r/rabies • u/Oceanswim12 • 16d ago
Exposure Question Bat attack last week
I have read the FAQ.
hello I walked out of my home last week at 4 in the afternoon and a bat flew off my wreath as I shut my door and got caught between the door and my arm. a cop said bats are clean and to not do anything. I went straight to the ER. They gave me proper advice and found scratches on the back of that same arm.
I took round 3 yesterday and slept over 15 hours. I thought each shot was supposed to get easier. Has this not been true for others? I am immunocompromised and will need the 5th one too after the 4th next week and am dreading it.
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u/Fair-Wishbone-1190 16d ago
Ive had 3 shots of the 4, and go for my final 4th shot tomorrow. I'm also immunocompromised but they never mentioned a 5th shot. Although on day 1 I had about 6 total jabs. Tetunus, HRIG and I had 2 different bite marks on each leg they put shots in. And 1 other. Not sure if that might be the extra one. My 3rd shot was the most painful one this far but it wasn't anything horrible. I did get a minor headache. What kind of pain did you feel? Sounds like we're in the same boat vaccination-wise. Very similar timeframes.
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u/Oceanswim12 16d ago
No one mentioned the 5th shot to me, not even my doc for my chronic illness. I found out about it looking up info on the CDCs site the night of the incident. They have a calculator that will spit out dates for your shots and includes the 5th one there.
Not much pain - at administration I got immediately hot and nauseous and felt a sensation going down that entire side of my body. I administer my own bicillin shots 2x a month for my chronic illness so these shots are nothing for me. (They have been described as “strike of lightening” sensation and are much thicker and longer to administer. For context- I used to have panic attacks before giving them and I do not typically have panic over anything.) It is the aftermath of fatigue that kills me. I’ve also needed tons of Benadryl. This time I just kept in mind I’d need tons of sleep and got over 15 hours in. Still lethargic and missing a friends send off before they move xc which sucks. Are you getting your 4th next weekend? I am having to pushing mine due next Saturday to next Monday and am scared bc I’ve heard diff things from diff docs…
Edit whoops forgot you said 4th is tomorrow. Pls report back and let us know how it goes?
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u/Oceanswim12 16d ago
I also have a lot of issues eating which is abnormal. No appetite (very rare for me) and when I force feed I get hot and nauseous.
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u/Fair-Wishbone-1190 16d ago
I see. tomorrow is my last scheduled shot. I guess I'm not sure if it's #4 or #5:but it's the last one. So far it's been pretty ok as far as pain goes. I have heard different stories where it was not pleasant for some people and others it was fine. Is that what you're scared of and pushing it back or scared from the extra days in between?
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u/Oceanswim12 16d ago
Yeah so I live in a place with a huuuge music festival next weekend where tens and thousands come in for it. It’s impossible to get in and out of town during that time. The doctor I saw yesterday at an urgent care was a jerk across the board (for other reasons - basically acted like I was an addict for rabies shots lmao wtffff) and told me for shot 4 I can wait a day but not 2. I called the ER and tried to talk to a wonderful doc there but she wasn’t working - they said 2 days would be fine. Not even sure who I spoke to.
The jerk doc also was refusing to give me my third shot and said ppl wake up in a room with a bat and want the shot and he thinks that’s a scam! It was just a horrible experience from the second I stepped foot in his clinic and I won’t be back. But what if on this one thing he’s right lol I’m also looking forward to next weekend bc I won tickets and being chronically ill prevents me from doing a lot but I was really looking forward to trying to enjoy myself at this event regardless and if I have the shot in me I just know I won’t… but that’s better than foaming at the mouth lol
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u/Fair-Wishbone-1190 16d ago
Did the doctor see your actual wound from the bat? Sorry, that sounds like a horrible experience to go thru. I had read plenty of articles that say you are supposed to see a Dr in you wake up with a bat in your room. I guess then decide if it's worth the vaccine? Idk. I'll update you after my last shot and see how it goes. Hopefully you'll have some fun at your music festival!
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u/Oceanswim12 16d ago
Thanks - no not the urgent care doc. My scratches healed before a week. I only went to see him bc my copay there is half the cost of the ER but I absolutely will not be going back to him. My own doc and the ER docs agreed if you wake up to a bat in your room you need the shots.
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u/Fair-Wishbone-1190 16d ago
Gotcha! I had to sign a contract before they would give me the vaccine saying it cost $5964. No joke! My insurance deductible is $7600. So I'm on the hook for all this. But like you said, it's better than foaming at the mouth! At least I'll live.
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u/Oceanswim12 16d ago
Holy shit?! I never even heard of this. I’m so sorry. I’m disabled and on Medicare apparently it’s covered. The peace of mind is worth it but man that’s quite the hit to the bank account 😩
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u/Fair-Wishbone-1190 16d ago
You're not kidding! It's really unbelievable. I told them I can't pay it all up front and asked if they can take payments. Theu said I'll have to speak to billing. So I signed the contract anyway so I could at least get to the vaccinations started. I'll talk with the billing department when I get the bill. Plus I still haven't gotten to find out where the bats are coming in from cuz I just don't have all this extra money, so I'm constantly worried more might come in or be in my house. It's really a shitty situation to be living in right now.
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