Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Tales of Bed Bug Woe
UK Bed Bug Problem... Going out of my mind
(5 posts)-
lon29
newbite
Joined: Jun '12
Posts: 2offline
Posted 11 months ago
Mon Jun 18 2012 20:02:23
#
Login to Send PM
I have just stumbled across your website after having possibly the most miserable 5/6 months in my life. I have been suffering from bites since the end of January and im completely at a loss of what to do next or who can actually help me. I do not live in the US but any information or help anyone can give would be appreciated (i live the UK).
Im going to list some things in bullet points just to give u an idea of where im at in this infestation.
I have not actually found evidence other than the bites and a few fecal stains (smeared dark when i rubbed them)
I have had a few rows of bites but they often occur as a single bite
I am a flight attendant and a few other people have reported bites in one of the hotels we stay in Los Angeles (we no longer stay there)
I am away most weeks for 3/4 nights at a time and also stay in my partners flat sometimes, the bites only show up the days after i have slept in my own bed
Partner has also been bit after sleeping in my bed but not as much as me
Bites tend to occur on my thighs, back and shoulder areas, though more worryingly seem to be getting more attracted to my face
I seem to get 2 types of bites, small pimple like bites that disappear after a day or two and occasional welts that seem to last for weeks.
Initially i thought it may be fleas so i self treated with bug bombs, then got an pest controller in to treat for fleas, he suggested bed bugs when leaving.
The bites persisted and i hired another company specializing in bed bugs they done an examination of my bedroom (about 30mins) and signed me off as bed bug free and would not treat.
I live in a relatively new block of apartments 7 years old maybe, i have thrown out alot of clutter so my room is now minimal with all bedding white
Im unable to find evidence with the bites getting worse, i found a PCO who would treat without evidence, he has done a search and was not able to find anything either. Two weeks after his first spray im still getting bitten, i get the second spray on Wednesday, is this normal? how long does it take before the bites start to reduce?
I am worried that the bug bombs i used may have driven the bugs under the skirting board and into the walls that's why we are unable to find their harborages, If this is the case, how would it be possible to treat the affected area?
I have spent already a fortune (which i dont have!) on this problem and the psychological stress of no-one really being able to help me. i live with my landlord (neighboring rooms) he is not getting bitten, and i feel he is not convinced of my plight. I would move but am worried that i may bring them to my new place hence alienating new flatmates from the get go. Plus it would not sit well if the problem was not resolved before i go. Is it possible to move without bringing them? I am a rational sane person, i have never had anything like this before.. I feel completely stuck on what to do next, the doctor cant help me, PCO's to date dont appear to be helping me, my landlord is in denial, and a few of my friends think im over-reacting. The reality is, im having a complete nightmare, and feel desperate for a bite free life without dumping all my belongings and starting again from scratch - Drastic i know but what options do I have? This problem is on my mind now 24/7, i cannot relax, or focus on anything else.. I just want it to end and get back to my normal life, i fear no-one can help me, the fact that im away alot also limits what i can do, any advice anyone can give would be much appreciated. If i could just find concrete evidence so i can move to the next step.. (climbups etc are not available in the UK)Any info or advice would be great, im at my wits end..
-
oldtimer
Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 6,718offline
Posted 11 months ago
Tue Jun 19 2012 4:03:36
#
Login to Send PM
Hi,
Wow there is a lot of information here and its densely packed so forgive me if I miss some points in the reply but first posts like this could take hours to reply to point by point.
However the key issues are:
1 You are in a high risk profession for bedbugs, I would have hoped that by now your employer would be stressing the need to check EVERY hotel room you stay in to avoid the risk of you getting exposed to bedbugs and in doing so exposing their vehicles. If this is not being done please PM me as I would like to talk to HR about that one.
2 It would not be unheard of for an airline to accept that exposure to bedbugs is an occupational hazard and as such pick up the cost of professional treatment. I have worked for clients and been paid by airlines before.
3 It is correct that you do not treat in the UK unless you have confirmed the infestation as bedbugs. Therefore the first PCO who would not treat was correct but also possibly lacked the skills and tools to confirm the infestation in the first place, but they did the right thing by not making it worse. The second PCO has broken the law in doing what they have done and has no right to claim they are professional by breaking the law. If you cant confirm what you are trying to treat don't treat. If they are members of a trade body please report them to it.
4 the issues around bites and durations are all covered in the bite primer at the top of the forum page.
5 Letting off the smoke bomb was a bad idea, they do not solve infestations and can diffuse them so they are harder to treat. They are not likley to drive them into the walls as people fear but they certainly make resolving the problem a lot harder.
6 Climb-ups are available in the UK but most professionals either don't use that concept of bed isolation here or prefer more reliable products such as bed moat and bedbug barriers. Personally I don't isolate beds as I have found the practice to be counter productive to efficient clearance of the issue.
In your situation I would personally recommend you stop trying to treat until you can confirm exactly what is going on, if you still have the ability to take images of the suspected faecal traces do so and post them, aside from that non of the other information confirms or rules out bedbugs.
Once you have it confirmed you can begin to get it treated correctly and also to start taking steps to avoid bringing the issue back in from work or travels.
Hope that helps put some structure back into a way forward.
Regards,
David Cain
Bed Bugs Limited -
toronto_lady_m
newbite
Joined: Jun '12
Posts: 33offline
Posted 11 months ago
Tue Jun 19 2012 4:50:50
#
Login to Send PM
lon,
I totally understand what you're going through there. People think that we're over-reacting, and we feel terribly isolated with this problem. At least we have the small consolation that we are not alone.
I really hope you find the help you need. I don't know what I would do in your position, with the fact that it is an "occupational hazzard". I couldn't deal with that. You are brave! We can all do this! *hugs*
Mlon29 - I feel completely stuck on what to do next, the doctor cant help me, PCO's to date dont appear to be helping me, my landlord is in denial, and a few of my friends think im over-reacting. The reality is, im having a complete nightmare, and feel desperate for a bite free life without dumping all my belongings and starting again from scratch - Drastic i know but what options do I have? This problem is on my mind now 24/7, i cannot relax, or focus on anything else.. I just want it to end and get back to my normal life, i fear no-one can help me
-
lon29
newbite
Joined: Jun '12
Posts: 2offline
Posted 10 months ago
Tue Jul 10 2012 15:23:46
#
Login to Send PM
Hi David,
Thank-you so much for your response. Would like to speak in a private capacity about work, you do raise several useful points that I'd like to discuss.
The PCO who helped me with the treatments was genuine, and wanted to help me for my peace of mind. However after still getting bitten after the last treatment, with still no proof of anything, I am at a loss. I really want to move in with some new colleagues but don't want to bring this problem with me. Someone wrote on here to not get in the mind space of an infestation until you actually find the infestation. This is definately easier said than done. I feel like my life has ground to a halt, I'm no longer able to plan visits to friends and family, and spend most of my time paranoid and over thinking what is going on. I'm in despair thinking that I will have to throw away all my life's possessions and memories and start again. I'm still hoping that the last treatment will work, I don't understand how they are getting to me as I've wrapped double sided tape and fly paper around the bed legs, yet I never find anything stuck to them.
The feccal traces I found before we're on a mattress encasement that I threw out, so can't post any pictures of it. And since then I have found no signs on my bright white bedding. My partner also never shows any signs when sleeping at mine of being bitten. Almost 6 months now, how long will this nightmare continue? I have 2 glue traps and a passive monitor which also have been neg for bbs.
Ver frustrated at this point, will keep you posted..
-
oldtimer
Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 6,718offline
Posted 10 months ago
Tue Jul 10 2012 15:48:03
#
Login to Send PM
Hi Lon29,
You have a private message.
David
Reply
You must log in to post.
