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You know why I'm here....

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Started 3 months ago by FlushingBugs
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FlushingBugs

newbite
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 1

Posted 3 months ago
Thu Aug 13 2009 8:49:35
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Can't say I wish I had joined you fine folks sooner since unlike other online communities, this one grows on the discoveries of bad news :), but nevertheless I'm glad the information shared here to be a lot of help especially for people flying solo with this "sucky" problem.

Here's my story so far-

Near the end of July I started getting very itchy bites, like many I thought they were mosquitoes since my idiot housemates like to leave doors and windows open, however the pattern looked different and welts/blisters started to pop up, coworkers were sure they're from spiders, but after a few days of googling the symptoms and image comparison pointed toward bedbugs, damn.

I don't know how I failed to find this site the first time around, but I took a few steps on my own(though some are albeit in the wrong direction).
-Checked my bedsheet and mattress up&down but no bugs or eggs, saw a few black/brown specks though wasn't sure if they're fecal marks, threw both out anyway since there were big blotches of coffee stains.
-Took everything outta my closet, winter clothes in tied up double garbage bags and left outside for two 90degree days, everything else washed, dried then ziploc'd.
-Bought DE on my friend's recommendation and applied around my bed, but did not know the appropriate amount to use and ended up coughing for a few days before wiping it all off (oops)
-Took my chair apart and cleaned with Murphy's and steam, did not find anything in screw holes or under the seat.
-Opened wall plates and radiator covers, nada, but dusted some DE around the sockets anyway.
-Inspected and moved other furniture around then sprayed with rubbing alcohol, did not find anything other than two dead carpet beetle larva.

At that point I was telling myself I overreacted, I could've been bitten by something that I'm allergic to outside or at work yada yada.......until last Monday I discovered two bites on my feet/ankle, then the next morning when I turned the light on a small brown bug scurried across my bed, couldn't find tape to catch it so smacked it with my flashlight - a splatter of blood was left behind - my worst fear came true.

Now here's my flurries of questions:

1) How the heck could I have gotten them? I have not slept anywhere else the last 5 months, never picked up any used furniture or luggage, are there other suspects?
-I live in one of the two units in the basement of a two-story single house, my neighbor's bedroom does not connect directly to mine, only thing alarmed me is that he traveled to DC a few times early in July trying to land a new job and only air dried his laundry, maybe he brought something in and didn't kill them? But when I helped him move 10 days ago I did not notice anything odd on his mattress or in the room, the new tenant just settled in didn't complain about bugs as well, maybe neither of them react to bites? I did not get to ask her in detail since I work late.
-Up until last week I'd been going to a small, cramped and frankly not very clean laundromat only because it's considerably cheaper than other places, but the dryers there did not work well, sometimes clothes come out still damp even after 40 minutes on high; there are a lot of new immigrants in my neighborhood (not trying to bring up the early 20th century stereotype), could bugs/eggs on their laundry drop on mine? Regardless, I'm not going back there anymore.
-I also bought a used camera last month on ebay, maybe there were bugs from the seller in the packaging? Shoot, that's almost like bio-terrorism.
-I spoke to the landlord(whom lives on the 1st floor), nobody in the building were having problems - maybe the other tenants don't react to bites or just not telling?

2) I don't have enough money this month to buy a Packtite, can I use my gas oven as an alternative? In an act of despair I baked my pillow at 160 for 2 hours, it didn't come out smelling like lasagna and the thickest part reached 135 degrees, do you guys think it's a bad idea to experiment with my other non heat-sensitive items until I get my next paycheck?

3) After I bagged/tossed half of the things in my bedroom I'm getting less bites, but I also started sleeping with the lights on, maybe they're too afraid to come out? The newer bites don't swell or itch as badly, is my body becoming resistant to them or the recently hatched bastards' saliva isn't as toxic as adults'?

4) I know online forums are no place to ask for legal advice, but I'm not familiar with NYC laws & regulations - When I first moved in I signed a one year lease, when that expired my landlord said I don't have to sign a new one, I thought I wasn't going to stay another 2 months so I didn't bother(stupid), but somehow stuck around longer and I've been paying my rent in cash, does that still legally bind him as my landlord and he has to pay for my treatments?

5) Another reason I have not called for a PCO is that my landlord's live-in girlfriend is 6 months pregnant, my room is not very well constructed has holes & cracks here and there, would gas & sprays and their residual effects be a problem for the fetus? Honestly as corny as it sounds I'd rather take a few bites on my butt than have anything come to harm the baby.

6) Can anyone recommend a hand vacuum that can safely suck up DE dust and perhaps BBs hiding in tight spots? I should look for one with HEPA filter?

Overall I'm still trying to keep a positive attitude to fight this...but after a long day working in a restaurant I come home to the pile of things I still have to clean/bag up I already feel exhausted just looking at them, this is certainly going to be a long and difficult battle. The whole situation puts me in a new perspective though, made me realize I'm no different than the chunks of meat and veggies I cook every day to serve customers, heh.