Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Detection / Identification of bed bugs
How soon after hotel visit could BBs be detected in home?
(3 posts)-
worrywart1
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 29
Posted 7 months ago
Sat Jul 25 2009 16:46:48
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We were on vacation for a week and a half and returned home about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I remember sometime on vacation feeling itchy at night, but I didn't see any bugs. Now I am getting some bites and not knowing where they're coming from. If I call a PCO would they be able to find evidence this early in a possible infestation? (By the way what does PCO stand for?)
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WorryWart1
PCO = Pest Control Operator
Read the FAQs about travel on this site & launder or isolate clothing and luggage that you brought with you. Carefully inspect these items...
You can try an inexpensive passive monitor like Climb -Up Insect Interceptors or BBAlert on your beds to check for activity.
If you want a referral for a K9 team send a PM (private message = PM this user button on left margin next to this comment) A K9 team can detect the problem in real time, but you might want to proceed in a step wise fashion for now.
If you feel worrywart is a fair self description.... It is important to understand that anxiety can create itchy symptoms & that you may be dealing with projected fears .... Passive monitors & visual inspections are a reasonable initial response .... I find new unexplained marks on my skin nearly every week.... You don't notice them until you focus your attention on them ....You can always escalate to professional inspections, if you continue to experience symptoms.
Let me know if we can provide any assistance.
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poisedtopounce
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 1
Posted 7 months ago
Sun Jul 26 2009 0:52:25
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I had a similar experience as WorryWart1. My husband returned home quite bitten up (my son not so much) after a few nights' stay in chain hotel. Bites looked and itched like nothing I had ever seen on him. The next day, about 20 hours after arriving home, he casually mentioned that the bites seemed to occur at night and wondered about whether it could be BBs. I am only too grateful that something clicked in my brain.
I immediately had husband and son seal in plastic bags their suitcases, computer bags and whatever clothes had not already been washed. We carefully stripped all the beds in the house, washed all linens, pillows, etc., in hot water and dried on high, etc. Did a lot of research that night. Bagged all the clothes in husband's closet (not located in master BR) and son's closet. In searching-and-scanning mode (which I live in now) I found a dead BB on the laundry room floor and a live one on the headboard of our bed. Been vVcuuming everyday everywhere including leather LR sofa.
Thirty-six hours after my husband and son had arrived, I was in a major panic and calling PCO's. I found it difficult to get a quick appt with a PCO in NYC. A BB dog outfit was more responsive but I feel somewhat uncertain about the reliability. I was having a hard time thinking straight from all the panic and horror and did not find this site until days later. Got completely nuts waiting and splurged on a dry steam cleaner (cooks at 298F) which I had speed delivered. It has been six nights and six days. No one has had any bites and I have had no further sightings. All I do is laundry, laundry, laundry. Everyone is living out of plastic bags. I did not bag all my hanging clothes. Virtually NONE of these can be hand laundered and certainly not in hot water. I am considering a PackTite or trying my dry steam cleaner on these items or freezing what I can for two weeks. I did not find any bugs upon dry steaming the master bedroom today.
I am completely preoccupied and can barely sleep. I am planning to do my son's room with steam tomorrow and proceed through the house in this way. Should I subject my kids, pets and family to chemicals given the no bites, no casings, no bug sightings? I feel like I am looking for a few bugs in a large space. Do the BB dogs really work? Do they ever find a clean house? Should I just proceed with the PCO or K9? Are there reputable PCO's for this level of problem? My husband thinks we should proceed cautiously with a chemical plan. Part of me agrees and part of me is terrified. Is it true that the dry vapor steam kills all stages of bug?
Help I am paranoid and terrified...
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