Just MY LUCK...I can't believe this is happening!

If any of you read Elizabeth's recent Bug Rant post, you'd know that Jeff and I spent a ton of $$$$ last Friday to have our house exterminated for silverfish. We left the house for 48 hours (just as precaution b/c of little Paul). We came home last night and within ONE HOUR of returning home, I develop a red, bumpy rash on both of my arms!

So, I wash my arms really well and we go to bed. I try not to be a nervous wreck about the baby at the same time. This morning, I call the exterminating company to ask if they've ever had this happen to a customer before. They say NEVER. I doubt this highly, but who knows?

So, I take the labels of the chemicals that they left with us and go to the emergency room. The doctor says that the rash is most definitely from coming in contact w/the pesticides.

I am so furious b/c we ASKED the company 1,000 times if there was anything special we should before the application to 'protect' certain areas of our home from the treatment....like covering the sofas, removing bed linens, etc. They said - do NOTHING. We are not 'bombing' the house. We are doing a 'crack and crevice' treatment, so the chemicals will be behind the walls (injected behind switchplates and outlets) and under moldings and baseboards.

However, I think that some residual chemical made its way onto my sofas - I noticed the rash after I sat on the couch for 30 min. to watch Sex and the City last night.

When I called the company back to complain, they offered to have my house cleaned for me and pick up the cost. I agreed b/c I think it's only fair, esp. after I asked numerous times if I needed to use drop cloths over furniture and other precautions.
But, I am still VERY ANGRY about this! All I keep thinking is - what if this were happening to Paul!

So sorry to hear!!!! You poor thing!!! How's Paul?????

I hope you feel better! I would be upset too! What a lousy clean up job...what if your son had gotten this.

Claud - I'm p issed for you!! W T F ?? You just cant get good customer service these days. I'm so sure you did ask them 1,000 times but I guess since it NEVER happened before, they had no way of knowing this could happen... (I'm with you, I dont buy it for a second) how annoying, to say the least. How are you feeling today? How are Paul & Jeff? Were they affected at all? I hope those d*amn silverfish are gone.

Thanks everyone. I really need to vent b/c I am so frustrated! Jeff keeps telling me that he thinks this is a 'hysterical' reaction b/c I was so nervous about it w/the baby in the house. Essentially, that my own mind is causing the rash - not the chemicals in the house.

On one hand, I wonder if he's right b/c I was really concerned about Paul. But, on the other hand, I am not a hyper-nervous person that gets weird hives and rashes from being nervous or upset, so I have no cause to believe this.

When I was living in my parent's house years ago, my parents had to treat for fleas b/c of a stupid stray cat my little brother brough home. I NEVER had any adverse reaction to the flea treatment. AND the exterminating company I used said the treatment for fleas comes with BOOKLETS of precautionary info on how to protect the home and people, etc. b/c it is more common to have a reaction from those chemicals than the ones used for silverfish.

So far, THANK GOD - Paul and Jeff are just fine

I took a Claritin around 2 pm, and so far, the redness has subsided, but the bumps are still there, and it's still a bit itchy. I could take Benadryl, but I don't want to pass out!

UGH, what a pain in the tush!!

You spend money to make things better and keep things cleaner, and you have to 'pay' this waY!

Glad to hear youre feeling better and your boys werent affected!

OMG!

I'm so sorry you have to deal with that!

I'm SO sorry this happened to you! I do hope you feel better soon. Will they let you pick the cleaning company? I'd have them steam clean everything - your curtains, carpets, sofas, bedding - and wipe down everything else.

I managed commerical properties for several years and found that many exterminators are very casual with the chemicals. Probably because they deal with it all the time. They would proactively spray every month regardless of whether or not there was a problem. So bad. Why introduce chemicals you don't need?

I changed the program to using glue boards that were checked monthly. We only sprayed if we found something on the boards. Less chemicals, healthier space.

I am glad that they are doing the right thing by you and your family. Keep a note of whatever chemical that was for future reference (so no one uses it in your home again!)



Edited to say you are NOT hysterical. If the pesticide - which is really poison - is on your couch then its probably in all sorts of places that Paul could interact with as well. You have every right to be angry and demand for this to be fixed immediately.

In the meantime, keep your windows open and run your AC. Change your airfilter if you haven't already as well.

KarenG - thanks I appreciate the advice/support. Funny, but when I was speaking w/the company rep, they said they've had customers who've had bad asthmatic reactions to glue boards, so I guess you never know which person will be sensitive to something.

Truthfully, I am just glad that it is ME and not my Paul who is itching from this rash. I don't know what I would do if I caused my baby this discomfort!

Is your rash better Claud? That $ucks. I think that many people can be very sensitive to certain chemicals so maybe your body doesn't like whatever was used. I think that the chemical company should tell you to remove and clean bed linens and cover sofas/food areas just for a precaution. I am glad they are having your home cleaned!!! Keep us updated.

That's awful, Claud. At least they are cooperating with you.

Feel better real soon.

You'll all think I'm a freak - but I DID take my own precautions even though they told me I didn't HAVE to do anything. I removed EVERYTHING from my kitchen countertops, I put all our towels in the laundry and stripped our bed and the baby's crib - I took NO CHANCES!!! This is why I am SO FURIOUS at these people....b/c despite what I tried to do to help myself, I still end up in the mess.

This morning, I woke up w/the rash looking worse on my arms and now it is on my legs too! But, the thing I find strange is that it is only effecting the underside of my forearms and inner thighs (the softer, more sensitive skin, I guess).
However, after I showered and we left the house for a couple hours, it now seems MUCH better, but it's still there.

That is aweful!!

I dont think many people have adverse reactions to the exterminators so they probably just didnt know any better. But its good that they are trying to remedy the problem. Hopefully the cleaning will fix it.

omg! how rude
what exterminating CO? I know that mine(suburban) always gives me pamphlets on what they are doing!

Tammy, I have all the labels of the chemicals that they are using. The point is, I don't think anyone could have predicted the reaction I'm having. I just wish they would have suggested how I could protect my furniture better.

ETA - Update...the cleaning company just left, and the house looks nice. But, my house wasn't dirty (w/exception of the residue from the pesticide), so they really didn't earn their money Tangent here, but funny story about Friday when the guy was here doing the application - he came out of the house and I was sitting in the car w/Paul b/c he was sleeping. The guys comes up to my window and goes, 'MAN, your house is spotless! I couldn't even find a dust ball behind your TV!'
I told my Mom the story and she says, 'Your house SHOULD be spotless - you're home all day!'

And, the president of the exterminating company called me to see how I was feeling....at least they have really good customer service.

I am glad you are feeling better. Thankfully you took some of your own precautions and that Paul is ok.

At least the company did the right thing and sent the cleaning company right over and expressed concern for your well being.