second treatment - any advice? « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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second treatment - any advice?

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fantastapotamus

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Posted 3 years ago
Fri Nov 27 2009 12:37:57
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I just got off the phone with my PCO and I've got him scheduled to come back and do a re-application on December 1.

I woke up Wednesday morning with my first conclusive bite since my initial treatment 25 days ago, and I say conclusive because there have been a few red marks on me that may have been bites that had already passed through the swelling phase, but this one was definitely big, red and itchy when I found it. The worst I ever had at one time prior to spraying was a cluster of 4 or 5 bites on my arm (same area this one is in), so even a single bite is enough to be worrisome to me.

I've only seen two bb since treatment, one dead within a few days of spraying and one sort of alive on the 13th day after treatment, but that half dead bb and this new bite were enough to convince me to get the PCO back in to give the gift of chemical death to those little vampires.

I haven't put my house back together yet, so preparation will be at a minimum on my end (remove switch plate covers, break down bed / frame, etc) but is there anything I should be asking the PCO? any areas I should get him to focus on?

one thing that seemed weird to me is that the bite would be in the same area as a prior cluster. is it possible that an old bite just flared up?

here's hoping that 2 is my lucky number.

ps. if I put this in the wrong section of the forum, feel free to move it.
Itchy-Scratchy

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Posted 3 years ago
Fri Nov 27 2009 20:35:57
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It could be an old bite flaring up, but I think you made a good decision to call the PCO back. Better safe than sorry.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you,
Kate
fantastapotamus

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Posted 3 years ago
Mon Nov 30 2009 12:54:35
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thanks

he's in tomorrow morning at 930am, and because I didn't put my house back together after the first treatment I'm 99% ready for him to show up right now. In fact, probably more ready than when he showed up the first time.

Tonight I'm going to give the house a really good vacuum (and dispose of the bag properly immediately afterwards), and go over this preparation list I found online to ensure I've done it all:

http://www.abellpestcontrol.com/pests/bed-bug

not my PCO, but I told him I was using it as a guide and he said that was the same process he would tell me to do.

Tuesday morning before he shows up I'll unplug everything, break down my bed and pull up the carpet tape barriers around my couch and bed so he can treat and not get tangled up on that extremely sticky stuff.

When I return home I'll rebuild the tape barriers, reconstruct my bed and try to put this mess behind me (in a month or so when I don't see any evidence of survivors).
fantastapotamus

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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Dec 8 2009 17:54:00
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It has been 1 week since my second treatment and all's quiet on the western front (so far... knock on wood).

one thing I found odd was when talking with the PCO about adjusting to life out of a plastic bag, he definitely gave the vibe of "why didn't you go back to normal after our first treatment?", which I found very strange.

If I had assumed they got them all on the first treatment I'd still be neck deep in a fresh round of "washing everything I own", so I said to him something along the lines of "yeah, this may be overkill, but if it helps people get through infestations worse than this I'm going to follow in their footsteps to get through mine"

he didn't really have much to say to that

continuing on the topic of possible overkill, I've got climb-ups on the way, along with pillow encasements and DE.

The final product I'm waffling on somewhat is the BugZip drawer liners. I figure that if I were to store seasonal items in them I'd be doing myself a big favor, as well as use them for my day to day clothes to (as the ad says) "secure my peace of mind".

I'm just curious about their durability. the ziplocs are ok, but they are starting to fall apart along the zip (it is pulling away from the bag) on multiple openings and closings. has anyone bought the bugzip products? I know they are advertised here so I assume that is a stamp of approval, but anyone have first hand experience with them?

the reason I'm looking at these bags is that I can't help but be a bit paranoid that they aren't gone for good just yet. the temperature here has taken a turn for the worse (-20C daytime highs) so I'm wondering if they aren't just dormant instead of actually gone.
flabergasted

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Dec 9 2009 2:28:00
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Don't stop being vigilant - my PCO didn't think I would need the 2nd spray I have new bites they are doing it thursday. I have DE on the way also but is not the wonder solution either. You can dust into plugins, light switches and small cracks as a back up but used wrong and the two can counter act each other. I have been reading and watching all the pest control sprays on the resources and faqs and this info is on there.

I notice you say you only have bags no storage containers. Guess what you want for Christmas this year? Rubermaid storage container probably 6 large ones. Put your towel, extra bedding everything in them. They actually fit quite well into closets and I bought different colored lids to remind me what was treated and not. I am goin go be using the DE in the long term containers maybe if one of the guys is reading posts, my understaning is this stuff can take up to 10 days to do the job.

As for your ziplock bags go to the dollar store and get the no name ones and when you do your laundry pack your daily underwear fresh sock etc bags one for everyday of the week ($1.00 for 20 medium, 1.50 for 10 large and xl are 10 for 2.00) I put those in a rubbermaid container. I wash my clothing and for the week also I fold and put them in the rubber maid container and then every morning before I dress I put them in the dryer just before I am ready to leave and then put then put them on. When I come home I do the same thin gwith may casual clothing and bag the laundry.

I bought the space bags for long term stuff they actually sell them in 7 and 12 piece kits (I'll pm you where they are available) for things that you won't use for a long time just lauder it first my PCO thought the were great idea but still thinks I paranoid. They really are quite amazing how much they compress when you draw the air out with the vaccum. The rooms of bags are almost concealed in closets now and very easily remove if further treatment are requied.

And as for inclement temprature is warmed up for -26C to a balmy -19 ecept they are predicting another 10cm of snow. Your right they are probably hybernating, I am told the little bas!!!!ds can live to - 40 no problem it only freeze dry's them.
Louise

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Dec 9 2009 12:17:33
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flabergasted - 9 hours ago »

And as for inclement temprature is warmed up for -26C to a balmy -19 ecept they are predicting another 10cm of snow. Your right they are probably hybernating, I am told the little bas!!!!ds can live to - 40 no problem it only freeze dry's them.

Hey, did your PCO tell you this, too? Are you in Canada as well?

Louise
flabergasted

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Posted 3 years ago
Thu Dec 10 2009 0:52:04
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Yep my PCO told me that, and so did a friend that is a landlord of a building that had an infestation and yes I am in Canada. If it isn't bad enough that we have the added laundry, vaccuming etc., all of a sudden that jet steam drops down puts us in to freezer and we get two feet of snow in 24 hours for the added joy of shovelling.

But I am not wishing for the January -40 tempratures, other than the fact if what we were told is a for sure cure 3 days. We could pitch all our containers an storage bags outside and get the 18 months overwith sooner and maybe have a life again by spring.