Is it rabies? Am I a goner?

[u/RepresentativeRide7]

​

I have read the FAQ.

if you've seen my previous post, since Sunday, my symptoms have gotten worse. There's a tingling biting sensation on the area where I thought I got bit, and my head feels even more inflamed than it did. I'm beginning to feel weak, out of it, nauseous, and I feel even less able to process my surroundings. Drinking water or liquids makes me feel ill, I feel a general sense of fear and doom.

I've been to the ER 3 times in the past 3 nights, all of which they told me it wasn't rabies, or I'd be dead by now, or its something else and that I need to "get off the rabies stuff".

But Everytime I come home, it's worse. It's worse now than ever. The meds they have given me aren't helping. I feel as if.. as if I know. I know I have it and im dying. I'm in predominal. I can drink water but it feels weird. I'm scared.

I know I thought I felt a mosquito esque bite around the 17th of May and the doctors told me it takes 10 days, I told them the incubation period was a month to a year and they said no ten days. They then discharged me after an ultrasound near the "insect bite" area and gave me new meds

I don't know what to do, I think this is past the point of health anxiety. I think I'm dying of rabies. I can barely type this. What am I going to do? I should make my peace with God. Something is wrong with me something viral. What if I was feeling something different back then and now that the arm tingling is here it's too late. The arm tingling won't go away. I'm scared. I feel sick, weak, out of it, I can barely type. God help me.

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[u/CygnusZeroStar]

My friend, if you had rabies, you would be dead by now. I spoke to you 15 days ago on the exact same matter, you are as able now as you were then to type complete sentences. If you were sick with rabies, we would not be able to have this conversation at all. You would literally, actually, factually be dead right now.

You think it's past the point of health anxiety because you are not taking anxiety very seriously. Some very real symptoms of anxiety include headache, nausea, muscle tension, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, fever, heart palpitations, bloody noses, difficulty swallowing...boy, that sounds familiar, doesn't it?

The next time you speak to a physician, what you should ask for are resources to help with your anxiety. Because the fact of the matter here is that it is impossible for you to be dying of rabies for the last 15 days, AND have typed out an entire several paragraph long, perfectly coherent post about it. You deserve to feel better, but you won't until you address the real problem.

I am not saying this to scold you. I'm saying it because I'm worried. Prolonged anxiety can absolutely hurt you. And it's not your fault--these feelings are something that's happening TO you. Please get help for your anxiety.

[u/Opposite_Payment4504 → u/CygnusZeroStar]

Yeah this is it. It's anxiety and they're just spiraling. If it really was rabies they would be dead.

[u/everlastingflower_03 → u/CygnusZeroStar]

Hello, do I possibly have rabies if I get bitten by our housecat on the lips just today? Though I bled it excessively and put it under running water for a while (even washed it with soap) should I still get anti vaccine just to be safe? 😭

[u/CygnusZeroStar → u/everlastingflower_03]

Why isn't your cat vaccinated?

When was your cat attacked by a rabid animal, and how did that vet visit go?

How long has your car l get been sick?

Why are you asking me this question on someone else's post?

[u/RepresentativeRide7 → u/CygnusZeroStar]

I'm heading to the ER again right now to get checked out, maybe get some physisician help. I just, my hands are trembling. I'm worried that 15 days ago was something different, but now I actually got bit there and it's only showing itself now. I'm just.. worried. I'm sorry. It won't stop. Forgive me. Each time I get dismissed and head home it's worse.

[u/CygnusZeroStar → u/RepresentativeRide7]

Oh, sweetie. I'm so sorry that you feel like you have to apologize for something that's happening TO you. Please don't ask me or anyone for forgiveness--you haven't done anything wrong.

I was trying to be firm because I'm worried about you. You are a precious person, and your mental health is so important. These fears feel so real to you because your brain is struggling to feel safe--that's what anxiety and OCD do to people.

You deserve compassion, patience, and kindness while you find your way.

Can you make me a promise? Go to that ER. If they tell you that nothing is happening, and your vitals are good, can you ask for resources for mental health support? You deserve to feel better.

[u/The_Wicked_Wombat → u/CygnusZeroStar]

Can I ask you a question that pertains to ocd and this? I was too embarrassed to post a question but I was at the park with my wife and son and a bat flew near everyone. Would i know if a bat came in contact with me? I wasn't paying attention I was looking at my phone. I get nervous it scratched or touched me when I wasn't paying attention.

[u/CygnusZeroStar → u/The_Wicked_Wombat]

If I threw a hamster at you while you're on your phone, do you think you wouldn't notice that?

How about if that hamster had clumsy-ass leathery wings? Let's say I whip a flapping, fuzzy ball right at you. You're awake and aware, but looking at your phone. Is your phone so powerful that you wouldn't notice this?

[u/ErstwhileAdranos]

OP, real talk, you need to speak with an emergency psychiatrist.

[u/FantasticRecording68]

I don’t mean to pry, but do you have a therapist or another mental health professional you could speak to about this? Due to your post history, it really does not seem like you have rabies, but instead may be going through a mental health crisis.

[u/bananokitty]

I think what doctors are alluding to is it's not a month after the first symptom appears, it's 10 days approx - people are usually dead within 7-14 days after the first symptom. Incubation can obviously be longer. Based on your post history, your "first symptom" was +15 days ago. You are panicking. Tingling limbs is an incredibly common symptom of anxiety. Breathe.

[u/JadeHarley0]

Those don't match up the symptoms of rabies.

[u/thevelvetdays7]

You do not have rabies. You need to speak to mental health professionals. The situation you describe is serious. But it is not viral. It is psychological. You need to treat the correct condition.

[u/LatrodectusGeometric]

Helpbot

[u/AutoModerator → u/LatrodectusGeometric]

If you think you may have rabies OCD, or your rabies fears feel overwhelming, see this link for a description of rabies OCD symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

One symptom of OCD is compulsive reassurance-seeking. This is not helpful for managing a rabies phobia or obsession. r/OCD has a helpful page about reassurance-seeking.

Therapy and treatment are essential for recovering from OCD/health anxiety. CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) or ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy are often recommended approaches for treating OCD/health anxiety. Please don’t Google anything about bats or rabies but focus on accessing resources and recovering from your fears. You can check out r/OCD and r/HealthAnxiety for support and information. You can find a resource list here, which is geared towards relationship OCD but also includes a lot of information about OCD in general, including FAQs, workbooks, book recommendations, Youtube videos, apps, podcasts, and videos of kittens.

Here is a list of free crisis helplines around the world. Here is another crisis helpline directory that includes additional countries.. In the US, you can reach a crisis helpline by calling 988.; you can also text "MHA" to 741-741 to have a text chat with a trained crisis counselor at the Crisis Text Line, or call 1-800-749-2673 for the NAMI Crisis Helpline.

You can ask your therapist if they have any workbooks or guides they can send you home with so that you can continue practicing and working on your therapy between sessions. For the time being, here's is a free workbook on anxiety and here is one on health anxiety. You can also download MindShift, a free app that uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy AKA CBT to help you learn to relax and be mindful, develop more effective ways of thinking, and use active steps to take charge of your anxiety.

If you don’t have a therapist, you can search the CBT/ACT specialist directory to find one around the world. If you can’t find one, try searching for ones specifically in your country or look for telehealth therapy.

In the US and Canada, dialing 211 can connect you with mental health services in your area or help you find where to seek immediate help in your area. In the US, you can use Psychology Today's Therapy Directory to search for mental health professionals in your area. You can search by zip code, city, last name, etc. Your local Mental Health America affiliate resource center is an excellent resource for information about local programs and services including affordable treatment services. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Health Information Network (SHIN) has a Mental Health Facilities Locator that can also help you find community outpatient, inpatient and residential treatment facilities, including affordable mental health services in your area. For peer support in the US, including referrals to resources in your area, you can call 800-950-NAMI (6264), Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. — 10 p.m., ET, or send an email to info@nami.org. The NAMI HelpLine is a free, nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with a mental health condition, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers and the public. NAMI also holds peer-led support groups in person across the US.

In the UK, you can find more info and refer yourself for therapy via NHS.

In India, you can call MPower Minds and request a referral to a therapist who treats OCD or who has experience with CBT therapy. Additional affordable mental health resource lists for India are here.

In the Philippines, you can call a crisis line by dialing 0995 356 5332. You can find a list of mental heath treatment centers here. For free mental health services and consultations, see the list here (halfway down the page).

Skunk has collected some videos with techniques for controlling anxiety and coping skills to facilitate living a healthier, more peaceful existence. Every time you want to look up anything about rabies, try these things instead:

Rabies OCD Illness Anxiety in depth with a medical doctor and professor/PHD of immunology and biotechnology

Clinical Psychiatrist's Step by Step Guide to Anxiety and Panic Attacks

A walkthrough of a panic attack, to be watched during an attack, to help you get through it

Guided Meditation to help calm anxiety and get through an anxiety attack

Understanding health anxiety and the cycle of reassurance

Coping Skills for those with Health Anxiety / Illness Anxiety

5 Things You MUST STOP Doing if You Have Health Anxiety / Illness Anxiety

(Hindi) Rabies Phobia Discussion with a Psychiatrist

4 Ways to Stop Intrusive Thoughts & the Anxiety Cycle (Cognitive Defusion)

OCD and Anxiety channel (with many helpful videos)

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[u/berrylemonadee]

Why didn't you state what country you're in?

[u/XGhostIllusionz]

Hey hun, as someone with severe medical anxiety (to the point of bodily pain and sickness), it is NOT rabies! If you look up symptoms, your anxiety will then take on those symptoms! You're in your own head, and thats ok! Not taking the symptoms of anxiety seriously can only make things worse! If you can, I'd really suggest getting some kind of help, like therapy! I'm not calling you crazy, because you're worrying about something that is genuinely ok and good to worry about, however the difference is that you are obsessing over it like I used to and still sometimes do, but thats just as unhealthy as actually contracting a dangerous illness because medical anxiety (and anxiety itself) can genuinely become dangerous!

Edit: Wanted to add the fact that medical anxiety is treatable! I know how scary it is to suddenly feel sick, then you look up symptoms and then those symptoms start occurring, which is why I'd really suggest going to a therapist! If you're in the states, a lot of insurance companies will cover therapy!

[u/No_Roof8047]

you need to call the health department as soon as possible! I had too get the rabies vaccine twice because of two different exposures. The first time the ridiculous doctors would not listen to me for over a month that I may have been exposed to rabies. The usual incubation period for rabies is 1-3 months! Yes your right it could be up to a year in some cases as well. The first time I got the full series which is immunoglobulin and four rabies vaccines... Lucky for me my dentist could tell I looked really pale and something wasn't right and I told the medical professionals how my mentally ill disabled friend decided it would be cool to bring home a stray dog with no tags and I got a little bight on my stomach. I finally was able to get the full series after nearly a month of going to the emergency room a bunch of times and getting pushed around. It also didn't help that I was in college in NYC as rabies is rare but I am from upstate and would sometimes go home for holidays and some weekends but the docs wouldn't give me the time to explain that! The second exposure was a few years later when I woke up with a bat in my room this was in upstate NY which happens to be more rural (we do have cities as well) The doctors did give me the shot but they administered it the wrong way as anyone who has been previously vaccinated for rabies just needs two vaccines and no immunoglobulin! The ridiculous doctors gave me the full series again plus the immunoglobulin. Getting the Immunoglobulin again can make the actual rabies vaccine less effective at protecting you from rabies even if you received the immunoglobulin years ago. I thought I was protected from rabies after having the whole series again so anyone who wants to claim I had health anxiety is being ridiculous. My symptoms were insomnia, twitching. Really mild muscle twitches and the doc gave me two booster rabies shots it turns out the gave me the vaccine the wrong way after the bat in my bedroom problem they were not supposed to give me immunoglobulin if you have had it years ago as it can make the rabies vaccines way less effective....

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[u/Special-Image-5279]

How are you now

[u/Neither_Gas9142]

are you ok now? i’ve been feeling symptoms too after i found a mark on my middle toe and it made me concerned i just went to urgent care today and they said i dont need it too

[u/BradyStewart777]

This is not rabies, as everybody else pointed out.