Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Tales of Bed Bug Woe
I need a pep talk, please.
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crashed
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 13
Posted 3 months ago
Sat Aug 8 2009 18:20:05
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I had a breakdown today. Long story short, found the bedbugs 2 weeks ago, had breakdowns daily until the PCO came, about 1.5 weeks ago. I haven't gone into my bedroom (I know maybe I shouldn't have moved to the living room, but I just couldn't stay in there) since. I've sprayed even more chemicals (flea/tick spray with permethrin). And I just.. have felt *safe* since. I haven't seen any bugs. I haven't really had any bites.
My son got four bites the other day. But they looked more like mosquito bites than the bites he had 1.5 months ago (when I think the bbs came - those were the only bites since then, though.. no more). So I brushed it off. And I've been thinking, maybe I'm one of the Lucky Ones. Maybe they were only in my room. Maybe the first PCO visit killed them all, or at least the ones that are alive are still just stuck in my bedroom, awaiting the next PCO visit that will be this week.
But this morning, I was sitting on my couch. And there was one on my jeans. One that was skinnier than I'd normally seen, but it was definitely a bb. Bright red, like it'd just filled up on my blood. I threw it in a container and froze it. Because I thought that would be a more horrible death than simply squishing it and getting blood on my jeans.
But now I feel like I'm back to square one. What if the bites on my son are bedbug bites? Are they in his bed now? Is he getting them from the living room? If I found a bedbug alive while sitting on my couch, how can I truly believe that there isn't a whole bunch more of them, just waiting until nighttime? I've probably stopped reacting to bites.
So, I guess I just need a pep talk. I'm a single mom, working only part time and going to school full time. I can barely keep a roof over our heads some months, but I'm ready to just live in the car. I wanted to go through everything I own today and throw it all away, except for the bare essentials. But I've tried to snap myself out of it. I keep saying, "it's JUST bedbugs. They're JUST bites. With proper procedures, they WILL go away. Other people have had far worse cases." But it just doesn't help most of the time. I've got a history of severe depression and anxiety, and I've taken more anxiety medication these two weeks than I have in the past two months. I just started a new job after being on disability for over a year and a half, the baby is trying to transition into daycare after having me home every day since he's been born, I have to deal with family court proceedings, and I just feel like everything is toppling and falling and nothing will ever get better.
I just wanted to clean today. I wanted to clean but I can't even do that because I feel like it's worthless. I can't vacuum. I can't do anything.
I have ordered the allerzip encasings, and they will be here by mid-week. Then the PCO will come again. Then I will try to sleep in my room again. I will buy the climbup interceptors for my bed/the baby's crib. And hopefully I am one of the Lucky Ones and two treatments works.
But then again, it probably won't. And I am just freaking out. About everything. And trying not to cry.
So I mean, sorry this is so long. I guess I just need a pep talk. A "don't throw your stuff away!" reiteration. Please and thank you. -
Do not panic! It is normal to need multiple treatments (generally spaced around two weeks apart) before this is gone. If the PCO knows what they are doing, bed bugs will be killed, but it does not happen overnight and can take multiple treatments (even more than 2 for many people).
First, I would NOT spray your own flea and tick spray with permethrin. Ask the PCO if you should supplement and how.
Is the PCO using a dust? If so, don't vacuum (which will remove the dust). Ask him/her about this.
Similarly, don't mop (or wet clean areas which may have been treated) without asking the PCO about this. You might clean away the residual that keeps killing bed bugs.
Is your PCO treating every room? If your son has bites, I would not assume they are not bed bug bites. He could be bitten on the sofa (where you saw bed bugs) but he could also be bitten elsewhere in the home, in chairs, or in his bed.
Are you sleeping on the couch now? Sofas are harder to treat than beds. Tell the PCO you found a bed bug on the sofa. Of course, they can climb onto any furniture, or even onto people.
The PCO will need to treat the sofa and will usually be the best source of information on whether anything needs to be thrown out or can be treated. I would not start tossing things out without direction. Remember, your neighbors may pick things up and infest their homes. If things must be tossed out, they should be destroyed AND sealed.
Your infestation may need more than 2 treatments, but this is normal. If anyone has bite reactions OR you see any bed bugs or signs (new fecal stains, cast skins, etc.) then keep getting treated. Seeing any bed bugs at all is unusual, and you may have a good number still -- and may need more treatments even after #2.
Do you know what the PCO used and where? If you can, tell us. They should have left a list with you or with the landlord, and you should be entitled to see it.
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crashed
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 13
Posted 3 months ago
Sat Aug 8 2009 20:04:53
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I know that he used Suspend. He did my mattress, couch, thresholds, the crib legs (not the baby's mattress or anything because that wasn't infested), and pretty much everywhere else in my apartment. But he did those parts liberally. I did vacuum probably a week ago, but not my bedroom (dumb). Didn't do anything with the canister or anything.
I slept on the couch for probably 3 or 4 nights after I first found the bugs. Last week, I bought an air mattress and have been sleeping on that in the living room. I will throw it out as soon as I go back to sleeping in my bedroom (which will probably be after the second treatment this week - I will have the encasings on the mattress/boxspring/pillows, and I'm going to try to buy the climbup interceptors).
I'm just hoping I feel better after the second treatment. I'm at the end of my rope already, and it's just started. I think a lot of it has to do with the baby. I know that bedbugs aren't a cleanliness issue, but I can't help but think what an awful mother I am to have somehow let these things into my house, to bite my infant, and to not be able to just fix it. -
cantstandbedbugs
junior member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 80
Posted 3 months ago
Sat Aug 8 2009 20:06:57
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Hey crash,
You only had one treatment its usually takes more then one to get rid of them completely. I remember I saw one the day after my 3rd treatment and I went into total nuts thinking I would never get rid of them that I will live like this until I moved (if I didn't bring them with me). I called the PCO right away and he assured me that that one was just came out because it was poisoned and would've died if I hadn't killed it. I had 2 treatments after that because I insisted on it. I feel that they are gone completely. I haven't seen one in weeks and haven't been getting bb bites. So hang in there things will get better.
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Try to find out whether the PCO used a dust because you don't want to vacuum if he did.
You should notice fewer bites after each successive treatment.
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crashed
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 13
Posted 3 months ago
Sun Aug 9 2009 7:28:34
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Thanks guys.
I have definitely noticed less bites on me. Definitely definitely. But I also haven't been sleeping in my bed, which is where I assume I was getting them. I think I've done a lot of things wrong, but I'm going to redo a lot of stuff after the second treatment this week. -
cantstandbedbugs
junior member
Joined: May '09
Posts: 80
Posted 3 months ago
Sun Aug 9 2009 11:19:49
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Once you get the encasements and clean the bed real good you'll feel more comfortable sleeping in it. Check out the FAQ on this site for how to protect / isolate the bed these steps will keep them off the bed and minimize bites until they are fully eradicated. I wonder if Allerzip also has encasement for baby crib or will your son sleep with you until treatment is completed? You can also place the wheels of the bed in little bowl with mineral oil to prevent them from getting on the bed until you can get the climbup. Good Luck with everything.
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Yes-- AllerZip does have crib encasements. You should be able to find them via the Protect-a-bed or North Shore Care links to purchase Protect-a-bed AllerZip products.
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buggyinsocal
oldtimer
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 1,130
Posted 3 months ago
Sun Aug 9 2009 17:15:41
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Don't focus on what you've done that's "wrong." A lot of the things that you shouldn't do when dealing with bed bugs are completely counter-intuitive and specific to bed bugs, so unless you're really well educated about bed bugs before you find them, chances are everyone's going to do something "wrong" without realizing it.
Do figure out how to move forward with a plan that will give you the greatest chances of success. Adding OTC pesticides when you're already under professional treatment is not a good plan at all. Remember that some pesticides appear to repel bed bugs, which means if you don't know a heck of a lot about pesticides and start putting your own down, you may end up counteracting the application the pros put down.
Do talk to your PCO about what's going on, what you have and haven't done--no matter how "bad" or "wrong" it was. Your PCO will need that information in order to treat most effectively.
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crashed
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 13
Posted 3 months ago
Tue Aug 11 2009 17:32:08
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Thanks everyone. I might get the encasement for the crib, but I'm not sure. I just bought the climbup interceptors, and I'm at the end of my rope with money. And he hasn't had any signs of bbs in his crib, so I'm crossing my fingers for now.
I did talk to the owner of the pest control place today. It was a big deal yesterday because my landlord said they say they only come once a month. "It's like getting an oil change at 3000 miles, then getting another at 4000; it doesn't do any better." But I talked him into coming next Thursday, which will be 3 weeks. That's when I will put the encasements on the mattress and start sleeping in there again. I am going to look into getting small bowls for my son's crib while I wait for the climbups.
This just sucks so bad. I've spent more money than I have just to do things (museum, restaurants) to get out of my house because I never want to be here. :(
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