Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Psychological and Health problems caused by bed bugs (besides bites)
End of rope here
(17 posts)-
DDavid
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 24
Posted 3 months ago
Fri Aug 7 2009 15:30:25
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I am alone in this. I get no support, morally or otherwise from ANYONE.
People just see the misnomer "parasite" from reports on youtube and dont want to know from me.
I am now broke for hiring someone to help me prepare the place because I am not well enough to do it myself.
Now there's a 180 degrees about the furniture. Some pieces have to go especially public enemies captains bed and headboard. There was originally passing mention of the porters helping me take it out now the tune is the co-op wont help and you need to make your own arrangements.
I'm just brokEN now. 3 months of shock and no help, a paranoid neighbor who sprayed cinnamon junk at my door until i asked her to stop, a stupid woman down the hall who legally we cant prove a thing and obligate her to pay for all this.
I dont know what to do.
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fightingBBinNYC
newbite
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 6
Posted 3 months ago
Fri Aug 7 2009 17:52:19
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Sounds... complicated. Break the lease and move?
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I understand what you're going through. I've been treated like a leper at work and in my apartment building. I got control of BBs using DE. I also recommend trying a chemical spray that has a residual effect (Cyonara, Bedlam, Ortho Home). Whatever you use, use it properly and carefully! Don't do anything stupid. Try to ignore your ignorant neighbors.
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DDavid
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 24
Posted 3 months ago
Fri Aug 7 2009 18:59:35
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Well it's not a question of treatment right now. It's a question of treatment not starting because I cant get the furniture safely out.
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DDavid
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 24
Posted 3 months ago
Sat Aug 8 2009 7:31:05
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See? All I got in replies were people who didnt read my post and talked about treatment.
My problem is getting the furniture wrapped and safely out the door. With so many people in the NYC area with experience there's no advice, and that's very depressing. Ever since I learned I have no options or resources for this, I have been crying nonstop. I'm sick and weak and cant do this. I dont want to postpone treatment and god help me I cant sleep here anymore.
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Sorry I didn't make myself clear. The captain's bed and headboard can stay in the apartment (for now). If you're not sleeping in it, you can treat it with the types of products I mentioned above. You don't have to be rich, young or strong to treat with DE, Hot Shot-Clear, Ortho Max HD or Bedlam.
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DDavid
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 24
Posted 3 months ago
Sat Aug 8 2009 20:39:30
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I have to agree with consensus that a small place and a big wooden bed rife with nooks and crannies is bad news. But thanks. definitely something to think of down the line.
I finally got ahold of a removal place that would take the bed for a fee I'll be borrowing funds for temporarily. They'll take it wherever - if they disinfect it and resell it then power to them. I'm just glad to get rid of it. The night table I'll do myself before they come. I called several places and they flat out said no to bedbugged stuff.
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Hi DDavid,
What was the company that agreed to pickup?
I am sorry you're going through this. It's difficult to prep in any case, and doing so when you are not well is extremely difficult.
(Incidentally, for the benefit of others reading this, I would not recommend self treating if you have other options, and certainly not if you cannot do a lot of research and physical work.)
I don't think people are trying to be unhelpful. It's hard to know what to recommend when help with prep is needed. There are a few companies offering this now in NYC, but I am sure they are pricey.
In case you or anyone is interested, one is Prep 4 Bed Bugs, the other is Bed Bug Busters, which only operates in Manhattan.
I cannot recommend either of these as I have not heard from anyone who has used them (they are both relatively new).
In some cases, social service agencies might be asked for help with prep, but I do not know who to recommend in NYC, and this may depend on your circumstances.
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BBsonme
junior member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 50
Posted 3 months ago
Sat Aug 8 2009 22:10:18
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DDavid I sympathize with what you're going through. I know decluttering is a bear, even when you're healthy. I couldn't imagine trying to accomplish it not being entirely healthy. Have you tried finding someone on craig's list to do the job. I know there are a lot of people on craig's list advertising to clean your house; what have you. You can always name your own price because they're independent not contracted workers.
I don't think it is necessary to wrap and discard your entire bed frame, unless of course it is completely infested. There are many methods that you can use to treat the frame, including murphy's oil soap or ethyl alcholol. Throwing away and replacing furniture can be very costly. Good luck to you in your plight. Hopefully you will find the exact help that you need.
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DDavid
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 24
Posted 3 months ago
Sun Aug 9 2009 6:13:44
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Thanks people.
As soon as the ordeal is over I'll certainly report the org and their performance. Their price for a quick pickup - as they call this - is a wide range of $120-250. I'm thinking this considers walk-up apts and I'll be on the lower end of this.
I have hired someone to help on Saturdays the past month and a half for $10/hr. She used to be mom's nurse aid until mom went into a home. The woman sort of became a family friend from the experience, so it's nice to work with her. I'm happy to get help from someone I know and who doesnt mind my company and the extra cash. She knows what's involved and changes her clothes and puts them in a bag before going home.
The situation is the bugs have ONLY been in evidence in that part of the apartment. Ironic since they had to have walked a path to get there. Therefore there's been minimal preparation in the living room (I live in a U shaped apt with the bedroom and living room at opposite ends and the bed the furthest corner away). Even in the bedroom the file cabinets and dresser on the opposite end of the room have come through pristine, which is good because the dresser is wood as well.
The building offered temporary storage in the co-op meeting room so I have a key and am putting superbagged stuff there and making more room for things in the living room floor where they suggest putting things as well.
The one thing left is to bring those pieces out of the apt without dropping bedbugs along the way. Am going to check home depot with dad today about large bags and that industrial strength saran wrap type stuff for the removal people to help me bag the hutch and wrap the bed before they take it.
the night table will be up to me to take down to the street etc as mentioned.
Then vaccuming and a hot hot shower and the last load of hot laundry going with me.
My hope is that treatment #1 is on Wed and the following Saturday we can clear out more stuff.
btw if it's not TOO skeevish there's a collection of state quarters and swatches down there to reacquaint myself.
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DDavid
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 24
Posted 3 months ago
Mon Aug 10 2009 9:24:30
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One looked me in the eye this morning at 6am... It got the adhesive treatment.
Update the place adds $200 for bedbug removal and THEY seal the furniture.
Agreed to let me pay half by postdated check. jeez this might cost 400 bucks.
Next time I post I will make a full review of service's performance with names.
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BuggedInSomerville
junior member
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 65
Posted 3 months ago
Mon Aug 10 2009 10:10:32
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Yeah, DDavid, treating the suckers can get pricey. I discovered mine on Friday; so far, I've spent 150 on a mattress bag (to seal them up inside), 100 on plastic bags to seal things up inside, 150 to get my box spring and frame taken away, and am about to spend 400 on extermination #1 this afternoon. You're not alone. It sounds like you're being more proactive than the majority of cases, though; just being on this forum is a step in the right direction in many ways!
There seem to be a lot of similarities between our cases. So far, my bedroom is the only infested spot (KNOCK. ON. WOOD.) and I too have been waking up to find a live critter or two leftover from the night feeding. I first read your posts on Saturday I believe and I totally sympathize; I've been breaking down into tears left and right regarding how much this has turned my world upside down.
Anyway, my point is: Don't feel like you're the only one in the world this has happened to. I know it's hard *not* to feel that way, but you'll get through it eventually, just like thousands of people have before. Let's keep each other updated on how we're doing. I wish you the best of luck and hope to share some ideas that seem to work.
Best,
Travis -
DDavid
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 24
Posted 3 months ago
Tue Aug 11 2009 13:00:58
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Thanks.
You know, I had the best sleep in 3 months last night, but lemme tell you something...
PTS
Every little chip on the corner of dad's doorways looks like a bedbug to me at first glance. Hopefully that subsides.
Another thought: I have been confident that my backpack and duffle (latter gone through with a flashlight and magnifying glass) are fine. Neither have been at room ground zero, and having used the backpack for work I have gotten no bites etc. I hope I'm not being overly concerned. The last thing I need is to bring them over to dad's. Everything else came in giant ziplock bags (20 gallon heavy duty bags I get in Met Foods in Queens).
Tomorrow is treatment #1 but I wonder whether keeping boxes of papers in the closet is stupid? No clothing in the closet outside the bedroom have been affected; I just ran them through the laundry for insurance before bagging them for the stayover.
btw the pickup cost a bit more. Will do a formal review this evening when I'm settled in.
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BuggedInSomerville
junior member
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 65
Posted 3 months ago
Tue Aug 11 2009 13:22:20
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Ah, yes, you're staying with the parents as well; I just drove to my dad's house last night because I couldn't bear being in my apartment any more. I forget where, but somewhere on this site, Parakeets put up a great guide to keeping the bugs out of homes you visit. I'd advise tracking it down and adopting a few of those ideas. The best consideration is to use your car (if you're driving to your dad's and leaving the car there) like your closet: bring inside only the clothes you need and can wash quickly, and try leaving as much stuff as possible in your car, as long as your car isn't infested too. I'm absolutely terrified that I may have tracked bugs into my dad's house over the past few months, before I knew I had an infestation, so I'm being doubly cautious now about possibly bringing any inside. I must say, though, the efforts are worth it: Last night was my first at my dad's, and I got the best sleep in weeks! I'm at work now and feel like a new person.
And I totally hear your about PTS. Every speck I see, I feel the need to inspect. When I ran inside last night (in only my underwear - left all my clothes and shoes in my car, haha), I jumped in the shower and then retraced the steps I'd taken inside to make sure there weren't any bugs that hopped off me. Overdoing things? Maybe, but I bet we can agree a little insanity can prevent a lot of insanity.
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DDavid
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 24
Posted 3 months ago
Tue Aug 11 2009 14:38:22
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heh!!! because I stepped around where the bed was while I vaccumed yesterday, I decided to take those shoes and put them in a 2 gallon ziplock bag for possible decontamination at some point. Everything going to him was washed in hot water and dried in the hottest dryer of the communal washroom for over an hour, then chucked right into the XXL ziplock bag. I wore superlaundered clothes and a new pair of sandals, so I was okay.
I've since checked my backpack and it's totally fine. You know, the comforter (in the "quarantine ziplock bag for tomorrow's pretreatment laundry load) has little nooks and crannies at the edges and the bugs were never there. Just their dots here and there. All those pics of them clustering together I've never witnessed.
The one problem: what do I do with the little jar of them I have? The beetle in there died long ago. The bedbugs are doing well. How do I get rid of this jar safely?
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spideyjg
oldtimer
Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 1,405
Posted 3 months ago
Tue Aug 11 2009 14:48:28
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DDavid - 7 minutes ago »
The one problem: what do I do with the little jar of them I have? The beetle in there died long ago. The bedbugs are doing well. How do I get rid of this jar safely?
The Geneva Convention doesn't apply. Take 'em out to hot asphalt in the sun and bring a magnifying glass to "laser" them.
Jim
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 5,547
Posted 3 months ago
Tue Aug 11 2009 16:46:07
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I hear researchers are always looking for more samples.
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