should i stay or should i go? « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Bed Bug Treatment

should i stay or should i go?

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brooklyngirl

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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Aug 6 2008 1:17:42
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hi everyone, let me first start off by saying how greatful i am for the existence of this site. about 2 weeks or so ago my roommate's friend stayed a couple of nights at our apartment because she said her house was being treated for bedbugs. i of course agreed to this because i had no idea of the severity of this situation, specifically that this friend of my roommate had quite possibly just given us a burden that, from what i can see is hell on earth my roommate and i received our first bites about a few days after she had left(week and a 1/2 ago) me having only a singular and her having multiple. we thought it was mosquitoes. a few days later my roommate saw what she thinks was a begbug, looked up online and confirmed it was, and kept the specimen, so we both looked into her room and looked between the mattress and bedspring and saw a live one. the exterminator came and we had our first treatment with a PCO today (although i'm not sure what was used, because my roommate has taken a VERY lax approach to this and didn't bother to ask)the exterminator did tell her that he saw no bugs, no eggs, no blood spots nor feces, but we did save the specimen and he did confirm it was bedbugs. i've taken all precautions as advised on this site (living out of ziplock bags) my roommate has laundered her clothes as advised but is being far too mellow about this situation, thinking it's a small case and that we might not need a subsequent treatment.

so here's my question..i have next to no possessions, i've actually slept on a very high quality air mattress many many months before this has happened. i've also laundered my clothes in hot water and kept them in the dryer at the highest heat possible for 90 minutes, and sealed them in artight bags and brought them over to my dad's house (i've kept some of clothes here at my apt for in ziplock bags)and i'm willing to seal books/dvds and other possessions in airtight containers and keep them in my dads basement for 18months. So should i get out while i can??? should i just move in with my dad?? leave my mattress here, and seal up everything before i get to my dads house and literally bring only myself and freshly laundered clothes, will that be better than staying in this apartment with someone who is not going to be as cautious as i am?? also, this apartment is a multiple dwelling, 30+ units, the landlord has been advised, but god only knows if this will end! this stories i've read here have proven to me that if you are not committed to taking every step advised and doing everything you can, the bugs you will never get rid of them. please help, any advice is much appreciated!!
theprey

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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Aug 6 2008 4:06:37
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As a fellow Brooklynite who has now been dealing with this for more than 6 months, in two different apartments, I'm inclined to say that you should get out while you can. But a more reasonable person might advise something less drastic. I guess it depends: Do you like your dad? Is the space there comfortable? Etc.
Itchy-Scratchy

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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Aug 6 2008 6:59:49
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Hi Brooklyngirl:
I'm going through the same debate myself. Do I stick it out in my current apartment and *hope* they solve the problem? I've lived here for 16 years and it's rent-controled. Or do I leave because re-infestation is a high risk? Will I ever be able to relax here again?

I am starting to think that leaving would be best for me. I can't imagine this place EVER feeling like home again.

Theprey makes a good point also -- do you get along with your Dad? Will it feel like step-backwards to move back in with your parent?
brooklyngirl

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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Aug 6 2008 8:34:39
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i do get along with my dad pretty good. i would have my own room and not have to pay rent(BIG BONUS!). also my plan would be to stay there for a maximum of 4-6 months, wherein i would monitor the bedbugs (or hopefully lack thereof) then start fresh in an affordable studio or one bedroom in a less crowded area of brooklyn (bay ridge.) this seems more and more like a no brainer everytime i think about it, but i guess my real question is, what is the chances of me spreading this to my dad? i know the exterminator had stated this it's a very managable case and we caught it very early. so even with taking the precautions i mentioned (aborting my mattress, sealing up ALL of my belongings and storing them for 18 months) and ONLY bringing myself and freshly laundered clothes (right from the laundromat to his house), is this the better option? i've read posts here that state moving is one of the worst things you should do, and act as bait, but i think my roommate's attitude towards it will make the infestation worse. has anyone had any similiar situations and have been successful?? thanks guys!
gonecrazy

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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Aug 6 2008 11:59:34
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I'm having the same problem myself. I started getting bit 2 months ago, and we've started getting treatment (after threatening lawsuits on the landlord he started treating in mid July). My roommate claimed (and continues to claim) that they must just be in my bedroom because she was only being bit by spiders. After inspecting her bed and finding 2 live adult BBs I've since decided she's a liar. She's kicking her feet in the ground about cleaning her room (she has A LOT of clutter), and doesn't do anything special with her laundry.
PCO says if she doesn't start cleaning we'll never be able to get rid of them. My problem is, I don't want to move and start over with this problem AGAIN.
brooklyngirl

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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Aug 6 2008 16:19:23
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***UPDATE...so i've decided to completely pack up everything i own, with the exception of my SS card, birth certificate, credit cards, ID, cell phone/charger and laptop, in a ziplock back of course, and head over to my dad's. i'm bringing no furniture and as far as clothes, books, dvds and photos are concerned i'm double ziplock bagging them, putting them in rubbermaids, cleaning the rubbermaids with 90% alcohol and leaving them in a basement for over 18 months. after putting everything down in the basement i'm going to strip nekkid (put the clothes i was wearing into a ziplock to be washed hot/dry hot) run into the shower and my dad has pj's waiting for me. i will be buying new/cheap clothes and will hopefully start my life anew, is there any other precautions i should be taking/anything that i left out? this site has made me realize how lucky i am to have so little possessions. how do i treat my laptop? should i lay down DE in my dad's home just in case?
Adele

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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Aug 6 2008 18:00:34
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which basement are you leaving them in - in the basement of your father's house?
Obother

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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Aug 6 2008 18:30:52
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Brooklyngirl,

I was advised to run my laptop so it got hot enough to drive the BBs out, then seal it up in between uses. I imagine you would want to do that BEFORE you get to your Dad's so you don't drive them out into his place. I guess there are also some services out there somewhere that can treat electronics, but I am on the other side of the states so can't offer suggestions.

I think leaving is a great idea. I just did it myself. I debated on whether to rent a storage unit for my sealed possessions, or whether I would bring them along to store in our garage. I opted for the garage since a storage space can be expensive, and I'd rather spend the money on a scent detection dog. Best wishes to you. I am glad you have your Dad.
brooklyngirl

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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Aug 6 2008 19:41:58
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Adele:

yes, i would be leaving them in the basement of my dad's apartment building (5 units). do you think this is an unwise decision? i would love to put it in a storage unit, but that can be very costly.

Obother:

yes i feel very lucky to have my dad, i'm just so scared of bringing even one bug or egg to his apartment. best of luck to you as well, keep me posted on the move, i would love to hear how everyone is dealing with the "abandon ship" option. i know a lot of advise is given here about staying put until treated, but when you live in a 30-unit apartment building with neighbors not taking precautions, it seems wiser to get up leave your possessions behind and head for the hills and pray you bring none with you!
fightorflight

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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Aug 6 2008 21:08:12
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> I was advised to run my laptop so it got hot enough to drive the BBs out

This advice is part of a pool of misinformation about bedbugs that is still being circulated, sometimes by pest control professionals. If there are really bedbugs residing in your laptop - and yes, there have been reported cases of this, but I do not believe it is that common in bedbug situations - then disabling the sleep function and running your laptop until "it" (really, the processor) gets very hot is not, I repeat, is not a reliable way of treating your laptop. The whole laptop does not get that hot and the bugs can remain quite comfortably in the less hot areas. Treating laptops is tricky, but there's a good chance your laptop is clean. There are many threads here on this subject, some with very detailed procedures you may not need. You should definitely start quarantining your computer, though, so no bugs can crawl in.