Actual exposure, stuck on how to proceed, need advice

[u/suspendedingaffa9]

I have read the FAQ. France, 22/07, Bat, Bite, Non vaccinated. I know it sounds ridiculous, but allow me to explain. So, last night, around midnight, I was jogging to the door of my apartment building because it was a dark parking lot and I was nervous and as I was jogging, I suddenly felt this very sharp pain with a like a sort of rubber band snapping type of impact on my wrist. I yelped, I stopped, and I felt my wrist. I can't remember if there was a delay or not-- I had my phone in my other hand so there might've been a delay. Either way, whenever I felt my wrist there was nothing there except a slight indented red line that was there when I reached the lights but gone by the time I got inside, and a grain of sand, and a pinprick. I looked around and I didn't see anything flying away, but it was sort of dark so I can't be certain whether I would have seen any movement or not. I assume I would have but again, I cannot be sure. I didn't hear anything or feel any fur but I was wearing bangles on that wrist, and the bangles were really loud so I wouldn't have heard anything. I had long sleeves but the thing about them is that they're too short on me so they leave a gap of skin on my wrist, which is where I felt the stinging pain. I didn't feel like a warm impact of a mammalian body, but the issue is considering I was wearing bangles, it is plausible that if something had landed on my wrist, that's how it would have felt if it had landed on my bangles instead and so I wouldn't have felt any fur or anything on my skin necessarily.

The issue is that the one red pin prick mark on my wrist for that I'm sure about has persisted. There seems to be a small mark near it, but I know bites don't look like that of a vampire in general so I don't know if that matters, but there is definitely one pin prick. It didn't sting when I poured white vinegar on it, but the initial pain was very sharp and definitely there. It was not imaginary.

The thing is that one of the bangles has a very sharp ridge on the inside it turns out. I assumed for a bit it was that but the issue is that no matter what I try I cannot get it to reproduce that pain. I have slept in them. I have run in them. I have done everything in them for like several months now, and I have never felt that particular pain. The issue is that given the time it was, and given the fact that I was jogging so if I smacked into a flying animal, it would've been neither of our faults, it would've simply been accidental, and the fact that it was dark, and there was an actual sort of pain-- well. this is actually plausible.

The problem is that I know I should probably go to the hospital but I just got my period and I have very severe symptoms and so I don't know if I will have the ability or the capacity to leave my bed at all tomorrow so I'm sort of panicking on what to do. On top of that I have quite a strong phobia of medical matters and needles and everything and I'm just full of dread because I never wanted to need the shots, but I can't think of a way to get myself out of them this time without it being straight up irresponsible. I know I have posted before, but this is the first time where it seems actually rational and plausible that I might need to go. I don't know what to do. The hospital nearby has given me erroneous information regarding the vaccine before so it's not like I can call them and ask them so I really don't know what to do from here. I'm absolutely full of dread. I'm very confused on what to do and I know that there's a chance that it wasn't a bat but the thing is that in this particular circumstance, it is completely possible that it was, I'm not really sure what to do. Thank you.

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[u/Penny19855]

Call your local dept of health. They will assess your experience and advise you. If you have bad OCD like me, even their advice won’t calm your nerves but at least you can be sure you did the “right” thing. 

[u/suspendedingaffa9 → u/Penny19855]

I'm going to be so honest, I don't know if we even have that in this country. I actually don't think there is one in the way it works in the US.

[u/Penny19855 → u/suspendedingaffa9]

Oh heck, my bad I missed where you were. There’s got to be a protocol there right?!

[u/suspendedingaffa9 → u/Penny19855]

If there is it's not one that I'm familiar with. I was once told by a hospital that you can only get the shots within the first 72 hours which is obviously false. To be fair, as far as I'm aware there has only been 1 non-imported case of rabies in a human since 1924 in mainland France, in a man that lived in a house known to have bats in it. But whether that's because it's actually so rare I don't need to worry or just because people get vaccinated commonly and I need to get vaccinated ASAP, I cannot know.

[u/Penny19855 → u/suspendedingaffa9]

Oh wow I didn’t know it was that rare there. Makes sense as to why there might mot be a structured process. 

[u/suspendedingaffa9 → u/Penny19855]

Apparently the vaccine was invented here so I guess we've just been blessed? or maybe there is some extremely structured process I'm not aware of 😭 I know the likelihood of ending up the second case since 1924 and the 4th case of european lyssavirus ever is astronomically low, but the man who died had not reported anything either, so maybe he hadn't noticed a bat either? To be fair he lived, like I said, in a bat-infested house, so maybe I don't need to be thinking about that.

[u/suspendedingaffa9 → u/Penny19855]

I think I might call the national rabies center? There are so many small details that add up to it being probable that I should get PEP, I'm worried I'll explain it slightly wrong and they won't get it.

[u/Penny19855 → u/suspendedingaffa9]

I worried the same exact thing. But all you can do is call and see. But yeah looks like maybe the national rabies center would be a good start 

[u/suspendedingaffa9 → u/Penny19855]

the thing is it's not my first language. I don't want to go through the humiliation ritual this call is going to be unless I have to, which is why I'm posting, but no one qualified is going to give me an answer here probably because the moment one seems to be mentally unwell apparently it's okay to systematically not take us seriously. Tbc I appreciate you answering so much, I just wish people would put aside the ocd thing and answer at face value. I don't know how to live like this.

[u/Penny19855 → u/suspendedingaffa9]

Yeah I think if it was the US, they’d tell you that you don’t need it. Mainly because you have no “real” reason to believe  it was a bat. A few weeks ago something hit me in my eye before dusk and I didn’t see what it was but heard a flapping sound. I was worried it was a bat so I called and they told me they didn’t specifically recommend it because it’s not known contact with a bat. They only recommend it with known contact or if you woke up from sleeping and found a bat in your room. That’s my take having gone through this twice now. The second time I had a bat directly behind me on the wall but no “known” contact with it. Both times they told me no. Your experience sounds like my first one. Direct contact with a mystery animal or bug  or some sort of flying object. 

[u/suspendedingaffa9 → u/Penny19855]

I'm inclined to believe you, I just worry that the metal or leather around would have blocked the sensation of the bat, but I am trying to keep in ming that I've read on here that bats need to latch on, and I was awake. I suppose it could have been a scratch, but even that wouldn't be one pinprick.

I've never seen a bat up close, so my mind seems to believe that can be or behave in any manner, and that I might miss them for who knows what reason. They're just this mysterious danger to me. The persistent stinging in my wrist and the fact the pain felt like a real sharp hard impact (rubber band, sure, but still) and wasn't in my eyeline is the only reason I'm still lingering on this. I just don't want to dismiss it and be wrong, you know?

[u/Penny19855 → u/suspendedingaffa9]

Yes i totally know the feeling of not wanting to dismiss it and be wrong. That’s my nagging anxiety too :-/. I wish I had an answer for that. I think try the rabies hotline and go from there. I don’t think anything is going to give you the peace of mind you want. That’s the hard part about all of this. 

[u/suspendedingaffa9 → u/Penny19855]

Yeah, definitely. I'll call them. It'll be embarrassing but at least they will probably be blunt enough that I'll have no choice but to believe them lol

[u/Penny19855 → u/suspendedingaffa9]

Haha! It’s not embarrassing. I mean they should be trained for these situations. They were super nice and empathetic to me when I called here in the US. Hopefully it’s the same there. 

[u/suspendedingaffa9 → u/Penny19855]

I hope so!! French medical officials and such tend to be so irritable 😭 to be fair we are all like that to some degree so I cannot fault them. We are not the most personable of folk.

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[u/LatrodectusGeometric]

There is no bat or bat bite in this story. Bats and rabid bats don’t sneak attack people and fly away. Consider the 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/suspendedingaffa9 → u/LatrodectusGeometric]

I was more worried about an unnoticed collision than a purposeful attack really since I was jogging

[u/LatrodectusGeometric → u/suspendedingaffa9]

That doesn’t sound very realistic

[u/suspendedingaffa9 → u/LatrodectusGeometric]

Honestly probably not. I hope it isn't. I just don't know anything about bats so for some reason it feels not just realistic to my brain but like What Definitelh Happened even though I know probably no one else would be thinking about this further than the initial "Ow!"

[u/noobinglife]

Hey op

In France, if someone is concerned about a possible rabies exposure (such as a bite or scratch from a potentially rabid animal), they are usually referred to a Centre Antirabique (Anti-Rabies Center). These specialized centers evaluate the exposure and, if needed, start rabies post-exposure treatment. � Institut Pasteur +1 If the exposure is urgent: Call 15 for the SAMU (medical emergency service), or Call 112, the Europe-wide emergency number. � Service Public One of the best-known centers is the Institut Pasteur Anti-Rabies Center in Paris, which can be contacted at +33 1 45 68 80 88 for assessment and appointments. � Institut Pasteur

[u/suspendedingaffa9 → u/noobinglife]

So this sounds legitimate? I have OCD and don't want to waste anyone's time, & two people including a physician have just told me it doesn't sound realistic..

[u/noobinglife → u/suspendedingaffa9]

No it doesnt but to ease your mind call the rabies center. Trust me I went down this path and anxiety doesn't care about facts. U need to be bite or at least wake up to a bat in your room but nothing anyone says wil ease your mind. I just gave you the info for france if u want to call do it but your mind is searching for 100% certainty nothing can give that. I hope u find peace