Oh My God, I did it...ONE YEAR « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Bed Bug Success Stories

Oh My God, I did it...ONE YEAR

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yearlongfeast

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Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jul 19 2010 12:28:01
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first, I want to thank this site and everyone for their advice, support, and strength. Throughout this past year, I've been checking this site for words of encouragement and for any feedback/advice to help in this god awful situation.

I promised myself I would come back here if I got rid of these things and post my success story. So wonderful to finally do so.

It took me a year to get rid of these blasted things.

You can check back on my whole story at the introduction page-under a Horror Story from Boston, MA, but I'll say the gist of it here. I got the bugs from my ex-boyfriend's former roomie (he didn't tell us he had them and when I came back from school I brought them to my parents house). I hired a PCO, it didn't work because I found out later that the roomie didnt tell us he still had them so I brought my bags back in to ex's apt and brought the bags back in to my parents, infested again). the same PCO came back again, but this time it looked as if the bugs were resistant to the poison. So, me and ex started to self treat with DE.

Now, understandbly so, you get quite frustrated when you hire a PCO and it doesn't work. But PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SELF TREAT! Do your research and get a good PCO. And I mean research every single thing about this bug. I could probably become an entomologist at this point. (for bbs anyway). The DE I put down wound up spreading them in to my bedroom walls, making it extremely hard to eradicate.

After a long hard break up, 5 extermination treatment, 10 breakdowns, $5,000 (my entire post grad savings)+ on treatment, canine expections, rubbing alcohol, laundromat/drycleaning, Pack Tite (which is a godsend, get one it restores your sanity), throwing away couches and beds...the dog came today for the 3rd time and pronounced the house bed bug free.

Advice: Do your research and think of the worst case scenario with these. If I were to do it over again (and I hope to God I never do), I would get a thermal treatment right away. It costs, but it saves sanity. I definitely lost some of my sanity this year. And, make sure everyone that lives in your place pitches in. That's why my situation was exacerbated-I didn't have much help for awhile. You can do this! I thought it would never end, but it did. Be vigilant, and the end will come, I promise you that.

Now, I have to tackle the fleas in my house. But believe me, I welcome those after these beastly creatures.

good luck all and God bless,
<3yearlongfeast
Ratorja

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Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jul 19 2010 12:34:03
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Pfffft, fleas will be cake for you

So glad to hear you finally got rid of the BBs! I can't imagine dealing with them for a year, you are a much stronger person than I am.
Woeisme

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Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jul 19 2010 12:44:00
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Ooof. Congrats on being bb free. Question, after you put down the DE did you stop getting bites and then receive them again?
Beth

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Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jul 19 2010 14:40:26
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how can you be sure it was the DE and not the pco's initial sprays that they seemed to be resistant to that ended them in the walls? DE is passive, pesticide spraying is active. It seems to me it was likely the first round of pesticide that made them flee into the walls. I have never heard of this with DE, but have with pesticides.

For that matter, vacuuming and steaming can chase them into the walls. Anything can and will when you start killing them. The trick seems to be an integrated approach at once. If you dust DE into the outlets, that doesn't chase them into the walls, it kills any trying to come out. You have to apply dusts with precision. However, if you spray baseboards with poison, the bugs that are directly sprayed may release an alarm pheromone that would alert any other bugs not to tread there, and, ostensibly, chase them into the walls.

I am really glad you got rid of them. I have been battling them nearly a year also and actually with diy am doing better than with a pco (or worse, waiting for money for a pco!) in terms of bites. Taking this into my own hands has been very emotionally draining, but I have more hope now that they will actually go then I did with the no guarantee poison method. At least my steamer, etc. will last awhile. Did you steam ever? I can't wait for the packtite, though I confess not having much left to packtite until the bugs are gone.

peace-
Amy
buggyinsocal

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Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jul 19 2010 15:30:36
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Congrats on being bed bug free.

Also, I just wanted to second the part where a run in with bed bugs makes you totally sanguine about every other insect pest in the world.

I used to get totally worked up about the Argentine ant problem here. I am still afraid of wasps and bees.

But even if I don't like those other pests, they so do not send fear into my soul the way bed bugs used to.

Actually, now, bed bugs don't either, but nevertheless, if you asked me which pest I'd rather deal with? Bed bugs would still probably be the absolute bottom of the list.
DLTBBB

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Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jul 19 2010 15:44:49
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We are going for the thermal treatment , with great trepidation since it is so expensive .. your post just convinced me (again) that it is the thing to do, though.
DLTBBB

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Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jul 19 2010 15:46:14
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Oh, and congratulations!
infestedwbb

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Posted 2 years ago
Mon Jul 19 2010 20:50:04
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For fleas, lavender oil does work, but you have to put it often. The best solution is actually Brewer's Yeast (it works great with pets). Fleas bite you once and go away because they don't like the taste.

I've been taking brewer's yeast since I found the bugs, but the thing is that it takes at least two weeks to come into effect.

Good luck and congratulations on the eradication (even though you scare me, I have to move in a month... I'll be bringing them )
Uhlizza Polen

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Posted 2 years ago
Wed Jul 28 2010 22:22:51
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Great for you! I am 2 months in and thought that I may have the all clear; no bites for 13 days; then got bit last nite: but it could have been a flea; my dog is itching a lot; I applied Frontline a few weeks ago to her but she is a 90 lbs.er and the script is for my 18 year old dog that past on last summer ( ) . It could have been a flea bite cause I did a total strip down of the bedroom: total clean: everything I know to do; (to early to call in another PCO round).

I rely heavily on the DE. It makes sense, and since I got it that is when I started seeing signficant difference; a pco would come (unqualified in my opinion) drench my stuff in chemicals and go in a hurry. That was it. Was up to me to use loupe to examine for eggs on bed boards and everything and thermal treatments of all kinds on a budget of 0. (car in sun, heat gun, etc.); but I am resigned that this could be a year also. Guy in the 4 family I live in has mental problems and LL won't evict him; actually i think he is institutionalized right now, haven't seen him, but my LL knows nothing of these things except that he is legally bound to provide a PCO; I have emailed him and printed him out pertinent information. Forcing him to fix holes in the old historical building and removing bird nests, getting the dumpster off the property (that is how I got them - guy upstairs was heavily infested and threw mattress on the outside of dumpster facing my bedroom window on first floor - at that time didn't know he had them; but I have since caught them trying to make there way in via the window by putting packing tape around that. I also smeared vasoline around he outside of the window.

Good for you; my battle rages on; but I am not so phyco about it now, just exhausted. I cannot unpack my clean stuff and live normally again until this entire building is declared bb free; which at this time it is not; but mine was caught as the PCO said at a "mild" infestation. Do not believe there is such a thing. Infested is infested. Good luck; and keep your eyes open for future BB's as they are on the increase in a big way. Examine all goods coming into your home.
bugnut

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Posted 2 years ago
Wed Aug 4 2010 12:31:25
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Congrats - and thanks for coming back to give us sufferers some hope - we really do need it!
DeedleBeetle

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Posted 2 years ago
Wed Aug 4 2010 17:42:27
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Wonderful news!!