[jennie]

I never was scared of bed bugs until I read this article: Bed Bugs (w/pictures). I only search online for this after reading the news stating "bed bugs are prevelant in hotels." I've itchy skin all the time. I live in an apartment building; the article linked above states bed bugs can invade a home from neighboring apartments!!!!! I'm certain we have bed bugs, but I'm soooo scared to look for them. After seeing the pictures, I REMEMBER seeing them in the past, but I don't know where I've seen them. At the time I saw the bed bugs, I thought, "At least they're not roaches . . . Looks like a beatle." I stay up all hours sometimes worried bed bugs will bite me.

Does anyone have this problem, too?

[Miss_A]

Well not now.

Ever heard of the saying "Good night, sleep tight don't let the bed bugs bite." I didn't know they were real.

May I suggest you put a trigger sign on this post.
Because others may not want to know about this stuff.
The fact is you can see them.
I think it goes to lack of hygine in changing bed sheets?
The main thing is they can't kill you.
Image that your sleeping on a cloud.

[LMo]

It's not due to not changing the bed sheets. I actually got bedbugs in a beautiful 4-star hotel in Philly a few years ago. The realization was horrifying, but it didn't end up being a traumatizing experience. The psychological impacts can be far worse than the physical ones, but the fact is that it's been 2 years and they haven't 'come back', so all in all you could say that I survived it..

[Taipans]

Eh. They dont eat much!

hehe, sorry... well bed bugs are sick but of course we live in a world infested with so many types of nasty little things that trying to even think about them would make a sane person go mad. Im not going to go into anymore details, dont wanna freak anyone out. Bed bugs can be controlled of course, and its not to hard to find out if you have them with some inspection. If you to afraid to check call an exterminator and have them do a search.

We had a problem with spiders in our basment, I mean a TON of spiders. Our house foundation was infested with ants, which are very hard to get rid of. And the house spiders had a party, everyone got drunk and soon enough they were everywhere. It sucks when everyone in your house is Phobic of spiders, and being the "Man" I was looked at to take care of this situation... so... we moved.

[jennie]

I'm sorry to bump this thread up again but I can't help myself.

I'M REALLY SCARED!!! I just read this CNN article about bedbugs spreading throughout the United States. I think I have a phobia about this, especially since that article says that bedbugs are in MOVIE THEATERS!!! I go to a lot of movies and itch all the time. There's no hope for me now. I'm gonna be that paranoid, crazy woman.

[__zh]

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jennie said:
I'm sorry to bump this thread up again but I can't help myself.

I'M REALLY SCARED!!! I just read this CNN article about bedbugs spreading throughout the United States. I think I have a phobia about this, especially since that article says that bedbugs are in MOVIE THEATERS!!! I go to a lot of movies and itch all the time. There's no hope for me now. I'm gonna be that paranoid, crazy woman.

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jennie,

read an article about that a while back in the NYTimes or similar. eeek was the thought here as well!

however......with two weeks left until due date somehow it would seem that any energy you might have to extend toward bedbug freak out will soon be refocused to brand-new-baby!!

not making light of this real fear. ICK! but trying to let you know that even with freaking out currently you'll probably forget this very very soon (we hope!!) as other matters take up your time.

kindly,
__zh

(p.s. a HOT water wash of all bedding was done here after reading article..... felt much better with fresh bedding )

1. strip bed.
2. heavy duty vacumn mattress and that thing that goes under the mattress. shake both items out and air outside if you can. light spray with a diluted solution of bleach, vinegar and soda and let dry thoroughly.
3. wash ALL of your linens in a very hot solution of bleach, vinegar and soda. that includes your pillows. or buy new ones.
4. go to a doctor and get checked for signs of bedbug bites.
5. take a very hot shower every morning and rinse with vinegar, diluted with hot water.
6. vacumn your bedroom from top to bottom.and sofas..everything that is upholstered. and spray with diluted mixture from above. literally. go to health food store and buy a spray for the pests. spray room thoroughly and sleep somewhere else that night.
7. i asked my pharmacist and my doc friend about this. this was their advice.

[Azalysa]

Well, coming from the state that invented cockroaches (which can be HUGE) I never thought a whole lot about bedbugs (busy chasing roaches around...and in FL it is not because a home is unhygenic..just one of those things. Our apt. has regular pest control.

Anyway...I can certainly appreciate your fear. I would take pat's suggestion on sterilizing to help allay them. I always wash my linens in hot, hot water with a lot of bleach.

{{{{{jennie}}}}}

[jennie]

Thanks __zh, fayerody, and Azalysa

all of ya'lls comments have helped

[AlwaysSearching]

I remember my biology teacher talking about this when I was a sophomore in high school. It really creeped me out for quite awhile. Now, I just make sure I keep myself busy enough so that I fall asleep within minutes of getting into bed, so I don't have time to think about those nasty little bugs!

i know this is a dumb question, but are they BIG enough to see? i forgot to ask my doc friend. not that i WANT to see one, just curious.

[jennie]

Adult bed bugs are about 1/4 inch long

reddish brown, with oval, flattened bodies.

The immatures (nymphs) resemble the adults,

but are smaller and somewhat lighter in color.