[NuckingFutz]

Bedbugs! I have never been so scared of a bug in my life! Little, harmless looking and only come out at night. But you see, I am very allergic to their bite. I get these really big red welts that itch and burn. Most inscectisides don't kill them. Home remedies are a joke to these little buggers. I even tried clorox on them (it actually melted them)! But I couldn't reach the ones inside my mattress. They only drink blood! They had to spoil my scerenity. I have even asked myself why would G*D create such a creature? Until I got my first bites, I did not think they really existed...I have no doubt at all now. I am so allergic, that each bite feels like a fire ant is having a buffet. These little tiny creatures have decided that hey, all my furniture is cozy...the night stands, coffee table, couches are all wonderfly cozy places to live. So guess who's sleeping on the floor tonight? Yeah, that's right me and the cats! I wonder how long it will take for them to find me there? I will let you guys know. More later!

[Yoda]

ugghhhhhhh

poor girl

When I was nine years old and went to summer camp my bed had bed bugs. I didn't know to tell anybody and I slept on top of the covers all week.

[FooZe]

Years ago a housemate got a free mattress somewhere. Not long afterwards, I spotted a bedbug on my wall, a good twenty feet away. I immediately spackled up all the cracks in the wall where they could hide, and had no more trouble.

My other housemates were young and panicky. They tried to hide from the bugs by sleeping downstairs but the bugs quickly found them. The lease was coming up for renewal anyway so they solved the problem by moving out.

NF, it's possible that your bugs are living inside the mattress. They'd have to have a way out and in, though, or they wouldn't be able to get at you. Check the mattress for holes and tears, and don't forget folds and seams where bugs might be hiding. I remember bedbugs as being fairly dirty -- if a lot of them live in one spot, it'll probably be obvious after a while.

It seems even more likely that they'd be living everywhere but the mattress. They love cracks and are built to fit in them -- loose seams in wallpaper, cracks in the wall and floor, in the other furniture, and in the bed frame itself. If you can plug up the likely cracks, do it. Some insecticides come with a "straw"-type applicator so you can squirt just a drop or two into a crack. Fogging the whole room probably won't help much because the bugs will stay safely hidden till the air clears.

Can your landlords do anything about the problem? It seems likely that the bugs either were in the unit when you moved in, or came through the wall from somewhere nearby.

Good night, sleep tight... (etc.)

[NuckingFutz]

You know I actually thought of you when I wrote that because of the hoarding issue. I was like, what would happen if they got to someone like Yoda's place because you have to seal stuff in plastic or throw it out! Thanks for your sympathies! I am camped out in my living room tonight on my comforter...oh joy! Nuckers are everywhere! Maybe I could rent this place out to a bunch of entomologists. Find out how many different ways there are to kill bedbugs. I see one crawling toward me. I read they are attracted to movement and body heat. Grrr!

[Yoda]

Two years ago I had a flea infestation in a couple of rooms. I bombed but of course it didn't work because they hid under the clutter so then my son said I was acting manic for two days clearing all the clutter in the living room because I was sick of having to spray my whole body with Off every few hours to keep the fleas from eating me.

Hope you can get some sleep! I am too wound up to sleep so I will sit by your side and keep the bugs off you while you sleep.

Sorry this is happening, NF.

[sugahorse1]

Sorry this is happening - time to call the entomologist and have them properly axed??
How else will you able to get around this issue?

[NuckingFutz]

Seal my mattress and box spring in plastic for a year (they can live up to a year without feeding). I do not want to have to replace my mattress again. Wrote a note to my caseworker telling her so my landlord can get an exterminator out here pronto. Not willing to mess around with this. If they give me any crap I am calling the media. I am not kidding. These are the real vampires. Trying to sleep on the floor of the living room didn't help. The only time they leave me alone is during the day. My house is clean, has been. They say bedbug infestations have increased 500% since 2004 in the US. They have been spotted even in 5 star hotels. They also make great bio weapons for terrorists. Not everyone is allergic to their bite, but a lot of people are. Read an article where some people get anxiety and PTSD from an investation. Not me...already had them before the bugs got here. I will get help quickly. I refuse to be bug food! I wonder what would happen if I put one in the microwave...hmmm

[sugahorse1]

Go get emmm!

[NuckingFutz]

My caseworker just called me back. Told me to throw away all my furniture instead of ceiling it up for a year. Told her I would rather seal it up. They recommend you seal it up even if you move it outside because can drop off and hitch a ride into someone's apartment. Called Austin Tenant's Counsel. Told me to call 311 as it is a code violation against the apartments meaning they will have to pay, not me. My caseworker told me the opposite, she is wrong! I can tell already that this is going to be very hairy with all these people involved. Stay tuned.

[Perna]

I would feel so helpless in your situation, I'd have to move probably but with whole areas/cities infested, that wouldn't necessarily help. The carbon dioxide spray that freezes/kills them costs hundreds of dollars, CBS was saying on "The Morning Show".

[NuckingFutz]

Yeah, was told by 311 to leave everything as is so when the inspectors get here, they can determine where the bugs are. If I remove the mattress, they will not have a good idea of where they are. They said to also have the furniture sealed so the bugs can't fall off on the way out. I am suppose to leave a note on it saying do not take it has bed bugs. So I will wait. Case manager wanted me to throw out my clothing as well. I can't take this already. I know, one hour at a time.

[NuckingFutz]

I cancelled my complaint against landlord. My caseworker plays too dirty when things like this come up. Legally she is not suppose too. This is the ugly side of life. If I was still working and had my usual salary, I would not have to deal with this. So, I wait until I get my benefits (should be by fall), change housing vouchers from the county mental health program to the VA program. When my lease is up, I move into VA housing. One that does not have a bed bug or felons living there.

[Rhiannonsmoon]

((((((((NF))))))))

What on earth is happening with you you poor thing! All this stuff happening to you all at once! I really hope the owner has to pay for the exterminaing to be done...

I saw on TV a while back about the explosion of bed bugs in the US, but there was one particular hotel here in Oz that was reported for the same thing...

I really hope this all gets sorted for you Nuck, you just don't deserve this...

Rhiannon

[NuckingFutz]

Thanks Rhiannon. None of this stuff would be happening right now if I had not trusted the county caseworker. I had a bad feeling about the place when I saw it. But the other places were just as bad. The one I told her I wanted to move into she took one look at and said with all the deposits I would need would be too much trouble. Personally I think a bed bug infestation, felons for neighbors and a neighbor who tells tall tales to the landlord is much more difficult than coming up with a couple hundrem dollars worth of deposits. I know the VA will help. They have always helped.

[sanityseeker]

Hi Nuc... I hope you get some help with everything. Any chance you could move to a better place? I know you like the neighbourhood but the building and occupants sound like they leave much to be desired.

[NuckingFutz]

I called the VA resource coordinator and left a message to call me on Monday to meet with her and see how she can help me. A friend of mine told me to ask my caseworker next time I see her "would you live here and feel safe?" and see what her reaction would be. Same person also suggested I stick with the VA Whenever possible. That the county caseworker is going to cut corners where she can to make her job easier. Doing this is not helping the clients improve the quality of their lives, so what is the point?