To spray or not to spray? « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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To spray or not to spray?

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Newbeebugger

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Joined: Sep '08
Posts: 56

Posted 1 year ago
Mon Dec 29 2008 23:04:55
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After the repeated spraying of chemicals and 5 months of bugs still biting I get the feeling that these things are laughing at the chemicals we currently use. If they are working (the chemicals)do we continue to have a Pest Control Specialist spray for these things every couple months for the rest of our lives? I mean if we succeed in killing them in our homes do we really want to risk reinfestation? And if we stop laying down chemicals and they come back what's the point of all the months/years of hard work.......dusting and spraying and ziplock captivity? No, I don't want to live in chemicals or ziplocs for that matter either. I'll probably dry all the clothing I wear for the rest of my life if I can even muster up the guts to put the clothes back in my furniture drawers when the time comes. I don't get all the protocalls, policies and proceedures. We all hate them (bb's),and with a myriad of good reason, but prevention once we are free....is it possible? Do we never go to the movies, libraries, vacations, buses, etc....life just got so much harder for us. Can our family and friends come over our house again and can we can feel safe knowing they are not bringing bugs into our homes??? Once this period of our lives pass, and we try to readapt and heal from the physical and emotional wounds of these bugs how do we prevent them from harming our loved ones or us again? I'm even more concerned with prevention techniques after the recent posting of bed bugs and if they can or someday will be able to pass illness. Are there currently prevention techniques....firewalls if you will, to stop or reduce chances of reinfestation that don't reduce our quality of life? I really don't want to live in a desert somewhere......lol....but any other advice would be appreciated. Thanks gang!
BeeBee

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Joined: May '08
Posts: 79

Posted 1 year ago
Tue Dec 30 2008 16:27:18
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Don't worry, things DO get better. I've been battling BBs since summer and have finally, finally gotten a handle on everything.

I refuse to supsend my life. I go to libraries and movie theaters, and I just came back from a six-day vacation where we stayed in hotels and foolishly spread our stuff out all over and just lived and didn't worry about bugs or bites. And we had an awesome good time. And as soon as we got home I washed everything and inspected the suitcases and everything appeared clean. And we received no bites.

I also buy used clothes, 'cause I'm that type of gal, but I pack them in Ziploc bags as soon as I exit the store and throw them in the washer as soon as I get home and blast 'em with super hot water and a super hot dryer (are my clothes shrinking or am I gaining weight, hee, hee).

So yes, there is life after and even with bugs.

Are you alternating chemicals? I'm self-treating (have no choice 'cause of location) and have noticed that some BB chemicals do almost nothing for our brand of bugs while others work very, very well.

Cheers and good luck,
Itchy-Scratchy

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Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 470

Posted 1 year ago
Tue Dec 30 2008 17:20:26
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Bee Bee covered most of it, but I'd like to reinterate : are you alternating chemicals? We had our 10th treatment yesterday, and Orkin is trying a different chemical (switched for the 3rd time). After all, isn't that the definition of insanity? To continue with the same actions and expect different results?

While I very much would like to lead a normal life, right now I can't imagine ever giving up using Ziplocks on my clothing. Washing my entire wardrobe (which is huge) cost me a fortune initially. I never want to go through that again, so frankly, I'd rather continue with the indefinately. I'm accustomed to the protocol : it doesn't feel like an inconvenience any longer.

Every time I travel, I take extreme precautions. Rooms are checked. Items remain in baggies. Luggage is sealed until it's time to leave. No way am I going to risk bringing anything home.

So, to a certain extent, this experience has changed me. I'll worry about reinfestation for a long time to come. I will continue to bag clothing. I will worry when I stay in hotels. I don't know if I will ever have a bedskirt on my bed again. I'm a different Kate now.
Newbeebugger

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Joined: Sep '08
Posts: 56

Posted 1 year ago
Tue Dec 30 2008 22:13:16
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I'm damaged goods you guys. I'm OCD on clean and these bugs have freaked me out to the max...the sick irony of the fact that I'm someone who washed his sneakers every week anyway, cleaned weekly, ironed, ect....and now I have bed bugs....shoot me! Yes, alternating Demand CS with Phantom, using Delta Dust, mothballs, Pest Strips, Sterifab, Rubbing Alcohol 91%...and everything else I shouldn't. But the bites continue. I'll go for like a week and then wake up, strip clothing into the wash, jump in the shower and low a behold a bite. I mean how is it possible? Are they wearing shoes and a suit of armor? I feel so paranoid and think "is one in my book shelves, kitchen cabinets, fridge"? My dresser drawers really freak me out. I mean I have a little dresser for my clothes and all my stuff is in plastic bags? Some people keep the clothes in there drawers and just treat the furniture I guess but the thought that one female may lay her eggs in my underware, I put them on, and then they start to hatch while I'm at work or something...forget it! I'm going to have to dry it all for some time or forever. I hope that silver bullet is descovered for us soon. I watch TV land and shows like "Leave it to Beaver" and I'll see June vacuuming and think don't even bother June, let it go for a month....you all have DDT, go bake a ham with butter or somthing.....lol...yeah...I'm tweeked my friends; and even when this period in my life passes, will it really ever? I had surgery to remove cancer from my left kidney recently. The doctor thinks he got it all. I'm still healing and grateful to God; but removing these bugs from my life....I hope that miracle comes for me soon too and all of you. Thanks for your posts to me. Peace

Newbeebugger
Itchy-Scratchy

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Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 470

Posted 1 year ago
Wed Dec 31 2008 9:01:24
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Newbeebugger, I am so sorry to hear that you had surgery on your kidney. Oh dear, all that and BBs too? Wow. My heart goes out to you.
Kate
Newbeebugger

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Joined: Sep '08
Posts: 56

Posted 1 year ago
Fri Jan 2 2009 22:03:54
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Thanks Itchy-Scratchy and BeeBee.....how are you doing? Kate I think you have a daughter who fights them with you too if I remember....how are you ladies doing? I hope 2009 brings the miracles we need to rid us of these.....there is just no word that a Christian/Spiritual person can use to describe them without becoming vulgar so I'll say hellspawn. It is truely a heavy cross for us to bare. How are you guys? Thanks for the concern too. Yeah...I have multiple illnesses, bb's to boot, and I'm broke....bla, bla, bla.....but you all suffer too, we are in this battle together. Thanks for the love. Peace and hope!

Matt
lynnee82

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Joined: Oct '08
Posts: 66

Posted 1 year ago
Sat Jan 3 2009 11:51:42
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Newbeebugger, so sorry to hear about your health. I don't know how you are battling bb's and severe health issues. I am doing a similar thing with treatment because we could not get a PCO in our area that treats bb's. All claimed they don't treat them because they are "too hard to eradicate." The PCO's on this site have excellent advice. You could PM them with what you are doing, and maybe they could help you know what steps to take next. My prayers are with you.
Newbeebugger

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Joined: Sep '08
Posts: 56

Posted 1 year ago
Sat Jan 3 2009 12:04:40
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Thanks lynnee82. I've PM'ed some already. It's insane how hard they are to kill and how long they live.....pure evil bugs. I feel like I have to keep spraying all the time, cleaning, vacuuming, dusting....always treating and never stopping....it's so tiring...I know you understand. Well we do the best we can and the rest is up to God but I can't believe in the year of 2009 that we have such a horrible problem. It's heart breaking to feel so violated everyday for so, so long. I'll keep fighting the fight and praying and spraying. Good luck to you all. Peace!

Newbeebugger
surrounded

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Joined: Sep '08
Posts: 75

Posted 1 year ago
Sun Jan 4 2009 17:41:11
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I was feeling the same as you a few months ago. I would recommend taking a look at any areas that you havent treated. you know, the dresser itself, the floor, anything that hasnt been addressed fully. I spent months laboring over laundry and caulking and bagging, but avoided dealing directly with my large wood dresser, ancient cracked door, shelves in the closet etc. i was so worn out and irritable with the hours of laundry and steaming, i just couldnt deal. Now i have scaled back on the laundry, and am spending much more time on the wood items and structure. bedbugs prefer wood to clothes anyway, so my odds are better. and it seems to be working. I think they were in my dresser all along, and managed to hide out in there between chemical treatments. re-read stuff, re-evaluate. you just may be too tired to see what you are missing.
I also try to remember that theyre just bugs and cant kill me. I keep on with my life, and keep on with the battle.