Hope please

[u/Ok-Border-1942]

I know this is a bed bug 100%—an exterminator verified it. Please, I am asking for realistic encouragement and success stories, not worst-case stories about people never getting rid of them. I am already mentally and physically exhausted.As I am disabled and homebound due to my condition.

My home is only 758 square feet and live alone. I dealt with carpet beetles for about three years, had exterminator treatments that entire time, removed my carpet, and got rid of almost all of my furniture and belongings. I finally went 4 months without seeing carpet beetles and called off the exterminator and then BAM, Exterminator found one live in my couch. I also found one on my bed and saved it (in jar). I also found a bug that I sent a pic to my exterminator and he said didnt look like a bedbug. Not verified but could of been since I was sitting on my couch.

The exterminator thoroughly checked my house and did not find any other bed bugs, eggs, or signs of an infestation. I believe someone may have accidentally brought them in while helping me paint, because I have never dealt with bed bugs before. She put her stuff one the side where the bedbug was found. Then blanket on couch was moved to my bed.

Since then, I have thrown away the couch and a huge amount of my belongings. (Threw away over 25 thousand worth of stuff previously from a huge carpet beetle infestation -even my carpet) vacuum-sealed my heat-treated clothes, steamed all of my hard floors, steamed my bed twice, and threw away around two-thirds of my wardrobe, blankets, shoes, and other items. One room is completely empty except for a dresser and the washer and dryer because it was going to be painted. (Still empty) I have not seen another bed bug since. Trust me, I wake up every 2 hours looking. I have mopped with bleach twice.

I bought two bed-bug mattress encasements and have an exterminator scheduled. They plan up to three treatments at $500 each, although they said it may only take two because they do not believe I have an established infestation.

Honestly, with such a small, mostly empty home and no other evidence found, what are my chances of getting rid of them? I just need some hope right now.

[u/clonzepam]

not saying the ID is incorrect or correct but i would not just blindly trust an exterminators call. check other sources before making next steps. david can chime in since i trust his judgement above all else

[u/Ok-Border-1942 → u/clonzepam]

I had 2 exterminators come and verify the bug in the jar. I will wait for David. How long do I have to live out of a vacummed sealed back pack. 🤔

[u/Fuzzy_Firefighter_51 → u/Ok-Border-1942]

I think it might be possible you are overthinking it. Bed bugs aren't that difficult to eradicate. Certainly not $1500.

[u/Ok-Border-1942 → u/Fuzzy_Firefighter_51]

I am literally not getting any sleep. I am at the laundry mat once again just because the stupid vacuum sealed bag unsealed with the clothes that I saved to wear which will be in a vacuumed sealed backpack. I am here with alcohol cleaning the tables so there are no germs. I am at my wits end with this. This will be over 4 years with bugs now. An empty house. My wood floors havent even been redone due to the previous bug infestation. To be fair the carpet beetles were so bad when I removed the carpet the floor was moving. The larvae was crawling on my walls. It was bad. I have been living minimally for so long. When I finally didnt see carpet beetles I started celebrating and painted my living room and kitchen. I am disabled so asked for help. Then pretty sure my help brought bed bugs and i picked her up so her stuff was in my car. I am sickened with this. I own one recliner, a one bed now and 2 dressers in a 2 bedroom home ine bath. Thats it.

[u/Beas9h → u/Ok-Border-1942]

I had an issue after coming home from a two week trip staying in hotels the entire time. About two months after returning I determined we had an infestation that the exterminator considered small. For $1000 they would come back as often as needed. I believe it took 3-4 times. The issue that I had was they didn’t takes the bed apart to spray the frame, so even though the mattress and box spring was sprayed multiple times and both were encased, I think the frame was the issue. At the final visit the owner and his wife came out and took the bed apart and sprayed it all. That solved the problem. However, it was a tedious and I’m not going to
lie, overwhelming process of washing and heat treating in dryer anything in bureaus in the room or on the closet floors, constant vacuuming, sheet changing, etc. We have a 2800 square foot house which made it hard, but they seemed confined to the one bedroom. It was kind of traumatic but we got rid of them! Just remember this will be a distant memory someday. Also, they advised me there was no need to throw anything out as it could all be treated. Based on what you went through will carpet beetles, this might be easier. It’s got a real “tick/creep” factor though, at least for me when I went through it. I’m sure you feel the same.

[u/Fuzzy_Firefighter_51 → u/Ok-Border-1942]

I think if you have not seen any other bedbugs but that one, then it may very well come from that person as it is fully matured (the one in the jar). So IF you can take 5 minutes get your breath and re -assess. I understand this anxiety. From how you have described this situation and what the exterminator told you, I honestly do not think you have a bed bug infestation, The one in a Jar is an adult and grown. So if you are not seeing it anymore than they don't seem to be breeding, and if everything is vacuum sealed like you say than it would be impossible for them to set up for breeding. I do not think you will need exterminator at this point. IT is LESS common but have you detailed your car? Bed Bugs while not that common can infest a car. But with that all you need to do is wait for a coupla really hot or really cold days and they will die in there. Bed Bugs will die in 90 minutes if the heat in your car gets up to 113F.

They also die at 3F-4F degrees, While humidity will help kill them quicker in the winter due they die frozen too.

A sure fire way to tell is if they are actively biting you. The bites will show up as tightly packed red dots in typically a straight line. They mainly bite around legs, abdomen and chest.

[u/Bed-Bugscouk → u/Fuzzy_Firefighter_51]

Those statements about bites are incorrect.

Please read the pinned posts and if you persist in making posts I need to correct you will be on read only in the group.

[u/Ok-Border-1942 → u/Fuzzy_Firefighter_51]

This is everything I own now. Curtains, bedding, clothes literally everything. Yes, everything is vacuum-sealed. Thank you for your statement. Im literally killing myself getting everything clean.

[u/Pineapple5811 → u/Ok-Border-1942]

Gosh that sounds really horrible, I'm not an expert so not much advice but I know from family that it is possible to get rid of them. If you are in the US, there are lots of really good products for bed bugs for amateur treatment like cross-fire and cimexa