Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Tales of Bed Bug Woe
Fresh freak-out
(10 posts)-
ClutterFree
junior member
Joined: Jun '10
Posts: 52offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jun 21 2010 13:02:59
#
Login to Send PM
So. I'm getting ready for the PCO's first visit. He's not going to do anything today (!!!!!) just have a looksie. At least Orkin was willing to believe I knew what was biting me, but I guess this is for the best, too.
Anywho, getting ready for visit this morning and I get bitten by a nymph. Since putting on a cheap vinyl cover as a stop-gap, back when I was hoping I could do this alone, I haven't been bitten. I kept waiting for it to happen, but it didn't. And then it did and I went straight back to the bad place I was inhabiting when I first figured out it was bb's. Couldn't eat, nearly had a breakdown in the kitchen, I feel teary-eyed now--though I think that's residuals. I did manage to catch the sucker, though, so that's a good thing even if it did cost me a ziplock bag.
I finished cleaning in spite of my nausea and increased paranoia, including under the bed. I sealed all the corners of the cardboard boxes I'm using for the books and cds (which are in garbage bags 1st, then the boxes). I moved 90% of the bags of laundry surrounding my bed. Then I psyched myself up for removing the vinyl cover.
Oh. My. Nymph! Near my bagged clean clothes!! And I hadn't even gotten a quarter of the way up the bed yet. I rushed to call my landlord only to discover I only have his house number (Mom called him before), so I call the rental office, we go through a brief thing of who I am, that the PCO is on his way, etc. before I can ask her if I really need to take off the encasement.
She tells me no! Bless her! Which was great b/c as I am now frantically pulling the cover back down I see more nymphs! Nymphs everywhere! If I hadn't been busy pulling down the vinyl and juggling my cell (and taking a text from my coworker; doesn't she know I have bigger problems than when our boss has to make a call?!) I might have hyperventilated. Somehow not seeing them for a week has made seeing them now that much worse.
Once I got off the phone and had the encasement down, I grabbed the packing tape and started patting myself down. Then I taped the zipper. Then I patted the zipper line down. Then I patted the bed near the foot. Then I patted me again, and the zipper again. Then I taped the entire zipper line. And I may have patted me down again before I slipped off my sneakers and checked them w/the flash light while muttering that I really need a magnifying glass (which I do).
So now I'm out here in the living room, typing this when I'm supposed to be working from home. I really can't afford another crappy pay-week like the one I'm going to have for last week (I missed 2.5 days, in part to deal with bb's and part to deal with family issues), plus whatever I'm going to miss in the weeks coming up. But let me tell you, I terrified to be out here. I'm half convinced I'm spreading them all over the frelling apartment. I mean I half released them to the air. Can bb's jump? How fast are the suckers?
God has been truly, truly, truly gracious to me, really He has, but I just feel like I am a colossal idiot sitting on the floor out here. Not that I could have stayed in my room. And I can't leave the house until the guy comes. Also? I'm itchy all over. I just want them to die. I want to be able to sleep, even if that means curling up with the laundry products in the bottom of the linen closet. Why can't the guy come sooner?
-
DeedleBeetle
oldtimer
Joined: May '10
Posts: 1,232offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jun 21 2010 13:30:56
#
Login to Send PM
Oh you poor baby! My heart goes out to you...You'll make it though. Please let us know how everything is going!
-
ClutterFree
junior member
Joined: Jun '10
Posts: 52offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jun 21 2010 16:26:28
#
Login to Send PM
The inspection happened just a little over an hour ago. It's definitely bed bugs, but I could have told him that. The inspector guy turned out to be less helpful than I'd have liked. Instead of telling me straight out that the other bedroom and the livingroom needed to be bagged and cleared (Oh God!) he indicated that Mom could get away with just an encasement and that the livingroom was fine. However, the date he got me for treatment wasn't great so I called back, and in the process of that call found out that everything needs to be bagged and treated, etc. I'm inches away from calling again just to make sure. I mean my cheesy encasement has kept me safe, right?
But I could be spreading the little bastards anyway. I know, I know, I know. Mom seems to be taking it well. But she's known for her delayed reaction.
-
ClutterFree
junior member
Joined: Jun '10
Posts: 52offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jun 21 2010 16:39:47
#
Login to Send PM
I called them back. It's as bad as I thought. Worse. I'm already tired. A packtite is starting to not look as expensive as it once did.
-
Bed Bug Epidemic
senior member
Joined: Jun '10
Posts: 449offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jun 21 2010 16:47:47
#
Login to Send PM
What kind of mattress encasement do you have?
I would not trust any encasement that didn't specifically say bed bug proof on the label. Wal-Mart has really affordable ones.
I was in the same boat as you with the eating. I couldn't eat for about 14 days after I found out about this. I am starting to eat again now, little bits.
I also don't understand why everyone's PCO is so darn uncooperative!
-
ClutterFree
junior member
Joined: Jun '10
Posts: 52offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jun 21 2010 16:52:36
#
Login to Send PM
The one on the bed is truly cheap. I don't think it even cost me $12 at Bed Bath & Beyond. However, I also bought 2 Allerzip mattress encasements as well as pillow encasements. I slept on a pillow for the first time in a week on Saturday. It was pretty glorious.
-
OCDthx2BBs
junior member
Joined: Jun '10
Posts: 40offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jun 21 2010 18:55:15
#
Login to Send PM
Just wanted to add that I emphasize immensely with you & love that you managed to make your posts humorous even in this depressing state!
-
bushbugg
member
Joined: May '10
Posts: 234offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jun 21 2010 19:51:33
#
Login to Send PM
1: Bed bugs can not jump. Well, not jump up. They might jump downward, but like a frog or flea? no.
2: bedbugs move pretty quickly. To me they seem like they move as fast as ladybugs (hmmm ladybugs. so pleasant. lets keep that in mind for a while... ladybugs) or other insect about that size. there are videos of them crawling online if you can stomache it.
3. Call again about your mom's stuff. He may want you to bag before or after he comes. Depending on the size of the problem.
4. When he comes to spray I would get him to write down the chemicals he is using.
-
ClutterFree
junior member
Joined: Jun '10
Posts: 52offline
Posted 2 years ago
Tue Jun 22 2010 17:43:50
#
Login to Send PM
I don't want to go home. Plain and simple. I'm tired. Exhausted, even. Being at work has been better than being home all day, but I spent a paranoid 15 minutes this morning checking my work bag--a typical, NY-working-woman ginormous duffel-purse. Knowing that I have to go through and check and pack and dry everything in the livingroom and Mom's bedroom (plus the expense!) just has me jittery. You'd think I didn't sleep at all last night, but I did. I was itchy all morning, kept thinking I had bites (red marks from my own rubbing), and I'm half convinced Mom's relative good will has gone south. Which is possible, but it's just as likely she's as tired as I am from work-related stuff. Last night I picked up more garbage bags, XXL ziploc bags, some boxes from Container Store, and tape from Staples. Tonight I'll get more boxes. The idea is to bag the books and papers (there are so many!) and then box them and then tape the edges.
I've been thinking more about the packtite. Will having a packtite (oh God, another expense) mean I don't have to check every single page of every book and every single CD? My mind is going in circles. Every other thought is about bb's and the house. Even my not-that-close friends are starting to notice. I want to tell someone, but don't know how. And I think typing it out, for once, is not helping. Go fig.
love that you managed to make your posts humorous even in this depressing state!
Thanks. I was actually trying
Bed bugs can not jump.
Thanks!Call again about your mom's stuff. He may want you to bag before or after he comes. Depending on the size of the problem.
I did. They want all the living rooms done. I feel like I should call about the hall closet and the linen closet, but I'm scared. Which seems silly, no? -
DeedleBeetle
oldtimer
Joined: May '10
Posts: 1,232offline
Posted 2 years ago
Tue Jun 22 2010 18:10:52
#
Login to Send PM
Yessss! PackTite is going to give you such peace of mind. It's going to help you keeps some things that you might have thrown away. You can PT all your books and files and papers, and pocketbooks and shoes (only my work boots suffered when the PT heat caused the sole to come away from the bottom of the boot - no problem -- some more glue and i'll wear them next winter).
Definitely splurge for a PackTite. I love mine. You can throw your curtains in there...your clothes, kitchen stuff, knick knacks.
PT Rules!
go ahead...get one..
Reply
You must log in to post.
