A formerly homeless woman is seeking $20,000 in damages after her apartment building's management failed to address her cockroach infestation.
  • over_clox@lemmy.worldEnglish
    641·
    17 days ago

    I had this happen to me a long time ago. I woke up hearing the thing scratching/chewing at my eardrum, and it’s extremely painful.

    Cockroaches cannot walk backwards, so when in a confined space like that, they’ll naturally try to chew their way forward.

    Advice, should this ever happen to anyone else, as long as you catch it early and don’t have a hole in your eardrum, is to pour rubbing alcohol in your ear, then of course go see a doctor.

    Rubbing alcohol will like immediately kill the little demon, preventing any further chewing, but of course you’ll need to see a doctor to get it out.

    I feel really bad for the woman though, sounds like she didn’t catch it early enough, as apparently more damages were done which prompted surgery. If you catch it early enough, it should be about as simple as killing it and removing it with tweezers.

    Luckily I have absolutely no hearing loss after my experience, largely because I thought quick to kill it with rubbing alcohol.

    I hope her landlord pays up, that’s really messed up.

    • SkyezOpen@lemmy.worldEnglish
      10·
      17 days ago

      Currently in temporary lodging with roaches. They spray regularly so not an infestation. I was worried, but the one I’ve seen so far was way too massive to even fit in my ear, so that makes me feel better… I think.

    • ivanafterall ☑️@lemmy.worldEnglish
      31·
      17 days ago

      Cockroaches are among my greatest fears. The fact that this has happened to multiple people is among the worst things I’ve ever learned.

      • crusty@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        7·
        17 days ago

        I’m very happy to live in a country that only has one tiny unobtrusive species of cockroach that doesn’t even like it indoors. Actually I don’t think I’ve ever seen one.

        Seems only Ectobius lapponicus can survive Norwegian winters

    • AlecSadler@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      111·
      17 days ago

      dude I really wish I hadn’t read this right before bed. holy crap. I can’t even imagine what the sound of a fucking cockroach scratching on my eardrum would sound like. oh my god.

      • over_clox@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        16 days ago

        Think like if you stuck a Q-Tip in your ear, but the tip is more like a miniature toothbrush. Then twist it for a bit.

        That’s the best way I can describe it, very unpleasant and painful.

    • hendrik@palaver.p3x.deEnglish
      5·
      17 days ago

      Yeah, I wish I hadn’t clicked on this. And especially not read the long comment about the chewing the eardrum stuff.

  • twinnie@feddit.ukEnglish
    91·
    17 days ago

    I’ve never even seen a cockroach in the UK, I didn’t realise they were a thing here.

    • jpreston2005@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      16 days ago

      Before I moved to the southern US, the only time I’d ever encountered one is when I was a kid. My older brother was in a science class that had “pet german hissing cockroaches,” and it was his turn to take them home with him. Well, I dunno if he let them out on purpose or what, but I was showering in our shared bathroom, and when I went to unfold and use my towel, I discovered that it was full of those disgusting creatures. I flew out of that bathroom, man. So my very first experience with them was traumatizing, and now I live in the South, and these things are the bane of my existence. Every few days (now that it’s getting colder) I’ll see one and it feels like a pustule of hate bursts within me, renewing my sense of bewilderment that man, in all his glory, cannot rid himself of these loathsome, vile things.

      I need to move, man.

  • thefartographer@lemm.eeEnglish
    151·
    17 days ago

    What a ridiculous lawsuit. The tenant should get $200 million and get to pull the rope that releases the landlord’s guillotine. Also, should get to flick the match that burns down the apartment complex.

    I don’t fuck around with roaches.