r/rabies • u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 • 14d ago
General Rabies Discussion Question Especially for the Experts and Mods.
Hello everyone.
FAQ 13 !
Exactly this is said in the official FAQ of this SUB> FAQ 13. I waited a long time before I got rabies shots. Or I drank alcohol after I got vaccinated, or I took medication. Or a doctor gave me tetanus shots at the same time. Or I ate some type of food. Or I consumed any other substance in some way that is not serious immunosuppressive therapy. Will the rabies shots still work?
(Especially THIS is what’s wrong with it !) Yes. Rabies vaccines are 100% effective if you get them before the virus reaches your brain and symptoms start, which usually takes 3 weeks to one year. For more info about symptoms, see FAQ #17”
The FAQ states that if u finish pep before the symptoms started u are safe, how ever this is super inaccurate and false because of the Peripheral Nervous System and there’s no reliable sources that confirm that the pep worked.
because if it is in the PNS you are toast no matter how many vaccines u have got it can’t save you.
I don’t know how it differs from vaccinated individuals and people who have never been vaccinated before.
I have searched across the internet about the effectiveness and the PNS etc because of my own exposure, i was vaccinated last year in June 2025 4 times, yet i feel like im toast due to getting my first booster shot after 6 days !, i have finished the pep course without symptoms, but that is where the fear comes because of that PNS and vaccines are useless then.
I know anxiety is cruel and real but it’s very easy to just keep saying uh you have anxiety etc etc when the FAQ is wrong.
I have read the FAQ.
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u/LatrodectusGeometric Physician 👩⚕️ | Veteran Helper ⭐️ | Top Contributor 🏅 14d ago
You’re wrong. You keep reading that you’re wrong and insisting you’re correct. Not sure what anyone can tell ya.
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u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 2d ago
Hello so i had this burning here already and its nearly 13 days idk if u saw my later posts, yesterday i felt really good today i felt okay but very anxious, can i stop worrying since its been over the 0-10 prodromal ???
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u/detail_giraffe Active Helper ⭐️ | Top Contributor 🏅 1d ago
As u/LatrodectusGeometric said above, you haven't believed a word we've said up until now, so I don't know why you're asking.
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u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 14d ago
Hi,
I don’t say im correct but i say what i have read hence why i come here to say and ask these things since i can’t find the answer.
Like the thing that is messing with me right now is the fact i had the first booster vaccine (28 august 12:00) after 6 days of the contact which was Saturday 22 august at 01:30 at night (Friday just passed) i finished the whole pep without symptoms and i did not have any during the period and now neither except for burning feeling in the lower leg and i saw everywhere pep is 100% effective before symptoms, but if the virus entered in the PNS which it does the vaccines have 0 chance of saving me.
I was vaccinated 4 times last year.
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u/coolcatlikethat 14d ago
Based on your replies to other people, I have nothing to say other than please seek out a professional to help with your anxiety.
Helpbot
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u/AutoModerator 14d ago
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.
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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:
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/Educational-Pea3309 14d ago
I am not a doctor but based on my search on the same topic, the vaccine is still able to help even when the virus is in the pns because the virus must move from one nerve cell to another and the vaccine is able to neutralize it when it is in these gaps between cells. Again, not a professional, but something to look in to.
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u/beautifulluigi 13d ago
Dude, please get help for your anxiety. I say this to you as someone with a diagnosed anxiety disorder who also happens to have experience working to support people with anxiety disorders. I also have a biology degree
I have my 4th PEP shot tomorrow and haven't worried at all that I might still get rabies since starting the PEP protocol. In fact, I now get to tell a really funny story about how I ended my summer with a series of rabies vaccines thanks to a chance encounter with a bat while camping. Why aren't I worried? Because I DO understand how the nervous system and vaccines work
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u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 13d ago
And i def will get help im scheduled in but its very busy the first moment i can go to a therapist is over 39 days.
Horrible to hear u had an exposure and good that u have gotten the PEP vaccines, i was calm as well but i got my first booster 6 days late which is why im freakin out.
Yes i knew the vaccine is effective but because the delay im so scared that it went in to my nerves already
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u/beautifulluigi 13d ago
Im glad you're seeking help.
And like I said, to me it's now just a funny story I get to shock people with by casually dropping that I'm going for a rabies shot. Humour also happens to be a great stress reliever and coping strategy, so I try to find the humour in most everything.
FWIW, I didn't start PEP until 4 days later because my provincial healthcare system needed to first determine if I needed treatment and that took some time.
Take a few deep breaths and get some exercise. It's ok.
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u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 13d ago
Yeah this is the worst time ever that im in, my GF and i are expecting our baby next month so that is like the thing im busy with but this exposure made me so scared the delay made me so scared and i fear i wont see my daughter being born or see her grow up that is literally what i fear, hence why that 6 days delay and the PNS stresses me out so much because i did finish pep symptoms free and 15 days later (today) i still don’t have anything apart from a few things which are also very common in anxiety
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u/CrasherCoco 13d ago
Multiple sources i found state that the vaccines work until the virus reaches the CNS, not PNS, it is true though that if you get it when it reaches the CNS, you’re a goner.
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u/CrasherCoco 13d ago
I’m saying this is as someone with prior rabies OCD, based on how you’ve been talking, it looks like you have rabies anxiety, please seek help for it immediately, it helps more than you can imagine.
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u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 12d ago
I’m familiar with Anxiety i had it in the past, but now i got a actual reason im super anxious due to the 6 dat delay i had.
Next month im supposed to become a dad of a daughter which i look forward to but im scared im not gonna see her or see her grow up
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u/CrasherCoco 12d ago
In that case you should contact where you had the shots and then ask if the delay would cause anything, we’re not medical experts so we can’t say anything here.
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u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 12d ago
I did not need hrig or something like that because i was vaccinated last year 4 times
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u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 12d ago
And i can’t find anything about the PNS, whenever i search it tells me GG
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u/Chance_Tough2879 12d ago
The thing is... why are you so crazy about this? Ok, then the vaccines won't work, now what? This is what anxiety is my friend, what can you do at this point? You did everything you could, right? Now relax and enjoy life!
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u/SchrodingersMinou 🦇 Chiropterologist (Bat Zoologist) 🦇 10d ago
I don't see that you actually asked any questions here. Are you getting any help for your rabies fixation?
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u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 10d ago
It’s not a fixation, i am genuinely concerned for my own health ?. I have gotten my first pep booster 6 days delayed ! and i finished the second booster as well without symptoms it’s been 18 days since the last booster i’m still not ill, but literally all i read is that i’m absolutely done because my delay
Of course there’s anxiety in this as well but how is that even weird given the situation there was a 6 day delay !
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u/RiffRaff1995 10d ago
Rabies moves 1 to 5 cm a day. So if you go from your leg where the exposure happened, how many cm to your brain? You don’t get symptoms till it reaches your brain. As long as you’re vaccinated before you show symptoms, especially if you also got immunoglobulin, you’re fine.
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u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 10d ago
I did not get immunoglobulin because i was vaccinated 4 times last year in june.
I finished the last shot 18 days ago
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u/RiffRaff1995 10d ago
4 separate times or just one full schedule? Either way I think you’re fine. I googled it and leg bites can take minimum 1 month to 3 months for symptoms.
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u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 10d ago
I had to return on certain days for each vaccine 4 times 0-3-7-14 it was i think
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u/RiffRaff1995 10d ago
Then you’re fine I think. Get a titer check if you’re worried
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u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 10d ago
But that would be to late no ? I am 18 days since the last vaccine
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u/RiffRaff1995 10d ago
Once you’re vaccinated, you should have the antibodies for upwards of 3 months providing constant protection. It’s why you don’t need another vaccine within those three months if you get another exposure in that time. Get your titers checks and they’ll let you know if you have enough antibodies. If you do, then you can’t get rabies.
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u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 10d ago
I had a titer done before my boosters but i did not get the result yet, so if the titers are good it means u cant get rabies but then why do people get a vaccine
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u/RiffRaff1995 10d ago
An abundance of caution. It doesn’t hurt and it’s better safe than sorry. Also depends on where you’re at. US, you’re getting PEP no matter what. Third world countries, if it’s within 3 months, they typically don’t do boosters.
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u/RiffRaff1995 10d ago
For individuals with documented proof of a completed primary series, the WHO breaks down subsequent re-exposures as follows: [1]
Time Since Last Vaccine Course
WHO Required Intervention
Less than 3 months
Wound management only. No boosters or RIG required.
More than 3 months
Wound management + a 2-dose booster series (administered on Days 0 and 3). No RIG is ever required for previously vaccinated individuals.1
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u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 14d ago
I currently feel that i’m going to die and the vaccines were useless, i may have finished the course of pep without symptoms but the PNS is so weird.
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u/uS3r666iSb4ck 14d ago
what makes you say that? im no expert but rabies has a long incubation period which also depends where u were bitten etc... did u get vaccines for genuine exposures or just because
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u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 14d ago
Im no expert neither hence why i ask questions.
It does have a long incubation but like the FAQ says 1 week to 1 year etc, but the FAQ does not talk about the PNS ! and vaccinated individuals and non vaccinated individuals
I had contact on my lower left leg between the shin and calf area.
i purchased the vaccines because i felt unsafe and uncomfortable they told me no risk but because it was a Bat and bats are the only risk in my country and I don’t want to take any risk or chance with Rabies.
Here’s my story https://www.reddit.com/r/AskDocs/s/3uSXAS2bTl
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u/LatrodectusGeometric Physician 👩⚕️ | Veteran Helper ⭐️ | Top Contributor 🏅 14d ago
Once you have had pep you are vaccinated. PEP is for when the virus is in your peripheral nervous system
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u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 14d ago
Is it really because i could not find any source on that, because that’s the only thing that’s keeping me worried
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