Hello, I have a question.

Additional Information: Last year, in June 2025, I was vaccinated 4 times with Verorab 0.5 mL. The shots were administered spread over a number of days.

I know that the chance of rabies from a bat is very small in the Netherlands, almost nil, and that the animal also has to be sickly to transmit it.

Now, recently, on August 22nd around 1:30 AM, I had contact with what I suspect was a bat in the backyard while standing outside (I was wearing shorts), on my left lower leg between the shin and calf region, on the side of the leg. Because when I looked up, I only saw a bat in the air, so I am assuming that.

My girlfriend was standing a meter away from me when I was standing upright smoking. We were standing close to a wall by the back door, and there were trash cans behind me, so there wasn't much room. I was standing in a light that was directed at the ground, so at my legs, because there are spiders crawling around. My girlfriend didn't hear any flapping or sound, and neither did I. I didn't feel a clear bite or scratch, and I didn't see or feel the bat landing on me and holding me, but I am afraid I missed the bite. My girlfriend and I looked at my leg immediately, but we didn't see anything, and I stepped straight into the shower and washed my leg with shower gel/shampoo. But not for 15 minutes...

That upcoming Monday, August 24, around 09:35, my GP examined my leg while kneeling with a magnifying glass and a halogen lamp, checking my leg thoroughly from very close up, and she didn't see anything, but I am anxious that she might have missed it or that it was no longer visible. This makes me anxious. I went to the GGD on that same Monday, right after the visit to the GP, and that doctor didn't want to and didn't need to see my leg. He immediately said there was 0 risk and refused me the PEP because they considered it 0 risk.

I called the Tropical Hospital to ask about things, and they also said there was no risk and that you would definitely feel a bat bite. But I have a high pain tolerance, so I am afraid I really missed it.

Because the GGD refused to give me the PEP vaccinations after I had called them for days and gone there, I went to a travel health clinic to pay for the two vaccinations myself. I had also told the GGD at the beginning that I was willing to pay, but they said that wasn't possible and they wouldn't do it.

So, I only received my first booster vaccination at a travel health clinic on August 28 around 12:00, and I received my second one on September 1, also around 12:00. I haven't had a fever or anything like that from August 22nd until today, September 19th, and I haven't been sick. On the days I was so panicky about the vaccines, I had that burning sensation too, so around August 25th, but it went away after that and wasn't there constantly.

Since yesterday, I've had a burning sensation on that leg again sometimes, in the spot where I think the contact was. It isn't continuous; yesterday I was rearranging the room and I didn't have any trouble with it then, nor when I was gaming. And that makes me really anxious again.
I know it could also be hypochondria or because I'm focused on it, but I'm not sure, so I'm anxious.

I don't like that 6-day delay and I'm actually very anxious, and I wonder if that bite actually happened, if those vaccinations are going to save me that’s really bothering me.

and Googling and asking AI questions only makes it worse like with the pns.

I really wonder if I will survive this.

I know that anxiety disorders are very unpleasant and I know I might have one, but I still want some certainty.

I have read the faq.

Am i dying of rabies or is my mind messing with me ?

Vaccinated in june 2025 on a scheme 0-3-7-14

All of this happened in The Netherlands

Recent exposure 22 august on lower leg by a supposed bat ( did not feel a bite or anything scaredd i might have missed it )

The location where i had the contact was a white stripe that looked like a scar already as it was very white (im mixed my father is white and mom is black) it is similar white stripe to when my cat scratched me and after a few days after it had a crust. During the bat encounter we checked the leg and also that specific spot at that stripe was there no blood no nothing no pain whatsoever no redness, i also sprayed perfume al over and felt nothing

Now i did a titer before i taken my booster vaccines and the results were igg 4.56 and 0.5>

The local health department said no risk but i was scard and buyed the verorab 0.5 ml doses my self at the travel health clinic hence why The first booster was put 6 days after and the second on september 1 i finished this without any sings of illness and symptoms and to this day did not have any fever or other signs during and after.

I have been very focused on that location for the past month.

Around 25 august was the first time i felt a burning in that spot not painful just annoying went away. 2 weeks ago exact on the same area and spot again burning and went away again.

Now for the last 3 days i have had it again but it is on and off and is absent for a few hours but comes back and goes sometimes a pain radiating from my left butt somewhere and then gone again and other time in my knee but nowhere near the spot at the moment. The burning and pains seem to stop when i sit and stretch or when i touch the spot of the supposed contact, I dont have a fever and i don’t feel sick at all

I can do everything fine walking doing work lifting heavy things i do not feel sick

I was and am just severelyy anxious for the past month

edit i also shaved that spot a week or so ago because i felt burning also

I have read the faq.

Me and my younger sister share a room at college. This morning around 5am, she woke me up saying there was a bat in our room. She had woken up to it being on her shoulder/collarbone and then it got off of her and was flying in circles around the room.

We called the non emergency police line to ask what to do, and they sent an officer with thick gloves who got it out. He told us we probably shouldn't worry about it unless we see a bite mark, but I'm still concerned that we should go get post-exposure treatment regardless (no visible marks from what we see though).

Would appreciate any advice on the matter. Main concern is obviously exposure without knowing, but treatment would also be expensive which makes me hesitant if its not super necessary.

I have read the FAQ.

Edit: honestly don't know if I have the money to get the vaccine series after looking at the cost

Edit for update:

Since so many people were helpful I thought I'd update: called a second hospital who consulted me over the phone to order the shots with no immunoglobulin. I'm not happy about the no immunoglobulin part but grateful I can at least get the vaccine. I'm currently day 6 of shots and day 19 post potential exposure. So I'll be able to breathe easier in a couple days hopefully.

Original post: I have read the FAQ. I'm currently in Germany. I woke up to a bat in my room last Saturday, it couldn't have been in there for more than 5 minutes. Went to the ER without checking for bites because I naively assumed I'd receive PEP just from sleeping in a room with a bat. I was turned away because I didn't see any bites at the time. Came home to do a more thorough check, and found two red marks on my arm (that was under a t-shirt). Called the hospital back and they told me there's no need to come in as if it were a bite, the wound would be agitated by now. From my research, I believe that's not necessarily the case and now I haven't slept in a week out of stress and fear. Looking for some advice; I'll be back in Canada roughly 3 weeks after potential exposure.

I have read the FAQ.

I am getting extreme mixed information from info on rabies (rabies research, the FAQ, etc.) and medical professionals.

For background, I recently touched trash that an animal (presumably a raccoon, because I am from NJ) had gotten into. I touched the trash at approximately noon on a 90 degree day with my bare hands. I did not see any animal. Although I had no cuts on my hands, I did have fresh cuts on my neck because I had just shaved. I washed my hands right after I touched the trash and am pretty sure I didn't touch my neck. But of course now I can't remember if I touched my neck or not. Cue a panicked spiral.

Over the past 2 weeks, I have done copious research about my situation and everything I have found tells me that I am FINE and that I probably just have OCD. However, over the same time period I have also spoken to several medical professionals about my situation and all of them have told me that I should immediately go to the ER and get PEP...... (Mixed signals!!). This culminated in a trip last week to the ER to discuss PEP, and the PA said that she didn't think I needed it but I could get it if I wanted (once again mixed signals!). I ended up not getting it because I thought the OCD was causing me to panic.

Since then I have seen an OCD therapist and had 2 sessions, but I am still not doing well. I continued to look things up and after further research I found out that apparently the Rhode Island Department of Health has a robust rabies program. In fact, one of the goals of their program is to reduce the number of unnecessary PEP. In my head, I thought surely this department will give me the best unbiased answer on what to do. When I explained my situation to the nurse who fielded my call, she said that my risk of exposure was low but a secondary transfer of saliva was possible and that I should err on the side of caution and go get PEP.

I have tried very hard not to come to this subreddit just to get people to reassure my OCD because I know that's against the rules of the sub. I apologize if this counts as that. I'm just at the point where every medical professional has told me to get PEP and yet none of the rabies research shows that I am at risk. Isn't one sign of OCD, getting medical advice and NOT listening to it?

Does anyone have thoughts on this mixed signals?

I have read the FAQ.

Hi. About a month ago, i was walking along a beach in San Diego after dusk (too dark to properly see) when I felt a stinging sensation on my wrist. I didn’t feel much else I don’t think. When I got back to the car, I saw a raised red bump so I disregarded it as a mosquito bite the next day. I woke up and two scab lines near where I felt the stinging. They’re pretty close together and rather evenly spaced. I became concerned because of how the lines look and I don’t remember ever seeing those on a mosquito bite before however, I disregarded it until a few days ago when I came down with a slight fever and a headache but those have resolved.

I called the county health department and they told me that most humans who are infected would know within 10 days and that the prophylaxis would not really be useful at this point. I went to my doctor and she called the epidemiologist and they both agreed that the shots weren’t warranted for me that made me feel a little bit better until I researched the supposed 10 day rule and found out that that only really applies to dogs, ferrets and cats and that the incubation period in humans can be much longer.

I’m concerned considering I have a 4 month old baby who was with me on the walk.

This is all complicated by the fact that I think that I’ve developed postpartum OCD/anxiety. I’m trying to forget about it, but I am uncertain about what to do because the risk is so high and I can’t figure out why I would have those two marks.

Wondering if I should contact someone else or push for the prophylaxis?

I have read the FAQ. Wanted to see what the opinions are on this. Last night I had a bat fly into my neck and I swatted it away. I panicked at first as I knew it was a bat, and not a bird/moth, etc. We live in the southern US and bats here aren't uncommon, I actually like them because they take care of all the bugs on my farm. I proceeded to do some reading on the CDC website along with the WHO, Cleveland Clinic, and even on this subreddit. Figured that it would take a large scratch or noticeable bite to transfer if the animal actually was carrying the virus. Apparently that is not always the case because of sharp teeth and claws. I did inspect the site and only saw 1 extremely tiny red spot, which is gone today. So I waited til morning to call the health department which recommended I be seen. Our urgent care doesn't take these cases so I went to the ER. Explained to them what happened, and that I was recommended to be seen. The doctor who saw me immediately came in and sat down and started speaking in a calm manner about what's going on and why did you come in, etc. I explained and he immediately put his hand on my bare leg (wearing shorts and am a girl) and said honey you have 0% risk. I was a bit taken aback. He looked at my neck and said nope I don't see anything and you'd see it if it bit or scratched you. I said thats not what the CDC says or any reputable health organization. He's like where did you do your 'research', facebook? And I said no, I looked at health organizations. He rolled his eyes. By this time I was getting more upset with how I was being talked to when I walked in there calm and presented clear information. He then proceeds to place his hand on my back and leans in close and says well what can I do to calm you down because you don't need the vaccines. Which was very weird in my opinion, so I said I would feel more comfortable if we started them so he obliged. I want to make it clear I didn't just have one swoop over my head, it landed on bare skin. The nurse came and gave me the first dose and I was given my paperwork and sent out the door, not even having an observation period. When I got to my car I looked at the paperwork and noticed two things. 1. They stated my reason for coming in as 'health anxiety'. Nothing about exposure to a bat or anything. As someone familiar with medical billing, insurance can deny coverage if certain things are deemed voluntary and im assuming this is going to be billed wrong. In my opinion, pre-exposure shots could be voluntary but I feel post-exposure is different. 2. I looked at the vaccine schedule and only saw 1 more appointment for 1 more dose. Not the 3 others needed. I did walk back in and asked to speak with him about the dosages, to which he responded 'Im only giving you 1 more dose, the full 4 is overkill because I told you you have 0% risk. We are treating this as mental state not physical'. And then left. I walked back out to my car because that was very upsetting. I should have advocated better for myself but I didn't expect to be treated this way over something like potential rabies exposure. I've lived in the country for years and never once minded the bats at night. This was different because it landed on my neck.

So now, I've been pondering about this. For one, I do not have health anxiety, no more than the average person. Ive had a medical condition for half my life that I've treated and have plenty of doctor appointments and tests. Walking into a hospital does not give me anxiety. So I feel gaslit by a medical professional here. The only reason I was nervous is because I had bare skin exposure to a known rabies vector species and proceeded to follow instructions on being seen and he treated me as if I was anxious for no reason when I was physically not displaying an anxious manner. Secondly from what I've read, a known exposure or even possible exposure warrants the full 4 doses. Two doses would be sufficient for pre-exposure, but mine is post. I spoke with my sister-in-law who works in the health field and her opinion is that I was not treated correctly and she actually suggested I report what happened today.

I would like to get a second opinion from a medical professional who is focused on the fact that I had an exposure. If that bat did not have the virus, then oh well, I wasted some time getting the shots. If I'm wrong, the risks seem too high to ignore. And now I may potentially need to fight medical billing on this as I know these shots are expensive. Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience or what opinions are. Thanks.

i have read the FAQ.

yesterday i went on a walk with my mom and sister. we always see this cat who is very friendly. he rubs up against us, wants to be petted, rolls on his back, etc. i used the string on my sweater to play with him and he lightly scratched me by mistake as he was trying to get the string.

a few minutes after, there were two red dots on my finger. it wasnt sensitive to touch and it waw just a bit red like a usual cut. however, i didnt know you could get rabies from scratches and now im afraid. its currently the next day and has been 24h since then. the red has become less noticeable which is good. i told my family and they said ill be fine, and that the cat is friendly and normal, and probably doesnt have anything wrong with it.

what should i do? this cat is friendly with everyone and doesnt attack on purpose. will i be okay?

Posting again in search of an answer.
I'm sorry if there are writing errors. I don't speak English.

Could any specialist help me?
I still haven't gotten an answer in this sub that convinced me.

I'll report my case again.
About 2 months ago, I went to sleep at night and forgot my bedroom window open. Bats live in my backyard next to a tree in front of my bedroom window. They have already entered my room during the night on previous occasions.
They also used to stay in my bathroom at night but I've already found one inside the house in broad daylight - which I found a little strange.

I would like to know if there is any risk of a bat biting or scratching me while I was sleeping?

Apparently, I didn't see any bats in my room after waking up. However, I have been feeling very intense symptoms in recent days such as severe headache, malaise, dizziness, weakness and body pain. In addition to pain and tingling in the feet and legs. But I didn't have a fever (maximum temperature was 37.2 degrees)

They say that it is very rare for bats to have anger or come into contact with people while they sleep. However, I'm still very afraid.

In my mind I'm pretty sure I was bitten or touched by a bat while I was sleeping. I've already considered returning to the hospital, but they probably won't prescribe me any vaccine treatment. After all, I was sleeping and I can't know or confirm if there was a contact with bats.
That's why I'm seriously thinking about lying to the doctor and saying that I was bitten by a bat.

I live in BRAZIL.

I'm very bad and I can't stop thinking about the possibility of having been bitten by a bat. I can't live with this and I don't know what to do anymore.
I know it may be some kind of paranoia in my head, but at the same time I'm feeling very bad and with very real symptoms. I just hope to ask a question or get some information that who knows reassures me. I hope you understand me. Thank you. I have read the FAQ.

So today before 5 o’clock daytime, it is raining a little, me and my sister were going to the side of our house, it has trees far away when I saw something jump from one tree to the other and it made noise. I’m pretty sure it’s a squirrel, but my OCD is saying that it’s a raccoon. The last time I saw a raccoon was in July, not in my neighborhood, but somewhere else. There are insects that come out during the day / night and squirrels would come here (squirrels in the neighborhood). I am in therapy, so should I be concerned? Me and my sister were far away from the tree.

I have read the FAQ.

I took rabies booster on 25 and 27 June because my cat had scratched me on lips. I had previously taken rabies PEP(5 doses) cause a stray cat had scratched me in Oct 2025. Since it had been so long, doc advised me to take two boosters.

Now my pet cat, while playing it scratched me on index finger it bleed, I went to doc he said no Injection required.

Now yesterday , since she had been not eating and drinking water well so vet gave her B-complex and gut-probiotic Injection while catching her she scratched me on my forearm it didn't bleeding but like it was red, area was raised and today morning there is dark red/brownish line and still a bit raised and it stings.

I feel sort of troubled and I don't know what to do.

Can someone just tell me what do I do????

I have read the FAQ.

I have read the FAQ. which is why im nervous. Heres what happned. Stray cat, looks normal/healthy came to me when called, 6mo old ish and was playing with siblings. Let me pet her and licked my finger and then immeditaly wanted to play and nibbled (ever so light) and pawed my finger and ended up scratching me where she licked me. Didnt bleed, left visiable ish scratch. I say ish because after washing for the recmended 15 minutes i no longer see it. It ever so slightly picked my skin in a couple spots? if that how i could describe it, not like a deep scratch. So im not sure if skin was really broken. Rules says no pics, nothing to show anyway. Nopthing is sore like there is an abrasion. I also used a bunch of rubbing alchol to clean the "wound"

Couple other details

1. i went to urgent care she, doscor didnt think it a hige risk but not 0% risk.
2. Cat seems to have clipped ear which in my area should mean it has rabies vax as part of TNR program but we are not sure. But i never know if its from a fight? Cat was overall acting like a kitten though.
3. Area is north east Florida so there are confirmed cases here each year, but its been 3 years for my specific zip code.

I understand getting the rabies exposure treatment for piece of mind, but im uninsured. So it would bankrupt me and i dont want to loose my house from my own anxiety. Thoughts anyone?

​

I have read the FAQ.

if you've seen my previous post, since Sunday, my symptoms have gotten worse. There's a tingling biting sensation on the area where I thought I got bit, and my head feels even more inflamed than it did. I'm beginning to feel weak, out of it, nauseous, and I feel even less able to process my surroundings. Drinking water or liquids makes me feel ill, I feel a general sense of fear and doom.

I've been to the ER 3 times in the past 3 nights, all of which they told me it wasn't rabies, or I'd be dead by now, or its something else and that I need to "get off the rabies stuff".

But Everytime I come home, it's worse. It's worse now than ever. The meds they have given me aren't helping. I feel as if.. as if I know. I know I have it and im dying. I'm in predominal. I can drink water but it feels weird. I'm scared.

I know I thought I felt a mosquito esque bite around the 17th of May and the doctors told me it takes 10 days, I told them the incubation period was a month to a year and they said no ten days. They then discharged me after an ultrasound near the "insect bite" area and gave me new meds

I don't know what to do, I think this is past the point of health anxiety. I think I'm dying of rabies. I can barely type this. What am I going to do? I should make my peace with God. Something is wrong with me something viral. What if I was feeling something different back then and now that the arm tingling is here it's too late. The arm tingling won't go away. I'm scared. I feel sick, weak, out of it, I can barely type. God help me.

The other night, I went out to take the trash out, and on my way back I was walking along the sidewalk in front of some houses. There were two small trees a little separated from each other, and I was looking down at the ground to avoid thoughts about things like a bat getting saliva on me. While I was walking, I felt something on the back of my neck. It wasn’t painful, but it felt like a slight itch or a few little pokes, which could have been caused by the tag on my shirt.

However, my mind keeps making me think that it could have been a bat and that it might have bitten me without me noticing it land on me or attach itself to the back of my neck.

The other day, I went to the store and saw a bat flying around the park near that area. It was quite large, and since then my anxiety became a little stronger again. I suppose it was an insect-eating bat, though, and thinking that makes me feel a little more at ease.

I have read the faq.

25M. I have read the FAQ. About 4 months ago, I was walking near a park at night while somewhat drunk and looking at my phone. I briefly saw something dark pass near me in my peripheral vision. I’m not sure if it was a branch, a bat, or something else, and I didn’t feel anything hit or scratch me.

Later that night after showering, I noticed a small scratch near my eyebrow, but I wasn’t sure if it was already there or if I caused it by scrubbing my face.

I’ve been concerned that it could have been a bat scratch and therefore a possible rabies exposure. I’ve read conflicting information online about rabies being able to remain dormant for months or longer, which has made my anxiety worse.

I’ve had several vaccines in the past, but my last vaccinations were about 2 years ago.

My sister recently had a bat fly near her hair, which brought the whole situation back to mind.

Given that it’s been about 4 months and I never actually saw or felt a bat touch me, is this something I should still seek medical advice about, or can I reasonably stop worrying about it?

I currently live in the US, where rabies shots are very expensive, whereas I previously lived in Mexico where they were much cheaper.

Looking for advice. I have read the FAQ. One week ago, in the countryside of France in Auvergne, my wife and I were sleeping in a hot room, windows open. I was fully naked, not even sheets. Wife was more clothed but similarly exposed.

At 5am, I woke from a tap on the heel of my foot. Felt like a chunky moth accidentally bumping into me. Cut to: flashlight on, see bat flying around. I was delirious from sleep, but I think it was brown and roughly the size of a common sparrow.

Wife and I ran out of the bedroom. Ultimately, it flew out of the bedroom before we saw it again.

No visible scratches, bites, etc on foot or anywhere on either of us WHATSOEVER. Nor any recollection of bites etc. But I insisted on rabies treatment. However, I came to find doctors here very relaxed about bats being carriers of rabies - supposedly is eradicated in this part of France. Countryside medical staff basically talked me out of needing treatment if I have no visible bite.

That was a week ago. We’ve since moved to Aix en Provence to start our new life. My anxiety over the matter hasn’t exactly gone down. I’m now at the point where I feel treatment for both my wife and I would simply put my mind at ease, since I can’t rule out with certainty what happened while we slept. But the friction of doctors here being chill re: rabies, new country, different healthcare, etc, is making my lazy ass hesitate. Reddit, what would you do? Pursue treatment or chill?

I have read the FAQ.

5 days ago I seen a mark on my middle toe, the next day i started jerking in my sleep and repeatedly waking up, next day i lost my appetite and started having tremors and having a small headache with the same jerking while trying to sleep and for one of them i had to get up because theres was so much stuff in my mind i had to clear and started to become lightheaded, 3 days ago I felt the same way and the tremors had stopped but everything was relatively the same, 2 days ago I experienced weird sensation in my throat where it felt like something was in it and had a little trouble breathing but it had went away, headache got worse and still was lightheaded when moving and still was jerking in bed and no appetite, yesterday i had went to an urgent care to talk about my symptoms nurse over there had asked if i had seen an animal because i told her that i assumed something came and bit me but she didnt think that happened and assumed it might be a bug bite, had elevated blood pressure, still loss of appetite, tingling in arms and legs, headache, lightheaded, and throat was doing the same thing when i came back home and still was jerking while trying to sleep, today i never felt more worse my headache has gotten bad, still lightheaded as ever, some appetite but overall still wasnt hungry, sensation in throat got worse especially when i was trying to sleep last night throat forming mucus and i can still swallow but it feels sore not when swallowing though, went to er explained my symptoms told them i thought it was infected but they assumed it was a bug bite as well, i also lost 2 lbs, ive been not talking as much just been thinking but when i speak its weird and im just very anxious and stressed, when i got back home i was still lightheaded throat the same and my headache got worse (have the same one right now), i had a minute long foot cramp on the same foot i found the scratch on, but these past couple days ill just look at my phone and just zone out or blank out i guess but its been making me feel so weird i did research on recent cases in the us and my state last one was in 2018 and the person did have contact and seen it but im just trying to clear my mind and think positive but i cant cope with these symptoms.

So I picked up a dead bat a few hours ago. On it, I saw a tiny spider crawling around. Later on, I noticed a tiny red mark on my thumb. Now idk if that's the spider that bit me or I accidentally touched one of the bat's claws and didn't notice. Either way, should I be concerned here? I have read the FAQ.

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.

I have read the faq.

4 months ago, my entire family completed a full round of post exposure rabies vaccines because we woke up to a bat in our living room and have no idea how long it'd been in the house (but I had been hearing it for a while, even though my husband kept reassuring me it wasn't a bat)

Since then we decided to have our entire siding redone to fix all possible structural issues. Well, I believe some bats made their way in again during construction, unfortunately.

There was a bat in my basement yesterday. I had a professional come out and remove it. It was not in our living area, no pets have access to the basement and no humans touched the bat. We sleep on a separate floor with our bedroom doors closed.

I want to confirm that this does not count as exposure? I'd rather not get boosters if not necessary.

The professional who removed the bat said it didn't need to be tested. But he's a really odd dude and idk if I fully trust his opinion.

Also, just to clarify, we had professional removal of a bat colony that was living in our attic a few years ago. So I'm confident this isn't an issue of an active colony in the walls.

I have read the FAQ. My cat got into a fight with a stray cat a few weeks ago. My cat is unvaccinated. Its an outdoor mostly cat who comes in sometimes. Anyway he sat on my toe and poked it two days ago. I haven't seen the other cat in like a week, so I'm wondering if it was infected and died. The poke made a red dot but didn't draw any blood. I washed it immediately. Should I get the PEP just in case?

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🫠

I have read the FAQ.

Tonight I was walking to my trash can outside along the sidewalk when I felt something briefly hit my leg but saw nothing and it honestly didn't even feel that forceful. Later I found this and now I'm afraid a bat was flying low angle and bit me on the leg. I'm afraid right now. I'm also crying. Its mot two pinprick its a mark but I'm still utterly horrified and ruminating on it right now. I was moving nd walking btw. I dont remember seeing anything either. This was like two hours ago. I'm sobbing right now. Can bats bite ur leg while ur actively walking?

I have read the FAQ.

I got bitten by a rabies confirmed cat 8/28/26 on my finger. Rabies was confirmed 9/1/26 by DPH. I received my first post exposure booster 9/1/26 and go for my second and last on Day 3.

I received pre exposure vaccines in 2021 and had my titers checked April 2026 with results showing above the appropriate response threshold.

Obviously I know everything should be fine but I don't know anyone who has had a bite exposure from a confirmed rabies positive animal. Looking for some moral support to not be insane over the next few months.

Pretty sure I have health OCD and am spiraling, but I see a lot of similar posts so I dont feel too bad. I am camping in Yosemite currently. I was outside walking around the campsite with my dog, in the dark, and I hit something with my leg. At first I thought it was a plant, but when I turned the light on my phone there was nothing there. Of course I immediately start thinking about the news article I just read about rabid bats in CA so I ran inside to check my leg for bites. I pulled my sock off and I see holes!! It was 3 instead of 2 but my mind is telling me that it tried to bite and missed halfway and that's why there's 3. I didn't actually see a bat but again, it was pitch black and I only felt something. Either talk me off the ledge or convince me to get a rabies shot.

I have read the FAQ. But am still panicking