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STRESSED, constantly in tears, am getting severely bitten all over
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TerrifiedGemini
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Joined: May '12
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Posted 12 months ago
Fri May 25 2012 7:03:55
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Hi, i had been getting swollen red EXTREMELY itchy bumps all over my body. Had no idea what they were. Was misdiagnosed once. Finally went to urgent care yesterday, theyre bed bugs! Lifted my mothers mattress yesterday, and of course a whole bunch of them on every corner. Yet i have not seen any on my mattress but i am getting bit the most. I contacted my landlord but hes the type to blow me off. I know i did not bring bed bugs from my previous apartment as i had been living with my sister and she is completely bug free. I stayed up until i couldnt keep my eyes open any longer. That was around 2 am. Woke up at 5 with more bites around my neck. That makes about 12 bites total. I completely broke down and wished i could afford to throw EVERYTHING away and go somewhere else but i know that could still not help. My doctor prescribed me a topical cream but the only thing that gives me relief is an icepack. My bites swell up like balloons and i go to work too ashamed to roll up my sleeves. I understand the best thing to do is sleep in your own bed and to stay calm but how can i? Every 5 seconds i feel something crawling and i use my phone as a flashlight. And when i finally found one i just sat there and cried my heart out and prayed to God for some help. I didnt think they could stay in my clothes until i read the faq's. Theres no escaping them!! I wouldnt care as much if they werent taking over my body and i didnt react to them so horribly. I even got a swollen bump on my forehead!! Please if anybody could tell me how they got through this. No one else userstands what i'm going through. A little info about me: i am 21 yrs old going to community college and working full time to support me and my mother in a crappy 1 bedroom apartment where the living room is my room. I cant afford much. So far i have saran wrapped my mothers bed and box spring and bought a homeopathic spray for the mattresses.
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oldtimer
Joined: Nov '11
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Posted 12 months ago
Fri May 25 2012 8:44:49
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Dear terrifiedgemini,
I'm sorry you are going throuigh this and you are an example of why many of us participate on this website to help out.
Firstly, you are not alone and there is much help to be had here.
However, please change your perspective. And while this is easy to say we don't need to become defeated already. We need to turn our anxiety perhaps into anger and wreak our terrible vengence upon these blood suckers.
You mentioned that you bought "homiopathic spray" (?). As a person who conducts field trial & efficacy testing I can tell you, and everyone else, that I have yet to see a natural type product perform to an acceptable level or anywhere near as efficacious as the insecticide products produced and marketed by the global basic manufacturers. What this means is that you are far better off using real insecticide products. DE also works well but can take an extended period of time to produce the desired results.
Sorry, but I've got to go right now.
Where are you located, city & state???
Hope this helps ! ! ! paul b.
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TerrifiedGemini
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Joined: May '12
Posts: 3offline
Posted 12 months ago
Fri May 25 2012 9:36:01
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Hi Paul B. I may have worded it wrong. I will quote what it says on the spray bottle. "Sleep Tight is the natural way to control bed bugs dust mites. This product is specially formulated with Eco-friendly essential oils and contains no harsh chemical pesticides. Sleep Tight is safe to use around kids and pets. The aromatherapy infusion blend will help your physiological and physical wellbeing. Oh yeah... Sleep Tight!" lol. At least it made me laugh, i havent had a laugh since i discovered the BB. It says to spray it on mattresses, carpet, upholstery, window fabrics and other textiles. Then let it dry for 2 to 4 hours and vaccuum thoroughly. Active ingredients: cinnamon oil, sodium lauryl sulfate, lemongrass oil, clove oil, and mint oil with a bunch of oil. I dont want to purchase any insecticides until i've spoken to a pco. I live in pawtucket, rhode island. There was a major outbreak of bed bugs in the neighboring city a couple years ago also. I just would like to know how you guys cope with sleeping in a bed knowing youre gonna get bitten in the middle of the night? Its difficult to stay positive but i promise to try.
Thanks for responding, i greatly appreciate it
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endless_nightmare
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Joined: Apr '12
Posts: 142offline
Posted 12 months ago
Sat May 26 2012 5:47:34
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Hi
I've been going through this for almost 8 months, and every single day I wonder how I go through this, and think I won't make it the next day, and so on and so forth. As I type this I'm looking at bites I got last night of my leg and I hate the situation.
What keeps me going is knowing that eventually, it will end, it has to. I'm doing every single thing I possibly can to end it. They are just bugs, small bugs, yes it's hell, it's creepy, they are all over my things and I hate them, and it's for sure has ruined my life, but they are just small bugs.
For me, for the itching and the anoyance from the bites, I use benadryl tablets. I take them before I go to bed because they also make me very sleepy, so they help me a great deal for sleep and itching. When I'm completely asleep I don't think about the bugs biting, even if they may be.
Check with your doc or pharmacist if it's okay for you to take benadryl, it's over the counter.
I used to live in RI for awhile, I loved it there. Good luck to you.
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TerrifiedGemini
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Joined: May '12
Posts: 3offline
Posted 12 months ago
Sun May 27 2012 1:05:31
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Hi, thanks for the advice. So far the exterminator my landlord sent wants to fog the entire house. I live in like a huge house thats split into 5 apartments. I keep reading on how fogging doesnt work but i dont know if i have any say on how they handle it. My landlord has cancer and is constantly in chemo, i barely see him, he usually just texts me. And since im only 21 and a female he doesnt really care about my opinion all that much. What should i do?? Thanks guys
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
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Posted 12 months ago
Sun May 27 2012 1:53:12
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Hi Terrified,
Please note that many people do not react to bed bug bites. If they were all over the underside of your mother's mattress, you can be certain they are feeding on the inhabitants of that bed. A lot.
Although you did not see bed bugs where you sleep, it is likely some are there. They may be in or near chairs or sofas, for example. They can hide easily and may be hidden in cracks.
Fogging (bombs) are not a good solution for bed bugs. They are not effective. They can even spread the problem and make it harder to treat.
Pest pros who are experienced with bed bugs know this. You should be able to share information from a reliable source that your landlord will pay attention to.
Show your super/landlord this brochure (PDF) from the Michigan Bed Bug Working Group (look at the large red box on the first page that says total release foggers (bombs) should not be used, and why:
http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/pesticides/gotpests/bugs/documents/bed-bug-brochure-mich.pdf
Here's another reference, the NYC brochure (PDF) page 7:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/vector/bed-bug-guide.pdfYour super/landlord may find the NYC government bed bug page for landlords helpful, because a lot of the information about bed bug treatment is applicable to landlords everywhere.
The brochures may be enough to help convince your landlord that fogging is a bad idea.
You should also contact a tenants' organization for your city (or state/county). They can help you figure out whether the laws say the landlord has to get professional treatment to get rid of the problem, and how to get this enforced (whether that involves calling the city housing inspector, health dept. or another agency -- this varies from place to place).
With any luck he will take some time to educate himself about the problem, starting with the materials you share with him.
Good luck!
Most of all, I hope you will take care of yourself. If your mother is the tenant, then she will have to deal with this on some level (even if that involves dealing with the landlord).
If you have somewhere else safe that you can go, then there are ways to move out without taking bed bugs, though this is tricky and you must be cautious.
Bed bugs can be treated and landlords are "seeing the light" about how to get rid of them everyday, so try not to lose hope. Do what you can to educate yours.
And if you are very anxious or stressed, please see your doctor. Bed bugs are a temporary problem for most people, but can make normal levels of anxiety and stress much worse, and there may be treatments (medications or talk therapy) which may help. There are often low or no-cost programs if this is an issue (and your college health center may be a good channel for finding these).
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Scottysmom
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Joined: May '12
Posts: 4offline
Posted 12 months ago
Sun May 27 2012 5:16:22
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I was a complete histerical ball of crazy, could have been committed, literally, when I battled bed bugs. Pest control companies using chemicals were useless. Terminix is the best but money is always an issue. FOOD GRADE DIATOMACEOUS EARTH IS FAIRLY CHEAP & 10 POUNDS WILL LAST OVER A YEAR! it saved me & I suggest anyone plagued with bed bugs to invest in this all natural, guaranteed to work product. Google it
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Scottysmom
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Joined: May '12
Posts: 4offline
Posted 12 months ago
Sun May 27 2012 5:23:18
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Oh & if you go to your doctor & tell them you have bed bugs, they have a pill that stops the itch & is a strong anxiety medicine all in one. Lol. It is sure to give you a good night sleep.
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