Fighting the good fight-Day2-Need Advice! « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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Fighting the good fight-Day2-Need Advice!

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NoLongerHappy

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Posted 1 year ago
Sat May 5 2012 7:36:28
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[s]Hello all. Here I am, on a forum where I never even dreamed I'd be-cuz, what the turkey are bedbugs? Well I've recently become enlightened. Here's a brief rundown of my situation-I'm a musician who always thought staying in hotels was fun! Not once did I ever check for bedbugs. As far as I knew, they were about as real as Bigfoot. Well a few weeks to a month ago I started getting a little itchy red bumps. I did not think much of it as ive always had bad allergies, and figured I was just allergic to something, as I spend a lot of time outside and in the woods. A week ago I woke up in the middle of the night and went to itch my arm, and pulled off what I thought was a little bug. I rolled it in my fingers and convince myself that it was not a bug, but merely some type of "body item"; haha-denial much? After that I began lurking on this forum and searching all over the Internet and reading about bedbugs-I immediately became convinced I had them. My girlfriend (who thought i was nuts, and has no itchy bumps) and I turned the apartment upside down looking, and found not a thing-nary a bug or speck of blood in sight. Well, I almost had myself convinced these bites were caused by a new detergent, new soap, stress, you name it. Anything but tiny bloodsucking vampires! Until about 12 hours ago. I should first state I live in a rather small apt-we don't even have a bed-my girl and I have always just thrown some sheets on our big, comfy couch, cuddled up and gone to sleep. Sweet, right? Yeah, well last evening I was walking by the couch on my way to the kitchen and something caught my eye- i inspected it up close and, alas, the shell of a bed bug! I then opened a small crease next to it and saw about 5 LIVE BUGS!!!! Then this nightmare really began. I had already been having trouble sleeping-mental images and vibes of tiny bugs crawling on me at night, like some horrible acid trip or something! I immediately called a guy I knew years ago who is a professional exterminator, (or PCO to be PC) and he told me to bag up all my laundry, clean the place (I'm not dirty, but I do have a bit of clutter-books, DVDs, instruments, etc) and said he would be by on Monday. Quite a daunting task! So last night we were up all night bagging up laundry and turning the sofa and surrounding areas upside down. Nothing more- all we found were about 5 BBs in that one little seem on the top of the couch. We more or less doused the seems of the couch in Iso Alcohol. There are plenty of inaccessible nooks and crannies in that sofa they could be lurking, but we found no more bugs, not one fecal stain or blood spot. Here's my question(s): should I treat the whole place or just the main room? We do have one bedroom, but that is more of an "animal" room-her cat and ferret own it! Id say at any given time in the past few weeks, I have about 10-15 bites on my body-most are old and just WON'T STOP ITCHING! However I do get new ones. I did not sleep a wink last night, needless to say, and I still feel that panicky feeling growing. I can't enjoy anything. And on top of everything, I just got sober last month, and I've never been sober in my life! This WOULD happen now-just my crappy luck. I'm in need of much support. Sorry for the long post, but being the pretentious artist type that I am, I really had to paint a picture. Hahaha....I try to laugh but there is nothing-NOTHING-funny about my situation! Help!
NoLongerHappy

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Posted 1 year ago
Sat May 5 2012 13:15:07
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Well. After finally gaining the testicular fortitude to go back and sit on the couch, thinking I'd be ok because it's day time and I only found those 5 bugs, after no more than 20 minutes, sitting far away from where I found them, I pulled a BB off of my neck, and when I jumped up, saw another one scurrying down the cushion. Ugh. I just don't have the energy for this! I need sleep! It's driving me mad and I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.
ShelaghDB

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Posted 1 year ago
Sat May 5 2012 17:53:54
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I am not a pro so I can't offer you much advice, other than to say, hang in there and it will soon pass.
I had them once 4 years ago and for 3 weeks and at the time it does feel as if they are the worst 3 weeks or your life but afterwards, you do realize they really weren't.
That said, unlike you, I did have a bed and isolated it so i was able to sleep, with the lights on every night mind you

Someone here will have to give you advice as to whether it is possible to isolate your couch seeing as they are in there but as for daytime, thats when I saw them as well in my place.
I even had 2 follow me from one room to another one day...LOL
But I now realize because they were unable to get to me at night time, they were starving and were acting out of character.

All I can say to you, having had a lot of friends in recovery over the years, since all of my friends are musicians, actors, artists, etc; whatever you do, get yourself to meetings, or whatever it is that you are doing to keep sober for this IS a very stressful time and you really don't want to make it worse by relapsing..
Don't let these little bastards win!!!! ;-(

If your friend is coming on Monday, you are almost there.

Now, I can't speak for every one but when I got it, the first appointment was on a Monday and then t he second, exactly 2 weeks later.
Right after the first, I didn't see anymore until about 2-3 days before the second visit and then I saw quite a few over a 2 day period but with the second spray, I ever saw another one again.

IF i am right, the first spray got the adults and then the send one I think got the babies that missed the first spray but who were adults 2 weeks later? I could be wrong on that but needless to say, relief is close.........

Unfortunately, 5 years later, in a new apartment, as of 3 years ago and i have a few again and am about to get sprayed. Seems as if this might be one side effect of living right in the city these days!!! ;-(

Good Luck!! Stay Sober!!!! Thats the most important thing that you can do for yourself!!
edtt

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Posted 1 year ago
Sat May 5 2012 18:27:12
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So sorry about your situation.

Have you tried calamine lotion for the itch?
May help
Good luck
zelchbug

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Posted 1 year ago
Sat May 5 2012 23:23:22
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I feel your pain. I haven't found any bugs as of yet, but I recognize the bites as being almost identical to the ones I received while living in my apartment about 18 months ago, only this time, I've believe I may have brough them to my parents home. It wouldn't be so bad if I were renting (although bad enough) but bring them into my parents nice suburban home is enough to make me want to return to drinking/using, although I am not going to give those little bastards the satisfaction of me throwing away 2 years sober! lol I totally agree with Shalagh, make sure your support system is in place and that you're taking care of yourself. Stress is my number one enemy and this is one of the more stressful situations I've been in.

I took care of all my clutter yesterday and got a cover for my bed, threw some duct tape around the zipper, so whatever's in there, will die there. Not sure if I caught your whole post, I'm tired myself and may have missed something, but do you have a landlord that can take care of this?

Keep us posted and best of luck to you,

Zach
NoLongerHappy

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Posted 1 year ago
Sun May 6 2012 11:24:35
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Thanks to everyone who read and responded. Spent the entire night at the laundromat washing, shrinking and ruining all my clothes! Haha....my worst fear is that I brought three to my parents house, as I go up there to visit a lot and sometimes spend the night. This truly is one of the most stressful situations I've ever been in. I do have a landlord , but he's on a long vacation-left last Wednesday and won't be back until next Sunday and I really have no way to reach him. Ive lived at my apt for a while and he's pretty trusting of me-never really bothers me. I can't wait til he gets back. These bugs are literally haunting me while I'm asleep and awake! So far I've killed about 10 bugs over the past 2 days. They keep popping out of the same little crease/seam area. I'm on my way back to the apt now to continue cleaning and getting ready for the exterminator. Sober people I know warned me that stuff like this always seems to happen to test you, right when you quit when youre the most vulnerable-and like you zelch-I refuse to let these little motheryouknowwhaters drive me back to using. Ugh-it just sucks to wake up in the morning feeling good, sun shining, and then WHAM! I have bedbugs!!! Thanks again to you guys. This is helping me lots. Can't wait til tues...
NoLongerHappy

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Posted 1 year ago
Sun May 6 2012 12:46:47
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Also-my exterminator-met him in the rooms and has about 10 years clean!
NoLongerHappy

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Posted 1 year ago
Mon May 7 2012 0:00:14
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Can anyone tell me approx how long they take to reach full adult size? I've only found 2 or 3 adults-mostly tiny tiny ones and molting shells or whatever those awful awful things are called? I just wanna know what kind of infestation I'm lookin at here.