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Former victim found one in hotel today
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RuinedforLife
newbite
Joined: Jul '10
Posts: 8offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sat Jul 31 2010 18:39:19
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Hello everyone, as a ruined for life victim I can say that i pop in to read when I have a panicked moment or get suspicious or even just to get the latest. Sorry to ay i need to post tonight...all the way from Europe. I am vigilant all the time at home and away (spacebars, no movies, never check my coat, never sit on the subway, etc... As much as I can do to lessen the odds).
I've been traveling quite a bit in europe this month but mainly in one city. Today I arrived to Barcelona and loved my room so much I actually jumped up and down in the bathroom bc it was so pretty. Just then I looked down and saw a tiny white bug which I believe was a nymph in the white flat bathroom sink.
Can you imagine the balls on me that i ripped up the soap box and made a little ramp for it to climb onto and then put it on my hand/arm to see if it would feed. It was very very fast running around. It made a few pitstops and I'm pretty sure it picked up some blood bc when I dropped it back into the sink it was darker. I then took a corner of a piece of toilet paper and smooched it and wouldn't you now there was some red.
I am flipping. Called the front desk to make sure they've never had an issue with thihs room but no one ever admits it. I don't know if it came off of me or if it was there in the sink before i got here. It's an odd place for one to be. In fact, I usually store my luggage and stuff in hotel bathrooms and never on the carpet or closets.
The advice i need is how to handle this when i get back to the states which won't be for another month. The packtite is on backorder, correct? Does anyone know what the story is with that? My other (and preferred but super costly) option is to put EVERYTHING in Vikane as soon as I get back but I don't know who would be willing to throw in a luggage into an existing job for me and/or how I could go about it. This has been boggling my mind all day and obviously ruining my kong awaited dream vacation. I really don't even care about that which is why im sort of calmish, but if these come home with me that's a whole different story. I will be institutionalized if I get them again. I am nit exaggerating.
Any advice from the experts? Viva espana, I guess.
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bugnut
senior member
Joined: Feb '10
Posts: 528offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sat Jul 31 2010 18:53:03
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OK - I brought my current infestation home from the Bahamas. I thought I was being careful leaving the luggage outside - I brought my handbag in - BIG MISTAKE! It was the source of the bugs.
Leave EVERYTHING outside - if you can strip and change outside I would! Have a friend meet you with ziploc bags for your stuff and a t-shirt dress to get into. Wash what you can at the laundromat, the rest in the dryer and other items in the packtite. You cannot bring them in - nothing can cross your threshold without being treated! There is a post somewhere here about a flight attendant that takes all of her clothes off in the airport bathroom and it all goes into a ziploc and she does not care who sees her.
That being said - if you are not being bitten and change rooms, enjoy the rest of your vacation. The bbs are their problem unfortunately and they should accomodate you since you have already been bitten!
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RuinedforLife
newbite
Joined: Jul '10
Posts: 8offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sat Jul 31 2010 18:58:10
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Thanks! But the problem is that I don't have a packtite...otherwise this would be cake com oared to what i went through 2.5 years ago.
I don't know what the status on the packtite is but it seems they are on backorder and you cannot been order.
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DeedleBeetle
oldtimer
Joined: May '10
Posts: 1,232offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sat Jul 31 2010 19:19:20
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Ruined ....I am in awe of you...you "pulled a Lou Bug!" when you let the suspected bug feed on you.
Did you get any reaction where the bug may have fed?
I think people are receiving their PTs now. Did you order one already? If so, then it has probably already been delivered. If not, put your order in now and have it delivered somewhere that it can be received and then have that person pick you up at the airport...If you left anyone a set of keys, let them take the PT inside, unpack it and set it up so that it's ready to go when you get home.
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RuinedforLife
newbite
Joined: Jul '10
Posts: 8offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Aug 1 2010 4:14:30
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Alright! Ordered my packtite from us bugs via this site last night. I feel much better. Here is my plan:
I have a 29" luggage which won't fit into the packtite. I'm going to repack everything into my spacebags but since I brought some extras with me, I'll do them looser this time (less full). Take a taxi home from airport. Empty luggage curbside Throw luggage out on street in black garbage bag on street. Put carry on and handbag in plastic bags. Leave in lobby. Go upstairs with hopefully delivered packtite and turn on. Bring each spacebag up one by one and treat. On my first trip up, I will immediately put the clothes on my back in there and switch to new clothes from apartment.
You know those mesh laundry bags you put your lingerie in? I wax wondering if they came super sized like a xxl ziplock bag? If so, I would order those for delivery as well as i would feel better sbt the heat permeating through them more than a plastic bag. Oh! Also I'm going to be in Israel and i know i can cook some stuff on the terrace (given the hear there). I am there for a month. I am gnu to buy one of those airtight plastic containers in a dark color like the dark purple one and do it on the terrace. Will that work a little too?
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cilecto
oldtimer
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 3,851offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Aug 1 2010 8:50:54
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Ruined: You encountered what you believe to be an unfed first-instar nymph in the bathroom sink. What did you do with your things, before and after, that could have exposed them to BB? Did you end up staying in the room, and if so, what other signs of BB did you encounter?
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DeedleBeetle
oldtimer
Joined: May '10
Posts: 1,232offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Aug 1 2010 9:11:31
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And Ruined...
i can't tell you how happy i was to find that i could put my husband's entire suitcases into the packtite without emptying everything out. The PackTite is big enough for that....and these were not even the smaller suitcases that most people use these days. But be sure the suitcase is not touching the sides of the PT. Just make sure the suit case is ajar inside the PT and put the thermometer into the middle of the stuff....AND make SURE there are no liquids or gels inside. I told Husband to pack all his liquids and gels in a separate bag before travelling home and i was able to easily fish that bag out and then immediately PT the bags. Actually, i believe the PT was made specifically to treat whole suitcases....
glad you're feeling better!
it does get better..
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RuinedforLife
newbite
Joined: Jul '10
Posts: 8offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Aug 1 2010 18:19:59
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cilecto - 9 hours ago »
Ruined: You encountered what you believe to be an unfed first-instar nymph in the bathroom sink. What did you do with your things, before and after, that could have exposed them to BB? Did you end up staying in the room, and if so, what other signs of BB did you encounter?I've been on planes, trains and automobiles for a month. Not a day goes by where I am not in fear and it's been over 2 years. If the bug was a nymph and came from me, I worry that my things are infested. My luggage is zipped and in the shower with my handbag. That is the best I can do right now. I will never travel without giant contractor bags again. I am still in he room. Tonight will be night#2. No bites last night. I could just be insane. I didn't have my camera so I used by blackberry and the photos suck. I did not have any reactions to what I Thoth was a feeding.
I guess my question is: is the PT, when used properly, a foolproof and excellent system or shud I just vikane and eat the fees?
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RuinedforLife
newbite
Joined: Jul '10
Posts: 8offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Aug 1 2010 18:26:22
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DeedleBeetle - 9 hours ago »
And Ruined...
i can't tell you how happy i was to find that i could put my husband's entire suitcases into the packtite without emptying everything out. The PackTite is big enough for that....and these were not even the smaller suitcases that most people use these days. But be sure the suitcase is not touching the sides of the PT. Just make sure the suit case is ajar inside the PT and put the thermometer into the middle of the stuff....AND make SURE there are no liquids or gels inside. I told Husband to pack all his liquids and gels in a separate bag before travelling home and i was able to easily fish that bag out and then immediately PT the bags. Actually, i believe the PT was made specifically to treat whole suitcases....Thanks... I have a 29" luggage expanded is quite large and I don't think it will fit. Not to mention everything was packed into spacebags to maximize space. I'll need to make several trips unfortunately. My concern also is to not potentially contaminate other places I will be visiting. I am going to purchase some giant bags tomorrow for my next destinations. This trip is far from over and I have many more stops.
glad you're feeling better!
it does get better..
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