[NuckingFutz]

Just when I was reclaiming a little slice of serenity the bed bugs came. Then the 1 legged crack ***** calls my landlord and tells her I am doing drugs! Had to send an email letting her know that I do not do drugs and that I am willing to take a drug test at the time of her choosing. Doing that made me feel better. I am so sick of all the drama in this complex! It is really getting to me! I feel so powerless and needy! Can I get some encouragement and feedback? I do not have control over the bedbugs and I do not have control over someone elses lies. This is such bull! The caseworker involved in this has lied to me so many times it is hard to make it through this when I do not trust her. I cannot wait to get totally on with the VA. Their hotline person let me know that they do not place veterans in apartments like this. I know I sound whiney and needy but sometimes I get that way. Sigh!

[googley]

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

Lots of hugs for you! You deserve lots of hugs having to deal with all this crazy stuff. I hope you get your VA connection soon.

[NuckingFutz]

Got a good nights sleep last night. Brain is working well today and I feel so much better. No one came to exterminate the nasty little vampires so I am taking that as a green light to get it taken care of properly. Tonight my mattress gets cleaned and sealed in plastic, sheets get washed in super hot water. House gets scrubbed tomorrow then the exterminator can have at it. My family is chipping in for the exterminator. The crack ***** downstairs has never gotten treatment from a professional exterminator since she told the landlord before I even moved in. The legal way to do that is to notify the landlord in writing by certified mail. Once I did this, that is when my "caseworker" told me to haul my mattress and box spring to the trash with a note on it saying "bed bug infested, do not use". If I did that and anyone else got bed bugs they can drop off the mattress on the way out, I could be liable for further infestations in other units. As far as rumor's go, they use that to keep tenants in line.

[perpetuallysad]

I'm sorry you are going through so much at this new apartment. I was hoping things would be better for you there. Maybe you can get moved into some place stable and "normal" soon? I hope you are alright.

[NuckingFutz]

I am fine. The county mental health housing sucks. Aside from the bed bugs which are goning to be sprayed until they are gone, if I do not talk to neighbors, I will be fine. I guess I figured out how these places stay in business. Once the bugs are gone and my lease is up, I will find a nice place.

[lynn P.]

((NF)) I think it's sad your case worker put you in this housing unit too. Tell them this place is horrible for your mental well being. I hope you will get a different place soon.

[NuckingFutz]

Oh I plan on putting them on the thumbs down list of apartments in Austin when I move. I did point out a nice apartment to my caseworker that accepts section 8. My caseworker said with the deposit for electric it would be too much trouble (for her). So I guess finding somewhere that accepts everyone, it would be much easier (for her). So it is okay to put disabled mentally ill people in with active drug users, felons and preditors. Apartments who do not spray at the request of tenants and resort to unfounded rumors to keep people from making maintenance requests tha are expensive. I am talking about this in group on Thursday at the VA. The people placed here are suppose to feel safe instead of sitting ducks. Their lives can't improve in this kind of atmosphere. Well my goal is to be out in six months. The VA has never treated me like this. I just will not talk to anyone around here and I hope I do not have any maintenance requests. Screw them, I will just maintain the place myself.

[NuckingFutz]

My proactive approach: I can use the resource coordinator at the VA for my needs instead of the county one. I will be able to get some help instead of someone steering me into a mess of trouble. Can you imagine if they had put someone in here that was NA?! They wouldn't be in NA anymore. I do own my part in it that I trusted my caseworker. Except when I told her I was going for VA compensation she referred to it as "free money". That got my blood boiling. People died and got injured and she is calling it free money! She is in the wrong business! I have to work on these issues first to move on. I did find a tort lawyer that at one tine had bed bugs who handles cases like mine. So I will be calling the VA and this lawyer tomorrow. Sorry again to be so needy and thanks for reading.

[Rhiannonsmoon]

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

You are NOT needy! You are much stronger than I would be under your circumstances and I am amazed that your caseworker still has a job! If as a caseworker I had behaved like that I would have been out of a job in a heartbeat. I think your case is worse because you don't complain Nuck. If she had a slapping from up the line she'd soon fall into place and help those she is getting "free money" for NOT helping. Honestly you should ask for another caseworker, this one isn't worth whatever she is being paid.

But you are doing brilliantly and as I said you're doing a lot bette than I would be doing. Please keep us updated on how things are going...

Rhiannon

[NuckingFutz]

I called and left a message for the VA resource coordinator (who was my t at one time and was wonderful). I will tell her exactly what is going on. I think that that would help a lot. They can help me with resources. She is an honest and compassionate person. I will let you know how that goes. I really am counting on help from the VA. Sometimes this situation gets me really down. I think if I kind of structure my weekend with some self care mixed in there. Have to rewash all my clothes in water above 120 degrees and then dry them on hot. This includes all my winter cotton blankets. The exterminator said that he will have to come back and spray any eggs. The crisis hotline person said I might want to check into my caseworker's credentials and I may find some answers there. She also said not to read everything on bed bugs like I am inclined to do when faced with a difficult situation (she is right because it makes me feel hopeless).

[Rhiannonsmoon]

Oh I am really glad that you have this other person to be able to contact and get things moving. That caseworker needs the boot.

I agree on not reading up on things...I've been thinking about bed bugs since I read the posts on them and I've been itching like mad. I know I don't have them so I guess I'm going out in sympathy with you.

Those apartments sound like they should be condemned not lived in...but I hope that contacting your ex t helps and gets things moving for you...

[NuckingFutz]

Thank you all. It seems I get a response when I really need it. Yeah, the first step is getting me taken care of first. The VA has never let me down before. I hope they come through for me again. I will have to go see an attorney soon though because they blamed me for the bug problem because I had them in my old place then when I moved, I got new furniture and got rid of everything and no bugs. The one legged crack ***** has had them since before I moved here. She is not allergic to their saliva and does not have big red itchy welts like I do. They did not treat professionally. They used boric acid which spreads the bugs to other units. There is a tort atty who had these and was hoping he would take my case. His site said you should get an atty if they try and blame the problem on me or tell me I will have to pay for a professional bug company and it is expensive. It is just too much dealing with this stuff with being bipolar. I guess I do need to retain an attorney to fight the people claiming to help me.

[Perna]

NF, I admire the heck out of you; I can't imagine dealing with the bedbugs much less the people stuff you've got going. My friend who's going out of town today to work for 6 months, commuting back here only for a day and a half on weekends, finally got his cats and flea problem under control; he's been working on that for over a year I think, I've been terrified since he's over here so much that he'd bring them here. Fortunately he wears white socks and I look at them, LOL The poor cats were the last problem and he took them to a special vet and got them totally cared for and they're protected really well even if the apartment still harbors any. It's been difficult for him as it's an apartment and they're indoor cats! Like, where'd they come from?

[NuckingFutz]

Eggs probably. They can stay dormant for a long time. They are also great hitch hikers. Same with these bugs. Maybe I am brave, but all I am doing is running to people who have helped me before (this includes you guys). My caseworker and landlord are out for their own interests instead of doing their jobs. They will not see this coming. Every communication I have with them from now on will be in writing, certified, return receipt requested. That includes my rent checks and any further maintenance requests. I would not go this far or be this mad but these things attack while you sleep. They only eat human blood and live in mattresses. They are immune to most pestisides. They smell, they are ugly and almost impossible to get rid of. Even the pest control companies have to treat over and over again. If you do not treat the whole complex, they scatter to other units. Their bites feel like fire ants and they bite while you sleep and you never know where or when they will strike next. Causes depression and PTSD.

[Hippie]

(((((NF))))) You have a lot of chutzpah. I couldn't put up with half of what you do.
Been reading this thread and hoping something good comes along for you. Fie on the wicked *****.
Your *****-or story led me to post a Dorothy Parker quote under General Chat. I will probably not be very popular after that but you might get a kick out of it.
I'm also hoping you get a decent place to lay your head!!!

[NuckingFutz]

Thank you. Taking things one day at a time. Really do not have a choice if I want to be bed bug free. Might as well add pain and suffering and the cost of the furniture I had to throw out at my old place to the mix. At times I have felt angry other times hopeless. I am so glad you all are here to read and encourage me. I am going to visit friends for a little while today just to cheer up. I have stuff I have to do around the house, but I can do that tonight. If I stay here I think I will go crazy.

[notz]

In spirit, we go with you...

[NuckingFutz]

Hugs to everyone! Feeling the strength of my friends here and IRL. I have been feeling I have been getting what I need as I need it.

[Hippie]

karma. cool

[NuckingFutz]

I am a strong believer in karma...the universe balances itself out. I am not God. otherwise my caseworker and landlord would have gotten a few of the vampires in their offices...it only takes a couple. But that only makes the problem worse. Making them spray properly and compensate me for pain, scarring, mental anguish caused by severe insomnia and moving costs works for me. Oh, and I want an appology for trying to put the blame on me. So whatta ya think? Then I won't have to live in Austin's version of Harlem. I put the word out on my facebook as well.

[Rhiannonsmoon]

You go for it Nuck! I can't believe you have gone through so much...and that one legged crack ***** is probably the original supply of the bed bugs...

Do you have contents insurance? Just wondered if you would be covered for bed bugs and having to get rid of everything?

I think the best thing would be a molotov cocktail in the one legged crack *****s window lollll...but that'd just send more vermin to your place....

[NuckingFutz]

Actually, I think she would be key in the lawsuit as they used the stuff that spreads to other apartments. The landlord did the exact opposite of what they recommend for bed bugs. The home remedies spread the bugs to other units. This will be a key factor in the settlement. No doubt they will settle out of court. This atty will take a portion of the settlement. I am not in it for the money except to remove the scars (got one on my face). Going to get estimates on moving to a decent apartment and replacing my couch. I am doing my homework. Lots of insurance companies will refuse to pay settlements if the landlord does not treat properly. An attorney will tell you what to do and he handles the rest. A good Atty will instill confidendence so it is not like I am up against this alone. Not as scarey as one might think.

[Rhiannonsmoon]

If it were me I'd be going for a full body overhall ...bites on the gums and everything...

I did get scratched and bitten by a field mouse the other night...poor little thing wouldn't have taken a 2nd bite with all the meds I take...loll

[NuckingFutz]

Somewhere in the world is a mouse on psych meds!

[sugahorse1]

gee, this sounds awfully confusing.
Take stock of what you need to be happy and comfortable.
Compare this with what you have available to you.
Work out if you can bridge the gap between what you have and what you want (And definitely highlight what you NEED) and then push forward for results.

It really sounds like you've got stuck in to sort out a lot of the rubbish in your life recently - hats off to you - that took enough strength as it is.

Love you lots- hang in there friend!