Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Introductions
finally free ?
(10 posts)-
scaredsleepless
newbite
Joined: Apr '11
Posts: 4offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Apr 11 2011 15:22:44
#
Login to Send PM
I'm new to this and was hoping that this was a topic I would never have to worry about. I recently moved into a new apt. A few days later my son and I were waking up with the gigantic itchy welts. After searching, bed bugs were confirmed:( I tore the house apart just to find them on the back fold of my couches. After contacting ll with no help I began steaming the daylights out of everything. No bites for a few days!! Yay. Or so I thought. I eliminated them from the couches just to have whatever remaining survivors find their way to my bed! Ugh. Finally got a pco to thermal treat my apt. It's been a few days since any bites. But I'm still scared to death to fall asleep due to the fact I don't know how effective the thermal treatment is:( everyone thinks I have lost my mind. I think I'm being bitten, which I'm surely not, and itch myself to the point I'm bleeding. Can someone please give me some relief as to how effective the thermal treatment is so I can begin to get back some sanity. Sorry so long winded guys.
-
Rjw203
newbite
Joined: Apr '11
Posts: 5offline
Posted 2 years ago
Tue Apr 12 2011 12:52:16
#
Login to Send PM
I cannot comment on thermal treatment effectiveness as i have not used it. Since you have seen an actual bug (i never have at my apt) I would recommend (and this is only my opinion) getting a PCO involved to do a good thorough inspection and get some chemical treatments in your apartment immediately, if available to you. Chemicals used by professionals is really the fastest way to rid yourself.
I had a PCO (Orkin) come to my apartment and do 5 total treatments over 6 weeks. The bites diminished immediately to the point where my wife and I have not gotten the large size "definitely bed bug" bites in about 20 days. I can tell you that we are scrutinizing every little mark, pimple scab, everything we see on our bodies and sometimes get freaked out and convince ourselves that it is a bite, when truly it probably isn't. Dealing with bbs is 80% mental and 20% physical.
If you have seen the bites diminish, the thermal definitely is having an effect. Keep up the good work and hang tough!!
-
scaredsleepless
newbite
Joined: Apr '11
Posts: 4offline
Posted 2 years ago
Tue Apr 12 2011 12:58:48
#
Login to Send PM
I had the pco come out 6 days ago and since then no bites!! Yay. No chemicals were used, which I was very grateful for. I called to see if the needed to do a follow up. Guy was kinda rude and said he'd only come back out if bites started turning up again. I just don't wanna wait til it gets to that ppoint to find out I still have them.:( everyone thinks I have gone off the deep end and I just may have. O how I treasure the days of being able to sleep they the night and not scheming up a sneak attack plan to catch any stragglers just in case.
-
ohno4321
newbite
Joined: Mar '11
Posts: 23offline
Posted 2 years ago
Tue Apr 12 2011 22:54:42
#
Login to Send PM
How effective is thermal? Depends...Did the bugs scurry next door and will they come back? Is your pco competent? Do you have the first ever heat resistant bedbugs? Once we start speculating, well there's no stopping.
Why not look at active or passive bedbug monitors? You should then be able to determine if all is well or further action needs to be taken.
-
your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 13,740offline
Posted 2 years ago
Wed Apr 13 2011 0:04:01
#
Login to Send PM
What did your PCO use to treat your home using "thermal" methods?
Generally, this term is used to refer to heating the entire unit and contents to temperatures above 120 F and keeping them there for hours. (I understand they often go much higher to ensure the killing temperatures are met throughout.)
ohno4321 - 1 hour ago »
Did the bugs scurry next door and will they come back? Is your pco competent? Do you have the first ever heat resistant bedbugs? Once we start speculating, well there's no stopping.Sometimes thermal/heat treatments are performed incompetently or things go wrong somehow and all bed bugs are not killed.
Another possibility is that bed bugs are reintroduced.
However, the one thing you don't have to worry about is "heat -resistant bed bugs." If thermal or heat treatment is done properly by an experienced and knowledgeable professional, and the bed bugs are properly exposed to the correct temperatures, and not allowed to escape to cooler areas, they should die.
I do agree with ohno that the implementation of passive monitors is a good idea for confirming bed bugs are gone after treatment. Worrying, without any reason to think the problem persists, is not helpful.
-
scaredsleepless
newbite
Joined: Apr '11
Posts: 4offline
Posted 2 years ago
Wed Apr 13 2011 0:26:56
#
Login to Send PM
He heated my entire apt which is 1300 sq ft to 130f. From set up to tear down it took him 5 1/2 hrs. If any bugs survived I wld be amazed. My tiles were so hot they burned the bottom of my feet a few hrs later. But just for peace of mind ill invest in some monitors. Thx guys:)
-
ohno4321
newbite
Joined: Mar '11
Posts: 23offline
Posted 2 years ago
Wed Apr 13 2011 0:27:24
#
Login to Send PM
I regret the heat-resistant phrase. I was trying to illustrate that once speculation starts it can go places that are non-factual and unrealistic. There was no need for me to use an ridiculous speculation like that to make my point particularly in a situation that I know is stressful and emotional. My apologies.
-
scaredsleepless
newbite
Joined: Apr '11
Posts: 4offline
Posted 2 years ago
Wed Apr 13 2011 0:35:38
#
Login to Send PM
No apologies needed. It gave me a chuckle
yes stressful and emotional would describe this experience lol. Hopefully it will be my last. 
-
ohno4321
newbite
Joined: Mar '11
Posts: 23offline
Posted 2 years ago
Wed Apr 13 2011 0:42:22
#
Login to Send PM
Good luck scaredsleepless but really you don't need luck. Just continue to be proactive like you have been and I'm sure you can beat this problem.
-
your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 13,740offline
Posted 2 years ago
Wed Apr 13 2011 1:47:13
#
Login to Send PM
scaredsleepless, I suspect they are long gone. I hope you can get some sleep now.
(And no worries, ohno! Sorry, I am probably a bit over-cautious, since I have heard people start to believe all kinds of things about bed bugs...)
Reply
You must log in to post.
