http://bedbugger.com/forum/ Bed bug support forums en Sat, 25 May 2013 22:36:12 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/help-we-might-have-bed-bugs#post-4819 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 21:28:58 +0000 meckman 4819@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi, nightshirt,</p> <p>I'm sorry I can't take a video; the camera bag's packed up as possibly contaminated! How ironic is that? I will try and give a detailed description, though. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/help-we-might-have-bed-bugs#post-4818 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 21:17:26 +0000 meckman 4818@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hey, somethingbites,</p> <p>I'm not surprised you haven't seen anything; I think they're not always easy to spot. I've seen a total of three bugs: two when the dermatologist first suggested bed bugs (we saw them on the bottom of my box spring) and one crawling slowly across our bedroom carpet about two and a hlaf weeks later, after the second PCO visit. That's it. No signs of streaking/spotting on the mattress, no signs of feces, nothing. We did get bites, however (my hosband just noticed a bite of some sort on his leg this evening, and I'm afraid it's you know what), so we know they're there.</p> <p>I don't know what the answer is about eggs on you or your kids. I don't think they actually lay eggs on you or in the sheets right where you're lying (I could be wrong). Anyone else with thoughts on that? </p> <p>I have not been showering each and every time I get out of bed (I'm afraid I'm a napper, so I've been known to be in my bed in the afternoon once or twice!). I have been putting clothes on out of the sealed bags (we've been using Hefty XXL bags, not Ziploc, and they seem to seal well) and putting dirty clothes straight into a "laundry" Hefty bag. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/help-we-might-have-bed-bugs#post-4814 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 20:54:02 +0000 somethingbites 4814@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Thanks to all of you for your responses. I want to giggle and cry that this is my first blog site that I've participated in, and it happens to be for bed bugs (maybe). A couple more questions... my husband finds it hard to believe we haven't seen anything yet. No squashed blood, or bodies, and no bugs of any kind. Last night I set the clock for 3:30am so we could turn on lights and see what was going on. Nothing. Obviously the PCO will hopefully find something, but how many of you never saw anything? And if you did, what was it that you saw? I'm curious also.</p> <p>Next, after you get all these outfits into bags, and you are ready to wear one, how do you know they are not on you or your family's bodies when you go to put the clean clothes on? Does a mere shower get them off of you if say an egg were stuck to your skin somewhere? Do you have to bathe or shower your kids every morning before they put on these bagged clothes? That is where I am not sure. Or is it not typical that they would be on your skin per se?</p> <p>Thanks again. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/help-we-might-have-bed-bugs#post-4787 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:21:52 +0000 willow-the-wisp 4787@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>You can take all cleaned laundry and troe it into a hot drier again for 45 minutes or until bone dry plus 15--20 minutes. That way all the wah you did only needs to be dried and bagged(that should save time and money)All cloth iteolms even drapes--msut come down and be washed or dry cleaned and sealed (or ... left up for the PCO's poisons)<br /> Yu will be told to bag and wash all laundry and cloth items so get on top of that.<br /> If you have vacuumed recently--don;t do it again until the PCO comes: also .... you might find some evidence insode the vacuume cleaner bag--often you will need this for a PCo to treat. That is a messy job and if you prefer not to do it--i would not blame you.<br /> You could weat goggles and a dust mask--rubber gloves and have small zip locks handy to store any evidence.<br /> Seems like bed bugs and seems like you have gotten the population down a few times just by odsing all the laundry.<br /> It all must be re-dries and sealed directly from the drier--fold as best you can sort as bwst yu can--and that's a good start.<br /> If you clean all luggage you would take and are sure there are no bb in the car yo uwill be driving--then perhaps a trip out would be best ... rather than having people over. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/help-we-might-have-bed-bugs#post-4785 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:16:33 +0000 nightshirt 4785@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>meck - i would love to see a video of that pup in action. can you do that and post it? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/help-we-might-have-bed-bugs#post-4783 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:08:59 +0000 meckman 4783@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi, something bites,</p> <p>We've been dealing with this now for about 6-8 weeks and have had the PCO out twice. We have isolated our and our son's beds, and haven't had a bite for about a week (you know as soon as I type that, I'll find another bite!). </p> <p>One hopeful thing we're trying tomorrow is a bed bug-sniffing dog, which you can find info about on the web (just put bed bug-sniffing dog in Google, and you'll get lots of hits; they're used in lots of hotels and such, and really are legit.) They apparently have a 90% or greater accuracy in detecting bugs and their eggs, so the PCO can hit those specific areas. I'll post how it goes.</p> <p>Hang in there! You will get through it. At least, that's what I keep telling myself! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/help-we-might-have-bed-bugs#post-4770 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:14:07 +0000 nightshirt 4770@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>ask the pco what chemicals they will be using. they need a residual and a contact and a dust for inside outlets, behind picture frames, etc. make sure the pco comes back every 10-14 days as that is when eggs, if they were lain will hatch. no chemical so far kills eggs so you have to understand their lifecycle. eggs are sticky and can hitch a ride on clothing, etc. that is why going to someones house may/may not be a good idea. you would hate to have given this curse to a friend.</p> <p>ziplock sells XXL baggies for large amts of clothing that seal. that is what we are talking about.</p> <p>they area attracted to the co2 in your breathing. that is how they know where their meal is. they can travael up to 20 feet for a meal. so where your bed is a 20 foot radius is where they can be hiding.</p> <p>i caulked EVERY crack in my floors and finished the molding around the walls to the floor and walls to the ceiling. they are thin as a credit card. whereever that can be they can be hiding.</p> <p>it is a hardship and overwhelming. we are here. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/help-we-might-have-bed-bugs#post-4745 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 10:46:21 +0000 Anonymous 4745@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>-Don't have people over until your infestation is gone--unless it's someone close who is there to help you, give support whatever, and they are taking all necessary precautions. You'll socialize again, just need some time.</p> <p>-Don't visit anyone until you get a good handle on how to deal with your clothing and linens and you have that firmly in hand. Re-read the do's and don'ts and the clothing faqs.</p> <p>-The whole house should be treated.</p> <p>-They get into your clothes by accident, because they can infest or wander around in your closets and dressers, or because you sit in infested furniture or beds.</p> <p>-People store things for 18 months in the hope that any bugs infesting those stored items will die. You don't have to store everything. A competent PCO can treat your home and all the bugs will come out to look for you and cross poisons to their deaths. It's very important, however, to get the right PCO. Interview carefully and read the faqs.</p> <p>-The first step is to get clean clothes for the whole family, laundered and dried correctly, bagged directly from the drier. From now on, until it's over, everyone wears something directly from one of those bags. Dirty laundry also sealed in bags.</p> <p>-Save any evidence you find. Do not over-clean for an inspection. Leave as is, but get someone in there asap.</p> <p>-In 2 weeks time you may have your clothing under control and might consider going ahead with the visit. It's a very personal decision you'll have to make on your own. It's not just you, your kids, etc., the logistics may be overwhelming. See if you can decide in a few days when you have more information. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/help-we-might-have-bed-bugs#post-4743 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 10:19:51 +0000 somethingbites 4743@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I am just now realizing we may have bed bugs after a few months of dealing with bites off and on. I first thought it was scabies and treated that a few times (I live with a husband and two children 4 and 6 and we all treated for it). As you may know, with scabies you also do a ton of wash and vacuuming/dusting etc... so it would slow it down and sometimes stop it for a time. At one point I had a two month hiatus. I went to a dermatologist twice. He first ruled out scabies, and the second time he just said it's clearly a bite but it could be almost anything. He obviously doesn't know much about this. Anyway, I spent all day yesterday reading about bed bugs and though I haven't seen any true signs, I can't imagine what else this could be. </p> <p>I was the only one getting bit at first, and now we all are - mostly at night and waking with welty bites that itch like heck. I worry about the kids getting secondary bites from scratching.</p> <p>OK, so I need some immediate help... I've read the FAQ's (mostly), but I'm still not sure what we need to be doing as far as other people go. I have calls into PCO's right now for treatment options. Can I have visitors and can we go to other people's houses? How is it that they get into your clothes when they don't live on your body? Should I start vacuuming now, or wait until someone comes to inspect so that they might find something? Do you treat your bedrooms or the whole house? How far away from your bed might you find an infestation? I am feeling overwhelmed and frankly just want to cry for a week right now. My kids just finished school and will mostly be here with me this summer, so the prospect of finding the time and energy this is going to take is scaring the hell out of me.</p> <p>What are people doing with clothes and what is it with all these sealable bags etc...? and how did we come up with 18 months? We are supposed to go visit friends in 2 weeks and I don't know if we should even be going. How do I know I am not taking bugs with me?</p> <p>I'm sure all of you can relate to this feeling and these questions etc... Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated.</p> <p>Thanks a bunch - Somethingbites </p>