Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Bed Bug Success Stories
Bedbug free for over three years
(3 posts)-
BeenBedBugged
newbite
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 22offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sat Aug 28 2010 22:48:37
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All the media stir, and the major Gawker fail got me to check in here. NoBugs, you've done so many people so much good during what may be some of their most difficult times. This site is amazing and has grown so much, with great resources...
Our story is somewhere on the site, I think. Four years ago, I brought BBs home from a hotel, and it took us about six weeks to figure out that we had them, what they were, and what we were in for. At the time, there were few resources, and NoBugs had not started this page/forum. There were a whole lot of fear-based extreme measures suggested, i.e., throwing out everything we owned... Glad I listened to the more reasoned voices, who did so much to help me hold it together as I began to become unraveled with anxiety. I could not have made it through without people like NoBugs...
Now that I look back, it's clear to me that the bugs were likely ONLY in our bed, on one piece of upholstered furniture (our couch), and in a drawer in my desk. They stay close to where you hang for long periods of time. I must have spent over 100 hours bagging, washing, inspecting, vaccuuming (sp?), steaming our stuff. Some of it we put into storage for 2.5 years, all sealed up...
We treated ourselves, out of desperation, because I had professional training as a pesticide applicator, and everyone we interviewed to treat did not know what they were doing/talking about. We would never have to do that now, there are many PCOs in our area who are now well versed in BB treatment. The paranoia has reduced considerably, and so has the anxiety, but we still have our moments. Mosquito bites, and a bout of fleas last year, have given us scares, but we feel so much more confident now that we can tackle it if we ever get them again. I travel a lot, and I expect that I haven't seen my last exposure, but we're smarter now. I admit that I did recently stay at a hotel where I didn't tear apart the bed before sleeping in it. I considered it a healthy sign.
We still only own one set of WHITE sheets, which get washed constantly. I suppose we've reached the point where we might consider a second set. It was heartbreaking to throw out our good linens, but at the time we didn't know better... I also threw out very good luggage, in a panic, and regret it. A steamer or one of these new heat contraptions would have taken care of it. It's great to see the monitoring traps are finally available, that would have done so much for my mental state a couple of years ago when we just could not be sure.
I'm glad that there are so many more resources available now, and much more reliable information and tools. Keep fighting, and you will beat them.
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socraticlogic
newbite
Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 30offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Sep 12 2010 20:39:13
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Thank you so much for sharing your story. I'm in the midst of a lot of anxious feelings and emotions, but stories like yours make me realize that those who have had bed bugs can return to normalcy (or something fairly close). Also, because you travel a lot it gives me a little bit of a boost to say "ok...these bugs are here, but not everywhere. I can't let my life be taken over by them!". For the record I don't have bed bugs yet, but the constant media attention has me reading these boards more than I probably should. Thanks!
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BBGen0cide
member
Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 210offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Sep 12 2010 20:47:04
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I'm at war, 3 years, and i have medium infestation, i have a recording studio in my sleeping quarters and could not live with out my gear, they ended up in my gear, and other things, now having to pack them all away for 2 years, putting my career on hold. It really sucks.
the less you have, the easier it is to deal with and win.
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