Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums Topic: Questions - New to Site, New to Bed Bugs :(

GotEmHA on "Questions - New to Site, New to Bed Bugs :("

GotEmHA — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 13:21:37 +0000

One way to know whether you brought them home, and to catch the infestation early if you did, is to have a K9 inspection from a reputable company ($150-200 here in Massachusetts). A properly trained dog can find any live bugs and viable eggs very quickly and let you know exactly where the problem areas are.

HelpWithBugs on "Questions - New to Site, New to Bed Bugs :("

HelpWithBugs — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 23:14:39 +0000

Thanks for the replies and the helpful advice. I think that I will buy a packtite. I'm a consultant, so I travel a lot for work and after this (regardless of the outcome), I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be paranoid. In fact, I think that I'll ask work for pay for it. I suspect they'll say no, but if they really work, I think that they should be given to all business travelers!

KillerQueen on "Questions - New to Site, New to Bed Bugs :("

KillerQueen — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 20:05:13 +0000

Sorry to hear the bad news! Hang in there and do nothing until you get a professional inspection. Do not disrupt the crime scene .... Homicide detectives want to see the body before its in the grave ... inspections for bed bugs should be the same. Do nothing in the room until you confirm you have a problem. If you read the FAQ's you can learn how to leave the house free of bugs, or possible bugs, so you can go to work. Best of luck!

this means war on "Questions - New to Site, New to Bed Bugs :("

this means war — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 18:00:58 +0000

Welcome to the loony bin! I think that you should operate as if you do have an infestation. Anyone on this site will tell you that the #1 priority is inspection, followed closeley by cleanliness. Read the FAQs about how to start treating your bedroom yourself (vacuuming, pulling the bed away from the wall). Do some google image searches to get an idea of what you are looking for, but keep this in mind: most of the images, like those of say, sexually transmitted diseases, are the most obvious/worst case scenarios. The first step is always denial. I came up with dozens of explinations for the purpose of omitting bed bugs, and I all but sacrificed a chicken to the Scabies Gods, all to no avail.

Sleepless in NYC on "Questions - New to Site, New to Bed Bugs :("

Sleepless in NYC — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 11:33:39 +0000

Hi Helpwithbugs, Sorry that you're going through this. There is a possibility that you didn't bring any home and your bites may be delayed reactions to bites you received while you were at the hotel. I'm no expert by any means, but having said that, if they were able to find the bedbugs, I assume quite easily, there is a possibility also that one/some may have hitched a ride with you home. e.g. the clothes you slept in. BUT, only a possibility. Don't panic. If you did bring any home with you, you've caught the infestation early. I think you can continue to go to work, but just take precautions until your home has been cleared of bbs. Keep a few clean outfits in ziplock bags and dress just prior to leaving your home. Spray the bottom of your shoes with 91% alcohol. If you can work from home, that is also a great option, although I think going out to work and keeping your life as normal is important. You dont' want to be consumed by the fear of bbs. If you travel alot for work, you may want to purchase a packtite as a preventative measure. When you come back home from a trip you can put your luggage in it and kill any bbs and their eggs that may have somehow gotten into your belongings and luggage. You've come to the right place. Everyone here understands the anxiety and fear of bbs, be it having bbs or simply just going through the fear of having them. There are also expert PCOs and entomologists that frequent this forum. So along with them and peers, you'll have all the support you need. Everyone is supportive and helpful. Please post any questions you have here and someone will try to answer you . Come here to just chat if you want to or just vent. :-) Hang in there, you'll be fine!

HelpWithBugs on "Questions - New to Site, New to Bed Bugs :("

HelpWithBugs — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 11:05:14 +0000

Hi all - I found this site when frantically researching bed bugs. I went on a business trip week before last and then all last week kept getting more and more strange bites all over my arms. After doing some research, I realized that they were probably bed bug bites. I called the hotel on Friday, they checked the room I was in, and sure enough they found bed bugs there! So, all weekend I've been washing and bagging clothes, taken a ton of stuff to the dry cleaners - I imagine this is too little too late as my suitcase, clothes, etc. had already been in my house for a week! I've talked to one exterminators who was open on the weekend and he said I should wait and see. I've got calls in with others for Monday morning. So, some questions - It's possible I didn't bring any home, right? I got bites Saturday - Wednesday, but I've read those could have been delayed reactions from the week before. My husband or daughter are not bit, so maybe they were just at the hotel and not in my bed??? What do you do if the exterminator says "wait and see"? Isn't time of the essence here? How do you stay sane? This is all I can think about and I feel like I'm losing my mind. What do you do to get through this? I've told a few people at work. Should I keep going to work? I have the option to work from home. Maybe I should do that until I figure out what's going on.