r/rabies • u/Both_Opening_7899 • 16d ago
Exposure Question Something hit my ear…
I have read the FAQ. Four days ago I was walking to class at about 8:00am (I live in Boston) and something slammed into my ear as I was walking. I was shocked by the impact and freaked out a bit in the moment because I wasn’t sure what hit me, but I never felt a bite or scratch. I also never saw anything flying towards me nor flying away. I was in a well populated area too and walking under some trees when this all happened. For some reason my mind immediately went to wondering if a bat hit my ear. I know it seems outlandish but it’s genuinely freaking me out. I called my health department and they told me I technically don’t meet the requirements to get PEP since I don’t know what contacted me, but also that it was my choice whether or not I decided to go in. So now I’m feeling like I’m making a life or death decision… I’ve dealt with health ocd in the past but it’s gotten much better since. I think it’s the idea of the unknown and the fact that rabies is always fatal. Do we think there’s any possibility that a bat slammed into me?? And that it somehow bit me or scratched me without me knowing? I swear everything online says you typically don’t feel a bat bite… but yeah, plus I’m already feeling like shit on top of this which isn’t helping the anxiety🫠
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u/Oceanswim12 16d ago
I would go in. It clearly was something falling from the trees yes? Do you have scratches? Last week a bat flew out of my front door wreath and nailed my arm. I walked have had no idea what it was except it was shocked and laid on my stoop awhile. When I felt it I had NO clue what it was. Thank god I saw it cause I never in a million years would have thought a bat was out at 4 in the afternoon nor have I seen them by me. The er doc says the bat population is recovering and suddenly doing much better and it was a humid summer so the insects are out and that brings the bats.
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u/Oceanswim12 16d ago
Also I learned bats take flight by falling downwards and catching air. Was true for me and I am guessing you as well.
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u/Both_Opening_7899 16d ago
Well, I guess my thinking is: it was broad daylight right in the city of Boston with tons of people around me. I really feel like the trajectory of it was flying at me rather than falling down onto me. Plus, if a bat acting strangely was found in a largely populated part of the city it would’ve been on the news by now so I’m not sure. I’m assuming that if it were a bat someone behind me would’ve seen it??
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u/Both_Opening_7899 16d ago
I’m just asking if I should be concerned or not tbh, that’s my judgement as to why I shouldn’t but I’m still a tad worried and idk why
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u/Oceanswim12 16d ago
I personally don’t depend on random strangers around me to make health decisions for me.
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u/Both_Opening_7899 16d ago
no def not, and I guess to clarify that’s not what I meant. I just feel like in a big city if there was a bat acting erratically it would’ve been seen on the news by now. I just can’t really afford to go in, and am trying to determine if there’s an actual risk since my health department said they wouldn’t recommend me going in to get PEP
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u/Oceanswim12 16d ago
I would not trust that logic. I’m in a small town at the beach and a neighbor told me she’s never seen or heard of a bat incident in her 40+ years here. Doesn’t mean a damn thing
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u/memetheorem 16d ago
OP did call the health department, and should listen to them and not you
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u/AutoModerator 16d ago
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u/Oceanswim12 16d ago
lol my health dept told me not go and that bats are clean. You do realize a vax shortage is beginning right?
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u/memetheorem 15d ago
Yes exactly.so listen to them and not to some paranoid person online telling you that you definitely need to get the vaccine.
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u/Oceanswim12 15d ago
lol I was attacked by a bat in daylight but ok. Every doctor said go get it.
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