Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Bed Bug Success Stories
My Success Story
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katie89
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Joined: Feb '12
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Apr 18 2012 2:44:53
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Hi everyone! This site was of great help to me while I was going through my bedbug infestation. I could relate to the stories of frustration and the success stories allowed me a reality check to know that I would get past the nightmare.
I moved to CT for graduate school and was excited about finally being out on my own and into my first apartment. Since the day I moved in, in August, I started waking up with rashes on my body. After visiting the dermatologist he told me I had scabies from a recent trip volunteering abroad. At that time I thought that was terrible. He suggested the possibility of bed bugs, but I just didn't see any evidence and brushed it off. Anyway, after I continued waking up with rashes after 2 months of scabies treatments, I knew something was wrong. I went home for Christmas break and the rash completely stopped. That's when I knew something was in my apartment and I wasn't going crazy. Sure enough, when I got back to CT in January, we FINALLY found a live bug stuck in my roommate's comforter. While I was terrified and in shock, it was a relief to finally know what it was so it could be treated.
After going through months of thinking I had scabies and cleaning my apartment and washing my clothes everyday to get rid of whatever this was, I was exhausted both mentally and physically. Although I was glad our apartment was being treated, I finally broke down. I was so scared to be in my apartment and woke up with nightmares every night. I couldn't even sleep with the light off anymore because I couldn't stand the thought of not seeing if there was anything around me. I was also wearing myself out physically from the care it takes to wash and bag all clothes and items to ensure I didn't spread it anywhere else. For someone with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, this situation was just a nightmare for me. I literally felt myself starting to lose it with uncontrollable worry and falling into a very dark place. I sat in my room hysterically crying over the itching, embarrassment, and money spent figuring this problem out. I'm writing this because I know for some of you going through this, you're experiencing some of the same feelings. Seek help. I began seeing a therapist when I recognized myself losing control. If this is something you can't do, whether for financial or personal reasons, you must find happiness outside your apartment or house. Engage in an activity that distresses you or seek company in someone you trust. The combination of these things and knowing that eventually and somehow that this would end really pushed me through. You're not alone and you can do it.
I was lucky enough to live in a building that provided an exterminator free of charge as long as we prepared our apartment properly. We washed and bagged everything we could. I ended up throwing a lot out that would be hard to treat. We also bought mattress and box spring encasements. We had three treatments, spaced two weeks apart. Check with your PCO, but ours was spraying chemicals and wanted us to vacuum the boarder of the rooms as often as we could, then empty the vacuum immediately. A month after the last treatment we had an inspection to make sure they didn't find any live activity. Thankfully, they cleared us. After 8 months of dealing with bed bugs, are journey seemed to be over. My roommate was immediately able to unpack and go on with her life while I was very hesitant. I was terrified it wasn't really gone. It has taken me almost 2 months to start unpacking. Although I do feel more comfortable in my apartment, I can't wait for my lease to end in August for a fresh start.
Moral of the story, you're not alone and we all understand how physically and mentally tiring this can be. There is a light at the end of tunnel and you will conquer these little creatures. I will think about each one of you every day and hope that things start to get better sooner rather than later. Just think, someday I will be reading your success story.
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NeverGoingToSleepAgain
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Joined: Apr '12
Posts: 8offline
Posted 1 year ago
Wed Apr 18 2012 7:05:47
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Thanks for your words of encouragement. Pretty sure I got my first positive ID on a bedbug tonight. Been freaking out ever since. Tried to lay down and go to sleep and I literally threw up. It's 7am now and I still can't stop checking myself every few minutes.
It's heartening to hear that others have made it through.
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nomorebugsplease
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Joined: Apr '12
Posts: 3offline
Posted 1 year ago
Wed Apr 18 2012 20:38:52
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Thanks for this! This has helped more than I can explain. We found out we had bed bugs last Friday -- and it's not the first incident in our apartment. I've been freaking out -- and I'm having to take something to sleep at night or I just won't.
We got sprayed today -- so my life is still in bags, but the stress of putting them all in bags is not there. I'm going for an outing tomorrow to just get away from it all. Pray that this was enough to get rid of the BB. We'll see soon!
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NeverGoingToSleepAgain
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Joined: Apr '12
Posts: 8offline
Posted 1 year ago
Wed Apr 18 2012 21:18:05
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As long as you're taking a sleep aid have you considered diphenhydramine (Benadryl)? It's sold as an over the counter sleep aid. And, being and antihistamine, it'll also help any bites you get not become itchy (though I guess that might make it harder to identify if you get any).
Best of luck to you!
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katie89
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Joined: Feb '12
Posts: 4offline
Posted 1 year ago
Wed Apr 18 2012 23:26:44
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NeverGoingToSleepAgain - 15 hours ago »
Thanks for your words of encouragement. Pretty sure I got my first positive ID on a bedbug tonight. Been freaking out ever since. Tried to lay down and go to sleep and I literally threw up. It's 7am now and I still can't stop checking myself every few minutes.
It's heartening to hear that others have made it through.I'm so sorry to hear you just found out. At least now that you know it's probably that, you can get started on getting rid of it once and for all. Honestly, my first night was the worst too. That night I literally woke up screaming and jumped out of my bed. I still was terrified of going to sleep, but once we had the first treatment I was somewhat able to sleep again. Sounds cheesy, but there are guided relaxation videos that you can find online that can really walk you through helping to relax and hopefully get to sleep. Worth a shot! I wish you the best of luck!
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katie89
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Joined: Feb '12
Posts: 4offline
Posted 1 year ago
Wed Apr 18 2012 23:30:26
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nomorebugsplease - 2 hours ago »
Thanks for this! This has helped more than I can explain. We found out we had bed bugs last Friday -- and it's not the first incident in our apartment. I've been freaking out -- and I'm having to take something to sleep at night or I just won't.
We got sprayed today -- so my life is still in bags, but the stress of putting them all in bags is not there. I'm going for an outing tomorrow to just get away from it all. Pray that this was enough to get rid of the BB. We'll see soon!Nomorebugsplease, I know it's so hard to live out of bags in a place that's supposed to be your home. And of course the lack of sleep doesn't help with the already high stress level. I will definitely keep you in my prayers that your treatments will be successful! Best of luck!
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