Help! I'm being devoured by bed bugs!

[Cobalt Violet]

And that's just on one spot of my body.

I wonder if this would be cause to break my lease? These bites are so itchy. I've been living in this apartment for almost 2 years. Last week they sent around bed bug notices and wham look at me!

I'm affraid to go to bed.

[Kathleen04]

1. Ow

Oh man that gives me the heebie-jeebies. :scared:

[madrchsod]

2. wow i`d move as fast as i could!

don`t know about the lease...

[Cobalt Violet]

3. I'm moving in October but...

I'll have no hyde left by then. This is the first time I've ever had them.

[hyphenate]

4. What city are you in?

That sort of infestation is against ALL city codes for sanitation and other miscellaneous code violations. You should get hold of housing authority and talk with them. You can withold your rent (by putting it in an escrow account) until the infestation is cleared up. If they don't do so, you should be able to get out of your lease and keep your security deposit (which they will need to return to you) and keep whatever month payments that you have withheld, in order to find a new residence. Good luck--but do it fast. If you wait any longer, the managers/landlords will say that since you waited it wasn't an immediate problem.

In addition, make sure you take lots of pictures, talk with your neighbors to see if they have similar problems and DOCUMENT everything, including the names of people you talk with in the city government, and have anyone in the apartments sign a form as well. It's the only evidence you're going to have to present, so make it count. Good luck!!

[Cobalt Violet]

8. I'm in Framingham Ma.

I don't speak the same language as any of my neighbors. They are mostly Brazilian. But since the apartment complex slip something about bed bugs under my door they know about the bugs.

My roommate is being bit too but not as bad as me.

Good idea to document everything.

[hyphenate]

16. Cool--I'm in Worcester

Massachusetts usually has some pretty stringent laws about such critters. If they already know about the bugs, it's time to take the note to someone who can make sure they enforce the laws on it. Try googling housing authority and see if there is a local office--there should be one in Framingham, and if not, one around there (Natick, Newton, Chestnut Hill, etc.). Tell them it's not fit to live in and show them the bites. That alone will show it's an immediate concern and needs to be dealt with immediately. IF there are any neighbors who are elderly or children, it's even more important to make sure that the apartments are fumigated, because the compromised or weakened immune systems could cause even greater problems. If you can PM me to let me know how it turned out, that would be great.

[Old_Fart]

5. "Are you renting a furnished apartment?"

You can break your lease in any state if your living conditions are below standard. Check into a hotel room and charge your landlord for your expenses. If you apartment is unfurnished that means you will have to eat the charges on your old furniture and buy new. Give your landlord a bill for the new furniture. Go to the Doctor immediatly and keep the receipts. :scared:

[Cobalt Violet]

9. It is unfurnished.

This furniture is old and was given or was sold very cheaply by friends. It was not infested with bed bug when I got it several years ago. I have no insurance but I will see what if anything I can do about seeing a doctor.

[iconoclastic cat]

6. Some wiki info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedbug


Man, I'm sorry. That really sucks.

[Cobalt Violet]

11. Oh Damn! This will be quite the battle.

I feel a little better now that I know that I can't catch the plaque and the Hepatitis B that they carry. At least there is no documented cases that anyone has.

[iconoclastic cat]

12. Are they going after your cat, too?

[Cobalt Violet]

14. I don't think so. They don't seem to be irritated like I am.

Maybe all that fur is protecting them. I will inspect their skins. Good idea. One of my cats sleeps with me all night. Neither seems to have any symptoms of being under attack.

[Porcupine]

7. Pyrethrins, boric acid, diatamacous earth and plastic

Pyrethrins are naturally occuring pesticides found in a kind of marigold flower. Google it. basically a poisen.

Boric Acid powder: sold as roach powder at large hardware stores. This is a mineral that degrades and destroys insects at their joints and digestive systems. Dust your carpet, vacuum, repeat, toss the bag.

Diatomaceous Earth(sp?): The skeletons of certain sea critters that is like broken glass to bugs. Harmless to you. Spread in your carpet with a broom.

Plastic: Take your matress out to the parking lot. wrap in clear plastic like it was a sealed bag with packing tape. Leave in the sun for 8 hours. Bugs will cook off. This is a good opportunity to clean carpets.

Also most aromatic essential oils, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus or bay are pesticides. You can pour these into your carpet shampoo machine. Not as quick or effective as pyrethrins.

Okay. too much information. stopping now.

[Cobalt Violet]

10. This is good information.

I didn't know what to do. I was just going to spray myself with OFF before I go to bed. I really hate that idea but will do it for tonight anyway. These bites are just as itchy as mosquito bites.

[Porcupine]

13. Not sure if OFF will work. Possibly mosquito specific

but for the itching you could try eating a tablespoon or two of brewers yeast powder. (I know tomorrow) It works for flea bites. The thing is to mix it whith yoghurt so you can get it down.

[bettyellen]

15. benedryl and wrap the legs of your bed with double stick tape to catch em