoy911 </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-61812 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:58:51 +0000 Bugbitten Meg 61812@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Some people do also respond differently at different locations on their body, so that may be what's going on, if the new bites are in new places. </p> <p>at least one person (in Alaska) did report successfully freezing out the bugs by leaving stuff outside, and the FAQs have a page on the winter cold/exposure method:<br /> <a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/04/faq-leaving-stuff-out-to-freeze-walk-in-freezers-etc-how-cold-and-how-long/" rel="nofollow">http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/04/faq-leaving-stuff-out-to-freeze-walk-in-freezers-etc-how-cold-and-how-long/</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-61809 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:32:52 +0000 shaye 61809@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Well that just killed me lol....was betting on winter to kill them off for good! It does get very cold here in the winter for weeks on end its usually in the teens, or colder, but I think I'm going the heat treatment route to be safe. My bites too were on my bottom since I love to wear loungy types of clothing to run errands. As for the new needle type of bites, I had hoped maybe they were from old bites but they are all in new places! Most of my bites initially were on my arm, a couple on my neck, and once on my side. These new ones are on my legs. Seems to me its always after I'm in my suv, but then again I feel like I'm loosing my marbles! I'm always itchy now even if nothing is there, always feel like things are crawling on me, and to be honest I think I cry about 3 times a week lately. Until last night. I had my worse break down yet and all of a sudden I got mad! That you are not going to ruin me anger. I now have declared war! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-61803 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:19:58 +0000 Bugbitten Meg 61803@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <blockquote><p><cite>shaye - 17 hours ago <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-61777">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;</a></cite><br /> either I really am crazy now or they are still biting me when I'm in it! But the bites are not the same. They were always huge and super itchy. Now its like someone has taken a needle and poked me with it. Itch for a few minutes then nothing but the tiny hole. </p></blockquote> <p>At least one other person on the forum experienced this shiftover; she wasn't sure whether she had gotten all the bugs or not, but she wasn't getting the big, itchy bites like before -- she actually went to an entomologist who keeps bedbugs, and had a nymph and adult bite her. Result was that she still got the big, itchy bites from new bites. It seems that she is still reacting slightly and intermittently to old bite sites. I can't promise that that's your deal, but bear it in mind as a possibility. </p> <p>About BBs being killed off by cold -- it is almost certainly not going to happen unless possibly you live in northern Canada, Alaska, or somewhere equivalently cold. A week or more under freezing won't do it; it needs to get significantly colder than that, for a fairly long time. To put it in perspective, there's been a thread lately about bat-bugs (cousins of the human bedbug) surviving the winter in an unheated Canadian summer cabin. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-61800 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:28:18 +0000 hoo2677 61800@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I just had heat treatment in my van. 4 hours at between 120 and 140. You might try to find a company that does thermal treatment and talk to them about doing your car. There's a good chance they've never done it, but it'll probably be big business for pest companies in the future.. </p> <p>I had been getting bites on my butt while driving and think i may have brought one into my house, which is dead (thanks packtite!). Cars are so complex. </p> <p>Day after the treatment, which was last Thursday, I went camping for 3 nights in my camper van. No bites.</p> <p>Portland, OR </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-61799 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:15:59 +0000 shaye 61799@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>In all of my treatments I am armored with protective everything from gloves to mask to jumper over my clothing. I do remove my dog before any treatment, was just curious if I should keep him out of that room all together. My moms bldg was infested, that's where my problem came from and the guy that sprayed hers told her things to be doing between his treatments. Those arw the things I'm doing on my own except I was spraying every week instead of every two. I leave the house to dry and air out before anyone including the dog come in to stay. I have checked with our rentals association and they say its a tricky case because we have lived here for so long the landlord would have the case on her side saying we brought them in, hince our job to get rid of them. I buy products that are labeled for bed bugs and spray according to their directions. They say not to spray more than once a week. Haven't sprayed the beds, just dusted them with de and encased them. My vacuum is a bagless one and I empty the canister immdiately and seal it in a trash bag and take it out. Now the spraying of my SUV may be a no no that I have done. My labels just say no mattress or pillows, so maybe that should've included the interior of my SUV? That's 1 I hadn't thought of until just now. I know self treating is a risk, health hazards are possible but I'm taking the appropriate measures to protect myself and loved ones in that. This is my only option right now and any advice is appreciated! I'm thinking of steam cleaning too? I don't mind doing the work, in fact I have officially declared war with these things, so any help is great to me. To add, we went 2 weeks without bites and now I'm the only person getting bitten....just began again and its just a random bite here and there. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-61791 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:04:05 +0000 buggyinsocal 61791@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>meremortal,<br /> I would strongly recommend NOT using a bug bomb inside a vehicle. First, bug bombs are major fire hazards. They are manufactured to be used in certain square footage, and even a Suburban is much smaller than that.</p> <p>Secondly, the chemical used in bug bombs is one that may cause bugs to be repelled. Setting one off inside a vehicle is more likely to drive the bugs deeper into hiding within the vehicle than to get rid of the problem.</p> <p>shaye,<br /> I might contact your local renters advocacy group to see what the legal requirements in your municipality are regarding landlords' legal obligation to treat.</p> <p>Self-treatment is very hard to do successfully, and spraying chemicals yourself without reading the label and being absolutely certain that you're using the chemical pesticide in accordance with the label instructions runs the risk of making people and pets esp. in your home sick.</p> <p>In the event that you really cannot find a way to force the landlord into treating the property, I would do a lot more research here about how to have the best chance at self-treating. Self-treatment can in very rare cases be both safe and successful, but the only accounts we've heard of people doing so involve people who essentially gave themselves a crash course in chemical pesticides and personal safety gear. </p> <p>If you're using chemical pesticides to self-treat, you need to be carefully following all label instructions. Your account so far doesn't sound like you've done that.</p> <p>If you're applying DE, you need to be using personal protective gear, which means using the industry mandated respirator protection (N95). Your account makes no mention of that.</p> <p>With a 3 pound dog, the body weight of a pet that small alone would certainly tell me that the dog and its bedding should absolutely be removed from any place where pesticides and dusts are being used, as at 3 pounds the dog is going to be esp. susceptible to exposure to pesticides just because of body weight alone.</p> <p>I don't know of any residual chemical pesticide labeled for weekly use.</p> <p>In addition, there's no mention of how you're treating the material that gets into the vacuum after you've vacuumed.</p> <p>Self-treatment is a terribly complicated process that requires successful bed bug warriors to do a tremendous amount of applied science research and develop a pretty broad and complicated skill set. That's why most people on the boards with reliable opinions caution people that it really should only ever be done as a last resort. </p> <p>I know that risking your friendly relationship with your landlord is a tough thing to imagine, but if your landlord is at all reasonable, you might be able to convince him or her that it's more cost effective to treat the unit while you're in it than it would be to treat the unit if you all moved out. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-61787 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:40:44 +0000 meremortal 61787@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Has anyone tried using a bomb/fogger inside their vehicle? Whilst unoccupied of course... Would this be even remotely successful, since it is a "closed" area?</p> <p>I used DDVP strips all summer (in one unused vehicle, then switched to our other vehicle, 2 months in each) to no avail. I vacuumed the daylights out of each vehicle before its "treatment" but am still getting bitten, in both vehicles... :( </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-61777 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:20:21 +0000 shaye 61777@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>My wondering if they were in my suv came around when it seemed like every time I was in it I felt things on me, which to be honest I always feel that way anymore. But that got me curious, the day I planned on searching the suv my daughter said a bug just bit her and described a bb like a black flat ladybug. Knew it! So I searched the thing over and began to find the "skins" of them from molting. That's when I knew for sure there were more than 1. I took my truck and vacuumed the crap out of it at a car wash...spent $20 in quarters doing it. Then I sprayed it again with that spray I got from lowes. Next morning found that black flat ladybug that bit my daughter dead, trying to come out of the hatch! Made me quite happy. So I vacuumed again, waited, sprayed again, but either I really am crazy now or they are still biting me when I'm in it! But the bites are not the same. They were always huge and super itchy. Now its like someone has taken a needle and poked me with it. Itch for a few minutes then nothing but the tiny hole. I just hope everyone here has thought of checking their cars. I pray between the spraying and vacuuming and soon to be freezing temps they die off for good </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-61774 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:41:26 +0000 sickofbugs 61774@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>How does one know if there are bedbugs in their cars/trucks? What should one be looking for? Thanks.</p> <p>sickofbugs </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-61766 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:16:04 +0000 shaye 61766@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I need help! My mothera apt bldg became infested with these vampire bugs and wouldn't you know they ended up at my 3 bedroom house. I was having itchy spots all over my arm in August. I didn't think much of it really since mosquittoes love to get me, but once they were not going away I became wary. Inspected 1st bedroom, nothing. Inspected second bedroom and found 1 on a curtain, no droppings, nothing else. Then came my bedroom, found the colony in the crease of my pillow top mattress, about 10-15 of them big and little. I freaked out! Since we rent our house I called the landlord and she will not hire a professional, so I called around and only 1 company had any experience with them, wanting $2100 to treat our home. Needless to say we do not have since my husband just returned to work after 6 month layoff. I super vacuumed, decluttered, encased every bed in encasements, sprayed with this stuff from lowes bayer advanced labeled for bedbugs and put down DE. I continue to spray every week since I know it kills them seeing it first hand, but I have serious questions. Am I spraying too often? Should I remove my dog from his bed in our room? All was well, we went two weeks with no bites then I started to notice them only on me about the time my daughter said a bug just bit her in our suv! Upon searching, sure enough they are in the suv! Have I been carrying them back in the house? I'm paranoid every where I turn now, uncomfortable every where! This started at end of August, its November now and I'm going insane! We had already planned to move in january or february since we are always having some issue here, but now I'm afraid to go, our couch is brand new and I hate the thought of having to toss it. Beds will be replaced but how do I be sure not to take them with us? Steam clean? Leave our stuff in the moving truck in those frozen temps? But for how long? Am I being impatient? How long does it normally take? And how do I get them out of my truck with all its hiding spots? Winter? Please help me, I feel so alone in this fight, my husband shows no signs and has never seen them so he just thinks I'm crazy! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/new-victim-advice-of-leaving-needed#post-61294 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:13:36 +0000 upagain 61294@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>check the faqs on how to travel. Bring only what you need. If your neighbor has them are they getting treated? MAke sure they do, there are a lot of posts about bugs going from one apartment to the next. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/new-victim-advice-of-leaving-needed#post-61288 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:14:10 +0000 kalie2under2 61288@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hello Everyone! </p> <p>My story in brief: I<code>ve been bitten for thelast 2 weeks. I washed sheets, looked for bugs and couldn</code>t fnd any, then yesterday I found one. In our room, not my sons. Called the landlord and will be sprayed on Wednesday. I have two small children and I am going to my mothers. I am washing all the clothes and putting them in clean plastic bags. Do you think I will take them with me é Any tips on how to escape the right wayÉ </p> <p>I want to cry really I do. My neighbour just told me they have lots of them and didnèt even know. My daughter is only 7 weeks old and my son is one. I am thankfully the only one that got bit. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/can-you-see-just-one-and-thats-it#post-61249 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:04:20 +0000 Deathlyallergic 61249@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>These things showed up 4 weeks ago, and its been hell ever since. I found out Im deathly allergic and it has done some altering to my health, not to mention all the chemicals to treat. Ive encased the mattress and box springs, and I go to bed with long sleeves, leggings, high socks to cover the leggings, and gloves, then put skin so soft on my face, that seems to keep them away, cause the bite open skin.<br /> I bought the climpups from usbedbugs.com and waiting for their arrival to try to find out where they are coming from. I have vaselined the bed legs to keep them from climbing up. Isolated my bed in the middle of the room, bagging and washing everything is a night mare.<br /> This whole thing has been mortifying. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/can-you-see-just-one-and-thats-it#post-60948 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:23:51 +0000 CookEmDanno 60948@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Dear Crazy,</p> <p>While you're hoping for the best, you can at least vacuum your mattress and box spring and encase them. Wash and dry your bedding on the hottest settings. Tell the super right away so a couple of units can be treated at the same time. Make a plan so your husband can "go on vacation" if there's going to be any spraying. The more you do, the better you'll feel about being in control. I can also recommend the California Pinot Noir. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/can-you-see-just-one-and-thats-it#post-60945 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:31:39 +0000 veisn 60945@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I made the mistake of being hopeful after I found the first one (a nymph, they seem to be more careless in exposing themselves BTW) in my 14 month old's bed. I washed all the stuffed animals in her bed and hoped that it was taken care of (I knew nothing about these little devils and did minimal research that made me want to hope even more) Then, the very next day I flipped my other daughter's mattress over to find two live adults. Again, I was hoping some more that "maybe I found them all". Yay!!! This is VERY bad. Nine days after I found the first one, we ended up tearing the kid's room apart, putting all belongings (except for the mattress) out in the backyard, sealed in bags. What a nightmare! Again, hoped some more that there were none in our adjacent master bedroom. The next day my husband and I flipped our mattress over and found an adult under there (we don't have a boxspring, or I would've immediately taken that out of the house (for fear)). I bought a $90 mattress cover made by Mattress Safe(a researched purchase). These bugs are the devil, they are hard to get rid of. Honestly, if you've found one, chances are there are more (I would bet a million dollars on it). If your neighbors have them and that's where you got them, you don't stand a chance if you heat treat your apt (or any treatment) and not theirs (BTW we got an estimate of 3K, much too expensive to do, but I would've if we were wealthy) . Seriously consider moving, throwing out 50% of what you own (only keep what you absolutely need). If we could afford a storage unit for 18 months, we would do it, and definitely have your place professionally treated. Its hard to know what to do, but we found there are no extreme tactics, responses for such and extreme little bug. Its ridiculous! Our belonging will sit outside for months as far as I'm concerned, I can't take the risk! We are 3 weeks post last treatment (4 once weekly treatments where we had to leave for 4 hours and still the poison was not completely dry/poison smelled really strong). The bites have dramatically decreased, I can say with 80% confidence that "we are not getting bitten". Sometimes I can't tell what a little bump is. Bug bite, spider bite, mite?, pimple, skin inperfection? My (now) 16mo. old daughter woke up today with two tincy bites near each other on her face. I'm gonna assume its a nymph. And take action accordingly: vacuum whole room thoroughly, take apart her new crib and spray w/alcohol in the cracks, washed and dry all bedding, and re-isolate her bed (maybe the tin cans that the her posts are sitting in need oil or something in the bottom. I read that BB's couldn't climb up metal or glass well). This problem is a lot of work. Settle in and ride it out I guess. God Luck.... </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/my-tale-of-bedbug-woes#post-60910 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:31:57 +0000 watkinsnewan 60910@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>we are here for you go ahead and let it out!! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/my-tale-of-bedbug-woes#post-60908 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:28:37 +0000 beth1979 60908@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Thank you for the words of encouragement. It does make me feel better that there are people who really understand what I am going through. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/my-tale-of-bedbug-woes#post-60906 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:19:38 +0000 upagain 60906@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Beth- It may seem slow but you are on the road to recovery and you have many friends here. In your mind you must tell yourself that tou are doing the right things and you will overcome this. Keep that chin high. ;-) </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/my-tale-of-bedbug-woes#post-60903 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:07:11 +0000 beth1979 60903@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Well I have been reading posts from this BB forum and it is amazing how I feel everything that has been said...it started the same way for me, a few weeks ago I saw this odd looking brown bug crawling on my husband's shirt. We killed it and didn't think much of it, thinking it was probably some random bug. Then slowly I started seeing more of this same "bug" along with a few tiny itchy bites on my leg. I decided to research and discovered low and behold, bed bugs. My husband also has been extremely SLOW with getting on the ball with this, making me feel like I am some paranoid freak just because I come into this situation with a background fear of insects and bugs. For a week I asked him twice to call our landlord but for some reason he doesn't. We bought a cheap spray from Home Depot, inspected our sofa and found some nests and eggs there. We tossed the sofa and he is thinking the problem is gone...I tried to explain to him the magnitude of the situation we are in. I had to threaten to move out just for him to finally acknowledge we have a real problem. Now thanks to him dragging his feet and me letting him, we are way behind the ball, probably way outnumbered and I doubt 1 treatment will be enough by the exterminator, who is finally coming tomorrow. I have spent days packing up our apartment, washing clothes, and basically isolating myself because I am afraid to spread them to my friends and family. I dread coming home from a long day of work. I dread going to sleep. I feel so alone, I am sad and crying all the time. Just like other posts, I can't sleep, so therefore neither me nor my husband have gotten a full night's rest in the last 2 weeks, which makes for very irritable people with short fuses. I hope I can get to that point where 1 day goes by and I don't see any bugs. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/my-tale-of-bedbug-woes#post-60897 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:14:47 +0000 watkinsnewan 60897@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>you are right!! MEN!! I had to convince my husband too!! welcome to the forums!! and this nightmare!! have you taken any more steps to eradicating the little buggers!! My PCO will finally be here Friday morning!! Even though I haven't seen any for two weeks now or have gotten bitten in three!! I am really paranoid they are going to come back in force!! Cause they can lay dormant for up to 18 months in a controlled environment!! We are the Lucky ones with mild infestations!! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/my-tale-of-bedbug-woes#post-60891 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:48:29 +0000 2manybb 60891@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I hope for your sake they are gone, what a nightmare these "visitors" are. We had them come into our home in July. i am also hopeful they are gone. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/my-tale-of-bedbug-woes#post-60887 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:11:44 +0000 bbboogie 60887@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>OK, finally getting around to telling my sordid tale. :-) In August, after returning from vacation, my husband was told there were bedbugs at his job. Not to worry though, it was taken care of. Ha! Mid August I started getting bites but not seeing any bugs or evidence I assumed they were mosquito bites. My husband didn't have bites and wasn't worried at all. (men!) I found this website and started reading the forum and really suspected bedbugs but still couldn't find any sign of them...skins, poop, etc. Lo and behold I woke up at 6 AM one morning to feeling itchy around my neck. I pick up my head and see a lovely, well fed bug, slowly cruising along the sheet. I grabbed the handy tape (thanks for the tip) and snagged it. I ran downstairs to the computer to look at the pictures on the website and YES! I was right! (unfortunately) We had bedbugs!!!!! I promptly burst into tears and my husband had to agree that yes, we had unwelcome visitors just as I had been insisting for the past 2 weeks. OK, we stripped the bed and carefully examined everything. We found a cluster of assorted sized bedbugs on the tip of the boxspring. (probably 10-15 in all) My husband went ballistic with a can of TAT which is a good contact killer although bb's are not mentioned on the can. Then he ran out and bought encasements plus 5 more cans of TAT which he proceeded to spray like the enemy was at our front door! I am a big chicken so I refused to sleep in that room for the next 2 weeks and it stunk like bug spray anyway so it probably wasn't too healthy. Twice we caught a bb in the spare bedroom but I think they were wandering because we haven't had any since and I've had no bites since I initially moved out of the main bedroom. (I moved back in 3 weeks ago) The room has been decluttered, caulked, painted and redone entirely in white. (you all know why I went from peach and chocolate to white, white, white. LOL) So far so good but I'm constantly checking the sheets and pillows for signs and also check myself for bites. I also refuse to sleep without a night night and this from a person that wanted blackout curtains! If our luck continues I will have to believe that the infestation was small and that we caught it at the very beginning. I'll keep you posted. I did want to say that this forum is a godsend. It's so encouraging to "talk" to others that have been through this. Thank you all! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bad-allergic-reaction-to-the-bitesfirst-infestation-2#post-60694 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:19:09 +0000 bedbuggery 60694@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Oops! SOrry, I just re-read the posts and realized no one has asthma issues... think I got a bit carried away. Ok, well if you try Claritin or Zyrtec for the itching( and it WILL help if available and not too expensive) and it also helps with the nausea/sickness....then these symptoms would appear allergy related and NOT stress related. I also had nausea and actually vomited on occasion. If it is stress however, use benedryl (Diphenhydramine) as it will stop the itching/take the edge off the stress/ and help knock you out for a while. But ask your doc about these of course. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bad-allergic-reaction-to-the-bitesfirst-infestation-2#post-60685 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:04:13 +0000 bedbuggery 60685@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Oh, also check your local hardware store for the drion dust. If they don't have this product then don't waste your money on anything else. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bad-allergic-reaction-to-the-bitesfirst-infestation-2#post-60683 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:56:30 +0000 bedbuggery 60683@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>HI.</p> <p>I'm sorry to hear about your situation... I hope that I can offer some decent advice, here goes.</p> <p>What you're feeling is not just anxiety (although you can develop a "syndrome" from the lack of sleep and anxiety which will hang around for a while. If you are feeling sick it is NOT mental. There seems to be a sensitization process involved with the bites and your body is developing something that may be a form of autoimmunity condition. From what I've read, this can be coupled by lack of sleep so if you have the chance to get a safe place to get real sleep... take advantage.<br /> I also developed angiodema with attacks. I believe it may be related to contact urticaria (are you able to write words on your skin that flare up by pressing them in with the back of a pen?) I also had bouts of anaphylaxis that were totally unpredictable in corresponding to the bites, and these symptoms hung around and even got worse when I got away from the bugs. They also took months to recover from. This is more serious than you think- don't be anxious though- be level headed and take things at a pace you can handle as stress will be your enemy. Here is my advice to you;</p> <p>First of all SEE A DOCTOR. You live in Canada right? I live in the US and don't have the option of affordable healthcare. So get in touch w/a doctor asap, get his advice and then see an immunologist, dermatologist, or allergist. You are a guinea pig and what the medical community learns from you is incredibly valuable. Document your symptoms and don't let them shrug them off as mental!<br /> One of the best treatments I found was claritin (or zyrtec) if these are available over the counter then have them handy, steroids seem to help with the allergic reactions and (although I am no doctor) they seem to take pressure off whatever your immune system is doing to your organs. If you have difficulty breathing or a tightness or pains in your chest this is asthma. Never been asthmatic? WELL YOU ARE NOW!!! The asthma may come from the bites but can also be from inhaling bug shedding particles, much like asthma from cockroaches . You can use claritin/zyrtec in combination with benadryl (which will also seriously help the itching) but make sure you drink plenty of water or you'll end up w/ a UTI or kidney infection. Also, I was told by a naturopath to consume absurd amounts of garlic, it may make you a smelly person but it suppresses immune system inflammation and is supposed to drive away blood feeders. Last but not least.. if u develop shower urticaria (this will be hives that develop after getting out of the shower) they are not bites but the result of a skin condition. Try a cooling rinse before you get out of the shower, it seems to calm the skin and keeps them from developing. Cold showers may seem undesirable but hey, pick your battles right? Also It's probably a bad idea to stop eating.. instead, switch to foods high in protein so that you maintain your strength through this.<br /> You can live well off hard boiled eggs. </p> <p>Secondly, even if you're neighboring units aren't infested (which is unlikely if you haven't brought any new furniture into the place or traveled recently) they will be soon from your apt. Your not going to make a dent in the infestation w/ laundry and home bug spray so talk to your landlord and get treatment asap to keep things form progressing. The infestation is always worse than you think..I lived w/ bugs for 8 mos b/f seeing ANY evidence of their existence, and only then because I caught a bug red handed. If you suspect your landlord is being less cooperative than you initially believed and even if he is, learn your local landlord tenant rights. Information is free and you can even try to find a lawyer who will do a free consultation.</p> <p>Lastly, know that the effort you put into fighting this problem WILL make your life easier, even if you don't see immediate results. Also, if you can get a hold of a product called "results bug powder" this is the only effective home treatment I know of and is known in the pest industry as "drion dust." Put it between your mattress and around your bed but know that it can get into the air and if you have asthma it won't help things. </p> <p>Good luck to you friend, and know that you aren't alone- Bedbugs are everyone's problem. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/hello-all#post-60318 Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:54:43 +0000 ruthven78 60318@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Ive posted a few times but havent really introduced myself. My name is Craig. My wife and I picked up our bed bugs on a trip to Southern California from a hotel we stayed at near Disneyland. My wife works for the chain's corporate office and therefore I was reluctant to sue, even though someone at the hotel had told my wife they recieved a complaint a month ago about bedbugs in that very same room! We stayed at the hotel two nights and didnt receive any bites during our stay (or least none that showed). We first noticed the bites about 4 days after our return home. My wife was fairly reactive were myself and our 4 yr old son werent nearly as bad.....her bites would welt the size of a dime. We spent a week and half getting ready for Orkin....I hired them just out of name recognition. I think we ended up actually throwing out half of the clothes and linen, mostly due to poor fit or over abundance. I know I personally spent at least a cumulative of 40-50 hours perp work, my wife spent quite a few as well. We had moved in with my wife's grandpa after her granma passed away back last February. My wife's grandparents had accumulated a lot of junk over the years and therefore we threw out a lot of clutter. We live in a large 4 bedroom house with full basement , living room, and family room. It was so much work I literally worked 18 hours straight the day before Orkin showed up. Thankfully we have a hot tub I can go soak in. Orkin was here last Friday, we opened out windows and doors around noon Saturday....was about 50 degrees here. We got most the house put back together yesterday and today will just be the finishing up the loose odds and ends. Luckily we used clear plastic garbage bags to seal our clothes. </p> <p>The day after I learned about the bed bugs I had called the hotel's general manager and let him know. My wife was reluctant to raise a stink because she was afraid of getting fired. I was treated very politely and professionaly and was speaking to the hotel's insurance company a couple days later. They agreed to pay for our extermination and the cost of the hotel stay during treatment. I havent sent them all the invoices or receipts yet but I do plan on asking them to reimburse us for my wife;s lost wags, might even ask for compensation for the time it took for us to prepare for Orkin.</p> <p>It has been really difficult with an 88yr old. People tell him things to do or give him bad information such as to use foggers, that BBs will die after 10 days in a sealed bag. He also sprayed raid not only in his bedroom, but also all over his clothes! He said he did that because we were hogging the washer &#38; dryer even though we told him twice to bring us his clothes and we would process them. I had explained to him prior during the fogger debate why foggers and OTC sprays arent very effective and they will just chase the bugs into the walls. And today, only two days since treatment, he is vacuuming his room even though I told him that Orkin has used a dust &#38; residual sprays to treat the crevices and such. He also refuses to reseal his clothes, doesnt think the BBs can climb onto the clothes that are hanging in the closet, etc. He wont change clothes he had sat around all day in before going to someone else's house. He also went into the house, before we got back from the hotel, and only opened one window to air it out...I told him I was surprised we hadnt found him laying dead on the floor from the fumes. My in laws live next door, he stayed with them instead of opting for the free hotel room because he wanted to be near his house. He only stayed in the fumey house for about 45 minutes before going back over to the inlaws. While my inlaws ran an errand, he decided to turn their heat up to 80 degrees because he got a chill. I dont know about you but when Im a guest in someone's home I dont touch their thermostat, I may let them know its a little chilly to me or ask for a blanket, but never help myself like that. He wanted the PCO to guarantee their treatment for a year...I told him that was quite unrealistic considering the dust is active the longest at say 60 days. Dealing with him has at times been quite exasperating to say the least, if I had know then how it would have been we wouldnt have moved in. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/forum-messages-cut-off#post-60249 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:15:29 +0000 BugsInTO 60249@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Here's a link for this issue.</p> <p><a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/cut-off-posts-and-private-message-glitches" rel="nofollow">http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/cut-off-posts-and-private-message-glitches</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/forum-messages-cut-off#post-60248 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:50:33 +0000 sal930 60248@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Why are the messages cut off? I can't read half the messages people post.</p> <p>Thanks </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/found-single-adult-bed-bug-on-floor#post-60189 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:12:36 +0000 Bugbitten Meg 60189@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Bedbugs definitely can walk from one apartment to another, though it generally means they're hungry (someone went on vacation?) or their home apartment is already very crowded... or that someone nearby just treated for bedbugs, badly. (the bugs are resistant to 'bug-bombs' and the like, so neighbors in these cases often get the remaining population as the bugs flee the noxious rooms.)<br /> The chair is also a possible vector, though.</p> <p>A bit less than half the population reacts to bedbug bites, so that's actually not a perfectly reliable detection method (unless you've been bitten before on vacation or something) but if you went looking for signs in the usual places (the FAQ is good here) and didn't see any, you may be OK. Keep checking when you change your sheets, and good luck! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/found-single-adult-bed-bug-on-floor#post-60180 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:52:21 +0000 alan 60180@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>hello, I'm really freaked out! I got home last night and I found an alive adult unfed bedbug on its back on my floor. I searched my apartment for any others and found nothing. I have lived in that apartment for thee months and have had no bites, my mattress is a futon which is brand new three months ago. I searched it and found no signs. </p> <p>I had just gotten home from a coffee shop and i had been sitting in a chair with cloth upholstery. I suspect the bug hitched a ride on me from the chair, god only knows how many people sit in the chair per day, some with bed bugs. I will go back to the coffee shop tonight to inspect the chair.</p> <p>I was wondering, has it ever been reported that bedbugs walk from one apartment to another? I trapped this one in a plastic bag to get a better look at it, it is moving very slow, seems close to dying. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/happy-to-find-you-guys-#post-60080 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:46:13 +0000 bait 60080@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>teehee. </p> <p>BBBoogie, dig in your heels. This is quite a ride. </p> <p>You sound bright, and patient - considering who you married. Just kidding. At least you're not alone.</p> <p>Hope you're one of our success stories. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/happy-to-find-you-guys-#post-60004 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:42:29 +0000 cilecto 60004@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Your husband must have been using the "because I said so" technique for BB prevention. Welcome to the secret fellowship of Cimex Lectularius. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/happy-to-find-you-guys-#post-60002 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:27:48 +0000 bbboogie 60002@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi all! I've been lurking since Sept 1st and finally registered so I can put in my 2 cents! I never, ever thought I'd get bedbugs and thank God I found this website where I could get some great information, but more importantly....a feeling of not being alone with this problem.<br /> I'll write more details on the weekend but wanted to say that while I get horrendous bites my husband gets nothing! Is that fair? For 2 weeks I kept telling him that we must have bedbugs but he didn't believe me until I woke up at 6 AM one morning and caught one as it was walking away from it's meal (me!). I showed him the pictures on this website and yep...he finally agreed with me. Back in early August he was told that there were bedbugs at his job but he insisted that he never brought home. Ha! I wish he hadn't! Anyway, I'll get into details &#38; how we are coping when I have more time to write but wanted to introduce myself and thank you for being here. :-) </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bug-newbie-my-story-advice-and-thoughts-wanted#post-59959 Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:22:26 +0000 sandra 59959@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>This is exactly what I went and am going through. THANK Goodness you got some common sense. Maybe our anxeity disorder has a purpose after all lol.. But that is what it takes to get to the nitty gritty of the matter and get rid of it. It isn't a easy job by no means and I also had tons of clothes and a bit of a pack rat myself, I will change this aspect of my life and have made wonderful improvments so far. I would still suggest the double sided tape to put down across yoru threshold and around your bed post and around yoru encasements. Keep spraying the alcohal over and over and vac all the time. if you do this and wash all your clothes and your car you might be on a good track. </p> <p>One other word of caution be very careful who you let in...... your space!! The bugs loveeeeeeeeee to travel!! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/can-you-see-just-one-and-thats-it#post-59832 Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:16:21 +0000 crazy2day 59832@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I have been bitten up and down over the past 4 weeks or so. Yesterday, I found one bug on my bed in morning after I got out of the bed and put the lights on. I [/i]think<em> it's a bed bug...anyway, is there any way you can find just one or two bugs and that's the end of it?</p> <p>I have a suspicion that my neighbors downstairs had the bed bugs earlier this summer because back in June I recall that they threw away their mattresses and couch. I figured they were redecorating. </p> <p>I do have a question: should I encase my mattresses from now? I have not even contacted a Pest service yet; I first have to tell the superintendent of my apt. complex. My husband is saying stuff like, "Well we just saw </em>one [i] so we shouldn't jump the gun and we're really not certain it's truly a bed bug." Yet I've been bitten on my lower leg, my neckline and my forearm over the past 4-5 weeks. I chalked it up to mosquitoes. </p> <p>If these <u>are</u> bedbugs, then would I be foolish to have pest contractor service my apt. while the people downstairs probably get pest service done? </p> <p>I am sick to my stomach over this , I hate my bed now and want to just buy new furniture and go to a new apartment somewhere else and start frest. To make it worse my husband is chronically ill and would have a difficult time to be out of the apt the 4 hours it'll take for treatment. He is so ill, he cannot help me put the mattress protector cover on - I'll have to get my brother and sister in law to help me. </p> <p>Has anyone used the "heat treatment" unit as advertised on this board? Does it really work?<br /> Does a "steamer machine" really work to kill the bugs and eggs/larve? </p> <p>Has anyone successfully and permanently gotten rid of the bed bugs? Can it be possible?</p> <p>Thank you. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/regarding-dogs-and-bags#post-59702 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:25:38 +0000 BBsonme 59702@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>This site offers a wealth of information. You just have to search, unfortunately not all topics have tags and sometimes finding your answer is harder than finding a bed bug. See the link below on how infestation is graded.</p> <p><a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/how-we-grade-infestations" rel="nofollow">http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/how-we-grade-infestations</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/regarding-dogs-and-bags#post-59701 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:20:30 +0000 BBsonme 59701@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I was actually searching for information on carpet beetles when I stumbled across a site called bugspray.com; The site starts with the biological information one needs to know about bed bugs; which, if you've spent any time on this site you will probably become all too familiar with. It also offers methods for self treatment. David Cain and others have repeated the importance of positive ID before beginning treatment. They have an electric heat trap that they state has proven effective in also trapping bed bugs. It works by simulating the body temperature, the bugs crawl onto the the surface and are trapped by glue. It can then be used to show your PCO for identification purposes.</p> <p><a href="http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page795.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page795.html</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page797.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page797.html</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bugs-at-work-and-at-home#post-59637 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:52:08 +0000 cilecto 59637@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Get educated, make a plan.<br /> bag all your stuff, inspect it going in and out. papers one by one.<br /> Wash and dry all your clothes &#38; bedding.<br /> Shoes can be heat treated, place in knotted pillowcase and run through dryer for 20-30 minutes.<br /> Bottles and jars rinsed off.<br /> sacrifice stuff you don't really care for or need.<br /> A lot of this will need to take place outside the hostel, which seems too f-ed up. Any treatment there could drive the BB into your stuff.<br /> If in doubt, throw it out or keep it bagged until you figure out how to treat.<br /> Ask a lot of questions.<br /> Best of luck. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bugs-at-work-and-at-home#post-59636 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:45:24 +0000 cilecto 59636@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>IIRC, it's illegal for a LL to treat in NY. It must be done by resident or a pro. If your LL thinks he can make a dent before the pro comes, he's a shnook or that's all he really intends to do...placate you 'til you move on. Sorry to welcom you aboard. Best of luck. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bugs-at-work-and-at-home#post-59612 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:57:02 +0000 tinyvampire 59612@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>hi, all...</p> <p>i read a post somewhere around here re: someone dusting their work area with DE.</p> <p>i haven't seen any signs of bb around my work area *yet* THANK GOD, but should i also dust with DE; spray with alcohol, etc.?</p> <p>also, i told my boss about my problem, since i had to call in sick about it one day. i haven't told my coworker who i work most closely with in our small department. however, my boss' partner (who also works here) knows, and they've probably told some other people.</p> <p>how public should i go with this to protect my coworkers? i want to do something -- but i don't want to humiliate myself any further, and i don't want to create any hysteria about it, either.</p> <p>before i leave home, i make sure that the clothes i put on are from my sealed bag of dryer treated clothes, and i'm trying to rub my shoes and desk down with alcohol or clorox wipes. should this be enough?</p> <p>ugh,<br /> -tinyvampire </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/horrible-nightmare#post-59587 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:24:24 +0000 Strabat 59587@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>This sent me into a little "high investigative mode" as someone stated. Another harborage was uncovered behind something I never stapled to the wall?? </p> <p>I was thinking the same thing about when I took this place. My reservations and internal hesitations. However, one does what one has to do. </p> <p>We're in good company. Most of the world is being taken off guard by these -pests. Almost, seems to mild a word for the extreme reaction it brings about mentally, physically, socially, financially, etc. </p> <p>Ridding ourselves of the cimex has taken precedence over everything else. I'll be trying to keep from getting overwhelmed and losing hope that this can be beaten. My head is in my hands many times a day now with some very dark thoughts. </p> <p>Time for rest for the next days battles. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/horrible-nightmare#post-59585 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:22:55 +0000 golders 59585@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi Strabat,<br /> Thanks for your post. It might be lack of sleep, but it all seems very surreal. How had I never heard of these before (other than the flippant 'sleep tight.. ' saying)? How can people not know about them?<br /> I am in the UK, and not sure what the procedure is, but am assuming a PCO will come round and agree that it's a major, longstanding thing, and the landlord can pay for whatever needs to be done.<br /> Thanks for your message- I'm glad my post has helped in some way. You have my complete sympathy, and my ear if you want to vent/talk.<br /> Thanks for replying... it's been a long night for me, and it does feel very isolating. Strange how I somehow feel it's my fault. Stupidly chose the wrong flat to rent, I guess.<br /> Golders </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/horrible-nightmare#post-59583 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:14:01 +0000 golders 59583@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi :) I am not looking forward to telling the landlord as I expect she already knows.. I feel like we were tricked into taking the place (it had been empty a month). In our agreement it says tenants should launder all bedding etc etc before moving out... but the previous ones clearly didn't, from what I have seen of my mattress, there are lots of fully mature adults and loads of mess... it's been there months, and we certainly didn't bring this from our previous place. I feel like we were duped.<br /> I really don't want to stay here :(<br /> All the furniture in here is the landlord's, and was used by previous tenants. Including my wardrobe, which STINKS of mothballs. So I think it has been an ongoing problem.<br /> I think the best thing we can do is try to keep some perspective... so we don't lose our minds. Let's hope we are both free of them soon :) </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/horrible-nightmare#post-59582 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:12:05 +0000 Strabat 59582@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>It is a horrible nightmare. I'm a week or so ahead of you in the shock/awe/discovery phase. LL is no help and also suggested I sleep in a pesticide. Blame the victim. However, it is definitely connected to the adjoining apartment. Still too fearful to go in to much detail here.<br /> My family now knows and are sure that heat treatment is the only solution. I agree. It's a very isolating and depressing experience.<br /> From what I'm learning the inaction of LL is not correct however, every state is different and who wants the nightmare of court.<br /> This site is extremely helpful and I owe many thanks to nobugsonme and killerbee and spidey(?) and all the contributors.<br /> I've finally gotten a pco to come out. They are really picking thier clients.<br /> Golders and Dee your comments really resonated with me. Thank you for posting and as we go along through this nightmare perhaps, we can assist each other. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/horrible-nightmare#post-59580 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:44:09 +0000 dee 59580@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Im going through the same thing right now!! yeah, I cant sleep either! It hasnt been to long since I found out but I donot know exactly how long they have been here, but I know that they have cause much stress in my life! Even though my landlord isnt worth much, she has sent someone out to "try" to take care of the problem. Im thinking right now that I will leave if I have to give up all of my furniture being that they came from my neighbors! I have gone through some bad things before, but this has been one of the worst and I think Im losing my mind. If you feel as if you have to leave(trust me I know you do) then you would definintly be able to beat your landlord in court. I dont know if I have to that far because my landlord is good at pretending to be sympathetic..although she is just covering her ass! Please my no means expect them to care, because my landlord told me to sleep with off on! I wanted to punch her in her in the face! Good luck! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bugs-at-work-and-at-home#post-59579 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:38:18 +0000 golders 59579@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi,<br /> I am in a somewhat similar situation. Moved into a flat a month ago. Started getting what I thought were hives but never checked the bed. Checked this evening, having googled a bit more, and realise we have inherited a really bad situation. We have lots of bed bugs in all rooms by the looks of it and I seem to be very allergic.. covered in welts and bumps :(<br /> I can't really offer much advice, but just wanted to let you know you're not alone, and I hope the situation is being sorted out for you.<br /> Good luck. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/horrible-nightmare#post-59575 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:58:39 +0000 golders 59575@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi,<br /> My flatmate and I have just figured out that our entire flat is infested with bed bugs... it is now nearly 5am and I can't sleep... can't go near my bed at all.</p> <p>We moved in a month ago. Had no idea such things existed, didn't look at mattresses at all. Idiots.</p> <p>Just over a week after moving, I noticed bites. I assumed they were hives, as I had suffered from them briefly a few years ago, due to stress I think, for a short time. My flatmate had no bites/hives, which made me think 'Yep, hives... I'm obviously stressed by the move.' Had noticed a few bugs, one or two in bed, in lounge, etc, but assumed they were harmless bugs. Have spent the last 3 weeks suffering horrible ichy welts, all up and down my arms, hands, backs of calves, knees, feet, shoulders, back. Must have had a hundred of them. Went to medical surgery but as wasn't registered with NHS couldn't see anyone. In process of registering, but is taking 2 weeks to see a doctor. The 'hives' would lessen at times, so I was basically waiting for them to go, like they had (apparently) years earlier.</p> <p>Anyway... came home from work today and was chatting to flatmate who had noticed she had developed a few of these ichy places too over last week. Just a few on her feet mainly. So we are thinking.. must be something in the flat, not just me getting hives again. We had been racking our brains to figure it out. My room has always smelled v strongly of mothballs.. was wondering if I was allergic to mothballs, etc. So naive! Finally my flatmate googles 'red bug' or similar, a last resort... and we see the pic and recognise immediately. We have seen these bugs round the flat. We read up on them via wikipedia. I peel back the undersheet on my bed, just one corner. At least 6 full adults in plain sight. Loads of the black specks. Stupidly, when we moved I had just put my sheets over the plain undersheet thing already over the mattress here... was tired, couldn't be bothered removing it, it looked clean enough. Checked the flatmates bed... exactly the same thing. She's now sleeping on floor in less infested lounge, while I obsessively read about bugs online.</p> <p>I have a couple of questions:</p> <p>Does this sound a very heavy/bad case?<br /> I am worried the ladylady will blame us/not believe we didn't bring them here. I don't earn a lot and can't really afford all the pest control stuff. Especially when it is clearly an ongoing problem-- no wonder my room stinks of mothballs (carcinogenic too... perfect!)<br /> Are we within our rights to leave (our tenancy agreement is for min of 6 mnths)? It has a clause about the place needing to be habitable. I don't now if I will ever feel Ok here. I have been sleeping on bed of bloodsuckers for a month, oblivious.</p> <p>I feel like this is a nightmare.</p> <p>Thanks so much for this site and especially this forum. It has been great for info and has made me feel a bit less cursed. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/lawsuit-anyone#post-59547 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:51:26 +0000 DougSummersMS 59547@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Your legal standing is dependent on your location, type of tenancy, terms of your lease, state &#38; local laws / agency policies.</p> <p>If you are in NYC, there is a section in the FAQs and there is an excellent article on New York vs Bed Bugs.com about the laws and resources that may be available to you.</p> <p>Talk with an attorney that has experience with this type of case... Proving the source of an infestation is a very difficult endeavor... Expert testimony may be required to prove your case. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/lawsuit-anyone#post-59519 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:48:48 +0000 Strabat 59519@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Is moving really the answer? I'm in a similar stage of processing the reality of a bb infestation.<br /> However, my LL is stated its not their responsibility. Took my samples and has left me to deal with this on my own.<br /> I'm very overwhelmed. Hopefully the PCO will call me tomorrow. I've been trying to research the laws in ca since I'm concerned about them retaliating against me.<br /> This all began with repairs to a neglected adjoining apartment.</p> <p><a href="http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/index.shtml" rel="nofollow">http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/index.shtml</a></p> <p>There is a link to a list of all the states laws on the site. I'm also new to forums and not in a solid enough frame of mind to find it for you. </p> <p>Moving may be the answer if management and other residents are simply going to blame the victim or bully you around. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/regarding-dogs-and-bags#post-59394 Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:25:43 +0000 geoclintwash 59394@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>hi, this is my first post. a couple of nights ago i came home, looked at my bed, and actually saw an adult bed bug crawling across my sheets, calm as you please. i trapped it in alcohol and taped it up to verify it was indeed a BB and sure enough it was. a pretty cursory examination of my bed turned up a concentration of bugs on my box spring on the far side near the wall -- the matress and sheets looked oddly pristine. i had received some mysterious bites before but only on my legs, not anywhere else on my body, and concluded due to other places i'd been hanging out and the shape and frequency of the bites that they were just from mosquitos. i got in touch with my Super next morning and he immediately called my building's PCO -- they went in with my permission while i was at work and made an inspection. now, a few days later, the same PCO is scheduled to come in and administer treatment -- i don't know exactly what he plans to do but he recommended i prepare by getting mattress encasements for post treatment, and also advised to my relief that he believes it to be "a minor infestation." i definitely plan to ask him to come back for a secondary examination and treatment a few weeks from now. </p> <p>one reason i'm posting my story is that i'm hoping a few facts will be helpful for others: one, that my bites had little to no resemblance to pictures of bites one might find online -- infrequent, mostly single bites, and concentrated on one area of my body. this is just a reinforcement of the facts on this site, that no two people manifest the same reaction or symptoms of bed bug bites. two, as a sort of hopeful story for those living in big old buildings in brooklyn -- my super was very responsive and the fact that the management company retains the services of a professional PCO is also very encouraging. if you get on it right away and practice candor and respect you may very well have an easier time of it. </p> <p>the second reason i'm posting is to ask some questions:</p> <p>1) what do people think about the "minor infestation" diagnosis in light of the fact that i actually SAW a bed bug crawling around? this seems pretty rare from all i've read and was at first suggestive to me that it was a pretty serious problem. of course i was relieved to have a pro contradict this, but i still have my doubts. </p> <p>2) my significant other has already ordered encasements for her own bed -- she has experienced no suspicious bites and has as yet been unable to find any evidence i carried any of the little devils over to her place, but she wants to be vigilant and is thinking of having an inspection either by human or by a trained dog. does anyone have any advice for her on this? if she has no circumstantial evidence of bugs does it make sense for her to throw down for a dog?</p> <p>thanks so much in advance. i have really appreciated having all the info on this site at my fingertips at the last few days, it's made me feel more grounded and in control. i'll also report back when i know more about my PCO's methods.</p> <p>GCW </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/new-blood-here-long-introduction#post-59264 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:53:57 +0000 spideyjg 59264@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>You should not have sprayed anything if a PCO was coming in. If they were bringing the K9 back out they likely will not use it due to the pesticides you applied for the dogs safety.</p> <p>Jim </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/new-blood-here-long-introduction#post-59263 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:38:45 +0000 NewBlood 59263@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>My brother Dave, God bless him, stops by yesterday with chemicals (Hot Spot I think is what it was called) and helps me vacuum my apartment again and we spray the stuff in cracks and get the box spring sprayed down. "I didn't get them last time I was there Tim, I'm not going to get them this time either, I'm not going to let a bugget to me". It meant alot to hear that, and I can't bear the thought of spreading these terrible creatures to him, or anyone in my family. Action Pest Control also called back again - God bless them too - to coordinate when to send their team down again. Next Wednesday (October 7th) is when they'll be down - and odds are I'll bechoosing them to perform the extermination too as they offer a 90 day warranty on their extermination service. It's expensive, but then again it's about what I wouldexpect given how difficult these things are to treat.</p> <p>Unfortunately I can't guarantee that my neighbors will be checked, and even if they are if my LL would pay for their apartments to be cleaned. I plan on springing for the entire cost of my own apartment to be cleaned out, and if my LL will still 'go halfs' that maybe he'd pay for a retreatment if the bugs come back after that time. (Hopefully they won't, I've heard good things about a properly executed exetermination)! I would hope that would mean that the bugs are finding their way in from some other apartment if that was the case, as opposed to simiply 'missing them' via treatments.</p> <p>So that's my story, and my introudction. Thanks for reading it all, sorry if it was rather long winded, but I'm rather long winded myself. :) I am not too sure about what I should be doing now - as I want the treatment I get to be successful, but should I start bagging everything now? What do I do with all the little nick-nacks I possess - like books, collectable stuff, and so on? Do I thow them all away? I'd hate to get rid of it all, especially some of the pictures I own as they were gifts from other people. :( Anyway, I better stop typing or I'll NEVER stop typing. :) </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/new-blood-here-long-introduction#post-59262 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:35:42 +0000 NewBlood 59262@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>So the assistant stops by and briefly looks under the boxspring, the mattress and the sofa in my living room. He can't see anything easily either (again, I've lookedmore closely for signs and I can't find anything myself) and indicates that the dog must have been wrong. I'm not so sure myself since I haven't had, what I feel, isa good honest LOOK around yet. I also haven't been 'feasted' upon since the first round of bites appeared. He is a nice guy - everyone has been rather nice and helpful, if not very thourough, and helps me put the Box Spring in an encasement. This was last Wednesday (September 23rd).</p> <p>I have been trying to see if I have any 'new' bites since then but it is impossible to tell. I think something is biting me still -&gt; but none of the new bites itch or look like the first batch I have had. I have a log of where I've been bitten as well to try to track it all, but I think I am constantly missing spots. Twice I woke up this past weekend to find a mosquito like bite on me, but as of today (September 30th) they are gone, and never itched past the initial bite, compared to the bites I got on August 30th that STILL itch occasionally.</p> <p>So thinking that NJ law says that my LL must take care of the problem I put together a list of companies he can use to combat these things -&gt; as if he is required to take care of them I want him to make a good choice or else they'll spread through the entire apartment complex (if they haven't already). I call up 8 different pest control companies: Cooper Pest Solutions, Eliminex Pest Control, PROs (AAA Superior Pest Control), Action Pest Control, and two others that don't service my area. Action - upon finding out that their team did not do a visual inspection - had been incredible. They've offered to send a team down AGAIN for free to inspect WITH visual,and apologized numerous times. They've also put me into contact with their bed bug expert Tom who is to call today to give me some advice. I also want to add here that ALL of the companies I listed above have excellent customer service people who handle the calls -&gt; they are eager to educate people about these bugs and help however they can.</p> <p>ALSO - AAA Superior Pest Control has a Thermal Van treatment for those who may be looking to move out of an infestation into a new home. It is expensive ($1,500) to use it, and I am not sure yet about how much it is guaranteed to work (or if any warranty applies) but it was interesting to hear about it. I returned to the Real Estate Agency with all of the information from these companies - and then discovered from them that the NJ A-3203 bed bug elimination law is in fact, not a law at all! It's still a bill. How embarrasing. The Land Lord's reaction to the cost of removal was "WOW that's expensive!". He offered to go 'halfs' on a treatment for my apartment though - as I am a great tenant.</p> <p>This brings me to wrapping up this story: </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/new-blood-here-long-introduction#post-59261 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:35:11 +0000 NewBlood 59261@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>So I go to bed after some airing out of the room, and I wash all my linens again. I'm not bitten that night! But alas, the next night I am - I awake to a small biteon my left arm again. So I decide that I will get some help of my own to look for them - at least if I find a bug I can then try to persuade my LL to use a group that I choose (nothing again the PCO that visited me, but I've heard the only real way to get rid of these things is a steam/chemical visit and a repeat as needed once every two weeks or so). After looking around online I find that K9 teams are supposedly very good at locating these things, especially with low level infestations whichis what I hope I have. I find that only Action K9 Pest Control does the area that I live in (I'm 20 minutes away from Atlantic City - not in the city itself) and decide I'd give them a call.</p> <p>The customer service ladies they have were extremely nice and, like me, hoped that I didn't have the nasty little suckers. They tell me it'll cost $300.00 though andthat makes me nervous. That's really expensive. They'll do a visual inspection too right? Yes - they are instructed to search the area that the dog alerts too. Are they sure? Yes, definitely. Over the next three days I'm bitten again I think. None of the new bites look like the old ones though, nor do they itch quite the same.</p> <p>The team comes down with Cassie - and she's a beautiful dog indeed. The handler is very nice and knows his stuff - as I would have expected. They walk in and take alook at the bed - it's a brief look (I have inspected my bed more thouroughly) and just as I don't find anything on the sides of the mattress -&gt; however they did not inspect the underside, nor the boxspring. This is fine, after all they have Cassie to do the inspection to help them realize where to look. So Cassie comes in and they lead her around. She's hungry though - she was begging for food earlier which didn't make me feel any better. I definitely don't want false positives! She doesn't find anything until they bring her to the bed - and she sits to indicate that she's found something. She does this three times around the bed, and there's nothing else in the room. Good - I'll finally have a sample bug!</p> <p>The rest of the apartment is checked and the CHAIR I sit in near my computer has them too according to Cassie. Amazing! Most of my time is spent in that chair! So now we know where to look... and this is when I am going to be let down. The tech says that there's no point in searching for them via a visual inspection. I'll never find them because of how tiny they are. Now - the CHAIR I use is a $20.00 from staples put-it-together-yourself chair. It's very easy to take apart and inspect butthey didn't want to do so. They also wouldn't check the bed/box-spring for them. I had called and asked several times before they arrived if the techs would also doa visual inspection. It was the entire reason I decided to pay the $300 to them instead of having a PCO over that would spend 2+ hours looking instead. Also - one CAN see them, and they should have a magnifying glass to look for eggs and whatnot! * </p> <p>*Note - see the fourth/fifth post here to see more about Action - they have apologized for this and are resending the team out to check again with a visual inspection! Yay! That's fantastic! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/new-blood-here-long-introduction#post-59260 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:32:31 +0000 NewBlood 59260@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hey everyone, new blood here (pun intended) with a story of how I may or may not have these things, and what I'm currently going through now. I want to say first off, that this website is wonderful - great to see a place that offers support, FAQs, and ideas on how to combat these little monsters.</p> <p>So August 30th I awake with bites all over my feet and ankles. I attribute it to walking around outside (grassy area) the day before in flip-flops (must have picked up some chiggers) as an area I had walked through for about 30 seconds or so was damp and shaded. I also had bites a bit further up on my left leg though - which was odd for me as usually chigger bites get me only near my feet. The bites area also lined up around my sock line though - so I'm pretty sure that's the problem. Just in case I wash all of my sheets, linens and clothes - I don't want these things walking around on me and eating my skin!</p> <p>A week later though... I wake to find more bites on my inner right thigh. That's odd... I don't remember them there before, but they itch like the others. I start to become a little more worried now. I wash ALL of the clothes I ownAGAIN, and all the sheets/linens on my bed again. I also begin researching on-line what else bitesyou and leaves welts.</p> <p>Chiggers. Fleas. Bed Bugs. Bed bugs? Those are real? After spending 4 hours reading about them I become worried. VERY worried. I live in an apartment complex -and of course I have friends and family visit from time to time. None of my friends have ever complained about getting bitten by anything and I don't talk to my neighbors very often... I'm also a hypocondriac so I panic about all sorts of things (but since I have almost died two years ago to a blood clot, and I have a host of medical problems wrong with me I tend to panic easily).</p> <p>I decide to keep track of how many bites I have, and see if I'm bitten again. The problem is that the bites don't always itch - the itch comes and goes randomly throughout the day. However, I do wake up with new bites on my arm - a single one. I go to the real estate office and let them know I may have bed bugs. They are surprised, and say that they'll have their pest control guy stop by to deal with them. During this time I have been sleeping with a flashlight to see if I 'get lucky' and spot one, but no dice. I have also looked throughout the bed, and box spring but don't find any either. I have set my frame (metal, no headboard) in plastic dixie cups with soapy water in them to try to catch the bugs if they're crawling up from somewhere else too - nothing has been caught. This would have been two weeks ago - September 17th.</p> <p>Sure enough - later that day the PCO stops by. He's a really nice guy and takes a look at the bed for the tell tale blood specs. He doesn't look all that long however, (no lifting up the seams as I had done) but he, like me, doesn't see any sign of them. I lift up the box spring and there's no obvious sign of them there either.Just to be sure he sprays the entire mattress and box spring down with cedar oil which supposedly kills them (I've not heard of this treatment before) and the bed room certainly does smell nice. The inspection though, lasted only about 4 minutes if that - as it was only a really brief look for the bugs. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/lawsuit-anyone#post-59228 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:05:55 +0000 scaredasheck 59228@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi everyone.</p> <p>I need some serious advise! I just moved into an apartment with a bed bug problem. I've lived here one month. It took me a while to figure it out...not long!!</p> <p>The management here has sent pest control here...they've been here twice and are coming again this week for another treatment. It's been better but I'm still getting bit at night.</p> <p>I asked the community manager to let me out of the lease and reimburse ALL my moving expenses. They agreed to release me from the lease but pay my expenses.</p> <p>I FEAR that they will NOT be able to get rid of these bugs completely and am considering taking them to small claims court. Does anyone have any info on this? Stories or experiences?</p> <p>I've been reading up on bed bugs and I'm scared outa my ever loving mind!! </p> <p>Please help. Also...I've never been on this kind of forum before...hope I can navigate through it and find any and all responses. Thank you </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bugs-at-work-and-at-home#post-59161 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:03:39 +0000 kos 59161@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hello,<br /> I moved over to New York at the end of June and I've been staying in a long term hostel with 5 other girls. All 6 of us came over from England for a 6 month internship and it had been going fine until a few weeks ago.<br /> About 2 weeks ago one of the designers at my work found a bed bug crawling along her desk. Work said it was being treated, they got people in that night and then the next they bought in a dog group etc. That weekend my Aunt asked if I'd like to move in with her as she had a room coming free in her appartment. I jumped at the chance, the hostel is very lonely and I'm a bit homesick.<br /> But then thursday I woke up in the morning and started reading this website and freaked myself out. I finally braved to look for bedbugs and didn't have to look very far, I found an adult right in the corner, didn't even have to lift by matress up. So I know I have bb's.<br /> Work sent me home straight away to deal with stuff. I gave all my clothes, bed clothes, quilt and pillow to the laundrette and the manager of the hotel/hostel said that although he couldn't call the exterminator in until tuesday (tomorrow) he'd 'spray' the room himself to start with.<br /> Now, it was very silly of me, I should have looked before. I've been getting bites all over since I arrived in june but I thought they were mostly mosquitos (which I think they were to begin with). But then I got bitten more and more at work. I'd go into work with 1 bite and leave with 10.<br /> It's hard to know where they came from and it's not good to point fingers (although the middle aged women at work are all giving me dirty looks... oh and directly mentioned me to the whole office when there was a Q and A with the exterminators - nice) but I'm sure I bought them home from work.<br /> Anyway, I digress and I'm making everyone bored.<br /> I desperately want to move into my Aunts appartment because I can't stand being in this hostel any more. But I can't move in until these bugs are gone. All my clothes are in an airtight bag. But what about my shoes, my books, my toiletries, my paperwork? I don't have access to a freezer and the vacuum cleaner at this place isn't one with a nosel it's a big floor one (if you know what I mean?). I'm worried about my food because my miniture refridgerator is at the end of my bed, and to be honest I just want to go home. I can borrow a hand held steamer from work to go over my suitcases but I'm not sure how hot they get.<br /> This evening I found a baby bed bug crawling along my bed. The exterminator is meant to be coming tomorrow but I dont know how well I trust this hostel anymore, I'm sure it's going to be a conman or something. How can I make sure they (a) come tomorrow (as I leave at 8:20am for work and don't get back until the same time pm) and (b) do a good job?<br /> My matresses are covered in plastic anyway so the bugs I've found have just been on my sheets, and the base of the bed is just a metal frame. I'm too weak to pull it out properly to look (and too scared).<br /> So basically, I have those few questions raised above, but the most important one is how do I know when I'm clean enough to go to my Aunts? How long do I have to leave it before I know they're gone for good?</p> <p>I'm practically alone in NY and I'm ready to jump on the first flight home but I know I can't because I'll just bring the bed bugs home to my parents and then they'll hate me too! haha.</p> <p>HELP! =( </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/self-treat-or-not-to-self-treat#post-59130 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:28:01 +0000 Nobugsonme 59130@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>A spammer hit the blog on the weekend with the same post about a petition -- 25 times. It's been deleted. It is not as easy to edit out every reference to the spam, however. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/self-treat-or-not-to-self-treat#post-59110 Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:36:10 +0000 bbbegone 59110@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <blockquote><p><cite>spideyjg - 18 hours ago <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/self-treat-or-not-to-self-treat#post-59059">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;</a></cite><br /> STOP IT WITH THE DAMN PETITION CRAP!<br /> How many threads are you gonna post it in!</p></blockquote> <p>what petition? </p> <p>-----</p> <p>Is there any PCO or someone on this forum that has experience with Onslaught or knows how long it lasts and if it is effective against BB's? I mean, my situation has gotten better but I don't know if Onslaught could have repelled the BB's. I see other pests on the floor dead but no BB's.</p> <p>Please help. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/self-treat-or-not-to-self-treat#post-59059 Sun, 27 Sep 2009 02:04:57 +0000 spideyjg 59059@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>STOP IT WITH THE DAMN PETITION CRAP! </p> <p>How many threads are you gonna post it in! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/self-treat-or-not-to-self-treat#post-59013 Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:40:26 +0000 bbbegone 59013@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I am concetrating on sterilizing as much of my stuff as I can but I'm afraid of carrying something over to the other apartment which is why I want to kill as much of them as possible in my current apartment. BTW I'm moving around the 15th which is about 3 weeks, bugs will still have time to get into some of the stuff I need to use. If they are exposed to Phantom I have a greater chance of not carrying them over to the new apartment. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/self-treat-or-not-to-self-treat#post-59012 Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:26:33 +0000 CookEmDanno 59012@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>If you're moving in two weeks, why not concentrate on sterilizing as much of your stuff as possible and leave the apartment to the PCO and LL? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/self-treat-or-not-to-self-treat#post-59011 Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:02:22 +0000 bbbegone 59011@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I had a PCO which seems to know his stuff come in a treat my apartment about 2 weeks ago for what seems to be the beginnings of an BB infestation. The problem started about 1 and a half months ago. It could be that the bugs were already in my apartment when I moved 2 months ago or I could have brought them in coming back from my vacation. I was unable to find any sings of BB's besides the bites on my body. Suspecting BB's I was able to find 1-3 nymphs when I placed some sticky mice traps under the legs of my bed. I've showed them to the LL and he arranged from the PCO to come in. The treated with Onslaught and some regulator (not Gentrol something that strats with "en..."), Perma-Dust(Boric Acid) and some D-Force on my bed frame. 2 bedrooms were treated with good detail and the rest of the apartment not that well( some spraying around the baseboards). I am moving in about 2 weeks. I've started desinfecting my stuff with PackTite and will throw out some furniture. The landlord is not picking up the phone anymore and since its been 2 weeks since the last treatment I'm considering self-treating before I move to kill as many of them as possible. I have only been bitten once or twice over the 2 weeks after treatment compared to almost every day before. I'm afraid the Onslaught might have repelled the BB's, I'm seeing other insects being killed but no BB's or they are just small for me to see. I've bought the WhiteWing steamer(which I will not use on the Onslaught sprayed areas) to steam the furniture and some of my stuff. I've also bought some D-Force, Bedlam, PyGanic dust, and Phantom bottle and spray. I need some advice. Should I self treat with Phantom(carefully following the label) on top of Onslaught. How long does Onslaught last, I know its microencapsulated but is it still as effective after 2 weeks? Please help! Thank you.</p> <p>Sorry for the lenghty and bit chaotic explanation. Wanted to give as much details as possible to explain my patricular situation. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/do-i-have-bed-bugs-4#post-58657 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:38:24 +0000 badbadbedbugs 58657@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I wish I'd read this a few weeks ago... I had bites but no evidence for 2 months + and we just spent $1300 on various treatments that may have been unecessary :( </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/ibm-pest-control-san-francisco#post-58624 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:49:03 +0000 BugZapped 58624@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Sorry. I meant IPM, not IBM in my post's title. </p>