Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Uncategorized
help? anyone out there?
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4everparanoid
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Joined: Apr '08
Posts: 26
Posted 1 year ago
Thu Apr 3 2008 16:59:27
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this is my first time blogging so I don't know what I'm doing...no one responded to my prior queries so I'm trying again.
Hi there,
This site is terrific! I have spent hours reading over the past few days. I have a former survivor of 2 infestations (both solved on my own--one with vacuum/fogging, which I realize now is a no-no and the other time by moving 3-4 times). It's been 10 years. Now I have 2 small children and a 2800 sq. ft home, which I cannot move from and I have no idea how I would/will ever eradicate another infestation!I am suspecting bed bugs, but then I do every time I travel. My "new" questions are:
1. the alleged blood stains I see on my kids' sheets are very even, like the head of a pin and superficial--don't go through the sheets. Does that sound like digestion marks? I looked at all the pictures here and none look like what I'm seeing. I seem to remember that the stains went through to the mattress pad/mattress before but then it has been 10 years!
2. Also, as I accumulate more evidence for my husband to actually believe me this time, I thought I would start washing/bagging some stuff. I have my own washer/dryer...do you see a problem with using those (the washer is brand new so I would hate to contaminate it.) Or should I make an effort to go to laundramat, which would be more difficult for me.
3. Do the stains on sheets washout or are they permanent? I recall they would wash clean whereas my kids sheets were permanently stained...perhaps just a skinned knee?My only evidence so far is bites on my kids but they have been one or two. Not lots. My paranoia says this is just the beginning...I am intrigued by some of the preventative measures from this site but don't want to move forward without a professional opinion I think. I don't want to make it worse, but I don't feel like I have enough evidence to confince a PCO that we have bb. (I cannot even convince my husband and he lived through it with me 10 years ago) Oh the memories...
thanks! -
Hi! Sometimes it takes some time before the right person will answer your questions. It doesn't mean that we are not looking. For your first question, I have never really looked at the sheets when we were in the midst of our infestation. Now for #2, I do not believe that the bugs can infest a washer or dryer. I used to live in a 20 unit apartment complex, and never had I heard of any of the other people ever complain. We were all pretty sociable. I hope that what you are experiencing is not bedbugs but if it is, you are in the right spot to get the help you need. Also the support when your hubby has heard enough of the bugs. I'll laugh at myself. (Inside joke)
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4everparanoid
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Joined: Apr '08
Posts: 26
Posted 1 year ago
Thu Apr 3 2008 18:42:22
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Hi Angie,
I saw your early threads; how is your situation now? Thanks for the reply! I feel like I'm cracking up. I'm snapping at my kids; I recoil when they come bounding out of the rooms in the morning for a hug b/c I'm so PARANOID. I wish I was a person who had never heard of bedbugs except for the little nursery rhyme. I am thinking I have to get a PCO in just to inspect so I can have some peace of mind but I'm worried about being scammed. I decided that I will tear apart my daughter's room tomorrow while my son is napping looking for signs besides sheets and bites. I'm afraid my husband is going to come home to all his carefully hung wallpaper torn to bits.
thanks again,
kate -
paulaw0919
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Joined: Jul '07
Posts: 1,034
Posted 1 year ago
Thu Apr 3 2008 20:04:27
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4everparanoid..I know how you feel in not knowing. Especially because you have been through this before. Good thing is, because you have had some experience, and now have some info on this site for tools. You are that much ahead of the game. I highly doubt you will have to move 3-4 times to rid this. IF you have them, you are most likely catching this much earlier than most people out there that are not aware. Before going to any extremes I would suggest interview some PCO's that specialize in Bed bugs. Have them come in to do a THOROUGH inspection. If they come up clear and you still feel very unsure, then I would locate a NESDCA certified K9 to come in and inspect. IF that shows up clear as well as a specialized PCO inspection I would consider yourself clear of bed bugs and look to see what else may be causing this. I hope this helps. Please stay calm, you have tools that will get you through this.
About the washing clothes concern. What I would do is get 3-4 days of clothes for each person. Wash/dry on hot/hot put in XL or XXL Ziplock bags and use those as your clothes until an inspection is done. I would not do all wash, towels etc...intil a PCO and/or K9 comes in to inspect. You may disturb if there are bugs somewhere, and if there isn't, you did alot of useless work. Good Luck and keep us posted -
freaked out in brooklyn
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Joined: Mar '08
Posts: 131
Posted 1 year ago
Thu Apr 3 2008 20:09:50
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I am all for those bed bug dogs.....I have not used yet, but they seem brilliant.
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4everparanoid
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Joined: Apr '08
Posts: 26
Posted 1 year ago
Thu Apr 3 2008 21:54:09
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Thank you Paulaw for your encouraging and calming words. I am going to do an inspection with the flashlight/magnifying glass tomorrow for as long as my son naps or I can stand it. But first I will call some PCOs--I pulled some numbers out of the yellow pages today. I promise not to tear down any wallpaper.
Two other questions I thought of:
1. What about houseplants? do they like those?
2. I have a HUGE walk in closet with a narrow door just 3-4 feet from my bed (have not felt/seen bites there) and I'm wondering in an effort to save my pocketbook, the environment, my sanity if I should put some DE or even just vaseline across the entrance threshold? Preemptive strike if you will. Do you think it would work?Angie, great pictures on the home page--really freaked out my husband. And you did great on tv.
I came to the conclusion as I was reading my 3rd or 4th curious george story of the evening that humans have been living with these pests for hundreds of years and holding out on hugs b/c of bugs is not going to get me very far in this short life I have.
thank you so much for all the kindness and encouragement. -
4everparanoid,
Getting a professional in is the best idea, in my opinion. Whatever you do, don't go crazy cleaning, since you can clean evidence away. The FAQs may help (button below).
One other thing-- sorry you did not get a reply right away to your other post. That said, if it happens again, please DON'T re-post the message as a new thread (as you did). I deleted the other post just now. If it happens again, after a day or so, just post a follow up to the same thread asking if anyone has seen it. It will likely get more attention. Thanks! :-)
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In response to your question in the Limestone thread, it is common to see few or no bed bugs. Many people go months and months seeing none. If you have clutter or lots of hiding places (cracks, etc.) it can make it even harder.
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Thanks for the compliment on my photos and video. I have alot of plants and I never worried about them. The are not the typical hide out for bedbugs and I have never seen anything suspicious on them. Now for your closet, I would be worried. I never thought they would live in there either cuz we didn't "sleep" there, but after searching, I found several cast skins in my daughters closet and nests behind the floor trim in my other daughters closet. In my bedroom closet, I seen baby bedbugs and nests and skins on the ceiling, walls and behind the trim. I was astounded cuz I didn't ever think to look there. I had a border per say around the walls and that is where I seen the baby bugs, crawling out until I messed with them. Only one escaped my torture. It is very hard to find these and I looked for along time. Only upon my spotting a cast skin on the top of the floor trim, did I ever consider to look there and that is where I saw the most disturbing sights. No wonder my kids were having bug nightmares. My gosh, nests ever where. I was having a hard time finding evidence in my 9 yr olds room and once I pulled back that trim, I called the PCO and the health dept right away. I knew these things were living in the void between the floor and the wall and traveling as freely as they wanted. Disgusting!!! Don't get discouraged, if you have bedbugs, you will find them. Let's hope you don't!! Good luck and don't forget to hug your kids. I forgot about that at one time, the stresses of the bedbugs drove me to being a crabby mommy and I will never again forget to remember what is the most important thing in my life...my family!!!
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lieutenantdan
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Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 1,162
Posted 1 year ago
Fri Apr 4 2008 9:12:05
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My belief is that a bed bug can and will hide anywhere. Usually at the beginnings of an infestation they like to hang close to the host but I think that it is possible for some to venture a little further away. Check out steamers and Food Grade FreshWater DE. Of course one must be careful especially with children. Read my post called Egg Find from a few days ago this will give you an idea of my recent experience. Remember that you are not alone.
Can you tell us what state you live in? -
4everparanoid
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Joined: Apr '08
Posts: 26
Posted 1 year ago
Fri Apr 4 2008 13:47:46
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I live in suburban Phildelphia. If I have bedbugs, I picked them up visiting my grandma in CT--she has lots of visitors flying in and out. I asked her to look at the mattress but I don't think she really tore it apart. I will go read about DE on Egg find right now lieutenantdan. Thank you!
No bugs, great public service you are providing here in hosting this site. It is nice not to feel alone. Thanks again.
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4everparanoid
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Joined: Apr '08
Posts: 26
Posted 1 year ago
Fri Apr 4 2008 14:52:42
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lieutenantdan, thanks to your egg find story, I found a bug! My first stop was the screws under my daughter's headboard. Found something that I'm not sure it is a bedbug...don't think it is book lice either since I just googled that. It is almost 1/4 inch long but only 1/16th wide, so long and narrow. Had a blackish middle with sort of brown-black stripes cutting across horizontally--almost centipede like but not distinct enough to be legs (of course I'm no entomologist!) It did not react to my flashlight but I sprayed it with my murphy's oil just in case as I was not about to lose this sucker. I tried to take a picture with my digital camera but it just looked like a brown/black smudge on a white background. If anyone has any ideas, let me know...maybe I should start a new thread...what is a good tool to pull up edges of carpet? Mine seems to be really stuck there with glue or something...I tried a flathead screwdriver with no luck.
Another question:
* Baseboard radiators. They are all through my home. Do I need to dismantle, or would the heat from the hotwater pipes not be hospitable for bbs?
thanks-
4everparanoid -
paulaw0919
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Joined: Jul '07
Posts: 1,034
Posted 1 year ago
Fri Apr 4 2008 15:12:09
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Hi. GLad you found a bug. Is it still in one piece? If it is, I would show it to a PCO but not let them take it. After showing it to them send it to Harvard. They can correctly ID it if it's a bed bug for $20. Go to their website for the form to send in.
Some people's carpet is down with tacking, sometimes they glue it down. If it's down with tacking you should with some force be able to pull it up. Bed bugs can be under that tack strip or behind the bottom molding itself. Was the bug somewhat apple seed shaped? A lot of people mistake them for ticks? Did it look like that? The part that you describe the bug having a blackish middle and stripes going across sounds like a bed bug. But stating it's long and narrow doesn't. Is is very flat, almost like a thick piece of paper? I got my carpet up by starting at a corner and working across. But in a low infestation you may not want to do that because it may disturb too much and make them harder to find. As for baseboard heaters...if you think the unit itself gets over 100 degrees, it's not a likely spot for them to harbor. But then again if it only gets warm, they may find that cozy. -
4everparanoid
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Joined: Apr '08
Posts: 26
Posted 1 year ago
Fri Apr 4 2008 15:42:03
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Hi Paula,
I was just reading your posts about dogs. I have one PCO coming out but think I may try to find one with dogs instead. I think perhaps I found a carpet beetle. At first I was joyful, but then realized they seem like a real pain to get rid of as well. Plus I have not yet inspected my son's room.It is in one piece and soon will be petrified by the murphy's oil I sprayed on it. It totally looked like a bed bug in the screw hole but once I zapped it and spread it on paper I realized it was more longish.
thanks! -
fightorflight
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Joined: Jan '08
Posts: 694
Posted 1 year ago
Sat Apr 5 2008 2:41:12
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4everparanoid - I'm sure those more informed will weigh in, but from everything you've said, there is the distinct possibility that you do *not* have bedbugs. I hope someone knowledgeable gives you a good ID.
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4everparanoid
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Joined: Apr '08
Posts: 26
Posted 1 year ago
Sat Apr 5 2008 8:13:40
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fightorflight, I'm trying to repress huge feelings of relief at your post b/c I don't want to jinx myself. After my big "find", I kept looking and didn't find anything else of interesting I think although I did tape and label a few things.
More questions:
1. Do the molted bodies look like a bug, then you touch it and then it disintegrates or crumbles?
2. No bites on my kids for 2 days or blood stains. I do not take this as good news. I think the little buggers are off molting for a few days and will be back for the next meal or even worse, will begin laying eggs. Am I TOO paranoid? I'm afraid to mention this to my husband for fear he will take me to the loony bin.My vow here: if I do not have bed bugs, I will take the money I would have spent on vikane treatment and get my cracked and peeling ceilings redone.
I'm also a little bit embarrassed b/c it seems if it is carpet beetles that really is a symptom of not enough or thorough enough cleaning. Oops.
-kate -
paulaw0919
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Joined: Jul '07
Posts: 1,034
Posted 1 year ago
Sat Apr 5 2008 8:20:05
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Hi there.
1) I never have seen a cast skin as far as I know. But from what I hear and have seen on the web, yes. The cast skin looks like the bug, more transparent.
2) the bugs usually feed every 5-10 days. Don't get paranoid, you don't know if you have them or not.
3) After our vikane treatment we had all carpets removed, HW floors refinished and yes, the cracks the in our ceilings done. So, right there you are ahead of the game. :)
4) carpet beetles are not your fault and has nothing to do with being unclean. I have always been a "clean freak" and I had them too. (some people have allergic reactions to them as well)If on your search you don't find anything I would have a PCO inspect and/or a NESDCA K9 come to inspect. Then you can either take action or relax. :) Best wishes
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4everparanoid
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Joined: Apr '08
Posts: 26
Posted 1 year ago
Sat Apr 5 2008 18:36:11
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Thanks Paula. I'm having trouble finding a K9 in the PHiladelphia region. I am thinking about calling Cesar and asking for a recommendation...do you think he will mind?
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paulaw0919
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Posts: 1,034
Posted 1 year ago
Sat Apr 5 2008 20:51:36
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4EverParanoid. I PM'd you some information on how to find a qualified K9.
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Get an inspection before you do anything else. Really. You might make the situation worse or cause yourself much undue stress.
Good Luck.
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4everparanoid
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Joined: Apr '08
Posts: 26
Posted 1 year ago
Sun Apr 6 2008 7:36:30
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Thank you baked I am realizing that is very good advice. I received my $300 worth of nat'l allery mattress covers along with pillowcases and was thinking, if I put these on now, where will the alleged bugs go to next? Day three with no bites, no marks on kids sheets. I won't relax for about another week...when unfortunately I wiill be on a business trip probably picking up bedbugs! Wouldn't that be ironic? I did use the travel site to check my hotel and it seems in the clear, not that that would stop me from doing the same checks I do on a hotel room as I have for the last 10 years or so. Thank you everyeone, this site is a godsend. I will keep you posted and continue to hunt for a k9 in my area.
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lieutenantdan
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Posts: 1,162
Posted 1 year ago
Mon Apr 7 2008 13:10:54
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4everparanoid,
Cast skin looks like the bug but a little more transparent, kind of. Stuck mine to tape and it did not crumble.Lou Sorkin deserves the credit because his picture made me look closer. But thank you.
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