Bed Bugs, The Horror Story

[Sunstroke]

About a month ago, I caught and killed what "appeared" to be a tick climbing up the wall in my bedroom. I didn't think too much about it...one bug, freshly killed, does not a problem make. However, my roommate (and landlord) sleeps on the living room couch fairly regularly, and about 3 weeks ago, he started getting little bug bite bumps.  About a week ago, I started noticing - and killing - about 1-2 bugs every night. My roommate started getting even more bug bumps, and we were both getting a little freaked out about it. Last night, instead of killing the bug I spied crawling up my wall, I captured it. When my roommate got home from work, I showed it to him, and he ID'ed it as a bed bug. We called an exterminator, who came out to the house today to do a bed bug treatment. I had checked between my mattress and box spring, but hadn't lifted up my box spring to look at the underside. He did, and my stomach did a somersault when I saw the massive infestation under my bed.  He also found another large infestation of bedbugs under my office chair, so the bed bugs were apparently snacking on me while I worked, and snacking on me while I slept.

There were literally hundreds of bed bugs...multiple clusters, and eggs galore.

It cost just a hair under $500, but he treated both bedrooms and the living room, and will make two more visits out for follow-up treatments. He guarantees no new bed bugs for the next 6 months, so hopefully this issue is done.

Still a little freaked out though...having that many blood sucking parasites that close to my body all day and all night long just gives me the screamin' willies.

[Landshark]

About a month ago, I caught and killed what "appeared" to be a tick climbing up the wall in my bedroom. I didn't think too much about it...one bug, freshly killed, does not a problem make. However, my roommate (and landlord) sleeps on the living room couch fairly regularly, and about 3 weeks ago, he started getting little bug bite bumps.  About a week ago, I started noticing - and killing - about 1-2 bugs every night. My roommate started getting even more bug bumps, and we were both getting a little freaked out about it. Last night, instead of killing the bug I spied crawling up my wall, I captured it. When my roommate got home from work, I showed it to him, and he ID'ed it as a bed bug. We called an exterminator, who came out to the house today to do a bed bug treatment. I had checked between my mattress and box spring, but hadn't lifted up my box spring to look at the underside. He did, and my stomach did a somersault when I saw the massive infestation under my bed.  He also found another large infestation of bedbugs under my office chair, so the bed bugs were apparently snacking on me while I worked, and snacking on me while I slept.

There were literally hundreds of bed bugs...multiple clusters, and eggs galore.

It cost just a hair under $500, but he treated both bedrooms and the living room, and will make two more visits out for follow-up treatments. He guarantees no new bed bugs for the next 6 months, so hopefully this issue is done.

Still a little freaked out though...having that many blood sucking parasites that close to my body all day and all night long just gives me the screamin' willies.

You're lucky it cost you only $500.  Normally it can cost up to four times that.  I had a problem with that once.  While at a national teacher's convention in Dallas, the hotel room I was staying in had bed bugs. I spotted one crawling up the wall, killed it, and thought nothing of it. I woke up at 2 am to feel my legs itching like crazy. I went into the bathroom to discover the horrid lumps on my legs.  I called the night manager immediately who switched me to another room that was bug free, gave me some calamine lotion, and had my luggage heated to kill any bugs that might've gotten into it (bed bugs have a bad habit of hitchhiking).  I searched my luggage thoroughly when I got home. Thankfully there were no further incidents but it itches worse than poison ivy

[dolphins4life]

^^^^

Plus one on that.

I got them in March of 2012.  It cost two grand.

[Sunstroke]

We got 8 quotes, ranging from the $500 up to $1,200. The total cost will be a little higher, as that $500 didn't include the mattress covers.

[Buddhagirl]

I am so making a face right now. Do. Not. Want.

[CF DolFan]

I've never had to deal with them thank goodness. I've been involved in flea infestations and a lice ordeal. Hopefully we never have to endure the bed bug thing.  Good luck with that!!!

[masterfins]

I've heard of people unwittingly bringing them home from trips in their luggage, especially from NYC hotels.  Just to creep you out a little more, I know someone that works for an extermination company, and they regularly "treat" the local movie theaters because people bring them in on their clothing.

[Buddhagirl]

I've never had to deal with them thank goodness. I've been involved in flea infestations and a lice ordeal. Hopefully we never have to endure the bed bug thing.  Good luck with that!!!

I had a tick infestation that flat out freaked me the fuck out. I still blame my old boss. I kept telling him his dog had ticks. He kept bringing him to the office anyway and wouldn't treat him or the office even when I SHOWED him the ticks. Then all of a sudden my elderly dog that didn't really go anywhere but our yard had ticks. I still think that's what killed him.

RIP the Notorious LIG (Little Italian Greyhound) . . . damn I miss that little guy and may or may not be crying now.

[Brian Fein]

So how does one prevent this from happening?  Seems like its random whether you pick one up or not?  With 200 or so people packed onto an airplane, almost all of whom have recently stayed at hotels, it seems like this would be an epidemic of epic proportions...

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

This creeps me the fuck out.....I am going to have nightmares about this shit. I hope this solves your problem Stroke!!!!

[Sunstroke]

I haven't seen a single bed bug since the exterminator came and did his business. I put on the mattress/box spring cover last night, and did a thorough cleaning of the walls.

On a slightly funny, and not-so-slightly neurotic side note... The bed bug that I captured and put in the tupperware container to show to the exterminator is still in the tupperware. At least once or twice a day, I take the container and violently shake it up for about a minute, all the while screaming "You see what you get when you fuck with me, parasite?!?!"

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I haven't seen a single bed bug since the exterminator came and did his business. I put on the mattress/box spring cover last night, and did a thorough cleaning of the walls.

On a slightly funny, and not-so-slightly neurotic side note... The bed bug that I captured and put in the tupperware container to show to the exterminator is still in the tupperware. At least once or twice a day, I take the container and violently shake it up for about a minute, all the while screaming "You see what you get when you fuck with me, parasite?!?!"

"You mess with me and I won't just get revenge on you, I exterminate your family, your friends, everyone who you ever loved or cared about while you watch from inside a jar powerless to stop the slaughter." 

[Sunstroke]

I'm considering taking a powerful magnifying glass, cutting the bed bug's head off, and mounting it on a pike (toothpick) outside the entrance to my bedroom.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

I'm considering taking a powerful magnifying glass, cutting the bed bug's head off, and mounting it on a pike (toothpick) outside the entrance to my bedroom.

This will require pictures for all to enjoy!!!!!