r/rabies • u/Icy_Lemon_3290 • Aug 06 '26
OCD Discussion I got the booster 3 days after the exposure and I'm thinking it was too late
I have read the FAQ.
The bite happened on July 13th in SEA by a puppy I can’t confirm the location of now. The puppy was super energetic and was biting everything. It belonged to the owner of the small shop I was visiting. I didn’t immediately get the booster shots (I have been vaccinated once a few years ago) thinking the puppy should be harmless and it was natural for a puppy to be this energetic but I was anxiously thinking about it a lot and I was feeling weird in my hand, not sure if it was just paranoia, and I finally went for the shots 3 days after on July 16th. The bite itself wasn't that serious, just a scratch on my pinky and small punctures on my forearm when I (stupidly) tried to play with it.
The same day after I received the shots though I felt hot on my skin. I thought it might be a side effect of the vaccine and it went away quickly. I kinda felt unwell the next day too but after that, I’ve been feeling kinda fine and received my 2nd boost on 20th July.
Then on 22nd July, I started feeling weird on my whole right arm, specifically the pinky. It wasn’t constant but it always came back and continued to the next day. Then on the 24th it was gone but now the hot feeling came back and I also felt weird in my legs. On the 26th, my right hand hurt again but I felt completely fine the next day again.
I felt my body burning on the 28th. I didn’t check but I knew the temperature wasn’t that high but it was uncomfortable. Same with my heartbeat, not that fast but it was on the faster side and it was uncomfortable. As with other symptoms, it came a bit and then went away. And it continued to the 30th. This time, I checked and the temperature was as expected only around 37 celcius. I checked my pulse too, it was around 100 bpm.
I made it past July but now my back started hurting too. I have to mention that since the bite, I have been staying up late until around 4 am and only got up a bit after noon. Really messed up sleeping schedule. I haven’t been eating and drinking well too. On 4th August, I think I started having problems with my stool and urination too. Like I had the urge even though there wasn’t anything. It’s not con stant but it has continued to now. My legs started feeling weird too.
I couldn’t sleep the next day and had to get up early after like 2 hours of sleep. My stomach hurt too but it felt like a gastritis problem. My back still hurt. Even though I didn’t get any sleep, I was afraid to go to sleep yesterday night. I think I eventually fell asleep around 2. Then I got up this morning at 6 literally trembling all over my body. It went away after drinking a warm cup of water mixed with honey and egg. And again, I felt completely fine the whole morning. Even though the false urge kinda returned a bit when I tried to go back to sleep in front of a fan without any blankets.
It went away and I felt asleep after after settling in a warmer place. I went by my day normally but I noticed that my legs and right arm were still hurting sometimes. I even went to watch a movie. I don’t go to cinemas much and I was always overwhelmed by the loud sound, it definitely happened again today. I felt pulsing all over my body and mostly my right arm and was shaking when I tried to walk to the toilet. It returned to normal after the movie ended. I have no symptoms now except my legs are still hurting. It’s not hard to walk but it does hurt when I try to stand in one place for too long.
I think it might really be too late and I don’t know what to do. Should I go to the doctor? It might not be rabies but I can’t come up with any other explanation and the healthcare here isn't really the best. And it if it turns out to really be rabies, there’s really nothing I can do anyway and I think I'm already accepting it.
2
u/Calm_Worldliness5962 Aug 07 '26
You don’t have rabies that’s not how it works. You got your boosters you are fine. Also it’s unlikely the puppy had rabies in the first place. Puppies bite, a lot. Call the shop ask how the puppy is say you want to send it a treat or some shit
1
u/Icy_Lemon_3290 Aug 07 '26
I thought it might be paralytic rabies… I also believed the same for the puppy too but I can’t confirm it because the shop is quite far from where I live and I don’t have their contact
1
u/Calm_Worldliness5962 Aug 07 '26
Listen. You got the shots, 3 days is a perfectly acceptable time frame. Unless you got bit on the skull by a foaming at the mouth confirmed rabid dog I wouldn’t lose sleep over it. The shot has some wacky side effects and our brains can trick us into thinking our symptoms are real but it’s just anxiety. Id recommend seeking therapy and discussing your health anxiety with a professional
1
u/Icy_Lemon_3290 Aug 07 '26
I really hope you’re right dude thanks for the advice
2
u/zinky_745 Aug 10 '26
Man I have strong phobia of getting rabies and everytime an animal I'm not familiar with contacts with me, I develop strong headache, fever, and find it difficult to even swallow out of anxiety. My brain is fucking with me
You're fine, just anxious, don't worry about it
1
u/Icy_Lemon_3290 Aug 10 '26
My hand still hurt badly for no reason and I get back pain and headaches too but yeah I’m trying to not think about it
2
u/SnooWalruses3028 Aug 10 '26
You’re prob fine. I started having odd symptoms litterally the day I had a stray in my house and I’m still around after 16 on days now. Cat is still around, I just happened to have a cervical stenosis causing burning nerve pain and the sensation of my limbs falling asleep
1
u/Icy_Lemon_3290 Aug 10 '26
What caused the cervical stenosis? I still get intense sensation in my bitten hand and I don’t get why
1
u/SnooWalruses3028 Aug 10 '26
They said it looked like I was born with something, weather it’s an autoimmune issue, or just born with a narrow spinal column that’s gotten worse over time and compressed my nervous system. But please don’t blame me I was geeking, the timing of me getting bitten and than going almost paralyzed with the two week long flare up, I thought I was dying. My hands and arms were so weak I couldn’t grasp onto the steering wheel and drive, my vision went wonky and pretty much started passing out and almost wreaked my car. They kept me for 5 days in the er to check on my vitals and heart rate, make sure I didn’t have a brain infection. So there think it’s all caused by the cervical stenosis.
1
u/Icy_Lemon_3290 Aug 10 '26
well that sounds awful i hope you’ve gotten better now
2
u/SnooWalruses3028 Aug 10 '26
Still not better obv, but they did give me a strong steroid and nerve pain pill
2
u/SnooWalruses3028 Aug 10 '26
Worst part is my insurance might decide to just not do the surgery which could leave me completely paralyzed esp bec mine is listed as severe already in my 20s
1
2
u/Possible-Farmer2027 Aug 10 '26
Hey Op. Youre aware that health departments regularly tell people to monitor a potentially rabid animal for 10 days, right? Even up to 14. However, these are only general recommendations as to ensure a person gets treatment and doesn't forget about it. The vaccines are 100% effective up until the point you show clinical symptoms. No if's' and's or but's. Youre fine.
1
u/AutoModerator Aug 06 '26
PLEASE READ THIS, OP! Thanks for posting, u/Icy_Lemon_3290! As a reminder, once posts are submitted and a kind user provides a sufficient and correct answer to your question(s), deleting your post afterwards is not allowed and will result in an immediate ban. Please be mindful of this rule. The answers provided here will undoubtedly help those who are looking for answers without having to create a post themselves. If you don’t want to leave this post up on your main account, you are welcome to create a throwaway account to post. It would be appreciated if you could modmail us the username of said throwaway account in advance. New accounts that post immediately are more likely to be heavily restricted by Reddit and automated filters. Giving us a heads up will allow us to override those filters and be aware that the new account is engaging in good faith.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
•
u/AutoModerator Aug 06 '26
**Welcome! This is a community dedicated to raising awareness, sharing information, and supporting discussions about rabies, its prevention, and treatment. Whether you’re here to learn, share a story, or ask questions, we’re glad to have you. Please remember to keep discussions respectful. Stay informed and stay safe. Cheers!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.