Itchy

[judecorp]

I am SO freaking out about this bug thing, so much so that I can't stop itching and feeling like there are bugs all over me. Which of course there aren't. But still.

But I've been looking up bed bug information on the internet to try to find out what we'll need to do if in fact this IS a bed bug infestation. We supposedly will have to bag and wash (in hot water) all of our clothes and all of our linens. And then we'll have to have a pest control person come, probably several times. But what just occurred to me is that it's not safe to be pregnant around pesticides! So what the heck am I supposed to do? Should I start everything this cycle and try to get pregnant and risk complications from pesticides? The whole thing just makes me want to cry my eyes out. I don't even know what to do. I am so scared about teratogens and all of that as it is and now we're going to have someone fumigate every nook and cranny in our apartment? What the hell am I supposed to do?

I can't even deal with this. I'm supposed to be making cupcakes right now for my coworker's anniversary but all I can do is cry.

Comments

[ktmcda.livejournal.com]

You can get your apartment fumigated and have a healthy baby. Just stay out of there while it's dangerous, and then air it the hell out before you spend much time there. I know it's so scary. But babies are actually really protected inside mamas. Just be reasonable. Limit exposure. Don't shoot up heroin with dirty needles while pounding shots of whiskey, dousing your head with lice shampoo biweekly, and chain smoking camels.

Please get rid of the bugs. You'll feel better.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Well, Jen is going to call an exterminator tomorrow and see if she can arrange for some sort of consult. She is also checking our bed (again), but she had looked it over once before a week or so ago and didn't see any bugs. Still, I don't know if I will ever be able to sleep, anywhere, ever again.

I just don't believe in things like crazy pesticides and this is really freaking me out. It's not just the pregnancy thing, I don't want to end up with some crazy cancer and I don't want my cats to get sick! I hate all of this chemical crap and I avoid it at all times and the idea of inviting these dangerous substances into my home - in the floors and the furniture and THE BED - is just so sickening.

[buddhafly4224.livejournal.com]

oh man jude. i'm so sorry.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I just want to vomit. I don't think I will ever find a way to go to sleep ever again. I just want to throw out everything I own and go hide somewhere.

Don't let the bed bugs bite...

[goddamnelf.livejournal.com]

What other things have you considered that might be the reason for her break outs? Have you tried a different washing powder/liquid, or a different type of sheets? I imagine you have checked these things out, but just hoping it does not come down to total defogging of your apartment.

Re: Don't let the bed bugs bite...

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Well, she has been going to the doctor about this for several weeks, because she was getting these welts. She originally thought it was spider bites (these are big welts) and I think she had one or two when we went to New Orleans but I don't remember when it started. I just know that the first time she went to the doctor she said, "I think I have all of these bug bites" and the doctor said no, it was just an allergic reaction to something. So she gave her a bunch of creams and told her to take Benadryl and Claritin and everything. And the creams helped the first welts to go away but she just keeps getting more, which shouldn't really happen if she's using all of the creams/medicines.

We haven't changed /anything/ that contacts skin - shampoo, soap, toothpaste, laundry stuff, sheets/blankets, clothing. Nothing.

I have some small bug bites also (not big welts like Jen, and not in the same amounts, but perhaps I am just not allergic?) that I had written off as like mosquito bites or whatever but now I am nervous.

I am never going to sleep again.

Re: Don't let the bed bugs bite...

[goddamnelf.livejournal.com]

I had heard that if you pull down your sheets and leave the bed open to the air, bed bug activity, if it present, diminishs. They seem to like warm, moist areas like under the covers. Good luck, with everything though. And tell the BIL to stuff a hand full of bed bugs up his butt!

Re: Don't let the bed bugs bite...

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Everything I've read says that bed bugs can actually live for MONTHS without even any people/beds around! They need blood to live but they can go without for several months while they wait for someone else to move in. This is why just moving out and leaving the apartment empty for several months won't even do the trick.

Bed bugs seem to be sneaky little buggers. Yuck!

Re: Don't let the bed bugs bite...

[thatpatti.livejournal.com]

my friend's aughter got caught in a bed bug infestation in a hotel over the weekend. here's the picture she posted:

http://static.flickr.com/31/151591263_702877e57b.jpg

Re: Don't let the bed bugs bite...

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the picture! That's not what Jen looks like because she is apparently having allergic reactions to whatever is biting her (big BIG welts). I have a few bumps that look like that but not on my face. AIE! Poor kid!

(And does she know if she brought the bed bugs home with her? We're wondering if they were in our hotel in New Orleans.)

Re: Don't let the bed bugs bite...

[32flavorsnthen.livejournal.com]

I watched a 20/20 on bed bugs and they were saying that the most common way for them to get in peoples houses is hopping a ride in a suitcase after people stay in a hotel room. I am now ridiculously paranoid about hotel rooms. I think that is probably the most likely explanation for where they came from. That sucks though. I feel sooo bad for you. My family had a lice infestation a few years ago and every time I closed my eyes all I could thing about was bugs!

Re: Don't let the bed bugs bite...

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I can tell you right now, I am not really in any hurry to go on another vacation. The exterminator and Jen's doctor thinks we got them from new Orleans, same thing, the suitcase. I suppose we should just throw out all of our suitcases.

[indigodove.livejournal.com]

*HUG*

I'd be freaked out too, but it will really be okay. It's annoying, but you can deal with it.

I'd suggest calling a pest control specialist and your doctor to talk about what to do.

Right now, I'd suggest a glass of wine and a trip to the grocery store for cupcakes, maybe reversing the order.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Ha ha, wine before cupcakes.

You know it didn't even occur to me to drink, because I haven't really had anything to drink in a million years except for one beer at a coworker's birthday and two sips of Jen's hurricane when we were in New Orleans. I suppose I'm clear to drink an entire bottle of wine but I also need to go to work in the morning. Ugh, it's tough being responsible.

Jen is calling a pest control person tomorrow to find out what to do. And I can try calling my doctor, but everything I've read has said that exposure to pesticides can cause neural tube problems and other birth defects. So I don't know what my doctor is going to say besides "you need to do what you think is best." And what about my little cats???!?!

I don't want to go buy cupcakes because I have boxes of cupcake mix and frosting already here (I bought it this evening) and I sure don't want that crap in my house!

cats

[32flavorsnthen.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it's the same kind of pestisides, but my appartment building was fumigated for a roach infestation. My vet said I should take the cats somewhere over night and open the windows for a few hours before I brought them back home. They were fine when I did that. If you don't have someone close by they could stay with, you could try calling your vet for recomendations.

Re: cats

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

The exterminator told Jen that they don't use any pesticides, just a high-pressure, high-temperature steam to kill all of the bugs. They told Jen that the cats can be there in the house and people can be, too. I'm very nervous about this but I don't think they could lie about it because they could get sued, you know?

I don't have anywhere to take them tomorrow morning before work anyway. In a pinch I could probably bring them all to my office but I can't really keep them there overnight.

[estrange.livejournal.com]

Do you have any friends you could stay with for a few weeks or anything? I don't think you should give up trying to get pregnant- just wait until they come & then come back the next day or something.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine staying with a friend or a coworker for a couple of weeks! I would miss my wife and my cats! Also, I don't really have anyone I would feel comfortable imposing on, especially at the risk of infecting their house with bed bugs.

Gross.

[estrange.livejournal.com]

I meant taking your wife and cats with you! Well what about renting a cheap hotel room for a week or so? Could you afford it?

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Dude, a cheap hotel is what got us into this mess in the first place!!

[estrange.livejournal.com]

That sucks. I didn't realize that, sorry. I tend to try to get new hotels because hotels in general just gross me out.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

It's okay, it's not your fault. We're not 100% positive we got them in New Orleans. Heck, we're not 100% positive we actually have bed bugs! It just seems the most likely given all possibilities. (And it wasn't a totally cheap-o hotel, either. Apparently bed bugs are becoming a HUGE problem.)

[sassywoman.livejournal.com]

I wish you could come stay with us and we could both be guaranteed of getting knocked up ASAP!!!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

That sounds fantastic! Can you arrange that, please?

[sassyjenski.livejournal.com]

holy crap, what a totally, completely shitty day.

did you see this while you were googling?


http://www.naturalginesis.com/remove_bed_bugs_the__nontoxic_way_.htm

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I'm a little dubious of anything that uses the phrase "VAMPIRES OF THE INSECT WORLD!!!!!" ya know? :)

But apparently Jen does not share my dubiousness, nor does she worry about the toxic effects of all of those so-called "natural products". I mean, if they're toxic to bugs, why wouldn't they be toxic to people and cats??!?!

[thelastbard.livejournal.com]

One thing that I've heard that can help if you have an infestation is buying plastic pillow/mattress covers to "seal" them and make them inhospitable to the little buggers. I know, I know- sounds like an easy way to make a lot of crinkily noise at night, but it might work.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we bought some of those for every bed in the house (our bed, guest bed, futon), but now we don't need them. I guess I need to get off of my ass and return them, right?

(Sorry, got behind on comments.)

bed bugs

[(Anonymous)]

what ever happened? were they bed bugs? i'm worried i might have an infestation, although i can't find any but apparently that doesn't really matter. it's taking a psychological toll at this point...i can't tell if i'm itchy or paranoid.