Reminder: Always check for bed bugs at all hotels/practice safe unpacking.

[Etopn23]

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I’ve been blessed with having the opportunity to travel this cycle for interviews. I stayed at what most would consider nice properties exclusively (Marriott/Hilton etc).

My wife started developing unexplained rashes around 3 weeks ago. We hired an exterminator for an inspection and.... bed bugs galore. I’m now having to $$$ for my house to be sprayed, dusted, and heat treated. I had no rash because I am non reactive to the bite. This is disgusting to think about.

The worst part is I have a newborn that can’t sleep in his crib until the treatment is completed.

How to avoid this happening to you:

- Leave your clothes in your luggage. Do not lay clothes out on furniture or hang in closet in preparation for the next day. If you’re especially paranoid, leave luggage in the bathtub.

- don’t put luggage or shoes on the ground

- inspect the bed, box springs, frame prior to using any hotel bed.

- don’t sit on the hotel furniture if possible

- when you arrive home immediately unpack and wash (HOT water)/dry your clothes (steam your suits). If this is not possible then bag your clothes and leave them in your garage/patio until you can. DO NOT put your clothes in the hamper in the closet.

- Leave empty luggage in the garage/patio

- make sure your mattress/box springs/pillows are encased in bed bug proof covers

You can do all of this and still face an infestation unfortunately. Good luck on your interview trails.

 

[SeaHusky]

Had a bed bug scare a couple months ago. I had never experienced them before and had no idea what they even looked like. Thankfully, it turned out to be mosquito bites (don't get them much in my area, roast me for not recognizing the bites lol), but not before I freaked out and hired a K9 inspection unit to comb through my house.

Bed bugs are nasty, nasty business. Had a couple of friends who experienced it years ago, and it's an incredibly expensive ordeal to get rid of them. Even though it was a false alarm, I'm hyper vigilant when it comes to staying in hotels/AirBnBs now.

 

[Engrailed]

When it's a major infestation, people end up having to throw out their entire furniture/wardrobe. 😱 😱 😱

 

[SeaHusky]

When it's a major infestation, people end up having to throw out their entire furniture/wardrobe. 😱 😱 😱

I'm terrified of bugs. If it were up to me, I'd blowtorch my place if I saw even one bedbug. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed 😉

 

[ChymeofPassion]

I had a bedbug infestation in March, I still dream of being bit. Good luck. Also pro-tip, get BedBug interceptors. They are plastic devices with reservoirs that go into your bed frame legs to capture bugs, it's a good way to see if your treatment worked. Thankfully, I was reactive to the bites; the person I traveled with was not. I can only imagine how stressful it is to have no idea if you're the main course.

 

[LizzyM]

This thread gave me insomnia. 🙁

 

[907914]

Where in the country are bedbugs highly prevalent? We don’t really have to worry about them in the north west…

 

[Engrailed]

Places that have movie theaters, buses, and also streets with mattresses wrapped in a plastic cover. I run when I see one like there’s no tomorrow.

 

[ThetisAntithesis]

This thread gave me insomnia. 🙁

And a sudden, intense, full body itch.

 

[rahrahb]

Where in the country are bedbugs highly prevalent? We don’t really have to worry about them in the north west…

They’re highly prevalent everywhere. I worked for a leasing company (in AK) and had to take bedbug training every year. Two of the most common places to find bed bugs are in the library and airplanes.

 

[notsobabydoc]

I’ve been blessed with having the opportunity to travel this cycle for interviews. I stayed at what most would consider nice properties exclusively (Marriott/Hilton etc).

My wife started developing unexplained rashes around 3 weeks ago. We hired an exterminator for an inspection and.... bed bugs galore. I’m now having to $$$ for my house to be sprayed, dusted, and heat treated. I had no rash because I am non reactive to the bite. This is disgusting to think about.

The worst part is I have a newborn that can’t sleep in his crib until the treatment is completed.

How to avoid this happening to you:

- Leave your clothes in your luggage. Do not lay clothes out on furniture or hang in closet in preparation for the next day. If you’re especially paranoid, leave luggage in the bathtub.

- don’t put luggage or shoes on the ground

- inspect the bed, box springs, frame prior to using any hotel bed.

- don’t sit on the hotel furniture if possible

- when you arrive home immediately unpack and wash (HOT water)/dry your clothes (steam your suits). If this is not possible then bag your clothes and leave them in your garage/patio until you can. DO NOT put your clothes in the hamper in the closet.

- Leave empty luggage in the garage/patio

- make sure your mattress/box springs/pillows are encased in bed bug proof covers

You can do all of this and still face an infestation unfortunately. Good luck on your interview trails.

Horrified!!!

 

[SeaHusky]

They’re highly prevalent everywhere. I worked for a leasing company (in AK) and had to take bedbug training every year. Two of the most common places to find bed bugs are in the library and airplanes.

Apparently they were almost extinct (or the tier above that, whatever it is) at one point before the advent of air travel made the prevalence rate explode...ugh.

 

[notsobabydoc]

Where in the country are bedbugs highly prevalent? We don’t really have to worry about them in the north west…

NYC.... hope NYU covers that fumigation expense later lol.

 

[and 99 others]

When it's a major infestation, people end up having to throw out their entire furniture/wardrobe. 😱 😱 😱

Yep. Had a fullblown infestation a few years ago and had to get rid of the couch, every bed, and several cabinets. it SUCKED.

Good on ya for the advisory, OP.

 

[LizzyM]

Where in the country are bedbugs highly prevalent? We don’t really have to worry about them in the north west…

They aren't unheard of in Washington State. Bed Bugs :: Washington State Department of Health

 

[RTC19]

FWIW, from Amazon or Walmart, you can usually get a crib and mattress for $150 or less for your baby until you can get him his old crib back.

Both of these got great reviews.

Amazon product ASIN B002MZMDX8
Amazon product ASIN B0030UUBMO
As if applying to med school isn't stressful enough, I'm really sorry this happened to you. 🙁 Hang in there. 🙁

Thank you for telling us these things. I am not yet ready to apply but have bookmarked your post for when I am.

 

[premed20172017]

I couldn’t get through these posts without scratching my body. *shudder* I hate bugs