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Not Moving, Not Exactly - Was Just Passing Thru...

1. 

   BBpariah
   

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   Joined: Feb '12
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   Posted 1 year ago
   Mon Feb 20 2012 4:24:39
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   First, I am very grateful for this site and all the work that goes into it - THANK YOU.

   I think my story is a little different...

   I want to visit my elderly mother before leaving the area, likely for good, but am not sure about infesting her place. (Would rather say goodbye over the phone than be responsible for her getting them.) Also, want to leave some boxes in my sister's garage, but -- the same thing.

   Moved out of my apartment a month ago, put things in storage for short time to sort and get rid of, and am planning to move overseas. A friend (whose place had been heat treated last year for bb) offered me a short-term place to stay. Before 24-hours a welt appeared on my shoulder. Every day there were more. I thought it was hives or something else stress-related as my stress had been at record levels. About two weeks later (couldn't stand the insane itching) the doc said they were bb bites and the nurse said that some of the really swollen ones looked like positives on a tine test for allergies. I began searching for bugs with negative results; well, until a few nights ago.

   The intense itching all over the middle of my back woke me up so I used the light on my phone to search the bedding once-and-for-all! Found a wee little bug, which got away while I was trying to figure out what to do with it. A few minutes later I found three large adults - they squished easily and there was a lot of blood. Haven't found any more physical evidence yet, beyond the little fecal stains on the comforter. Friend has had no apparent bites.

   For the last two nights I've been sleeping on top of the covers wearing socks, longjohns, and a t-shirt, may have escaped new bites. Even though it's half-past three now I fear going to sleep, y'know? I just can't take it anymore.

   I'm technically homeless. As soon as the stuff in storage is sorted, I'm outta' here. Will be shipping some boxes to my new location. But there's a snag. Before I knew there was a bedbug problem my clothes had been a few days in piles in the bedroom being sorted, several pairs of shoes are still on the floor. Once sorted into plastic bags - not tied off - they spent a few days in my car, and have been in storage for a week. The storage unit contains art supplies, photo equipment, documents, books, papers, no furniture - some loose, some packed in boxes. I work a few hours daily sorting and disposing of things.

   Now my car is packed full of boxes to store, long-term, in my sister's garage and I want to visit my mother. But I'm scared to bring bugs to them. Am planning on hot-drying the clothes I have in the infested apartment before leaving and wearing those. Have seen no physical evidence of bugs in the car but from everything I've read here I know they could be in there. Any chance they are in the boxes after 48 hours?

   As for the bagged clothing in the storage unit - I'll seal those in bags pending a trip to the laundry. How likely is it that any of the other stuff is now infested? I can be ready to leave town in a few days, and would like to do so, but... can I? I'm leaving the car with friends in another state and have warned them about the situation here but I'm wondering about possible treatment for the car?

   I'm grateful that you all understand without me having to explain the misery of the doubt, and the insane itching, the embarrassment of the red welts, and the fear of hugging a friend, and doubts about disclosure. I never paid attention to the whole bb problem until about two weeks ago because it never affected me - that sure has changed!

   Thanks for any suggestions. Sorry so long.

2. 

   cilecto
   

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   Posted 1 year ago
   Mon Feb 20 2012 13:16:12
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   Hi, BBP.

   Sorry that you're in this state.

   First off, get your doctor to recommend something for the discomfort.

   Review our FAQ start to finish. They will give you a solid foundation of what you need to know and do. How to protect the people you visit (or store at) from the BB in your current place. Especially review the Travel FAQ. Anything you bring to a friend risks bringing over BB (and public storage also risks picking up bugs from neighboring units.

   I hope we can help you get through this. With precautions, you can visit people.

3. 

   BBpariah
   

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   Joined: Feb '12
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   Posted 1 year ago
   Mon Feb 20 2012 16:45:17
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   Thanks; I'm sorry too.

   The stuff the doc gave me didn't work so good. The ointment did nothing and the drugs made me so loopy I couldn't drive. I take Allegra in the morning and Benadryl at bedtime and seem to be doing okay. No new bites today.

   This too shall pass.

   Okay, I've read lots and lots of FAQ's and see that this is a huge job. Fortunately for me, I don't live anywhere, so don't have a place to treat, just my things. Too bad, I'd already gotten rid of so much it's going to be tough to get rid of more. But, I just keep thinking of the alternative - oh, sorry, didn't mean to give you bedbugs - and it gives me some energy.

   Thanks.

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