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PCO's will not believe me

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on my own

jasmine311

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Posted 3 months ago
Tue Nov 17 2009 17:59:18
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My co-worker told me she had bedbugs and we shared a hotel room for 3 days so when I started getting bit and saw the little black dots all over my mattress and pillow I knew what I had right away even though I never saw an actual adult bedbug.

I was so freaked out I threw out my mattress right away and mopped and cleaned every trace out of my house. I guess that was a bad idea because the PCO said he couldn't find any trace of bedbugs and he didn't think I had any. He sprayed a little bit with Talstar and Gentrol but he won't come back. He says my problem is in my head--he says there is a technical word for it.

Now I'm on my own with DE and Bedlam. What should I do? He left some glue traps but they don't go in the traps. The pesticide got rid of the adults but I have a million tiny nymphs that crawl on me every chance they get. I isolated an airbed but I'm still afraid to go to sleep. Any ideas will be appreciated. They're not in my head. They follow me everywhere I go and have kept me awake many nights.
CookEmDanno

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Posted 3 months ago
Tue Nov 17 2009 20:29:35
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Trap the nymphs and get recommendations for better PCOs in your area.
jasmine311

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Posted 3 months ago
Wed Nov 18 2009 1:24:05
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Well I caught a big nymph tonight trying to crawl up the leg of my chair--it must be a 4th or 5th stage instar--it looks exactly like a bedbug, proboscis and everything--but it is still white.

The problem is that I really live in the boondocks and this is the the third PCO who told me he didn't think I had bedbugs (the first would have been free of charge--as it was the apt. complex's PCO.)

Sure--if I hadn't been on edge ever since my co-worker told me she had bedbugs and if I wouldn't have been constantly looking for evidence every time I got bit, I never would have caught this problem so early, but now it seems as though this fact is a handicap, not an advantage.

I spent the money I was going to use for the PCO on Bedlam, Sterifab, Protect-a Bed covers, Ziploks, alcohol, DE, a sleeping bag, airbed, clothes steamer, and a million other things. since I figured I had to solve this problem on my own.

But I need a stronger pesticide. The Bedlam is just barely keeping them at bay and not really controlling them. The PCO used Gentrol, Dragnet and Talstar. I am pretty chemically-sensitive so I am reluctant to try the insecticides people write about here, e.g. Demand CS. Is Demand more toxic for people than Dragnet or Talstar?

I know people will say don't use these chemicals yourself, but I don't really have a choice. I've already spent $750 on a PCO who only came once and won't come again. I haven't been able to physically visit with anyone since October 6th and I feel like I'm getting nowhere.
cilecto

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Posted 3 months ago
Wed Nov 18 2009 10:02:13
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Welcome, Jasmine and sorry. BB fighting is much more about process (how you work, where you apply the goods, when) than what. You're may be applying chemicals where the bugs are not harboring or going. Before you spend any more money on chemicals, please get educated on inspection and control techniques. Visit the links section and check out one if the IPM manuals or Codes of Practice. Check out the videos at bedbugcentral.com or the you tube of Austin Frishman doing an inspection. Meanwhile, go conservative. Vacuum a lot and toss the bags. Murphy soap. Isolate the bed. Get medical relief fir symptoms. BB sometimes require the patience, persistence and precision of a hunter. Best if luck.
jasmine311

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Posted 3 months ago
Wed Nov 18 2009 13:26:54
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Thanks Cilecto. I really appreciate your reply. I have been reading this forum for about a month. It's been an invaluable support to me. I found out I had BB on October 6th.

I just vacuumed and tossed the bag like you said. Unfortunately I think their harborage is my wooden tile floor which extends throughout my 1000 square foot apt. They can hide in the tiny cracks between each of the small wooden tiles. I have Murphyed it many times but I can't afford a steamer.

They hang out wherever I am, which is at the computer and where I watch TV. I got rid of all my furniture and brought in plastic lawn chairs and a plastic patio table for the computer.
Mt apt. is bare except for these things and an airbed. There are a few bookcases on the periphery but I have checked these carefully and there are no signs or evidence of BB.

I had a lot of trouble isolating my bed. The cases from Walmart wouldn't keep out the nymphs. Then the boxspring cover I bought especially for BB got tiny rips in it. That's when I bought an airbed. But I have isolated the airbed on glasses of mineral oil. I've got my clothes in the oven right now heating before I go to work. You guys have really helped me a lot. Thanks for being here. :-)
Louise

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Posted 3 months ago
Wed Nov 18 2009 14:23:48
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jasmine311 - 12 hours ago »
Well I caught a big nymph tonight trying to crawl up the leg of my chair--it must be a 4th or 5th stage instar--it looks exactly like a bedbug, proboscis and everything--but it is still white.

Wow. I didn't know that 4th or 5th stage instar could still be white. Don't they have to be feeding on someone in order to get to that stage?

Are all of the bedbugs you're seeing still white, or are some reddish-brown?

Louise
jasmine311

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Posted 3 months ago
Wed Nov 18 2009 19:57:56
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I have never seen any reddish brown, except the shed skins are sort of that color. Once I saw something dark run across my bed but it was too fast to catch.

Mostly I have very very tiny white things crawling on me and biting me. I thought they might be something else too, so have looked up all sorts of lice, but they are none of those. They are definitely a blood-sucking parasite because they are very aggressive in hunting me down and climbing on me.
wchicago

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Posted 3 months ago
Wed Nov 18 2009 20:21:00
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jasmine

i'm so so sorry, your situation sounds awful!
i have wood tile floors in my kitchen <with tiny cracks between> and old hardwood floors <with not so tiny cracks between, and also nailholes> everywhere else. its a 'vintage' chicago apartment, hardwood floors, lots of molding and built ins <actually, quite charming before the bedbug invasion>.

i am thinking of polyurethaning the floor, using water based poly. i'm not going to sand between coats, because for us bedbuggers, its not about a completely perfect looking finish - i just want to seal all the cracks. its a PITA, but not horribly expensive. here is an ehow article with tips -but i would go to home depot or some other big box store and ask them, the supplies aren't hideously expensive and applying it is kind of like a cross between painting and mopping. . it'll take at least a weekend per large room though -with all furniture out <but it sounds like you don't have alot to move around anyway. so given your situation, maybe seal em in. its like caulking :) but for floors <i just finished caulking my apartment's baseboards. ALSO a huge HUGE PITA, and now i need to caulk all the non baseboard cracks. this will take awhile :)>.

good luck!
http://www.ehow.com/about_4707900_polyurethanecoated-floors.html
wchicago

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Posted 3 months ago
Wed Nov 18 2009 20:51:23
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hi jasmine, one more thing, if you think you have laminate <and i think i might have laminate tiles in the kitchen, not real wood - -do not poly the laminate. you'll need a special sealer for laminate <poly is only for wood, i'm polying everywhere BUT my kitchen and bathroom>

but, all is not lost. there is this stuff to seal the cracks in laminate -you can get it colormatched to your laminate floor. and if you have wood instead, well, poly away <just FYI, minwax makes a low VOC fast drying easily accessible floor poly>
hope this helps

laminate sealant link below <and no, i don't work for home depot, i just seem to live there these days between the caulking and the sealing>
http://www.homedepot.com/Flooring-Laminate-Flooring-Laminate-Tools-Accessories/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5Zba6w/R-100006670/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
cilecto

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Posted 3 months ago
Wed Nov 18 2009 21:26:50
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If you've soaped the floor, you might need to do some prep to make the poly stick better.
bait

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Posted 3 months ago
Wed Nov 18 2009 21:33:11
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I polyurethaned my hardwood floor, on my hands and knees, using store bought product. It did not provide enough coverage to fill deep, wide cracks. Either use a professional or - I've been told - try varnish.

If you caulk with silicone, buy paintable, not the stuff for bathrooms. I wish someone had told me that before I caulked everywhere.
bait

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Posted 3 months ago
Wed Nov 18 2009 21:42:58
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I have seen affordable steamers in the stores. I think I saw a pretty elaborate Shark (or was it Sharp?) for about 60 or 70 dollars.

I just bought an Emerson at CVS for $20, but I intend to use if for de-wrinkling clothing. I have no idea how hot it gets.

Be aware that if you use steam, you open yourself up to a whole new set of problems caused by mold.

The most important thing in my opinion is to follow all the protective protocols, to eliminate the chance of infesting someone else. The worry and guilt, and possible repercussions of that, are unbearable.
jasmine311

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Posted 3 months ago
Wed Nov 18 2009 22:00:00
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wchicago, thanks a million for all your helpful info. I've been thinking of going that route myself--I made inquiries at a paint store. The guy said to use a squeegee to make sure the poly gets into all the cracks. I'm pretty sure I have hardwood parquet. That's what the ad for my apt. complex says. :-D

The spaces between the tiles are very very small, but just small enough for a bug to slip into--like a 32nd of an inch or smaller. I just want to be sure it would seal those openings--with all the area I have I don't want to do more than one coat.

Cilecto-you're right. My floors are very dull now from all the murphy's oil I've used on them, and I'm sure the vaseline they picked up from the furniture legs didn't help either. I think I'll have to use a water/vinegar solution to degrease the floors first.

Bait, I have been caulking with silicone, just not anywhere on the floors. Lucky for me this apt. is pretty modern so there are not many places that need caulking. My last residence was an apt. in an old house and there were huge cracks and openings EVERYWHERE. But then---I have to remember it was a renovated attic in the first place.

wchicago, just want to thank you again for your input. :-)
cilecto

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Posted 3 months ago
Wed Nov 18 2009 22:05:13
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I recall a post that a best practice is to run two one-gallon steamers (one in use, one heating up) so that you can do the job right and uninterrupted. You want a steamer that gives enough volume and hot enough (200 at tip) so you kill the bugs without blowing them around and don't cause mold. Those little jobs that are being pushed on a lot of scared people just won't cut it.

Take this video, for example. Bogus. Bad advice (Itchy-Mon-Mike):

[+] Embed the video Get the Video Plugins

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Good steam videos (Jeff White, BedBugCentral):

[+] Embed the video Get the Video Plugins

Text-Link:

HTML-Link:

BB-Code:

Embed:

[+] Embed the video Get the Video Plugins

Text-Link:

HTML-Link:

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As I urged Jasmine, take it easy and do some homework before dropping more cash.
jasmine311

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Posted 3 months ago
Wed Nov 18 2009 22:05:21
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bait - 18 minutes ago »
I have seen affordable steamers in the stores. I think I saw a pretty elaborate Shark (or was it Sharp?) for about 60 or 70 dollars.
I just bought an Emerson at CVS for $20, but I intend to use if for de-wrinkling clothing. I have no idea how hot it gets.
Be aware that if you use steam, you open yourself up to a whole new set of problems caused by mold.
The most important thing in my opinion is to follow all the protective protocols, to eliminate the chance of infesting someone else. The worry and guilt, and possible repercussions of that, are unbearable.

Oh I know--I haven't spent time with a human being face to face (except for work) since October 6. Except one time I returned a dish to my next-door neighbors and they invited me in. They are elderly and get lonely so I didn't know what to say. I sat for awhile. I had just got back from work and was still in my sterilized clothes and shoes--hadn't sat down in my own apt. yet. But I do worry about that one incident.

I bought a clothes steamer at Walmart for $30. Then I saw on this site that it would not be hot enough to do my furniture and was not dry vapor. Still--I would have kept it for my clothes but it only worked sporadically so I returned it today. I've spent a FORTUNE on this problem.
jasmine311

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Joined: Nov '09
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Posted 3 months ago
Wed Nov 18 2009 22:18:19
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cilecto - 5 minutes ago »
I recall a post that a best practice is to run two one-gallon steamers (one in use, one heating up) so that you can do the job right and uninterrupted. You want a steamer that gives enough volume and hot enough (200 at tip) so you kill the bugs without blowing them around and don't cause mold. Those little jobs that are being pushed on a lot of scared people just won't cut it.
Take this video, for example. Bogus. Bad advice (Itchy-Mon-Mike):

[+] Embed the video Get the Video Plugins

Text-Link:

HTML-Link:

BB-Code:

Embed:

Good steam videos (Jeff White, BedBugCentral):

[+] Embed the video Get the Video Plugins

Text-Link:

HTML-Link:

BB-Code:

Embed:

[+] Embed the video Get the Video Plugins

Text-Link:

HTML-Link:

BB-Code:

Embed:

As I urged Jasmine, take it easy and do some homework before dropping more cash.

Thanks Cilecto. I think a steamer would be good, but I can't afford the type that would do the job right. I've reconciled myself to that. Thanks for providing so much background.
samson

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Posted 3 months ago
Wed Nov 18 2009 22:34:58
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I noticed that in the first embedded video not only did he throw the beeding on the floor ( a no-no) but he started to scratch himdelf like mad at the 25 seconds into it.
spideyjg

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Posted 3 months ago
Wed Nov 18 2009 23:47:43
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samson - 1 hour ago »
I noticed that in the first embedded video not only did he throw the beeding on the floor ( a no-no) but he started to scratch himdelf like mad at the 25 seconds into it.

Hence the moniker Itchy-Mon-Mike.

Never trust an itchy mon selling BB products.

Jim
Louise

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Posted 3 months ago
Wed Nov 18 2009 23:56:34
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jasmine311 - 3 hours ago »
I have never seen any reddish brown, except the shed skins are sort of that color. Once I saw something dark run across my bed but it was too fast to catch.
Mostly I have very very tiny white things crawling on me and biting me. I thought they might be something else too, so have looked up all sorts of lice, but they are none of those. They are definitely a blood-sucking parasite because they are very aggressive in hunting me down and climbing on me.

Ugh! You must be so frustrated!

So, are you saying that the bugs are seeking you out while you're up and about? Can you post a picture? The idea of white bedbugs is sort of freaking me out...I thought I knew what to look for, but your experience has me questioning that now...

Louise
spideyjg

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Posted 3 months ago
Thu Nov 19 2009 9:46:25
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True BBs are not white but translucent in their nymphal stage.

Get a high powered magnifier and get some pics. Count the legs and if they have 8 they are a type of arachnid and likely a mite,

Jim
jasmine311

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Posted 3 months ago
Thu Nov 19 2009 14:50:48
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Louise - 14 hours ago »

jasmine311 - 3 hours ago »
I have never seen any reddish brown, except the shed skins are sort of that color. Once I saw something dark run across my bed but it was too fast to catch.
Mostly I have very very tiny white things crawling on me and biting me. I thought they might be something else too, so have looked up all sorts of lice, but they are none of those. They are definitely a blood-sucking parasite because they are very aggressive in hunting me down and climbing on me.

Ugh! You must be so frustrated!
So, are you saying that the bugs are seeking you out while you're up and about? Can you post a picture? The idea of white bedbugs is sort of freaking me out...I thought I knew what to look for, but your experience has me questioning that now...
Louise

No, they find me and get on me when I'm sitting still at the computer or watching TV--but--I don't notice them until a while later. Maybe you shouldn't mind what I said. I thought they were bedbugs because I have the little black dots that are feces and the skin casts but I've never really seen an adult. However, I've NEVER had a problem like this with bugs in my life and my co-worker has a very very bad infestation (since July) in her apt. And we shared a hotel room together so....

Whatever I have I'm hoping all the things I'm doing will work just as well regardless of whether it is BB or something else.
jasmine311

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Posted 3 months ago
Thu Nov 19 2009 14:54:10
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spideyjg - 5 hours ago »
True BBs are not white but translucent in their nymphal stage.
Get a high powered magnifier and get some pics. Count the legs and if they have 8 they are a type of arachnid and likely a mite,
Jim

Thanks, that's a good idea but that is just so distasteful to me. I am here all by myself day after day with nobody to hold my hand through this. I just can't handle looking at these things under high magnification. Sorry for being so squeamish.
BBcoukHome

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Posted 3 months ago
Thu Nov 19 2009 17:53:01
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Hi Jasmine,

Sorry just got around to reading this thread and some of the things do not quite stack up.

Could you please either post a picture of the insects you are seeing or collect some and post them to my office for checking.

It is not beyond the realms of possibility that only your colleague ended up bringing bed bugs home with her the reality is that not all exposed people bring the problem home, if they did then the problem would be a lot worse than it is. I have actually modelled infestation patterns in some cities and regions of the UK so its not something I am saying lightly.

Don't worry about being squeamish bed bugs are just plain icky all said and done and it takes a certain type of person to willingly expose themselves to environments full of them, I have long since believed that one of the characteristics of a good bed bug specialist as opposed to a PCO is an ability to remain calm, focused and asses the facts.

Hope this helps.

David Cain
Bed Bugs Limited
jasmine311

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Posted 3 months ago
Thu Nov 19 2009 22:55:24
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BBcoukHome - 5 hours ago »
Hi Jasmine,
Sorry just got around to reading this thread and some of the things do not quite stack up.
Could you please either post a picture of the insects you are seeing or collect some and post them to my office for checking.
It is not beyond the realms of possibility that only your colleague ended up bringing bed bugs home with her the reality is that not all exposed people bring the problem home, if they did then the problem would be a lot worse than it is. I have actually modelled infestation patterns in some cities and regions of the UK so its not something I am saying lightly.
Don't worry about being squeamish bed bugs are just plain icky all said and done and it takes a certain type of person to willingly expose themselves to environments full of them, I have long since believed that one of the characteristics of a good bed bug specialist as opposed to a PCO is an ability to remain calm, focused and asses the facts.
Hope this helps.
David Cain
Bed Bugs Limited

Wow, that is really nice of you. The PCO who wouldn't spray a second time said he would come by tomorrow to pick up some bug samples, but I would rather send them to you instead. I only have two. I had more but I spray them with a lot of alcohol to make sure they are dead and I think some just disintegrated.
jasmine311

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Posted 3 months ago
Fri Nov 27 2009 18:58:07
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Well I found out what the strange bugs are that are not bedbugs. Every one on here that said that things did not add up were right. They are fleas. I had bedbugs and probably still do have a few bedbugs left, but somehow about a month ago I got fleas too. I don't know how I got them because I don't have pets, but they got really out of hand.

I seem to really have a handle on the bedbug problem--hardly any little black dots anywhere to indicate their presence. There used to be a lot more. I am happy about that but not complacent.

I have Onslaught down on my floors for the bedbugs. Now I put borax down on top of that for the fleas. So now my question is--will the borax make it easier for the bedbugs to escape the Onslaught? Is there some particular way that would be better than another to spread around the borax so that both poisons work as best they can?. I can't believe I have 2 pests at the same time! Yiiii!!!
Louise

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Posted 3 months ago
Mon Nov 30 2009 10:33:00
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jasmine311 - 2 days ago »

I seem to really have a handle on the bedbug problem--hardly any little black dots anywhere to indicate their presence. There used to be a lot more. I am happy about that but not complacent.
I have Onslaught down on my floors for the bedbugs. Now I put borax down on top of that for the fleas. So now my question is--will the borax make it easier for the bedbugs to escape the Onslaught? Is there some particular way that would be better than another to spread around the borax so that both poisons work as best they can?. I can't believe I have 2 pests at the same time! Yiiii!!!

Jasmine, I'm glad to hear that the bedbugs weren't attacking in broad daylight (for entirely selfish reasons, I admit!). I *am* sorry, though, to hear you're dealing with two pests at once!

Can you describe the black dots you found on your bed? Did they brush away, or were they ingrained in the sheets?

Louise
jasmine311

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Posted 3 months ago
Mon Nov 30 2009 22:50:41
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The black dots on my bed brushed away. But I had a big rip in my mattress on the side so that I could pull it apart and look inside, and inside the mattress it seemed more like black stains on the mattress fabric rather than anything that would brush away.

I only looked for about a second. That's when I realized I had bedbugs and I was freaking out, so I dragged my mattress to the trash shed.

Thanks for your reply Louise. I know bedbugs are bad but fleas really suck it you leave them go till they are out of hand. I kept giving the PCO samples of bugs I caught and he kept saying that's just lint, but really they were fleas in the cocoon stage. The PCO's we have where I live are NOTHING like the guys on this forum. Unfortunately.
Louise

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Posted 3 months ago
Tue Dec 1 2009 11:38:16
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Hmmm. Do you think the black specks on your mattress could have been "flea dirt"? Because I'm pretty sure that bedbug fecal matter "sinks into" the sheets, rather than sitting on top (as in, it's really hard to remove, even with multiple washings).

Do you think it's possible that you only have fleas?

...although I'm not sure what all of the black stains IN the mattress would have been, if not bedbugs...

Have you been able to get the fleas under control? Blech.

My condolences on your situation.

Louise