Re: I think they are finally gone...here's my story

October 26, 2008

I know im always talking about Kuhns, but his ebook was my

bible for two months. I clung to his every word...before i found all

of you. He also beat the mites with diatomaceous earth. I had some

while in texas. You can just put it in a sock and shake it around. It

gets in the air like a fine dust and gets all over everything. I

think i will reincorporate this into my routine. Thanks so much for

your post and congrats on beating the bugs!!

>

> Hello All:

>

> First I want to say thank goodness for this site. It really helped

me get through my ordeal.

>

> I originally posted the following note on June 15, 2008 on this

message board in reply to

> an other message. I am putting it here so you know how my bird mite

infestation started

> and I will tell you where I am at now at the bottom of this post...

>

> June 15, 2008

> I have been dealing with a bird mite infestation in my

> apartment for 3 1/2 weeks now. I am giving it another three weeks

and

> if it's not eradicated, I am throwing everything out and starting

> over. My health and sanity are worth it.

>

> 3 1/2 weeks ago I noticed birds flying outside around the attic

(I'm

> the top apartment in a two story building)...took a walk around the

> building and noticed a small hole around the A/C tubing coming out

of

> the attic. I called the complex and they came right away to fix the

> hole. Then I started to notice the bugs...crawling and biting, etc.

I

> immediately started to research " mites that bite " (I knew they were

> mites because I couldn't see them...just feel them). I came across

> this web site (thank goodness) and a few others and I knew the

birds

> must have gained access to the attic before the hole was sealed. A

> couple days later I asked the apt complex to look in the attic.

They

> discovered an empty nest and a (newly) dead bird a few feet away.

> They removed both the bird and nest and had an exterminator out

that

> day to spray. He didn't address the attic though...which was a

> mistake. The mites died down a bit for about two weeks and then

came

> back with a vengeance. A few days later I got hold of the owner of

> the extermination company and he had experience with bird mites

> before. They came out and sprayed everything. All the rooms (even

> though the mites are mainly in one room), the furniture, walls,

etc.

> and they put two Perma Dust foggers in the attic. They are coming

> next week (seven days later) to repeat the process again. He said

> this should solve the issue.

>

> The PCO used a permethrin spray with IGR. They also used Bedlam

> around the baseboards. Now this web site says that Pyrethrin and

> Permethrin does not work. The PCO said he had success with this

> insecticide in the past with other bird mite infestations.

>

> The only thing I will suggest to the PCO next week is to spray the

> ceiling of the really infested room. The other rooms have vaulted

> ceilings and it would be a real trick to spray.

>

> Hopefully another go 'round with the spray and foggers in the attic

> will solve the issue. I will keep you all posted as to the results.

>

> As of now, I hate my apartment...it used to be my sanctuary, but it

> has turned into the house of horrors.

>

> October 25, 2008

> Picking up were that post ended...I got the apartment fogged and

sprayed several more

> times. Nothing worked. My lease was up at the end of July so I

decided to move. I didn't

> want to bring the mites with me so I threw out as much as I

could...all living room and

> office furniture, books, etc. I probably threw out over $5,000

worth of belongings. I

> washed everything I kept several times and what couldn't be washed

I brought to the dry

> cleaners. I did keep my bed and put protective coverings on the

mattress (that zip up).

>

> I moved into my new apt August 1st and after a week I realized that

the mites were still

> with me. I could feel them crawling on me and I kept getting bit.

Thank goodness for my

> mother and sister...I was able to cry and scream to them and they

were troopers with

> listening to me. I tried everything...Windex, fogging the apt, etc.

I even tried putting Sulfur

> 8 all over me, except my hair/scalp. I did that three nights in a

row and that is all I could

> take. I think it helped a little bit...but I don't think it was

worth the torture. I took MSM

> supplements. I went to my ob/gyn and she actually felt for me and

gave me a prescription

> for Ivermectin even though she didn't know if it would work or not

to kill the mites that

> were physically on me.

>

> I did not take the ivermectin (it was being saved to use as a last

resort). I decided to try

> what the farmers use to get rid of bird mites: Diatomaceous Earth.

I read that some people

> had success with it on this web site and other that did not. Well,

I am here to tell you that

> it worked for me. I bought Mother Earth D from

DoMyOwnPestControl.com and I bought a

> dusting can along with it.

>

> I will tell you it makes a mess, but since I didn't have much left

it was easy to " puff "

> around. I dusted the whole apartment. If you use it, you MUST wear

a really good

> facemask and eye protector. You need to leave your home and give

the dust several hours

> to settle. You should not breath this stuff in. I also puffed the

power inside the plastic bed

> covering and rezipped it back up. I puffed my wall hangings (mites

could live it the

> frames). I left the power down for a week and vacuumed it up and

put another dusting

> down. I repeated the dusting and vacuuming again for a total of

three treatments. The

> bird mite issue improved dramatically...but there was still some

around...so I got rid of my

> bed (I had an air mattress I could use). I did another DE treatment

and I haven't had any

> issues since. So a total of four treatments over a period of four

weeks and the issue

> seemed to be resolved.

>

> While I was going through this I did carry a spray bottle around at

home with

> alcohol/witch Hazel/tea tree oil. That concoction relieved the

crawling sensation and

> reduced the biting.

>

> At work I sprayed my cube and chair down with Windex that seemed to

work (and it wasn't

> unusual to have Windex at work). I used the alcohol/witch hazel/tea

tree oil spray in my

> car.

>

> I washed my clothes and bedding everyday with detergent, Borax, and

ammonia (I am back

> to doing wash once or twice a week now...and my bedding can be done

once a week!!!!)

>

> I would not swear that all the mites are gone. I am so paranoid of

them coming back but

> since I put down the DE, I would say that the situation has

dramatically improved. I even

> bought a new bed (and put new plastic zip-up coverings on the

mattress and box springs

> immediately).

>

> I really feel sorry for those of you that have children and/or

don't have the money to throw

> your furniture out and start over. Right now I have no living room

furniture. I sit on a lawn

> chair. Maybe in a month or so I might buy a chair or sofa.

>

> I know this is a very long post but maybe it might help a few of

you. I can tell you that this

> experience has forever changed me. I will never have a crawling or

itchy sensation or bite

> and not wonder if it was from a bird mite.

>

> For those that may think that the bird mites went away because it

is fall now...I just want

> to let you know I live in southeast Florida...where it is still

very hot and humid. Perhaps

> the mites just died off...but before I started the DE treatments,

the mites were alive

> crawling and biting!!!

>

> If you have pets and want to try DE, get the food grade kind (which

> DoYourOwnPestControl.com does NOT have). DE is also good for

fleas..just put a little

> around your dogs/cats bedding. Pool Grade DE will not work.

>

> Good luck to all of you. If my situation changes, I will update

you. Hopefully you will never

> hear any bird mite stories from me again!!!

>

October 26, 2008

Thank you for your story......I am so happy that you are free of the mites. Don't let your guard down since the mites can be picked up in stores, hospitals, motels, etc. I have read post from several people who have used the DE. Did you keep your TV and computer? Did you cover these or let the DE get on them ? Just asking questions so others will know in more detail how you did your room treatments. Thank you so much for your post and I hope and pray your effective way to ridding your environment will work for others. Rita

I think they are finally gone...here's my story

Hello All:First I want to say thank goodness for this site. It really helped me get through my ordeal.I originally posted the following note on June 15, 2008 on this message board in reply to an other message. I am putting it here so you know how my bird mite infestation started and I will tell you where I am at now at the bottom of this post...June 15, 2008I have been dealing with a bird mite infestation in my apartment for 3 1/2 weeks now. I am giving it another three weeks and if it's not eradicated, I am throwing everything out and starting over. My health and sanity are worth it.3 1/2 weeks ago I noticed birds flying outside around the attic (I'm the top apartment in a two story building)...took a walk around the building and noticed a small hole around the A/C tubing coming out of the attic. I called the complex and they came right away to fix the hole. Then I started to notice the bugs...crawling and biting, etc. I immediately started to research "mites that bite" (I knew they were mites because I couldn't see them...just feel them). I came across this web site (thank goodness) and a few others and I knew the birds must have gained access to the attic before the hole was sealed. A couple days later I asked the apt complex to look in the attic. They discovered an empty nest and a (newly) dead bird a few feet away. They removed both the bird and nest and had an exterminator out that day to spray. He didn't address the attic though...which was a mistake. The mites died down a bit for about two weeks and then came back with a vengeance. A few days later I got hold of the owner of the extermination company and he had experience with bird mites before. They came out and sprayed everything. All the rooms (even though the mites are mainly in one room), the furniture, walls, etc. and they put two Perma Dust foggers in the attic. They are coming next week (seven days later) to repeat the process again. He said this should solve the issue. The PCO used a permethrin spray with IGR. They also used Bedlam around the baseboards. Now this web site says that Pyrethrin and Permethrin does not work. The PCO said he had success with this insecticide in the past with other bird mite infestations. The only thing I will suggest to the PCO next week is to spray the ceiling of the really infested room. The other rooms have vaulted ceilings and it would be a real trick to spray.Hopefully another go 'round with the spray and foggers in the attic will solve the issue. I will keep you all posted as to the results.As of now, I hate my apartment...it used to be my sanctuary, but it has turned into the house of horrors.October 25, 2008Picking up were that post ended...I got the apartment fogged and sprayed several more times. Nothing worked. My lease was up at the end of July so I decided to move. I didn't want to bring the mites with me so I threw out as much as I could...all living room and office furniture, books, etc. I probably threw out over $5,000 worth of belongings. I washed everything I kept several times and what couldn't be washed I brought to the dry cleaners. I did keep my bed and put protective coverings on the mattress (that zip up).I moved into my new apt August 1st and after a week I realized that the mites were still with me. I could feel them crawling on me and I kept getting bit. Thank goodness for my mother and sister...I was able to cry and scream to them and they were troopers with listening to me. I tried everything...Windex, fogging the apt, etc. I even tried putting Sulfur 8 all over me, except my hair/scalp. I did that three nights in a row and that is all I could take. I think it helped a little bit...but I don't think it was worth the torture. I took MSM supplements. I went to my ob/gyn and she actually felt for me and gave me a prescription for Ivermectin even though she didn't know if it would work or not to kill the mites that were physically on me.I did not take the ivermectin (it was being saved to use as a last resort). I decided to try what the farmers use to get rid of bird mites: Diatomaceous Earth. I read that some people had success with it on this web site and other that did not. Well, I am here to tell you that it worked for me. I bought Mother Earth D from DoMyOwnPestControl.com and I bought a dusting can along with it.I will tell you it makes a mess, but since I didn't have much left it was easy to "puff" around. I dusted the whole apartment. If you use it, you MUST wear a really good facemask and eye protector. You need to leave your home and give the dust several hours to settle. You should not breath this stuff in. I also puffed the power inside the plastic bed covering and rezipped it back up. I puffed my wall hangings (mites could live it the frames). I left the power down for a week and vacuumed it up and put another dusting down. I repeated the dusting and vacuuming again for a total of three treatments. The bird mite issue improved dramatically...but there was still some around...so I got rid of my bed (I had an air mattress I could use). I did another DE treatment and I haven't had any issues since. So a total of four treatments over a period of four weeks and the issue seemed to be resolved. While I was going through this I did carry a spray bottle around at home with alcohol/witch Hazel/tea tree oil. That concoction relieved the crawling sensation and reduced the biting. At work I sprayed my cube and chair down with Windex that seemed to work (and it wasn't unusual to have Windex at work). I used the alcohol/witch hazel/tea tree oil spray in my car.I washed my clothes and bedding everyday with detergent, Borax, and ammonia (I am back to doing wash once or twice a week now...and my bedding can be done once a week!!!!)I would not swear that all the mites are gone. I am so paranoid of them coming back but since I put down the DE, I would say that the situation has dramatically improved. I even bought a new bed (and put new plastic zip-up coverings on the mattress and box springs immediately).I really feel sorry for those of you that have children and/or don't have the money to throw your furniture out and start over. Right now I have no living room furniture. I sit on a lawn chair. Maybe in a month or so I might buy a chair or sofa.I know this is a very long post but maybe it might help a few of you. I can tell you that this experience has forever changed me. I will never have a crawling or itchy sensation or bite and not wonder if it was from a bird mite.For those that may think that the bird mites went away because it is fall now...I just want to let you know I live in southeast Florida...where it is still very hot and humid. Perhaps the mites just died off...but before I started the DE treatments, the mites were alive crawling and biting!!!If you have pets and want to try DE, get the food grade kind (which DoYourOwnPestControl.com does NOT have). DE is also good for fleas..just put a little around your dogs/cats bedding. Pool Grade DE will not work.Good luck to all of you. If my situation changes, I will update you. Hopefully you will never hear any bird mite stories from me again!!!

October 26, 2008

>Great question...I did keep my TV, VCR,TIVO, and computers (I have laptops). As

we all

know, the mites are attracted to electronics. A few weeks back (after a few DE

treatments)

my cable seemed to have stopped working (not because of the DE...just

cabling/daisy

chaining issues). To make a long story short, I wound up pulling the

entertainment center

out (it is not very big) so I could disconnect and reconnect cables, etc. I

finally got things

working but I started to get that crawling feeling that we all know so well. I

realized that

there were bird mites still alive and living in my electronics. That is why I

said in my story I

would not swear that all the mites are gone. I didn't get any bites from working

on the

electronics but I did take a shower afterwards just to keep safe. Since then I

have had no

issues...but I haven't played around with the entertainment center since...and I

am not

planning on it unless it is necessary. The beauty of DE is the mites may try and

cross the

living room to try to get to me...but they will die in the process.

When the bird mite infestation started, I packed up my laptops and brought them

to work

with me everyday...I didn't want to take a chance and leave them at home... As

you know,

these critters make a lot of work for you. Between cleaning and washing

everyday, I also

stopped cooking and eating at home and I stopped sitting down on anything... I

would just

stand in the kitchen or I would go to bed after the cleaning routine (of course

after I took

a shower). After I took a shower I would spray the bathtub with Clorox (I just

stopped

doing that a few weeks ago). I use body soap (not bar soap), so I would spray

the plastic

sponge type thing you use with body soap (I have no idea what you call them)

with Clorox

after each use. I would throw it out each week and replace with a new one (they

cost

anywhere from .99 cents to $2 a piece. I figured if I could go through $10 of

alcohol and

witch hazel a week I could buy a new sponge too.

As far as the DE treatment, I would fill up the small duster container and

" puff " it around

along the ground...my apartment is about 1200 sq feet and carpeted. I was trying

to keep

the DE at floor level, but the dust is so fine it gets in the air and winds up

landing

EVERYWHERE... I made sure that the A/C unit was off to keep it from blowing

around. I

remember the first time I did it turning around and looking back at the living

room and

just seeing a dust cloud. I figured that even though it would be a pain to clean

up at least

it was getting into all the cracks and crannies. Once the dust settles, it will

not harm

you...you just don't want to breath it in while you are spraying it around. I

did NOT cover

anything when I treated the apt. All electronics were exposed. I did cover my

computer

printer and scanner...actually...they were just never unpacked from when I

moved. They

have since been unpacked and I use them all the time. So far the electronics

(TV, Tivo,

VCR, etc.) seem okay...they did get a light layer of dust on them after the

treatment.

I did (and still do) have items in plastic storage containers. I put paper

covered mothball

packets in all of them. I also hung the closet mothball containers in my

closets. At this

point most of the mothballs have disintegrated. I think it will be okay not to

reload the

closets and containers with more mothballs. BTW, I used the newer type of

mothballs that

contain paradichlorobenzene. I have been inside those containers recently and I

did not

feel that there were any mites inside...I didn't feel any sensation of them.

I never, never sprayed my body with Clorox or any other poison. As I said in my

original

post, I used a concoction of alcohol (90%), witch Hazel, and tea tree oil. It

would kill the

mites and sooth my skin. It also worked very well in the car.

Thanks for your questions, I hope I answered them for you...if not, just ask me

again.

Good luck to all of us!!

> Thank you for your story......I am so happy that you are free of the mites.

Don't let your

guard down since the mites can be picked up in stores, hospitals, motels, etc. I

have read

post from several people who have used the DE. Did you keep your TV and

computer? Did

you cover these or let the DE get on them ? Just asking questions so others will

know in

more detail how you did your room treatments. Thank you so much for your post

and I

hope and pray your effective way to ridding your environment will work for

others. Rita

>

> I think they are finally gone...here's my story

>

> Hello All:

>

> First I want to say thank goodness for this site. It really helped me get

through my

ordeal.

>

> I originally posted the following note on June 15, 2008 on this message

board in reply

to

> an other message. I am putting it here so you know how my bird mite

infestation

started

> and I will tell you where I am at now at the bottom of this post...

>

> June 15, 2008

> I have been dealing with a bird mite infestation in my

> apartment for 3 1/2 weeks now. I am giving it another three weeks and

> if it's not eradicated, I am throwing everything out and starting

> over. My health and sanity are worth it.

>

> 3 1/2 weeks ago I noticed birds flying outside around the attic (I'm

> the top apartment in a two story building)...took a walk around the

> building and noticed a small hole around the A/C tubing coming out of

> the attic. I called the complex and they came right away to fix the

> hole. Then I started to notice the bugs...crawling and biting, etc. I

> immediately started to research " mites that bite " (I knew they were

> mites because I couldn't see them...just feel them). I came across

> this web site (thank goodness) and a few others and I knew the birds

> must have gained access to the attic before the hole was sealed. A

> couple days later I asked the apt complex to look in the attic. They

> discovered an empty nest and a (newly) dead bird a few feet away.

> They removed both the bird and nest and had an exterminator out that

> day to spray. He didn't address the attic though...which was a

> mistake. The mites died down a bit for about two weeks and then came

> back with a vengeance. A few days later I got hold of the owner of

> the extermination company and he had experience with bird mites

> before. They came out and sprayed everything. All the rooms (even

> though the mites are mainly in one room), the furniture, walls, etc.

> and they put two Perma Dust foggers in the attic. They are coming

> next week (seven days later) to repeat the process again. He said

> this should solve the issue.

>

> The PCO used a permethrin spray with IGR. They also used Bedlam

> around the baseboards. Now this web site says that Pyrethrin and

> Permethrin does not work. The PCO said he had success with this

> insecticide in the past with other bird mite infestations.

>

> The only thing I will suggest to the PCO next week is to spray the

> ceiling of the really infested room. The other rooms have vaulted

> ceilings and it would be a real trick to spray.

>

> Hopefully another go 'round with the spray and foggers in the attic

> will solve the issue. I will keep you all posted as to the results.

>

> As of now, I hate my apartment...it used to be my sanctuary, but it

> has turned into the house of horrors.

>

> October 25, 2008

> Picking up were that post ended...I got the apartment fogged and sprayed

several more

> times. Nothing worked. My lease was up at the end of July so I decided to

move. I

didn't

> want to bring the mites with me so I threw out as much as I could...all

living room and

> office furniture, books, etc. I probably threw out over $5,000 worth of

belongings. I

> washed everything I kept several times and what couldn't be washed I brought

to the

dry

> cleaners. I did keep my bed and put protective coverings on the mattress

(that zip up).

>

> I moved into my new apt August 1st and after a week I realized that the

mites were

still

> with me. I could feel them crawling on me and I kept getting bit. Thank

goodness for

my

> mother and sister...I was able to cry and scream to them and they were

troopers with

> listening to me. I tried everything...Windex, fogging the apt, etc. I even

tried putting

Sulfur

> 8 all over me, except my hair/scalp. I did that three nights in a row and

that is all I

could

> take. I think it helped a little bit...but I don't think it was worth the

torture. I took MSM

> supplements. I went to my ob/gyn and she actually felt for me and gave me a

prescription

> for Ivermectin even though she didn't know if it would work or not to kill

the mites that

> were physically on me.

>

> I did not take the ivermectin (it was being saved to use as a last resort).

I decided to try

> what the farmers use to get rid of bird mites: Diatomaceous Earth. I read

that some

people

> had success with it on this web site and other that did not. Well, I am here

to tell you

that

> it worked for me. I bought Mother Earth D from DoMyOwnPestControl.com and I

bought a

> dusting can along with it.

>

> I will tell you it makes a mess, but since I didn't have much left it was

easy to " puff "

> around. I dusted the whole apartment. If you use it, you MUST wear a really

good

> facemask and eye protector. You need to leave your home and give the dust

several

hours

> to settle. You should not breath this stuff in. I also puffed the power

inside the plastic

bed

> covering and rezipped it back up. I puffed my wall hangings (mites could

live it the

> frames). I left the power down for a week and vacuumed it up and put another

dusting

> down. I repeated the dusting and vacuuming again for a total of three

treatments. The

> bird mite issue improved dramatically...but there was still some around...so

I got rid of

my

> bed (I had an air mattress I could use). I did another DE treatment and I

haven't had any

> issues since. So a total of four treatments over a period of four weeks and

the issue

> seemed to be resolved.

>

> While I was going through this I did carry a spray bottle around at home

with

> alcohol/witch Hazel/tea tree oil. That concoction relieved the crawling

sensation and

> reduced the biting.

>

> At work I sprayed my cube and chair down with Windex that seemed to work

(and it

wasn't

> unusual to have Windex at work). I used the alcohol/witch hazel/tea tree oil

spray in

my

> car.

>

> I washed my clothes and bedding everyday with detergent, Borax, and ammonia

(I am

back

> to doing wash once or twice a week now...and my bedding can be done once a

week!!!!)

>

> I would not swear that all the mites are gone. I am so paranoid of them

coming back

but

> since I put down the DE, I would say that the situation has dramatically

improved. I

even

> bought a new bed (and put new plastic zip-up coverings on the mattress and

box

springs

> immediately).

>

> I really feel sorry for those of you that have children and/or don't have

the money to

throw

> your furniture out and start over. Right now I have no living room

furniture. I sit on a

lawn

> chair. Maybe in a month or so I might buy a chair or sofa.

>

> I know this is a very long post but maybe it might help a few of you. I can

tell you that

this

> experience has forever changed me. I will never have a crawling or itchy

sensation or

bite

> and not wonder if it was from a bird mite.

>

> For those that may think that the bird mites went away because it is fall

now...I just

want

> to let you know I live in southeast Florida...where it is still very hot and

humid. Perhaps

> the mites just died off...but before I started the DE treatments, the mites

were alive

> crawling and biting!!!

>

> If you have pets and want to try DE, get the food grade kind (which

> DoYourOwnPestControl.com does NOT have). DE is also good for fleas..just put

a little

> around your dogs/cats bedding. Pool Grade DE will not work.

>

> Good luck to all of you. If my situation changes, I will update you.

Hopefully you will

never

> hear any bird mite stories from me again!!!

>

October 26, 2008

Thank you..........ever detailed technique is deeply appreciated by the ones left living with this nightmare. I'm sure your post will help and aid many.......thank you so much. Rita

I think they are finally gone...here's my story> > > Hello All:> > First I want to say thank goodness for this site. It really helped me get through my ordeal.> > I originally posted the following note on June 15, 2008 on this message board in reply to > an other message. I am putting it here so you know how my bird mite infestation started > and I will tell you where I am at now at the bottom of this post...> > June 15, 2008> I have been dealing with a bird mite infestation in my > apartment for 3 1/2 weeks now. I am giving it another three weeks and > if it's not eradicated, I am throwing everything out and starting > over. My health and sanity are worth it.> > 3 1/2 weeks ago I noticed birds flying outside around the attic (I'm > the top apartment in a two story building)...took a walk around the > building and noticed a small hole around the A/C tubing coming out of > the attic. I called the complex and they came right away to fix the > hole. Then I started to notice the bugs...crawling and biting, etc. I > immediately started to research "mites that bite" (I knew they were > mites because I couldn't see them...just feel them). I came across > this web site (thank goodness) and a few others and I knew the birds > must have gained access to the attic before the hole was sealed. A > couple days later I asked the apt complex to look in the attic. They > discovered an empty nest and a (newly) dead bird a few feet away. > They removed both the bird and nest and had an exterminator out that > day to spray. He didn't address the attic though...which was a > mistake. The mites died down a bit for about two weeks and then came > back with a vengeance. A few days later I got hold of the owner of > the extermination company and he had experience with bird mites > before. They came out and sprayed everything. All the rooms (even > though the mites are mainly in one room), the furniture, walls, etc. > and they put two Perma Dust foggers in the attic. They are coming > next week (seven days later) to repeat the process again. He said > this should solve the issue. > > The PCO used a permethrin spray with IGR. They also used Bedlam > around the baseboards. Now this web site says that Pyrethrin and > Permethrin does not work. The PCO said he had success with this > insecticide in the past with other bird mite infestations. > > The only thing I will suggest to the PCO next week is to spray the > ceiling of the really infested room. The other rooms have vaulted > ceilings and it would be a real trick to spray.> > Hopefully another go 'round with the spray and foggers in the attic > will solve the issue. I will keep you all posted as to the results.> > As of now, I hate my apartment...it used to be my sanctuary, but it > has turned into the house of horrors.> > October 25, 2008> Picking up were that post ended...I got the apartment fogged and sprayed several more > times. Nothing worked. My lease was up at the end of July so I decided to move. I didn't > want to bring the mites with me so I threw out as much as I could...all living room and > office furniture, books, etc. I probably threw out over $5,000 worth of belongings. I > washed everything I kept several times and what couldn't be washed I brought to the dry > cleaners. I did keep my bed and put protective coverings on the mattress (that zip up).> > I moved into my new apt August 1st and after a week I realized that the mites were still > with me. I could feel them crawling on me and I kept getting bit. Thank goodness for my > mother and sister...I was able to cry and scream to them and they were troopers with > listening to me. I tried everything...Windex, fogging the apt, etc. I even tried putting Sulfur > 8 all over me, except my hair/scalp. I did that three nights in a row and that is all I could > take. I think it helped a little bit...but I don't think it was worth the torture. I took MSM > supplements. I went to my ob/gyn and she actually felt for me and gave me a prescription > for Ivermectin even though she didn't know if it would work or not to kill the mites that > were physically on me.> > I did not take the ivermectin (it was being saved to use as a last resort). I decided to try > what the farmers use to get rid of bird mites: Diatomaceous Earth. I read that some people > had success with it on this web site and other that did not. Well, I am here to tell you that > it worked for me. I bought Mother Earth D from DoMyOwnPestControl.com and I bought a > dusting can along with it.> > I will tell you it makes a mess, but since I didn't have much left it was easy to "puff" > around. I dusted the whole apartment. If you use it, you MUST wear a really good > facemask and eye protector. You need to leave your home and give the dust several hours > to settle. You should not breath this stuff in. I also puffed the power inside the plastic bed > covering and rezipped it back up. I puffed my wall hangings (mites could live it the > frames). I left the power down for a week and vacuumed it up and put another dusting > down. I repeated the dusting and vacuuming again for a total of three treatments. The > bird mite issue improved dramatically...but there was still some around...so I got rid of my > bed (I had an air mattress I could use). I did another DE treatment and I haven't had any > issues since. So a total of four treatments over a period of four weeks and the issue > seemed to be resolved. > > While I was going through this I did carry a spray bottle around at home with > alcohol/witch Hazel/tea tree oil. That concoction relieved the crawling sensation and > reduced the biting. > > At work I sprayed my cube and chair down with Windex that seemed to work (and it wasn't > unusual to have Windex at work). I used the alcohol/witch hazel/tea tree oil spray in my > car.> > I washed my clothes and bedding everyday with detergent, Borax, and ammonia (I am back > to doing wash once or twice a week now...and my bedding can be done once a week!!!!)> > I would not swear that all the mites are gone. I am so paranoid of them coming back but > since I put down the DE, I would say that the situation has dramatically improved. I even > bought a new bed (and put new plastic zip-up coverings on the mattress and box springs > immediately).> > I really feel sorry for those of you that have children and/or don't have the money to throw > your furniture out and start over. Right now I have no living room furniture. I sit on a lawn > chair. Maybe in a month or so I might buy a chair or sofa.> > I know this is a very long post but maybe it might help a few of you. I can tell you that this > experience has forever changed me. I will never have a crawling or itchy sensation or bite > and not wonder if it was from a bird mite.> > For those that may think that the bird mites went away because it is fall now...I just want > to let you know I live in southeast Florida...where it is still very hot and humid. Perhaps > the mites just died off...but before I started the DE treatments, the mites were alive > crawling and biting!!!> > If you have pets and want to try DE, get the food grade kind (which > DoYourOwnPestControl.com does NOT have). DE is also good for fleas..just put a little > around your dogs/cats bedding. Pool Grade DE will not work.> > Good luck to all of you. If my situation changes, I will update you. Hopefully you will never > hear any bird mite stories from me again!!!>

October 27, 2008

Me too. I am glad you caught thme in time. The dE helped us a lot at first but we could not get out of the infested apt for 3 months and so they just kept coming and breeding. It was so out of hand by the time we moved into a new place that the DE mad a huge ding in the new place but it is slow process dehydrating bugs. So extra measures were needed epsecially since we think they got in my skin.

Thanks for sahring its nice to know some one else is out of the woods.

J.

From: Rita and Mike Carlson <m.r.carlson@...>Subject: Re: I think they are finally gone...here's my storybird mites Date: Sunday, October 26, 2008, 10:03 AM

Thank you for your story......I am so happy that you are free of the mites. Don't let your guard down since the mites can be picked up in stores, hospitals, motels, etc. I have read post from several people who have used the DE. Did you keep your TV and computer? Did you cover these or let the DE get on them ? Just asking questions so others will know in more detail how you did your room treatments. Thank you so much for your post and I hope and pray your effective way to ridding your environment will work for others. Rita

I think they are finally gone...here' s my story

Hello All:First I want to say thank goodness for this site. It really helped me get through my ordeal.I originally posted the following note on June 15, 2008 on this message board in reply to an other message. I am putting it here so you know how my bird mite infestation started and I will tell you where I am at now at the bottom of this post...June 15, 2008I have been dealing with a bird mite infestation in my apartment for 3 1/2 weeks now. I am giving it another three weeks and if it's not eradicated, I am throwing everything out and starting over. My health and sanity are worth it.3 1/2 weeks ago I noticed birds flying outside around the attic (I'm the top apartment in a two story building)... took a walk around the building and noticed a small hole around the A/C tubing coming out of the attic. I called the complex and they came right away to fix the hole. Then I started to

notice the bugs...crawling and biting, etc. I immediately started to research "mites that bite" (I knew they were mites because I couldn't see them...just feel them). I came across this web site (thank goodness) and a few others and I knew the birds must have gained access to the attic before the hole was sealed. A couple days later I asked the apt complex to look in the attic. They discovered an empty nest and a (newly) dead bird a few feet away. They removed both the bird and nest and had an exterminator out that day to spray. He didn't address the attic though...which was a mistake. The mites died down a bit for about two weeks and then came back with a vengeance. A few days later I got hold of the owner of the extermination company and he had experience with bird mites before. They came out and sprayed everything. All the rooms (even though the mites are mainly in one room), the furniture, walls,

etc. and they put two Perma Dust foggers in the attic. They are coming next week (seven days later) to repeat the process again. He said this should solve the issue. The PCO used a permethrin spray with IGR. They also used Bedlam around the baseboards. Now this web site says that Pyrethrin and Permethrin does not work. The PCO said he had success with this insecticide in the past with other bird mite infestations. The only thing I will suggest to the PCO next week is to spray the ceiling of the really infested room. The other rooms have vaulted ceilings and it would be a real trick to spray.Hopefully another go 'round with the spray and foggers in the attic will solve the issue. I will keep you all posted as to the results.As of now, I hate my apartment... it used to be my sanctuary, but it has turned into the house of horrors.October 25, 2008Picking up were that post

ended...I got the apartment fogged and sprayed several more times. Nothing worked. My lease was up at the end of July so I decided to move. I didn't want to bring the mites with me so I threw out as much as I could...all living room and office furniture, books, etc. I probably threw out over $5,000 worth of belongings. I washed everything I kept several times and what couldn't be washed I brought to the dry cleaners. I did keep my bed and put protective coverings on the mattress (that zip up).I moved into my new apt August 1st and after a week I realized that the mites were still with me. I could feel them crawling on me and I kept getting bit. Thank goodness for my mother and sister...I was able to cry and scream to them and they were troopers with listening to me. I tried everything.. .Windex, fogging the apt, etc. I even tried putting Sulfur 8 all over me, except my hair/scalp. I did that three nights in a

row and that is all I could take. I think it helped a little bit...but I don't think it was worth the torture. I took MSM supplements. I went to my ob/gyn and she actually felt for me and gave me a prescription for Ivermectin even though she didn't know if it would work or not to kill the mites that were physically on me.I did not take the ivermectin (it was being saved to use as a last resort). I decided to try what the farmers use to get rid of bird mites: Diatomaceous Earth. I read that some people had success with it on this web site and other that did not. Well, I am here to tell you that it worked for me. I bought Mother Earth D from DoMyOwnPestControl. com and I bought a dusting can along with it.I will tell you it makes a mess, but since I didn't have much left it was easy to "puff" around. I dusted the whole apartment. If you use it, you MUST wear a really good facemask and eye protector.

You need to leave your home and give the dust several hours to settle. You should not breath this stuff in. I also puffed the power inside the plastic bed covering and rezipped it back up. I puffed my wall hangings (mites could live it the frames). I left the power down for a week and vacuumed it up and put another dusting down. I repeated the dusting and vacuuming again for a total of three treatments. The bird mite issue improved dramatically. ..but there was still some around...so I got rid of my bed (I had an air mattress I could use). I did another DE treatment and I haven't had any issues since. So a total of four treatments over a period of four weeks and the issue seemed to be resolved. While I was going through this I did carry a spray bottle around at home with alcohol/witch Hazel/tea tree oil. That concoction relieved the crawling sensation and reduced the biting. At work I sprayed my

cube and chair down with Windex that seemed to work (and it wasn't unusual to have Windex at work). I used the alcohol/witch hazel/tea tree oil spray in my car.I washed my clothes and bedding everyday with detergent, Borax, and ammonia (I am back to doing wash once or twice a week now...and my bedding can be done once a week!!!!)I would not swear that all the mites are gone. I am so paranoid of them coming back but since I put down the DE, I would say that the situation has dramatically improved. I even bought a new bed (and put new plastic zip-up coverings on the mattress and box springs immediately) .I really feel sorry for those of you that have children and/or don't have the money to throw your furniture out and start over. Right now I have no living room furniture. I sit on a lawn chair. Maybe in a month or so I might buy a chair or sofa.I know this is a very long post but maybe it

might help a few of you. I can tell you that this experience has forever changed me. I will never have a crawling or itchy sensation or bite and not wonder if it was from a bird mite.For those that may think that the bird mites went away because it is fall now...I just want to let you know I live in southeast Florida...where it is still very hot and humid. Perhaps the mites just died off...but before I started the DE treatments, the mites were alive crawling and biting!!!If you have pets and want to try DE, get the food grade kind (which DoYourOwnPestContro l.com does NOT have). DE is also good for fleas..just put a little around your dogs/cats bedding. Pool Grade DE will not work.Good luck to all of you. If my situation changes, I will update you. Hopefully you will never hear any bird mite stories from me again!!!

October 27, 2008

I hear ya... My infestation started mid May of 2008...I did not move out until

the end of

July. The PCO treatments really didn't do too much... and the infestation just

took on a life

of its own...that is why I got to the point of throwing as much as I could out.

I was that

desperate. I really thought if I moved I would only have a few mites to deal

with...but the

new apartment was just as much as a nightmare as the old...that's how badly

infested my

other apartment was... I started out fogging my new apartment twice... one week

after

another and that is when I realized that no amount of poison was going to kill

these

things. I knew farmers used DE to get rid of mites from their chickens (which is

their

LIVELYHOOD...they need to see results right away or they are out of

business)...so that

lead me to DE.

Believe me, I am not saying I absolutely have no mites... I would need at least

two years

worth of peace to feel that I am completely out of the woods... but I have had a

month of

peace with no biting or crawling and that is unbelievable to me... so hopefully

the one

month will turn into two, then three, etc, etc.

I know if I kept my living room and office furniture and the tons of books I had

I would be

still having a mite issue. I am not poor by any means but I am not loaded

either...throwing

my furniture out was a big financial hit for me but it was well worth it...

sleeping on an air

mattress everyday for almost two months gets old quick... but it was worth it. I

finally have

a real bed now... as far as the living room furniture...my lawn chair is doing

just fine. I

need more time to go by before I feel that the mites are really, really gone and

before I

buy living room furniture...

As far as the skin issue...I don't think they burrow into your skin... I just

think that you

wind up with so many on you, you cannot help but think they are in your skin.

The mites

on me were so bad that I went to my ob/gyn and told her about the situation...I

told her I

felt like I had an STD because the mites really migrate towards your groin

area...she did

give me Ivermetin but I NEVER took it...I was saving it as a last resort...I

knew if I didn't get

rid of them in my house taking medicine was going to work for just a short time

before I

would be reinfested again. BTW, I was taking a shower twice a day...and using

all sorts of

shampoos, soaps, etc... I think the best stuff that worked was extra strenght

Denorex

shampoo...which I used on my hair and body.... I also used Village Naturals

Therapy

mineral shower gel for aches and pains (it has wintergreen, menthol, champhor,

and

eucalyptus in it). Aveeno with cooling menthol lotion was used too). To be

clear, I would

alternate the Denorex shampoo and thevTherapy mineral shower gel for the body

soap...I

didn't use them as body soap together).

A week or so after I saw her (the doctor) the mites went away...and I contribute

that to

getting rid of my bed (which I did after I came home from the ob/gyn) and

(obviously) the

DE treatments.

I really think the alcohol/witch hazel/tea tree oil spray I made worked really

well too.

>

> From: Rita and Mike Carlson <m.r.carlson@...>

> Subject: Re: I think they are finally gone...here's my story

> bird mites

> Date: Sunday, October 26, 2008, 10:03 AM

>

> Thank you for your story......I am so happy that you are free of the mites.

Don't let your

guard down since the mites can be picked up in stores, hospitals, motels, etc. I

have read

post from several people who have used the DE. Did you keep your TV and

computer? Did

you cover these or let the DE get on them ? Just asking questions so others will

know in

more detail how you did your room treatments. Thank you so much for your post

and I

hope and pray your effective way to ridding your environment will work for

others. Rita

>

> I think they are finally gone...here' s my story

>

> Hello All:

>

> First I want to say thank goodness for this site. It really helped me get

through my

ordeal.

>

> I originally posted the following note on June 15, 2008 on this message board

in reply

to

> an other message. I am putting it here so you know how my bird mite

infestation

started

> and I will tell you where I am at now at the bottom of this post...

>

> June 15, 2008

> I have been dealing with a bird mite infestation in my

> apartment for 3 1/2 weeks now. I am giving it another three weeks and

> if it's not eradicated, I am throwing everything out and starting

> over. My health and sanity are worth it.

>

> 3 1/2 weeks ago I noticed birds flying outside around the attic (I'm

> the top apartment in a two story building)... took a walk around the