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Another Bed Bug Victim Here
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SandiZan
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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Sep 29 2011 22:09:17
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My husband travels for a living, pretty much every week. He goes to places all over the east coast, and also NC and IL at times. Enough said about that.
A year ago around Labor Day, while on a trip, he broke out all over his entire body with hives, bites, things that looked like boils....it was bad. He saw several doctors who couldn't diagnose the problem, but three different biopsies revealed "allergic reaction to medication or bug bites". He was given steroids. Over the next year, he'd have break outs pretty frequently. Only him, not me or my son who also lives at home. We tried changing his medications one by one thinking that was it, but nothing helped. It happened at home and while he was away, so we could never pin point the cause.
Five weeks ago, I was in bed and happened to see a bug. Odd, bug in the bed. I killed it and became suspicious, but not overly so. We had been doing bed checks once a month just in case, but never found anything. Over the next few days, I couldn't shake the bug paranoia, so inspected the bed. I found blood all over the sheets (dark blue) , but again, wasn't overly alarmed because my husband has his "break-outs" and scratches in his sleep and bleeds sometimes. I stripped the bed anyway and washed everything. That night, I was falling asleep and felt something on my face. I brushed my cheek and opened my eyes....small bug on pillow. I sat up and looked around....another bug on sheets. Freaked out and left the room (about 2 am at this point). Faced the fact that we had bed bugs.
I told my husband the next day (he was away) and said we needed to call someone. I had read about bed bugs before and understood the gravity of the situation. He didn't. He didn't grasp the seriousness and the need to get professional help immediately, so he pretty much blew me off and was not wiling to pay for a professional. I started researching and found things that I could do....steam, frequent laundering, all pillows in the dryer, vacuuming and DE. For the next few weeks, I spent all of my spare time doing those things. I bought a bed bug cover for our box springs and mattress and dusted DE in the bedroom on baseboards, between the mattress and box springs, in empty dresser drawers, etc.....Upon inspection, the box springs was the only real place that we found evidence of them, and only after taking the fabric off. I've seen photos of bad infestations and this did not look like a bad one. Not a lot of excrement or casings. I have only ever seen one full grown bug and five babies.
Three days after putting the covers on our mattress, my son started to wake up with bites in his room. I still have had no reactions. I steamed his room, washed his bedding, spread DE and bought covers for his box springs and mattress. He began to sleep on the couch (I know, wrong move) and after two days of that, he woke up with bites in the living room.
That was the point that I felt like I lost control and could not contain this problem. I lost it on my husband and he got scared (manic, sleep-deprived woman) and agreed to call a professional. We had Ehrlich come out the next day and inspect. All he found was one dead one in the spare bedroom (I had also streamed, washed and DE'd in there two weeks before). Anyway, he gave us a quote for chemicals which I do not want because I have autoimmune issues and take an oral chemo medication along with other immunosuppressants. He also gave us a quote for the thermal - $4,500 for 1600 square feet. From reading about prices, I knew this was a pretty high quote. I want treatment, but do not want to get ripped off.
We called Orkin the next day and someone came out two hours later. First red flag - the guy didn't want to bother doing an inspection because he "believes" us that we have them. Second red flag - he was pushing the chemicals even though I said I didn't want that, and he said one treatment would take care of it. I know that's not true. However, his estimate for the thermal was more in line with the cost that I expected ($2,000), so we signed a contract with them. That was last Saturday and they are scheduled to come next Monday (over a week later - they were booked).
In the meantime, my husband and son began both sleeping in their beds and for the past week, have not had one bite. I think I have the bedrooms under control, but I now know they are in my living room furniture and therefore, are spreading. I've steamed the furniture, but it is very thick and cushy and I know it's not penetrating enough. I also put light DE in between the cushions.
Through all of this, I have been freaking out. I am up until 3 or 4 in the morning staring at the sheets, blankets and pillows and keeping all of the lights on. I work full time so this has been a strain. This really messes with your head if you have a bug phobia to begin with (which I do). No one realizes how many pieces of fuzz they have on their beds until they inspect each and every one. I have not seen any live bugs in weeks. I lay down, try to fall asleep and minutes later, sit up and inspect again. This goes on most of the night until I'm so dizzy and tired I finally pass out. I feel like there is not one safe place in my house and would literally stand in the middle of the living room for hours staring but I am really trying to talk myself into keeping it in perspective. The fact that I've never had a reaction helps because I can pretend they are not after me. Mind games.
We have been working on prepping the house for the heat treatment all week. We have hundreds of CD's and DVD's, old videos, etc. We were told to get rid of all plastic hangers, so we bought hundreds of chrome ones and are replacing all hangers in the closets. My fear is that we will remove something from the house that will re-infest us. This seems like an unrealistic task and I am afraid we are over-doing it. Do we have to remove plastic containers, fake plants, etc? I'm not sure what to do with books...some of them are glossy. Take them out or leave them? Photo albums? Games? I have several expensive cameras which I think should be removed....do they invade those?
I know that we now have to work on not getting re-infested when he is away too. He will have to follow my protocol but I'm afraid he will get sloppy at one point and blow it.
I am also afraid that the heat will cause damage to my house and furnishings. We spent a fortune on all new furniture three years ago....the first really good furniture we ever had. Nice wood coffee tables, entertainment center and bed room furniture. This is the suburbs - NOT supposed to happen here!
Any advice, words of wisdom?
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SandiZan
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Joined: Sep '11
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Posted 1 year ago
Fri Sep 30 2011 17:49:44
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Advice? Words of wisdom?
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nwreader
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Joined: Oct '10
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Posted 1 year ago
Sat Oct 1 2011 1:03:06
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It seems like most people have only had to remove things like candles and aerosol cans before a thermal. So your company seems very conservative and yes, I'd be worried about removing too much and then having to re-introduce it.
I'm not sure I get the clothes hangers issue. Is it for melting (surely they wouldn't) or a bug thing?
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your host
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Posted 1 year ago
Sat Oct 1 2011 2:06:05
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Only your structural heat treatment provider knows exactly what their method is and what might be damage. So IMO you really do have to follow their protocols.
I would be way of introducing anything back into the home which wasn't treated. If you have a plastic plant you're willing to part with, I would. If you're willing to risk damage, then perhaps that's an option too. Some things can, I suppose, be washed.
CDs and DVDs can be washed in warm water with a bit of dish soap and dried with a soft cloth (Netflix will actually tell you to do this if a disc skips) if removed from the home. So you might ask if liner notes and cases will be okay, and leave them in -- one box for notes, one for cases. Then if the cases melt, you can buy new ones or some kind of album case, but the liner notes will be safe. And the DVDs/CDs will be safe and bug free. Just an idea.
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AshamedandScratching
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Posted 1 year ago
Sat Oct 1 2011 3:05:25
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Im using a Packtite to treat my stuff.
I heat treated my DVDs and CDs. They seemed fine.
My grid rulers were ruined.
So it's really up to you what risk you are more comfortable with: heat damage or reintroduction.
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SandiZan
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Posted 1 year ago
Sat Oct 1 2011 11:06:10
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Yes, they specifically told us to remove plastic hangers, and anything that is plastic. That's why this is such a huge job - look around your house and take inventory of everything that is plastic - there is a lot! We have most things in large plastic containers that we'll either store outside or in the garage. We're ordering a pack tite today, so will use that to bring things back in (including the plastic plant).
About the CD's and DVD's - we have hundreds, literally. I'm really not sure what to do about those. We're taking them out, but not sure how to bring them back in. I heard your suggestions, but not sure what to do.
We're wondering if the Pack Tite can be used in his car when he is on the way home from a trip. Put it in the back seat, put the luggage in, and heat it on the drive. Not sure if the power in the car is enough yet.
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SandiZan
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Posted 1 year ago
Sun Oct 2 2011 21:22:36
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Tomorrow is the big day. Exhausted.
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SandiZan
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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Oct 3 2011 23:49:45
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Well now I'm freaking out. The heat treatment is finished, supposedly got to 155 degrees and was maintained for 3 hours. It was at least 99 degrees in the house when we entered two hours after the exterminator left.
I have a small cricket cage for some toads that had a few crickets still in there during the treatment. When I got home, all of the crickets were still alive. I also found a live spider a few hours after the treatment. If the heat kills bed bugs, wouldn't it kill all bugs?
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WhatTheEffIsBitingMe
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Oct 5 2011 0:52:57
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This place is very short on advice, isn't it?
I am no expert- but it seems the mental toll of this is exceeding the physical on you. I know how it is. It's panic. Hopefully you can keep things in perspective a little bit. Bug bites are not the end of the world- in my uninformed opinion I hope you can keep the mental side in check. I don't have specific advice on bedbugs because I am new here, but take a deep mental breath and realize this is not demonic possession we are dealing with. It just feels like it. Things could always be worse. Good luck. -
Blue_Ox
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Oct 5 2011 1:54:53
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SandiZan - 1 day ago »
Well now I'm freaking out. The heat treatment is finished, supposedly got to 155 degrees and was maintained for 3 hours. It was at least 99 degrees in the house when we entered two hours after the exterminator left.
I have a small cricket cage for some toads that had a few crickets still in there during the treatment. When I got home, all of the crickets were still alive. I also found a live spider a few hours after the treatment. If the heat kills bed bugs, wouldn't it kill all bugs?I am not that knowledgeable about this subject, but you seem to be worried so I wanted to reply. It seems to me that if spiders and other insects can thrive in the desert or in desert climates (like even some cities in the Middle East) that they would be able to survive a couple of hours at 155 degrees.
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BugsMustDie
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Oct 5 2011 7:39:50
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Good point, Blue. - I'm not sure either. Did you call your PCO and ask those questions?
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SandiZan
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Oct 5 2011 19:51:32
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Thanks everyone! Yep - it is the emotional toll of this that is getting to me. I've never even had evidence of a bite - I don't react. My husband and son do. It's the mere thought of bugs in my bed that keeps me up until 3 in the morning.
We did call Orkin about it and at first, they admitted that they had no idea why that would happen. I was actually glad that they were honest and didn't make up some story that I wouldn't buy. I bet they were not prepared for a woman with crickets in the house to question things. I was just going to accept the fact that there was no explanation and tell myself that the bed bugs were dead until proven otherwise; that's all I could do to save my sanity. I think the spider may have gotten in after the treatment - we had windows open. My son found about 50 dead spiders in the basement.
Today, Orkin called my husband and said they did an independent study last night with the type of crickets that I have. They found that the crickets could tolerate up to 212 degrees and it took a few hours for them to die after that exposure. They said the same thing happens with roaches because of their shell. I really appreciated that and my crickets are dying off - that started yesterday.
You're right, there seems to be little advice here. I felt like I was talking to myself. Thanks for the emotional support!
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SandiZan
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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Oct 10 2011 17:57:53
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Update - have not seen any evidence of the dang things since the heating (knock on wood). STILL moving things back in carefully. We received the pack tite and have been using it, but it really takes a long time to heat everything up. I'm afraid I'm being overly paranoid about heating things, but am not willing to risk a reinfestation. Like - seriously - do you have to heat CD's and their plastic cases if they were stored in the living room? I am and things like that are taking forever.
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circles
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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Oct 10 2011 23:33:54
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sorry to hear about your infestation. i reacted similarly after i found two in my bed. i would stay up anxious all night and pass out from exhaustion for a few hours. then i'd jerk awake and immediately check my bed for bugs.
another solution besides heat is using 91% alcohol. that might make the colors of the cd inserts run? you could check with a cd you're not fond of. but you could wipe down the cases and cds.
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SandiZan
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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Oct 11 2011 18:01:21
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I thought about that but am afraid I'd miss one egg somewhere. My exterminator told us to use the compressed frozen air that you can buy for computers. That didn't seem right to me. What if one egg blew off when I hit it with the air?
I did spray my son's mattress with alcohol one evening before we had the treatment. I then spent hours being afraid of spontaneous combustion.
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AshamedandScratching
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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Oct 11 2011 18:05:18
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Alcohol doesn't kill eggs, so heat's the best option.
However, you can wipe DVD/CDs down with alcohol and inspect them for anything questionable. Packtite just the cases & notes.
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SandiZan
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Oct 12 2011 18:33:00
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We've been sticking the whole CD/DVD in, cases and all. They seem to be coming out fine. We have about 400-500 of them, so doing them individually would take a lifetime.
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SandiZan
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Posted 1 year ago
Sun Oct 16 2011 11:24:03
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Update:
It's been almost two weeks since the heat treatment and no sign of any bugs so far. I am still paranoid enough to keep checking the sheets for blood...finding nothing. My husband also has not had any bites and he had been having a huge reaction. We're still bringing things in that were packed away and pack-titeing them; it sure takes a long time to do that!
I am starting to feel much calmer, although I know there could still be an egg or two incubating somewhere. He travels weekly, and we are pack-titeing his luggage immediately when he returns. I'm hoping our proactive approach will avoid future infestations.
I am not losing sleep over it any more which is one good thing. I hope to be a success story. I am giving updates in case anyone is interested in our story. This all started the first week of September, so it's only been 7 weeks for us. I don't know how people deal with this for a much longer period of time. It's seems like a lifetime for me already.
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bedbugsuptown
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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Oct 17 2011 21:35:42
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Yes, please keep us updated as post-thermal progresses. I consulted ($100) with AAA Superior for thermal. Didn't follow through because of complicated logistics....I live in a 16 unit tenement. Did two chemical treatments and hoping it's over. I'm semi-non-reactive; the mixed blessing if you live alone.
When I consulted with AAA Superior I was told the process would be 12hrs. for a small 1 bedroom.
I understood that this 12 hr. period included set-up and cool down time. 155 degrees (ur treatment) sounds good but When you posted that the heat was maintained for 3 hrs I wondered, is that long enough. I hope you have continued success. -
Buggybumpers
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Posted 1 year ago
Mon Oct 17 2011 23:32:28
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I think one of the reasons this thread has been "short on advice" as many people who come here can't even afford the chemical treatment much less the heat. I have been here about a year and have seen only a very few say their bugs have been thermally treated. Also, many people don't hang around to give advice after their bugs are gone. Most of us just don't know what to say about the thermal treatment as we have no experience with it. Now...if you were to ask me about what goes on with the chemical approach, I could tell you plenty!
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SandiZan
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Oct 19 2011 20:18:44
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Really? 12 hours for a small one bedroom? I've read that the heat should be maintained for at least two hours at over 120 degrees. That is assuming they have temperature guages in all areas of the house and all areas meet that temp. We have a small, three bedroom ranch. Well, the Company gave us a three month guarantee, so if it didn't work, they will be called back.
I didn't realize that there were not many people who had the thermal done. I thought it was common. My sister manages a few apartment complexes and she sees it done all the time. I've read that managing it chemically can be ineffective. Did it really work for you? I wasn't willing to wait weeks or months for the bugs to die. I would have gone insane.
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bedbugsuptown
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Posted 1 year ago
Sat Oct 22 2011 20:31:59
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I didn't follow through with the thermal for a few reasons. I told the consultant ($100.) that the apartment beneath mine is rented to this very old guy who (like ten years ago) married some lady living in London! He fly's back here a few times a year for a few weeks. (Seriously LONDON's as infested as my town nyc--and my deceased husband shared long ago that the guy invited him in to have a peek at some massive collection of porn! And I'm pretty sure were talking HArD porn, nothing virtual. Imagine, considering having a thermal remediation with a HOARD of HARD PORNOGRAPHY right underneath you. You just can't make this shit up. ************* What a mess!
I did't go into all that with the consultant, (lol) but he comment that if there are any live bbs. in that apt. they would be straight-away drawn up to my place @ the time of the 'cool-down'. He told me not to rush into this since I didn't appear to have a major infestation (based upon my statements to him)
His on site estimate was $2500. When I got the email from A3Superior they upped it to $2800! I live in an old world tenement (not worth the trouble to explain)--the units were renovated in the late 1930's I believe; it's not the tub/next-to-sink- in kitchen=classic rail-road flat. (I have a fondness for history.)
My point is what might they have charged for a small place like mine if it was on Madison or Park.
(probably less since that tenant would have a maid and a personal asst. to keep the place really keenAs for my 2.5 chemical treatments; KillerQueen's (wildly touted -- sure u know) assistant inspected me post treatments and declared no evidence of infestation=they're ALL DEAD. I understand your going insane comment.....I had my share of anxiety but life goes on and I've learned how to roll, ya know. Rock it and roll it.
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bedbugsuptown
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Posted 1 year ago
Sat Oct 22 2011 20:39:16
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I didn't follow through with the thermal for a few reasons. I told the consultant ($100.) that the apartment beneath mine is rented to this very old guy who (like ten years ago) married some lady living in London! He fly's back here a few times a year for a few weeks. (Seriously LONDON's as infested as my town nyc--and my deceased husband shared long ago that the guy invited him in to have a peek at some massive collection of porn! And I'm pretty sure were talking HArD porn, nothing virtual. Imagine, considering having a thermal remediation with a HOARD of HARD PORNOGRAPHY right underneath you. You just can't make this shit up. ************* What a mess!
I did't go into all that with the consultant, (lol) but he comment that if there are any live bbs. in that apt. they would be straight-away drawn up to my place @ the time of the 'cool-down'. He told me not to rush into this since I didn't appear to have a major infestation (based upon my statements to him)
His on site estimate was $2500. When I got the email from A3Superior they upped it to $2800! I live in an old world tenement (not worth the trouble to explain)--the units were renovated in the late 1930's I believe; it's not the tub/next-to-sink- in kitchen=classic rail-road flat. (I have a fondness for history.)
My point is what might they have charged for a small place like mine if it was on Madison or Park.
(probably less since that tenant would have a maid and a personal asst. to keep the place really keenAs for my 2.5 chemical treatments; KillerQueen's (wildly touted -- sure u know) assistant inspected me post treatments and declared no evidence of infestation=they're ALL DEAD. I understand your going insane comment.....I had my share of anxiety but life goes on and I've learned how to roll, ya know. Rock it and roll it.
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bedbugsuptown
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Posted 1 year ago
Sat Oct 22 2011 20:40:46
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why the fuck does this always happen with an these posts--come back and it looks like i forgot to hit POST
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