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Bed bug newbie- My story- advice and thoughts wanted
(5 posts)-
weeseweiss
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 4
Posted 5 months ago
Sun Jun 21 2009 0:21:02
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Ok so last week I randomly found a bug clinging to a sweater I had taken from an under the bed storage box. I have had both grain beetles and carpet beetles at different times so I at first assumed it was one of those. Upon closer inspection I knew it was not. I investigated online and determined it as a bed bug. Only then did I realize that the " rash" on my arm three weeks ago was not a rash at all. Then of course I start to remember a few other times I have found a mysterious bite or two.
I live in a 30 story condo building that had an exterminator come out every week so I saved the bug for confirmation. It was indeed confirmed to be a bedbug.
The extermnator inspected around my house and bed and I spent days de-cluttering and turning the place inside out and nothing else was found except I did find what might have been a shell of one on a drape that hangs behind my bed. Though It could have also been the shell of a grain beetle which I had a problem with last year. I should explain that I live in a studion apartment where the kitchen and bed are in close proximity so the grain beetles made it to the living area when I had them.
The exterminator did not seem to think I was infested. He said he felt it was pretty isolated but that my box spring had some holes in it and that I should get rid of it because that would be prime real estate to them. He put own glue traps and sprayed my bed frame and surrounding area and said we would give it a week to monitor and if we catch even one we should do the whole house treatment.
I took it a step further and bought a whole new bed the same day and the Protect a Bed covers reccomended here which were installed on the new bed upon delivery. The old bed is now gone I just couldn't take the chance that the thing was infested.
I am washing and cleaning and vaccuming and inspecting every crack and crevice. I am really anxious about this stuation since they are so insidious and hard to get rid of. I don't want to be naive and assume my problem is gone. Am I taking the right steps? Is there any thing additional you guys can suggest? Could I be badly infested and not find anything other than my lone friend? Was it a dumb move to buy a new bed when I still may have a problem or will the covers at least protect my new investment? Can you beat these things or is it almost impossible?
So many questions so little time. I am just grateful to have a place to ask questions and feel like there are other people out there going trough the same thing.
There is such a stigma attached to these things. It's embarassing and yet I don't know why. I am such a worry wart as it is-- this is making me a crazy person! Amy comments and advice are much appreciated.
Freaking out in Chicago -
You are doing everything right... The covers will isolate your new bed & box springs
You might want to try a set of Climb up Interceptors on the bed & chair legs to continue to monitor for activity.
When you vacuum...try placing a nylon stocking in the end of the hose & secure it with the crevice tool attachment... Any bugs that are vacuumed up will be caught in the stocking... You can dump the debris on a light colored surface & use a magnifying glass to examine the contents...
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weeseweiss
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 4
Posted 5 months ago
Sun Jun 21 2009 3:39:18
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Thanks for the advice. I will order those interceptors right away. I am just feeling so overwhelmed by all of this. It seems like folks that have these darn bugs sometimes never get rid of them.
The daunting task of going through everything I own, esecially washing all my clothes- If you saw my closet you would understand! LOL!- It's just too much. I don't even know where to start. I guess it will help me to get off my but and get rid if all the stuff I don't really need but it's just so much work.
The exterminator comes back on Friday to re check and look at the traps and then take it from there.
I was told I would have to wash and seal all my clothes and leave the apartment for a few hours while they spray everything and even take off the outlet covers. Althouh all of this is assumng we find evidence of more bugs. I am hoping and praying I get lucky here.
I guess I always thought this was something that happenes to other people. How stupid is that.
I did find out that one other person in my building was infested. I am on the fifth floor she is on the seventh. That is the only other unit according to the exterminator. So far at least. There are over 250 units in this building. Coud they get thru the vents you think?
I just want to cry right now. I already have anxiety in general and this is just pushing me over the edge.
Please tell me you are bug free and give me some hope here! -
lil_bit_obsessed
senior member
Joined: Dec '07
Posts: 495
Posted 5 months ago
Sun Jun 21 2009 17:10:22
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hi weiss. i also had a lot of anxiety when i was dealing with my infestation. i was treated twice (and threw out a lot of *old* clothes and two or three items of rickety furniture i didn't care about). a few months after my treatment i had a bb dog in to inspect and was given the all clear. i had my infestation almost two years ago, and all is well now!
to deal with my anxiety at the time, i did three things. 1) i cleaned a lot (depending on what your pco says you may not want to do too much of this. you don't want to scatter the bugs or clean away any risidual chemicals the pco has left behind!); 2) i got a lot of exercise outside of the home whenever i could (always good to help decrease anxiety. running was especially good for that); and i met with a counsellor who was amazing, and really helped me through the ordeal.
in regards to the clothing (i also had a loooot of stuff i had to either get rid of or clean)... if your clothes are hanging in your closet you don't have to wash all of them. you can throw them in the dryer instead and the heat will kill any stray bug or egg that may have found its way in there. then bag them. drying will do the same thing that washing and drying does, and will save both time and money in the early stages of an infestation (and saves some anxiety over the workload, as well). check out the bedbugger FAQ on using the dryer to treat infested items, and it will give you appropriate information on how long and how hot.
i agree with doug about the interceptors. if you live in a building where someone else has them, interceptors might help you monitor the situation if a stray bug comes into your apartment. is the other person being treated for the bugs as well? have the apartments directly around her been inspected? these are questions you can ask your pco. i know that it's scary when another person in the building has them, but i can tell you from experience that with a competent pco and some hard work, they can be eradicated in that situation. when i had an infestation i lived in a building and got them from my neighbor (one floor down). the pco treated both of our apartments twice, and also did one preventative spray of the apartments immediately around us in a block. both my neighbor and i were able to get rid of the bugs, and to the best of my knowledge the other neighbors never had a problem at all. so keep your chin up! i know it seems really horrible now, but you WILL come through on the other side. :)
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sandra
newbite
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 8
Posted 1 month ago
Sun Oct 11 2009 23:22:26
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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.
One other word of caution be very careful who you let in...... your space!! The bugs loveeeeeeeeee to travel!!
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