Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Tales of Bed Bug Woe
Sleepless outside of Seattle
(6 posts)-
nwkent25
newbite
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 3offline
Posted 11 months ago
Sun Jul 22 2012 14:45:42
#
Login to Send PM
I am having severe anxiety and pretty bad depression from my recent discovery of bed bugs. I just had a baby and suffered some post partum and just came off meds from it and probably should have waited because they might have helped me deal with this better.
I am a mess. I have two kids--one was covered in bites. Everyone kept saying 'oh they're just mosquito bites, don't worry' but they just didn't look right to me. I couldn't let it go. I checked her bed and lo and behold, one was on the frame. We moved her into a pack n play into our room and for the last 4 days there have been no more bites. I have bagged practically everything in her room and we haven't entered except once more to get a live bug for the pest guy. My room shows zero signs of bed bugs but I just dropped $200 on mattress and box spring encasements (instead of paying my cell phone bill) and made interceptors from rubbermaid containers for our bed, the pack n play and the crib my 4 month old sleeps in. I have bagged all of our clothing and most of it has made the trip through the dryer. All bedding and pillows takes a turn in the washer and dryer daily. It appears that only my daughter's room has them but I know it's only a matter of time before they come looking for us. Or the ones in my room hatch.
I now await for the apartment complex to give me a prep sheet and actually schedule the spraying. In the meantime, I wait anxiously to see new bites and rarely sleep. I can't eat. I cry regularly. Every thing that brushes my skin makes me certain it's a bed bug, even though I know it really isn't. I don't know what to do with the rest of our items. I am pretty close to calling my dad and borrowing $300 for a packtite. If I have the option of getting rid of everything but our clothes, electronics and kitchen items to leave, should I?
I have googled bed bugs and removal extensively. I am deathly afraid to spend the rest of my life battling this and I fear that if I keep this stuff that's exactly what will happen! I can barely handle it now, much less looking through my things for the next several years to see if they really are gone. I haven't told anyone but my sister and we haven't been anywhere since I found the bug. I'm afraid to give them people.
It has been 5 days since I found the bug and the longer I wait for the prep sheet and spray, I just imagine them multiplying insanely in my daughter's room. Is it easier to just destroy everything and move?
-
theyareoutthere
oldtimer
Joined: Sep '11
Posts: 2,051offline
Posted 11 months ago
Sun Jul 22 2012 16:04:47
#
Login to Send PM
A lot of experts say don't move until the infestation is killed, but there are people who have moved with a small amount of items packtited and/or vikaned..or have tossed a lot of items.
It must be horrible. I linked the success stories below in case that helps, but I know nothing will help right now. Stay strong. If it's been five days, they don't multiply that quickly. The message you will read here over and over again is to act quickly on getting an expert in...but don't do anything rash yourself. It may spread the bugs (the process of throwing things out), or it may waste your money when things can be saved.
-
nwkent25
newbite
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 3offline
Posted 11 months ago
Sun Jul 22 2012 17:17:17
#
Login to Send PM
Our lease is up soon anyway--and there is no way if H@LL I am signing another lease, bed bugs or not. We were already contemplating buying out the lease long before this happened. It could be months before we are thought to be bed bug free and I don't want to be here longer than I have to.
I'm thinking my plan of action may be this:
1. Bag all clothing and send through the dryer. Separate what we will use now into clean XL Ziploc bags to live out of. Send through through the packtite and bag.
2. Put seasonal clothing into Space Bags.
3. Send children's toys (that can) through the dryer and put into plastic bags. My daughter is going insane not having anything to play with so I'll have to send these things into the dryer regularly.
4. I understand that kitchen items and electronics can be inspected and wiped down thoroughly without issue. These items will go into plastic bags and then into plastic totes.
5. Pictures and books and important papers will go through the packtite and then into plastic bags and then plastic totes. If I don't get a packtite they will go into contractor bags or space bags and marked with the current date and 'do not open until...'
6. DVDs and children's plastic toys will go through the inspection and cleaned thoroughly and put into plastic bags and into totes.
7. All furniture will be broken down and disposed of. I'm not taking any chances. There is a disposal company in the area that specializes in the removal of 'infested' or exposed furniture.So essentially all that we would be taking and actively using would be clothing and shoes and toys.
I have the ability to get rid of everything but our clothes and move to my dad's. I am deathly afraid of taking them to his house but he lives 2400 miles away and time is of the essence. I don't like making the cross country trip past October.
-
novella
junior member
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 57offline
Posted 11 months ago
Sun Jul 22 2012 17:24:38
#
Login to Send PM
I know exactly how you feel. I just found out two weeks ago and my life has been miserable.
I have bagged everything too. I found I think a nymp and told my landlord . I did not know back then to keep samples. I have been keeping and showed to landlord. They did treament , however, I am told by pest control that he is not sure and will treat again in two weeks.I hardly am home and I hate being home. I try to stay away as much as possible.
I am thinking of storing my clothes and other items for two years and getting rid of the rest of the stuff. For me what's confusing is that pest control is not sure. I am still getting bites etc.
I want to start new including everything. For me it's just too sad and sleepless nights.
-
mindoverbbs
member
Joined: Feb '12
Posts: 141offline
Posted 11 months ago
Sun Jul 22 2012 18:10:33
#
Login to Send PM
NWKent25,
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. I know it doesn't seem like it now, but you will get through it and this too shall pass.You might want to see your doc about your meds. Going off psych meds can be a bumpy transition as it is. Add a stressful or potentially overwhelming life event like discovering bedbugs shortly after having a baby and it can really exacerbate any pre-existing conditions.
Do you mind sharing the name of the company who does infested furniture removal? There are very few resources on this site for Seattle area bedbug treatment and remediation so your story has potential to help others in your area.
Good luck to you. My heart goes out to you.
Hugs,
Mindover -
nwkent25
newbite
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 3offline
Posted 11 months ago
Mon Jul 23 2012 18:25:39
#
Login to Send PM
This just keeps getting better and better. The management is now trying to put this on me. And make me pay for it since bed bugs are 'brought it.' I told her she can't prove that I brought them in. How does she know that the people upstairs don't have them and just haven't noticed or said anything? Ugh! I'm not paying to treat this place-- if she thinks that's happening I will leave everything as it sits and never look back and then she has an even bigger problem to deal with. And if I have to pay for treatment it certain wouldn't be with sprays. I have kids, including a 4month old, I don't even want to think about what we're going to do after the pesticides are down! I don't want either of them breathing it in.
Is there anything to kill eggs besides heat? Like anything I can put on the outside of bags before I live here and take them into the car and then again before they are taken into their final destination? someone said rubbing alcohol but doesn't that only contact kill live bugs??
Reply
You must log in to post.
