Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Bed Bug Success Stories
I think we are a success story and I've seen a therapis
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offsides1971
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Joined: Oct '09
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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Dec 9 2009 18:05:06
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Found them in our bedroom on Aug 30 and are in a standalone home. We ripped the bedroom apart and threw away almost everything; they were only in our room. Called Orkin who treated five times between Aug 30 and Oct 1. They treated the whole upstairs to be safe (three bedrooms, hall, laundy, two baths). We moved into the guest room up there because the bedbugs seemed to bother my asthma, not the pesticides fault as was having problems the couple weeks before we found them with my breathing. I can't remember what Orkin used but one chemical was to kill them and one to keep them from reproducing. Orkin in Kansas City, MO was great by the way. None of our furniture in our bedroom had any signs of them except our big oak headboard that has built in lamps, shelving, etc. They treated everything anyway, sprayed light fixtures, wall sockets, under the carpet around the baseboards, etc. We then found a few (around 10) in our hall and bathroom after they sprayed but were told it was to be expected as they try to run from the poison but would die (well, I killed them so they were dead).
Never got a bite in the guest room, son never got a bite in his room and no evidence ever in those rooms but they were sprayed anyway also. I was the big reactor to bites when we were in our master bedroom where they were discovered.
Anyway...the last one ever seen was on Oct 1.(69 days!! yeah) ..it's taken from Oct 1 to Nov 25th for me to be comfortable with us moving out of the guest room and back in our master bedroom. We had all of our carpets professionally steamcleaned in Oct also. Also repainted while it was torn apart. We've now been back in our master bedroom two weeks today and nothing (since Nov 25th). I've got double side tape along the baseboard behind our bed that is clear; nothing on it. No bites, no stains. Our big oak headboard is in storage where it will sit for a few months through the extreme cold winter. I probably won't get it out until May or so. Figure between the cold and Oct-May timeframe, they should die if there were any left in it as they sprayed it 5 times also. They seemed to be packed in there pretty tight so our PCO suggested putting it in storage for the cold months just as a double safety measure with the sprays they did. He felt it was probably fine without being in storage; however, I have had some real psychological problems with all this and he told my husband it might help me knowing it was gone for awhile. Frankly the $45/mo is worth it as the headboard was over $2000 new a couple years ago.
Psychologically, I had to see a therapist and actually had to go on Zoloft which has helped. I became very obsessive and was spending hours every day checking for them almost to the point of being compulsive. I even made my son late to school a couple days because I was checking so much. I'm still hypervigilant but the hopeless feeling is beginning to fade. Still nothing touches the floor...my husband/son don't dare throw their clothes on the floor or I'll get them..lol. If my son knocks his pillow on the floor during the night, it gets thrown in the dryer for an hour. I still check the beds every day and look around the room a bit but it's manageable. My skin is very sensitive and always has been. I get a little bump sometimes..a pimple, infected follicle, etc. and I'm starting to learn to relax and realize that I had these things for 38 years before the bugs too. Everyone gets a pore that inflames for a day or so..it's normal. Even if I get one that itches a bit, it itches for a moment and then goes away. For me, the bites I had itched intensly for days and days so it's different and I'm beginning to recognize that. Plus, there are no marks in the bed, on pajamas, etc. They also didn't come find us in the guest bed or son's room either.
So, I think we are clear. I've been through heck psychologically besides the normal hard work it takes to get rid of them.
One of the things my therapist has asked of me is to not come here and read about these pesky creatures as it feeds my obsession. I haven't been on here in about a month and decided to come back today to post my story. This site was hear for me when I needed it and will be here if (lord forbid) I need it again...so I felt I should come back and post to be here for someone else. If anyone has any questions about my psychological battle I'll stick around a day or so on here. You can email me also at [email deleted per user request] as I will probably disappear in a day or so for my psyche. -
kimintheeast
newbite
Joined: Jan '08
Posts: 13offline
Posted 3 years ago
Wed Dec 9 2009 19:07:13
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Thank you for sharing your story! It gives me hope for sure!
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upagain
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Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 335offline
Posted 3 years ago
Wed Dec 9 2009 22:24:53
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Always good to hear a success story. Thanks.
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MyWorstFear
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Joined: Sep '08
Posts: 610offline
Posted 3 years ago
Wed Dec 9 2009 22:31:58
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Glad to hear that you are out of the nightmare! I'm also glad you came back here to post your experience even though your therapist told you to stay off this site, lol. Did you ever figure out where you got them? Vacation or just a random encounter?
Sounds like your PCO knew what he was doing in treating your house, but I'm a bit disturbed by their telling you to put the headboard in storage. Bed bugs live longer at colder temperatures so I don't think cold will kill any if the sprays didn't get them. Would it be possible to steam the headboard or Vikane it?
Or possibly treat it with those pest strips and wrap the whole thing in plastic for a couple of weeks? -
beth1979
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Joined: Oct '09
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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Dec 9 2009 23:06:54
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It is nice to here there is life after bed bugs. I have had 4 treatments since Oct. 28 (last one today), and there was a good 2 week stretch in November when I was feeling very optimistic that we may have beaten this thing. No bites, no fecal stains on sheets, no site of bugs...but oh i was too naive. I now know we need to go at least 60 days before we can feel safe. And it is not helping that despite the "treatement" this morning, this evening I see a live bed bug crawling on the bedroom wall. I think I may need to look into another company and my landlord better pay for it.
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 14,066offline
Posted 3 years ago
Thu Dec 10 2009 0:38:30
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Leaving your email address on a public website can lead to spam problems, but I won't delete it unless you email me and ask me to.
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offsides1971
junior member
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 36offline
Posted 3 years ago
Thu Dec 10 2009 10:20:05
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I keep seeing varying reports on the cold. Some say a few days in cold temps will kill and some say not. Maybe Nobugsonme could tell me. They will get hit with the cold and will also be in storage with no way of feeding for 8 months total. I could hit it with the pest strips to...what are the pest strips called? I remember reading about them once but can't remember the name.
If I had my way, the headboard would never come back but my husband insists that it will be fine.
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 14,066offline
Posted 3 years ago
Thu Dec 10 2009 12:07:52
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HI offsides,
I've already responded to your email.
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member
Joined: Jan '09
Posts: 177offline
Posted 3 years ago
Thu Dec 10 2009 21:33:20
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Congrats offsides1971
It's been months for me, since June really with a couple of scares, but I'm just beginning to put books (after cooking them again in the PackTite) on a couple shelves. The fidgeting is really about 95% gone, and life is so much better. For those who go kooky when this happens (raising hand) it takes a while to feel safe again. So glad for you.
I wish you a speedy recovery and a BB Free rest of your life!
Portland, OR
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MyWorstFear
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Joined: Sep '08
Posts: 610offline
Posted 3 years ago
Thu Dec 10 2009 22:22:04
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Offsides, I'm not sure what they are called officially bec ause I've never used them, but I did a search on this site and DDVP No Pest strips came up. I'm pretty sure that's what people mean when they talk about them. I think the DDVP stands for whatever chemicals that are in them, although maybe it's the brand, lol.
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soretit
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Joined: Nov '11
Posts: 83offline
Posted 1 year ago
Mon Nov 28 2011 9:38:29
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Offsides.
Now that is what I call a success story.
People who move are not a success story but thats OK.
Not evry case is winnable and why bang your head against a brick wall.
Please dont think you are the only one who inspects everything ad ifinitum.
I am a red blooded male and I do too and its only natural and normal to do so.
I dont want to move and my bug s life has just started and so I got to get through this and your story is good.
I am pleased to hear that some treatments are effective.
I am a sceptic and feel they are just amateurs as I dont see any conclusive research being done ANYWHERE on the web into this problem.
Thus this website.
And the company adverts that festoon the right hand side like bed bugs on a wall(not mine thankfully).
I dont want bed bug resistant.
I dont want bed bugs. Period.
I think you agree.
I hope as much as you do that your treatment was effective because it is important for all of us.
So my fingers are crossed for you:)
(And me!)
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