She Strengthens

The Uninvited Guests: My Nightmare with Bed Bugs

When I check into a hotel room, the first thing I do is strip the bed bare. My husband and I inspect every inch of the mattress, searching for any signs of unwanted visitors. We’re not being paranoid; we’re being cautious. After all, we’ve been there, done that, and got the scars to prove it.

A Surprise from Knott’s Berry Farm

It all started when I surprised my husband with a trip to Knott’s Berry Farm. We booked a cheap motel room near the park, thinking it would be a convenient and affordable option. Little did we know, that decision would change our lives forever. A few weeks later, my husband started waking up with tiny pink welts on his feet, ankles, and arms. We thought it might be the new laundry detergent or even the kitten we’d recently adopted. But as the welts multiplied, we realized something was seriously wrong.

The Discovery

One day, I was sitting in bed when I saw a tiny red-brown bug crawling on my thigh. Then, I noticed a few more. That’s when it hit me: we had bed bugs. Since it had been over a month since we stayed at the motel, we had a full-blown infestation on our hands. The signs were there; I just didn’t know what to look for. We called in a bed bug exterminator, who confirmed our worst fears.

The Battle Begins

We had two options: spray everything down with a bed bug-killing insecticide or use heat technology to zap the entire apartment. We chose the first option, which would require us to throw out most of our furniture. It was a costly and emotional ordeal, but we had no choice. We spent over $800 on the inspection, treatments, and a bed-bug-proof mattress cover. We had to replace all of our bedroom furniture, food, and accessories, which added up to over $1,000. And then there was the emotional toll.

The Trauma Lingers

Even after the treatments, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of being violated. I’d wake up in the middle of the night, convinced I felt a bug crawling on my skin. I’d notice a small mark on the wall and start hyperventilating. I feared hotel rooms, planes, and movie theaters. For years, I lived with bed bug PTSD, always on the lookout for signs of those unwanted guests.

Paranoia is Your Greatest Superpower

Today, I’m still cautious, but I’ve learned to live with the fear. I do thorough research before booking a hotel room, and I’m always on the lookout for signs of bed bugs. It’s not paranoia; it’s self-preservation. With bed bugs, you can never be too careful.