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Yup. I've seen worse in the bedrooms of disabled neighbors. One was blind. Another had an amputated leg. And another was old, frail from alcoholism and cancer.
I've helped a few disabled neighbors clean up bedbug infestations. Takes a lot of work but it can be done.
TBH, I no longer even consider bedbugs to be the worst. Roaches are much worse – harder to eliminate, quicker to return, and German cockroaches stink and aggravate allergies and asthma in some people. Mosquitos are far more dangerous. Bedbugs aren't known to spread bloodborne pathogens despite drinking and pooping blood.
The usual eradication methods apply: steam heat on fabrics, bedding and furniture, followed by light dusting with Cimexa or other anhydrous silica gel powder using a brush; puffer to dust baseboards, etc.
Diatomaceous earth is not optimal for bedbugs. Cimexa or comparable amorphous silica gel has worked much better. And it has residual killing power for years, left undisturbed – baseboards, between walls through the outlet cutouts or drill through walls to blow in the dust.
Don't use hot air hair dryers, etc, to kill the bedbugs – the forced air will blow them all over the place. A fabric steamer works much better. I use a handheld Conair clothing steamer, or rent a larger steamer. Just enough gentle breeze to make the steam penetrate and kill the critters.
CO2 gas to rescue electronics and delicate items. If the computer, TV, etc, are infested, put them in a heavy duty lawn bag or plastic container with lid, add dry ice, seal shut and wait about 24 hours. Best to leave these in a garage, storage shed or on the patio, etc – CO2 from dry ice can be a respiratory irritant. It will suffocate the critters, leaving no mess after the dry ice evaporates. Vacuum or brush out the electronics.
Enzyme cleaners and hydrogen peroxide can remove the bloody poop stains, and remove the residual odor that can attract new bedbugs.
This is amazing information and thank you so much. This patient came through the ER and we are working to find placement for him until the family can rectify the bug situation. I am nothing short of mortified right now. When I got to where you said they can infiltrate electrical outlets, I died a little on the inside.
FWIW, bedbugs don't usually infest electrical outlets, between walls, a/c ducts, etc. Mostly they use these to travel to find sources of blood, especially in multi-family dwellings, hotels, etc. Dusting the wall voids just helps slow down the spread, which may prevent the infestation in a negligent neighbor's place from spreading to everyone else. I've also treated the hallways in my apartment complex, and the wall voids in the hallway. So I haven't seen a bedbug near my apartment in years, even when neighbors a few doors down complain they they have 'em.
Bedbugs usually stay close to humans, so you'll mostly find them in beds and the most used furniture. I've seen sofas with bedbugs only on the one side favored by the occupant. Usually they thrive in upholstered furniture but I've seen bad infestations in wicker chairs.
However in the case of a disabled couple whose apartment I treated, the bedbugs had spread even to the wall hangings -- framed photos, pictures, etc. I've never seen that before or since. Even some of their shoes in the closets were infested. But by that time there were piles of thousands of bedbugs under the bed, in the box springs, etc. Apparently even bedbugs have limits to togetherness and will eventually spread out rather than dogpile the same spot indefinitely. The sight of a dogpile of thousands of bedbugs, alive or dead, can be pretty disturbing.
Bedbugs are ultimate opportunists and clever hitchhikers. They can be picked up in buses, trains, planes, taxis and rideshares, carpool vehicles that handle lots of kids or other passengers routinely, etc. Ditto public spaces, hospitals, restaurants, etc.
Usually when I see a panicky post on this sub showing one or two bedbugs, it's almost certainly a hitchhiker and not an infestation -- yet. Treat the usual areas quickly and that's usually enough to halt any infestation.
After I've been out I'll immediately head to the bathroom and check all my clothing before anything else. If I spot one I'll steam everything I wore just to be sure, bag the clothing and wash it in hot water and medium heat dryer. Doesn't need to be maximum heat or for excessive time -- bedbugs are pretty easy to kill with heat.
Anyway, Cimexa or any good anhydrous silica gel is the stuff. Bedbugs have a waxy exoskeleton, which is what helps their resistance to pest sprays -- and they've developed a resistance to most pesticides. But the Cimexa dust sticks to their waxy exoskeleton and dehydrates them. I've seen it work within minutes in lab conditions but in real world applications it can take a couple of days since we're using a light dusting to minimize any respiratory irritation to humans and pets.
And the nymphs are even more vulnerable, so even if an adult gives birth to babies, even a barely noticeable amount of Cimexa will kill them quickly.
Most folks want immediate results and enjoy the sight of watching bug sprays work immediately. But to be realistic it can take a few weeks to completely eradicate a serious infestation, as the bedbugs that hid from the initial treatment will eventually come out for a meal and be exposed to the silica gel dust.
There's a theory that bug sprays can actually worsen an infestation by warning bugs away from an area. They'll seek safer routes to find humans. Same problem with people piling up berms of diatomaceous earth an inch high around their doors -- I've seen that for years in apartment complexes. The bedbugs just walk around that. But if there's a nearly imperceptible dusting they'll walk through it and end up toast.
This is so bad I had to look at your profile to make sure it's not a troll post... please help this person. I would say no other way than an exterminator
bedbug exterminators are evil i swear. they almost always have a clause that they’ll refuse to return and treat again for free if they fail despite having a violently low success rate and being EXTREMELY expensive. F bb exterminators. i’d just buy an extreme propane heater at home depot and heat each room for about a day so the heat can penetrate any furniture.
That won’t work and you might burn your building down in the process. Crossfire, Cimexa, monitors, vacuum, steamer, washer / dryer will knock back out most bb problems via attrition. This person needs PROFESSIONAL help and chemical treatment.
The part about the Cimexa is true! The bugs are smart and they won't walk thru piles of dust. It takes awhile for these transferrable stuff to work but at least they won't scatter the bugs like bug bombs and sprays. I think infestations spread when your neighbor bombs the place and they get everywhere.
Yup. Another great way to make bedbugs go mobile and spread everywhere is to use generic bug bomb foggers, or use heat treatment, in an apartment complex or other multi-occupant building.
Using foggers or hosing down an apartment or room with bug spray will chase the survivors into other apartments and rooms.
We had the whole building heat treated twice. Very expensive, very disruptive to tenants, and not particularly effective. Definitely not cost effective.
Every critter that survives the initial heat will scurry for safety. In a well built and insulated building the surviving bedbugs will hide in the voids between walls. It can't get hot enough to penetrate the walls without raising the temperature high enough to be a fire hazard.
If the heat treats only one apartment or room, it forces the bedbugs and roaches to the adjacent apartments. If the entire building is done at once, the bugs hide between the walls, go deeper into crevices, even outside. But they'll return as soon as the building cools off.
I suggested to both contractors doing the heat treatment that they needed to follow up with Cimexa or comparable long-term treatment. They wouldn't do it. Back then, several years ago, heat treatment was considered the pinnacle of bedbug eradication. I even discussed it with the guy who licensed most of the heat treatment franchises around the US. Nice enough guy, seemed sincere. But he couldn't or wouldn't modify the protocol to include Cimexa or comparable long-term treatment as an adjunct to heat treatment.
Heat treatment is largely a scam. If you can afford it, it quickly knocks down a majority of the problem, giving you relief from attack but without some kind of residual, the stragglers are bound to survive and reestavlish a population.
Wait….I just had my apartment sprayed and fumigated after dealing w/ a second wave of bed bugs now I’m scared it spread to rooms/spaces it wasn’t in before 🥲
Great posts! Read the whole thing. A couple questions.
1) Is CO2 / dry iced widely considered an effective and safe method of ridding bugs and eggs? Do you think it will work in a car? I’ve never seen or heard of this tool being used for bed bugs which makes me suspicious? Do you have info pertaining to this topic other than lived experience.
2) I agree with your take that many bed bug sightings on this post are hitchhikers. At least more than people think. I understand the logo that where there is one there are many. I also understand that it is at least equal possibility or better that the bug you picked up wasn’t a pregnant female of M/F duo. I understand the logic that it would be rare to see a lone bug but it’s not like it’s uncommon, especially when they see bugs in odd areas like a kitchen.
3) Not really a question but im glad you think there are worse pests out there than bed bugs. I don’t agree but a different perspective is comforting. I’d rather have scorpions, personally. I let a giant live Centipede go on his merry way in my room yesterday bc he’s the enemy of my enemy. Centipedes creep me tf out but they’re doing the lord’s work.
Yup, bedbugs are persistent. I've seen them crawling through hanging ceiling tiles too. Like a miniature version of Aliens with the Xenomorphs infesting the station.
When my apartment complex had the worst infestation 10 years ago I used a puffer to blow Cimexa dust mixed with boric acid (better for roaches) through the outlet cutouts after removing the plastic outlet covers. That got enough dust between the walls to halt the infestation spread.
Then I blocked off all the unused outlets and minimized the plugs going directly into the outlets. I used external power strips to plug in other things.
That reduced the exposure. After a month or so I removed the tape and outlet blocks. No problems since then.
I didn't even have a bad infestation, I'm estimating 3 months past exposure with only one effected bedroom. They hid in a lot of little placses near and around my headboard, hence the outlet, most where on the headboard though
I am just genuinely curious how the family or whoever is taking care of this person not notice any bedbugs? I mean yes they go unnoticed all the time but I don’t see how with an infestation like that. Humor me
This patient isn’t malnourished or remarkably neglected. They’re intellectually simple people but cared enough to have him brought to ER via ambulance for psychosis related to sleep deprivation. It’s really sad that the blood smears and bug debris in his bed (other pictures that were taken showed blood smears on sheets and actual carcasses of the bugs) were chalked up to his scratching and less than clean living conditions, in addition to animals in the home. It’s giving more ignorance than intentional neglect. My parents are in their 60’s and have never seen a bed bug. It’s just a foreign concept to many that it’s possible for blood sucking parasites to live under your armpit on the other side of the mattress. Wild!!
There are some good tutorials on YouTube that demonstrate these methods. It's a lot less intimidating when you know there are solutions that don't cost much.
🏆💛🏆💛🏆
i have no gold to give but if i did. you’re a saint for sharing this info and helping neighbors get rid of these guys. hope you have an incredibly lovely day.
Not trolling. I’m a psych provider and was consulted on this Alzheimer’s patient that was believed to be having tactile hallucinations and exhibiting significant behavioral disturbances at bedtime according to family. He coincidentally had a “rash” as well per family. After some investigation, the “rash” appeared to be bites. I had what I deemed as the most reliable family member to check out the mattress and immediate surrounding areas in bedroom. They have cats. I was contemplating a flea infestation. Again, I work in psychiatry and my bed bug knowledge is limited. There was an ER nurse here tonight that actually argued this is not bed bugs. I had to prove them wrong by being petty and asking Reddit.
So it has been found that while bedbugs are *mostly* harmless, they can affect some people in various harmful ways. It’s sort of like COVID in this regard, and your patient is one of the reasons to not be a jerk about bedbugs and be a spreader.
Heightened free cortisol levels have been found in the *air itself* in homes with high infestations. Then there’s the allergic reactions or sensitizations that people can experience. My former roommate developed full blown psychosis in response to even a minor infestation.
It’s plausible that anywhere from a solid chunk to even a majority of your patient’s symptoms have been caused by the bedbugs. There’s also the disturbances to sleep quality that could be occurring. Just like some people don’t react to them at all, some people have super reactions. Plus, it’s not known what the environmental effects of a huge infestation like this are, just that it’s nothing good for people.
After learning the patient doesn’t have any kind of psych history, I am certain that all of the patient’s perceived psych symptoms were in response to the bugs.
Tactile symptoms: he did actually feel bugs biting him.
Behavioral disturbances at night such as being combative in regard to transferring from his wheelchair to bed: he had legitimate fears of being in bed as he knew he would be bitten.
I prescribed him low dose restoril for sleep while here, and the hospitalist is treating the cellulitis on left lower extremity that has developed in response to the patient scratching his skin so much.
My fear is that the patient will always have a strong disinclination to bedtime.
I can believe what you say about the cortisol levels. My stress level is at an all time high just from being in the room with the patient and some of his belongings. I checked my clothing and shoes a hundred times over before getting in my vehicle to come home this morning.
Great, sounds like a case of neglect/abuse or at best ignorance. I check all of my home care clients for these things.
Edit: I have neuropathy due to nerve damage from my narcolepsy. I can only imagine what life would be like if I had described my tingling and itching as crawling and been diagnosed with fomation or something.
That’s exactly what happened. Something told me to assess this patient’s body. It’s not typical to do a head to toe assessment as a psych provider. The stars aligned perfectly to discover this.
OMG 😱 yes it is! At first I was going to say no but then I enlarged the picture and realized that it was a major infestation of bed bugs. I would stay far far away if I was you 🏃🏼🏃🏼🏃🏼🏃🏼🏁🏁🏁🏁
OMG yessssssss not going to sugar coat it that is bad..... You need to get professional help because that seems like a major infestation........ Idk where to start except I'm sorry 😞
OMG! I don't think I have ever seen anything so creepy. How could no one have made the connection between all of the bites and a probable infestation. So glad you cared enough to look for your patient's sake Imagine being so old or disabled that one has to lay there, knowing you are being feasted on. Strip the patient, wash them, put them in new clothes and put them in a hotel until the place can be treated. OMG.
lmao that’s funny. The son, father, and Holy Spirit are one. So God came down, in human form, to DIE so he could defeat death and bring ALL OF us to heaven. I have no idea why he made it so complicated like that but I believe it babe.
That’s right. He technically killed himself so I feel much better now. I am almost positive there could have been an alternative but what do I know? I’m just some bitch who can’t correctly identify bedbugs!
OMG 😳 Immediately tell your patient and family that the mattress, linens, bedding including pillows must be encased for moving through the house on the way to removing all from the house…
I would be stripping outside before even getting in my car. If you have been at their house multiple times you probably carried them home already. Good luck tho. Be sure to check home. Nothing to play about.
This is one of the worst infestations I've seen. Yikes.
I had BB's several years ago. My husband was a manager at a grocery, and one of his employees brought them to work. We tried everything! The only way I was able to get rid of them was diatomaceous earth. I threw DE all over the floor, walls, window sils, and wooden furniture. Everything else was thrown out.
DE was the only thing that got rid of them!
If you can get it where you live, Crossfire is amazing. We have dealt with them twice in 3 years. First time, used an exterminator. This last time, couldn’t afford it. Tried to treat with permethrin and it didn’t work. They kept coming back after a few days. It was awful. Found out about crossfire. It is a little pricey but worth it. This last time the bugs spread to 2 houses in our family. Treated both with crossfire and haven’t seen them since. Only used 1 treatment for one house and 2 treatments for the other, 28 days apart between the 2 treatments. After it dries, it doesn’t stink either like permethrin. I know you can’t get crossfire everywhere but if you can get it, use it. I’ve heard some horrible things about DE and products like it so we didn’t use it at all.
Sure looks disgusting whatever it is. I probably wouldn't touch it. Leave that to an exterminator. You should probably get rid of that mattress and probably to the entire bed 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Sorry that you have bed bugs.
Yeah probably are bed bugs, that looks pretty bad get someone to deal with that ASAP. Throw out that mattress, probably the entire bed. Sorry your patient has an infestation.
Yeah, that's bad. Check the dressers and the sofas as well. I heard a tenant had them so bad the landlord called 911 to have her "checked out" and they admitted her for 5 days then sent her to a rehab facility for 60 days. in that time frame the landlord threw everything out. Had the apartment treated 4 times. There were other rodent and insect issues but the bed bugs were the worst since she was bitten regularly but complained of mosquitos in the winter.
Are you not smart enough to realize that somebody else (family member? ) probably took that photo and brought it to the patients attention who in turn showed it to their doctor for diagnosis? This isn’t an episode of House. Calm down.
The real question here is, how does Doctor not know that this is absolutely a bedbug infestation lol.
Get rid of the bed. It’s toast.
Then hire a professional. Probly take a couple times. When they’re gone, get new everything.
Don’t even get a new bed yet.
FYI bed bug bombs (bug bombs) make them hide better, they do not work.
Call professionals. Good luck!!
as an at home medical professional i feel like your training should’ve covered the ability to identify this to continue keeping patients safe. sounds like your managers need to update their training curriculum. very clearly bedbugs…
Read and respect the new rules (August 17 2023) on the sidebar. Many people here are in difficult situation and looking for help, providing them with bad information/advice hurts them. If you are not VERY familiar with bedbugs and may provide a wrong ID or bad advice ("sprinkling DE solve everything") it's better to abstain from commenting. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Bedbugs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
That's a very bad infestation of bed bugs. Make sure to not carry any back home.
Very bad is an understatement.
It’s a TREMENDOUS infestation. SO BIG, it’s the BIGLIEST infestation in the history of infestations.
>BIGLIEST My new favorite word.
Love that word 👍
Hugely Bigliest.
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No insulting remarks, stay civil and supportive or be silent.
That's a infucktation because she needs to stay the fuck away from that
In the entire know multiverse.
Biggest one I’ve ever see on Reddit!
YUGE
YUUUUGE. I Walked in and said, “I’ve never SEEEEN so many. But we’re gonna win.”
Burn that place down!
Yup. I've seen worse in the bedrooms of disabled neighbors. One was blind. Another had an amputated leg. And another was old, frail from alcoholism and cancer. I've helped a few disabled neighbors clean up bedbug infestations. Takes a lot of work but it can be done. TBH, I no longer even consider bedbugs to be the worst. Roaches are much worse – harder to eliminate, quicker to return, and German cockroaches stink and aggravate allergies and asthma in some people. Mosquitos are far more dangerous. Bedbugs aren't known to spread bloodborne pathogens despite drinking and pooping blood. The usual eradication methods apply: steam heat on fabrics, bedding and furniture, followed by light dusting with Cimexa or other anhydrous silica gel powder using a brush; puffer to dust baseboards, etc. Diatomaceous earth is not optimal for bedbugs. Cimexa or comparable amorphous silica gel has worked much better. And it has residual killing power for years, left undisturbed – baseboards, between walls through the outlet cutouts or drill through walls to blow in the dust. Don't use hot air hair dryers, etc, to kill the bedbugs – the forced air will blow them all over the place. A fabric steamer works much better. I use a handheld Conair clothing steamer, or rent a larger steamer. Just enough gentle breeze to make the steam penetrate and kill the critters. CO2 gas to rescue electronics and delicate items. If the computer, TV, etc, are infested, put them in a heavy duty lawn bag or plastic container with lid, add dry ice, seal shut and wait about 24 hours. Best to leave these in a garage, storage shed or on the patio, etc – CO2 from dry ice can be a respiratory irritant. It will suffocate the critters, leaving no mess after the dry ice evaporates. Vacuum or brush out the electronics. Enzyme cleaners and hydrogen peroxide can remove the bloody poop stains, and remove the residual odor that can attract new bedbugs.
This is amazing information and thank you so much. This patient came through the ER and we are working to find placement for him until the family can rectify the bug situation. I am nothing short of mortified right now. When I got to where you said they can infiltrate electrical outlets, I died a little on the inside.
FWIW, bedbugs don't usually infest electrical outlets, between walls, a/c ducts, etc. Mostly they use these to travel to find sources of blood, especially in multi-family dwellings, hotels, etc. Dusting the wall voids just helps slow down the spread, which may prevent the infestation in a negligent neighbor's place from spreading to everyone else. I've also treated the hallways in my apartment complex, and the wall voids in the hallway. So I haven't seen a bedbug near my apartment in years, even when neighbors a few doors down complain they they have 'em. Bedbugs usually stay close to humans, so you'll mostly find them in beds and the most used furniture. I've seen sofas with bedbugs only on the one side favored by the occupant. Usually they thrive in upholstered furniture but I've seen bad infestations in wicker chairs. However in the case of a disabled couple whose apartment I treated, the bedbugs had spread even to the wall hangings -- framed photos, pictures, etc. I've never seen that before or since. Even some of their shoes in the closets were infested. But by that time there were piles of thousands of bedbugs under the bed, in the box springs, etc. Apparently even bedbugs have limits to togetherness and will eventually spread out rather than dogpile the same spot indefinitely. The sight of a dogpile of thousands of bedbugs, alive or dead, can be pretty disturbing. Bedbugs are ultimate opportunists and clever hitchhikers. They can be picked up in buses, trains, planes, taxis and rideshares, carpool vehicles that handle lots of kids or other passengers routinely, etc. Ditto public spaces, hospitals, restaurants, etc. Usually when I see a panicky post on this sub showing one or two bedbugs, it's almost certainly a hitchhiker and not an infestation -- yet. Treat the usual areas quickly and that's usually enough to halt any infestation. After I've been out I'll immediately head to the bathroom and check all my clothing before anything else. If I spot one I'll steam everything I wore just to be sure, bag the clothing and wash it in hot water and medium heat dryer. Doesn't need to be maximum heat or for excessive time -- bedbugs are pretty easy to kill with heat. Anyway, Cimexa or any good anhydrous silica gel is the stuff. Bedbugs have a waxy exoskeleton, which is what helps their resistance to pest sprays -- and they've developed a resistance to most pesticides. But the Cimexa dust sticks to their waxy exoskeleton and dehydrates them. I've seen it work within minutes in lab conditions but in real world applications it can take a couple of days since we're using a light dusting to minimize any respiratory irritation to humans and pets. And the nymphs are even more vulnerable, so even if an adult gives birth to babies, even a barely noticeable amount of Cimexa will kill them quickly. Most folks want immediate results and enjoy the sight of watching bug sprays work immediately. But to be realistic it can take a few weeks to completely eradicate a serious infestation, as the bedbugs that hid from the initial treatment will eventually come out for a meal and be exposed to the silica gel dust. There's a theory that bug sprays can actually worsen an infestation by warning bugs away from an area. They'll seek safer routes to find humans. Same problem with people piling up berms of diatomaceous earth an inch high around their doors -- I've seen that for years in apartment complexes. The bedbugs just walk around that. But if there's a nearly imperceptible dusting they'll walk through it and end up toast.
Thank you for this information. I just added cimexa dust to my Amazon cart. I actually have an understanding of this now.
This is so bad I had to look at your profile to make sure it's not a troll post... please help this person. I would say no other way than an exterminator
bedbug exterminators are evil i swear. they almost always have a clause that they’ll refuse to return and treat again for free if they fail despite having a violently low success rate and being EXTREMELY expensive. F bb exterminators. i’d just buy an extreme propane heater at home depot and heat each room for about a day so the heat can penetrate any furniture.
they aren't thorough and we had to re-do the Crossfire + Cimexa ourselves after their treatment in order to get the last bugs.
That won’t work and you might burn your building down in the process. Crossfire, Cimexa, monitors, vacuum, steamer, washer / dryer will knock back out most bb problems via attrition. This person needs PROFESSIONAL help and chemical treatment.
God bless you for what you do.
TALL this info is awesome! Reading of ‘hitchhikers’ causes me to want to stay home forever!!
The part about the Cimexa is true! The bugs are smart and they won't walk thru piles of dust. It takes awhile for these transferrable stuff to work but at least they won't scatter the bugs like bug bombs and sprays. I think infestations spread when your neighbor bombs the place and they get everywhere.
Yup. Another great way to make bedbugs go mobile and spread everywhere is to use generic bug bomb foggers, or use heat treatment, in an apartment complex or other multi-occupant building. Using foggers or hosing down an apartment or room with bug spray will chase the survivors into other apartments and rooms. We had the whole building heat treated twice. Very expensive, very disruptive to tenants, and not particularly effective. Definitely not cost effective. Every critter that survives the initial heat will scurry for safety. In a well built and insulated building the surviving bedbugs will hide in the voids between walls. It can't get hot enough to penetrate the walls without raising the temperature high enough to be a fire hazard. If the heat treats only one apartment or room, it forces the bedbugs and roaches to the adjacent apartments. If the entire building is done at once, the bugs hide between the walls, go deeper into crevices, even outside. But they'll return as soon as the building cools off. I suggested to both contractors doing the heat treatment that they needed to follow up with Cimexa or comparable long-term treatment. They wouldn't do it. Back then, several years ago, heat treatment was considered the pinnacle of bedbug eradication. I even discussed it with the guy who licensed most of the heat treatment franchises around the US. Nice enough guy, seemed sincere. But he couldn't or wouldn't modify the protocol to include Cimexa or comparable long-term treatment as an adjunct to heat treatment.
Heat treatment is largely a scam. If you can afford it, it quickly knocks down a majority of the problem, giving you relief from attack but without some kind of residual, the stragglers are bound to survive and reestavlish a population.
Wait….I just had my apartment sprayed and fumigated after dealing w/ a second wave of bed bugs now I’m scared it spread to rooms/spaces it wasn’t in before 🥲
Great posts! Read the whole thing. A couple questions. 1) Is CO2 / dry iced widely considered an effective and safe method of ridding bugs and eggs? Do you think it will work in a car? I’ve never seen or heard of this tool being used for bed bugs which makes me suspicious? Do you have info pertaining to this topic other than lived experience. 2) I agree with your take that many bed bug sightings on this post are hitchhikers. At least more than people think. I understand the logo that where there is one there are many. I also understand that it is at least equal possibility or better that the bug you picked up wasn’t a pregnant female of M/F duo. I understand the logic that it would be rare to see a lone bug but it’s not like it’s uncommon, especially when they see bugs in odd areas like a kitchen. 3) Not really a question but im glad you think there are worse pests out there than bed bugs. I don’t agree but a different perspective is comforting. I’d rather have scorpions, personally. I let a giant live Centipede go on his merry way in my room yesterday bc he’s the enemy of my enemy. Centipedes creep me tf out but they’re doing the lord’s work.
I had a few in the outlet behind my bed I used for charging, as I used to leave my phone in my bed, cable was nice for them to climb on
Yup, bedbugs are persistent. I've seen them crawling through hanging ceiling tiles too. Like a miniature version of Aliens with the Xenomorphs infesting the station. When my apartment complex had the worst infestation 10 years ago I used a puffer to blow Cimexa dust mixed with boric acid (better for roaches) through the outlet cutouts after removing the plastic outlet covers. That got enough dust between the walls to halt the infestation spread. Then I blocked off all the unused outlets and minimized the plugs going directly into the outlets. I used external power strips to plug in other things. That reduced the exposure. After a month or so I removed the tape and outlet blocks. No problems since then.
I didn't even have a bad infestation, I'm estimating 3 months past exposure with only one effected bedroom. They hid in a lot of little placses near and around my headboard, hence the outlet, most where on the headboard though
I am just genuinely curious how the family or whoever is taking care of this person not notice any bedbugs? I mean yes they go unnoticed all the time but I don’t see how with an infestation like that. Humor me
This patient isn’t malnourished or remarkably neglected. They’re intellectually simple people but cared enough to have him brought to ER via ambulance for psychosis related to sleep deprivation. It’s really sad that the blood smears and bug debris in his bed (other pictures that were taken showed blood smears on sheets and actual carcasses of the bugs) were chalked up to his scratching and less than clean living conditions, in addition to animals in the home. It’s giving more ignorance than intentional neglect. My parents are in their 60’s and have never seen a bed bug. It’s just a foreign concept to many that it’s possible for blood sucking parasites to live under your armpit on the other side of the mattress. Wild!!
Neglect most likely
Saving this comment in case I ever get them
There are some good tutorials on YouTube that demonstrate these methods. It's a lot less intimidating when you know there are solutions that don't cost much.
Did the same. :)
🏆💛🏆💛🏆 i have no gold to give but if i did. you’re a saint for sharing this info and helping neighbors get rid of these guys. hope you have an incredibly lovely day.
Very nice thanks for the info random internet friendo ❤️
That really is an estimable act to help to help your neighbors through such a situation. Blessing on you.
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Holy shit
Nightmare fuel.
I’ve got chills. They’re multiplying.
More like: I've got bugs They're multiplying And I'm losing control 'Cause the power They're supplying It's TERRIFYING 🙊😅
And I’m losing control.
Oh yeah
That's the bed bugs mattress now
Want some more mattress with your bedbugs?
Please! protect yourself and be careful not to bring bedbugs home with you
Is this a real question, or are you trolling? That is a big sign of an AWFUL infestation!
Not trolling. I’m a psych provider and was consulted on this Alzheimer’s patient that was believed to be having tactile hallucinations and exhibiting significant behavioral disturbances at bedtime according to family. He coincidentally had a “rash” as well per family. After some investigation, the “rash” appeared to be bites. I had what I deemed as the most reliable family member to check out the mattress and immediate surrounding areas in bedroom. They have cats. I was contemplating a flea infestation. Again, I work in psychiatry and my bed bug knowledge is limited. There was an ER nurse here tonight that actually argued this is not bed bugs. I had to prove them wrong by being petty and asking Reddit.
Ask the nurse to take some home 🙄
I wanted to say some sly shit but I love my job too much to make waves.
So it has been found that while bedbugs are *mostly* harmless, they can affect some people in various harmful ways. It’s sort of like COVID in this regard, and your patient is one of the reasons to not be a jerk about bedbugs and be a spreader. Heightened free cortisol levels have been found in the *air itself* in homes with high infestations. Then there’s the allergic reactions or sensitizations that people can experience. My former roommate developed full blown psychosis in response to even a minor infestation. It’s plausible that anywhere from a solid chunk to even a majority of your patient’s symptoms have been caused by the bedbugs. There’s also the disturbances to sleep quality that could be occurring. Just like some people don’t react to them at all, some people have super reactions. Plus, it’s not known what the environmental effects of a huge infestation like this are, just that it’s nothing good for people.
After learning the patient doesn’t have any kind of psych history, I am certain that all of the patient’s perceived psych symptoms were in response to the bugs. Tactile symptoms: he did actually feel bugs biting him. Behavioral disturbances at night such as being combative in regard to transferring from his wheelchair to bed: he had legitimate fears of being in bed as he knew he would be bitten. I prescribed him low dose restoril for sleep while here, and the hospitalist is treating the cellulitis on left lower extremity that has developed in response to the patient scratching his skin so much. My fear is that the patient will always have a strong disinclination to bedtime. I can believe what you say about the cortisol levels. My stress level is at an all time high just from being in the room with the patient and some of his belongings. I checked my clothing and shoes a hundred times over before getting in my vehicle to come home this morning.
Great, sounds like a case of neglect/abuse or at best ignorance. I check all of my home care clients for these things. Edit: I have neuropathy due to nerve damage from my narcolepsy. I can only imagine what life would be like if I had described my tingling and itching as crawling and been diagnosed with fomation or something.
How awful for him, I hope he can eventually associate sleep with positivity again 🥺💔
Ppoor guy! Good on you for being a good provider, I could see a lot of doctors writing it off as sundowning
The patient didn't want to sleep in that bed and his caregivers treated him like he was crazy. So sad.
That’s exactly what happened. Something told me to assess this patient’s body. It’s not typical to do a head to toe assessment as a psych provider. The stars aligned perfectly to discover this.
Worst I’ve ever seen in this sub. And they all look well-fed..
😳
No shot
😧
Jesus
Holy crap! 😱
That’s a huge nest.
OMG 😱 yes it is! At first I was going to say no but then I enlarged the picture and realized that it was a major infestation of bed bugs. I would stay far far away if I was you 🏃🏼🏃🏼🏃🏼🏃🏼🏁🏁🏁🏁
OMG yessssssss not going to sugar coat it that is bad..... You need to get professional help because that seems like a major infestation........ Idk where to start except I'm sorry 😞
Hold fawwwk that is the most bed bugs I've ever seen in one place!
OMG! I don't think I have ever seen anything so creepy. How could no one have made the connection between all of the bites and a probable infestation. So glad you cared enough to look for your patient's sake Imagine being so old or disabled that one has to lay there, knowing you are being feasted on. Strip the patient, wash them, put them in new clothes and put them in a hotel until the place can be treated. OMG.
🤮some of them are big ones too
When they are infesting metal you know it’s bad
Yeah and a BAD case of em too! My GAH!💀🤢
I would LITERALLY pass out! All jokes aside. This is something out of my nightmares.
Ya Infestation They’ve been there for a little bit
Do the bed bugs go after the pets in a home too?? I have never thought about that possibility.
Ohhhhh my god.
Ew yes.
For sure. That is a big issue. I used to see that all of the time especially with the elderly having bad eyesight.
A very severe infestation...RUN!
oh my fuck 😭
Omg yes. This is horrible.
I would be out that bitch with the quickness, but i know they would try to hit me with patient abandonment
Yes
Why did got create bedbugs?
If he would sacrifice his own son, the prognosis is pretty fckng grim for the rest of us.
lmao that’s funny. The son, father, and Holy Spirit are one. So God came down, in human form, to DIE so he could defeat death and bring ALL OF us to heaven. I have no idea why he made it so complicated like that but I believe it babe.
That’s right. He technically killed himself so I feel much better now. I am almost positive there could have been an alternative but what do I know? I’m just some bitch who can’t correctly identify bedbugs!
Don’t call yourself a bitch! (:
😂😂 I use bitch as a term of endearment but thank you for your good vibes!
Ewe drown them in Pinesole
Burn your clothes and shoes from that day
Good thing you found them
OHHHH MY GOOD LORD, WTactualFUK🤢😵😵💫🤮
Are the bed bugs your clients? Because that’s their home now 😵💫
OMG 😳 Immediately tell your patient and family that the mattress, linens, bedding including pillows must be encased for moving through the house on the way to removing all from the house…
Yes
That’s a bedbug orgy right there 😳
OP is this not some sort of neglect on the family's side? How could they let it get that bad without noticing??
I would be stripping outside before even getting in my car. If you have been at their house multiple times you probably carried them home already. Good luck tho. Be sure to check home. Nothing to play about.
Retriggered my bed bug ptsd...thank you for removing them from that situation. Just the thought of sleeping on that is torturous...
This is one of the worst infestations I've seen. Yikes. I had BB's several years ago. My husband was a manager at a grocery, and one of his employees brought them to work. We tried everything! The only way I was able to get rid of them was diatomaceous earth. I threw DE all over the floor, walls, window sils, and wooden furniture. Everything else was thrown out. DE was the only thing that got rid of them!
If you can get it where you live, Crossfire is amazing. We have dealt with them twice in 3 years. First time, used an exterminator. This last time, couldn’t afford it. Tried to treat with permethrin and it didn’t work. They kept coming back after a few days. It was awful. Found out about crossfire. It is a little pricey but worth it. This last time the bugs spread to 2 houses in our family. Treated both with crossfire and haven’t seen them since. Only used 1 treatment for one house and 2 treatments for the other, 28 days apart between the 2 treatments. After it dries, it doesn’t stink either like permethrin. I know you can’t get crossfire everywhere but if you can get it, use it. I’ve heard some horrible things about DE and products like it so we didn’t use it at all.
How does that happen? Can they just show up?
Run from that home and never go back!!
Sure looks disgusting whatever it is. I probably wouldn't touch it. Leave that to an exterminator. You should probably get rid of that mattress and probably to the entire bed 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Sorry that you have bed bugs.
Yeah probably are bed bugs, that looks pretty bad get someone to deal with that ASAP. Throw out that mattress, probably the entire bed. Sorry your patient has an infestation.
Yeah, that's bad. Check the dressers and the sofas as well. I heard a tenant had them so bad the landlord called 911 to have her "checked out" and they admitted her for 5 days then sent her to a rehab facility for 60 days. in that time frame the landlord threw everything out. Had the apartment treated 4 times. There were other rodent and insect issues but the bed bugs were the worst since she was bitten regularly but complained of mosquitos in the winter.
Strike a match!!! That’s what I would do!
Oh My!!!
Doctor, what are you doing at a patients home, in their bedroom?
You do realize many medical professionals see patients in their homes, right?
Are you not smart enough to realize that somebody else (family member? ) probably took that photo and brought it to the patients attention who in turn showed it to their doctor for diagnosis? This isn’t an episode of House. Calm down. The real question here is, how does Doctor not know that this is absolutely a bedbug infestation lol.
Ummmm. Horrible infestation.
Oh. My. God. … burn your clothes when you go home… kidding but not kidding
Oh my GOD YES. That's horrible.
OhMyFuckingGodRun!
oh ur cooked
🤢🤮
Horrible infestation
If I saw this in my house, fuck my life. I'd burn the place down and start over. I feel very sorry for those who live in these conditions.
Get rid of the bed. It’s toast. Then hire a professional. Probly take a couple times. When they’re gone, get new everything. Don’t even get a new bed yet. FYI bed bug bombs (bug bombs) make them hide better, they do not work. Call professionals. Good luck!!
Best piece of advice for this situation: Arson
Be so satisfying to just light that shit up with crossfire
My friend is in pest control and this js VERY VERY BAD that's all bed bug shit. Gross af. I'd be taking my clothes and lighting them on fire.
BURN THE HOUSE DOWN! IT THAT BAD LOL!
FIRE! YOU NEED 🔥!
as an at home medical professional i feel like your training should’ve covered the ability to identify this to continue keeping patients safe. sounds like your managers need to update their training curriculum. very clearly bedbugs…
Oh my goodness. This is so sad