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kestrel91316

(51,666 posts)

25. I feel so bad for you. But because it is prevention, you

Sat Sep 7, 2013, 11:25 PM

Sep 2013

might be able to get it covered. Under Obamacare, preventive vaccines are 100% covered. I believe that has already kicked in. Do look into it. NO ONE should have to foot this bill themselves, especially if they have "insurance".

Mine was completely covered by the county health department. I suffered complications from the immunoglobulin and they even covered my stay at County-USC in the infectious diseases ward. Lots of people got exposed to the cat and they all got taxpayer-funded preventive measures.

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Has anyone here ever been treated for post rabies exposure? [View all] JanMichael Sep 2013 OP

I understand it is a series of shots in your stomach hfojvt Sep 2013 #1

Hate to say this, but you are wrong on just about everything you wrote JanMichael Sep 2013 #3

Well, it's definitely better now enlightenment Sep 2013 #9

They don't even bother to investigate rodent bites WRT rabies anymore, kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #19

That is interesting. enlightenment Sep 2013 #22

Bats commonly carry rabies. Squirrels, NEVER. kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #27

Okay - maybe it was a different critter. enlightenment Sep 2013 #47

Oh, I don't doubt that he got treated. I just think back then kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #49

Can't disagree with that. enlightenment Sep 2013 #68

You and me both!! As a vet student I had a single dose of the kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #72

Yikes. enlightenment Sep 2013 #73

That was over 30 years ago. Since 1981 we have been able to get the human diploid cell vaccine, and kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #76

Not never. LisaL Sep 2013 #79

I doubt that. I don't think it's ever been documented in wild squirrels. kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #82

what about them black squirrels with a white stripe down their back? ChairmanAgnostic Sep 2013 #101

Those, my dear, are a HUGE rabies problem in some states. kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #104

I graduated from tomato juice to hydrogen peroxide and baking soda ChairmanAgnostic Sep 2013 #110

I hear it works 1000% better, though, than tomato juice. kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #120

A SQUIRREL....on the WHITE HOUSE LAWN???? In the FIFTIES?????? MADem Sep 2013 #38

*SNORK* enlightenment Sep 2013 #46

SNORT! And that would explain why people would be scared that he could spread rabies! LeftishBrit Sep 2013 #61

that's cool hfojvt Sep 2013 #14

About 3 percent of bats in the US JanMichael Sep 2013 #15

Wow. Glad I didn't know that when I was a kid. MH1 Sep 2013 #102

You are fortunate. You could have become a mere statistic or, kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #106

Yeah, I know that now, and more importantly, if it happens again I'll know to go to the doctor. MH1 Sep 2013 #108

I don't believe that the shots are in the stomach today. Curmudgeoness Sep 2013 #7

Exactly...we have always enjoyed them JanMichael Sep 2013 #11

The "Pasteur" treatment with the duck embryo vaccine in the abdomen kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #21

How long does immunity last? Barack_America Sep 2013 #37

Duration of immunity is an individual variable. kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #45

Are you saying that the pre-exposure shots Curmudgeoness Sep 2013 #91

Day 1 of the post-exposure protocol involves a gigantic injection of immunoglobulin kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #93

It is amazing how much the OP is looking at for a cost then. Curmudgeoness Sep 2013 #94

Exactly. And under Single Payer that would vanish - Uncl Sam would say we'll pay you 3x cost, period kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #96

That whole process became obsolete OVER 30 YEARS AGO. kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #18

If you are sleeping or otherwise unconscious you could be bitten and not know it. pnwmom Sep 2013 #20

I am sorry that you have to go through this. Curmudgeoness Sep 2013 #2

We would not have known to call the county health dept. JanMichael Sep 2013 #6

Uh, get the treatment. Rabies is nearly 100% fatal. Warren Stupidity Sep 2013 #4

We started treatment as soon as we found out JanMichael Sep 2013 #8

I don't know how quickly you have to have the shots. MissB Sep 2013 #5

Nope. Not in our county JanMichael Sep 2013 #10

My friend had a bat in her bedroom several years ago dflprincess Sep 2013 #12

About 70 yrs. ago when I was an infant broiles Sep 2013 #13

That is a great story! JanMichael Sep 2013 #16

I have. I got the preventive shots in vet school but was sick with the flu the day kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #17

You were lucky JanMichael Sep 2013 #23

I feel so bad for you. But because it is prevention, you kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #25

Yep...and nope. Obamacare rules haven't quite kicked that in yet JanMichael Sep 2013 #28

Take your cat in for a rabies booster just in case. kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #32

She just had one JanMichael Sep 2013 #33

also need to add JanMichael Sep 2013 #34

There are at least 2 documented cases in the US of cats who never kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #40

I do believe that the protocol calls for all pets inside the home to kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #39

This wouldn't be considered Sgent Sep 2013 #41

What is your expertise in this area, and do you have a link of some sort? kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #48

Check you DUMail Sgent Sep 2013 #52

TL;DR Sgent Sep 2013 #53

The policy with respect to universally fatal infectious diseases kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #55

Originally this was a good thing Sgent Sep 2013 #57

I agree Marrah_G Sep 2013 #89

Everything everybody ever wanted to know about rabies, and then some: kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #24

Thanks....there is also a link JanMichael Sep 2013 #26

Currently listening to a great book on this Marrah_G Sep 2013 #90

Oh thanks for reminding me, I keep forgetting to pick up a copy of Rabid. Now that kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #92

It's a favorite topic of interest for me :) Marrah_G Sep 2013 #95

I love infectious diseases, period. That's probably because of my undergrad degree in microbiology. kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #97

Current PEP protocol: kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #29

Wildlife rabies in the US: kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #30

Human rabies in the US: kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #31

2K out of pocket? Wow hibbing Sep 2013 #35

Once Obamacare kicks in in 2014, this treatment kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #42

I was treated with 21 shots in my stomach. karmaqueen Sep 2013 #36

They sure have. That treatment protocol disappeared forever kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #43

Why did the shots have to be in the person's stomach? I've always wondered that. nt raccoon Sep 2013 #77

I'm not sure why they were given in the skin/muscle of the abdomen (the stomach is an internal organ kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #81

That seems very high Sgent Sep 2013 #44

In this county...and most counties in NC JanMichael Sep 2013 #64

Some drug stores offer the vaccination struggle4progress Sep 2013 #50

You mean they administer it??? ROFL. kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #56

Fair enough. I didn't check carefully: they're probably offering a pre-exposure protocol struggle4progress Sep 2013 #58

Important difference, lol. But I am THRILLED to see that the kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #71

I can order it on line/by mail and administer (veterinary) with no scrip or supervision Kali Sep 2013 #100

That would be animal rabies vaccine, not human. kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #103

yes that is what I said Kali Sep 2013 #105

Oh my. Generic Other Sep 2013 #51

I was bitten by a raccoon Peaceplace80 Sep 2013 #54

OMG, that some thing happened to my friend next door. David__77 Sep 2013 #60

I know A LOT about this topic, and some of your information is incorrect. FourScore Sep 2013 #59

What did I write that was incorrect? JanMichael Sep 2013 #63

You seem a little defensive. FourScore Sep 2013 #75

I seem defensive because you spent an hour JanMichael Sep 2013 #84

Sorry if I offended. I was just trying to help. n/t FourScore Sep 2013 #118

We also started with the state wildlife department JanMichael Sep 2013 #65

Oh dear. Where to start? kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #109

WTF? I was trying to help. FourScore Sep 2013 #117

I think it would have helped to leave the ALL CAPS and multiple kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #119

They were meant to point out the most important stuff. FourScore Sep 2013 #121

Very best wishes - I hope the treatment isn't too unpleasant, and that the financial aspects are LeftishBrit Sep 2013 #62

We have good insurance....the cheapest out of pocket cost...will be around 2 grand SwissTony Sep 2013 #66

correct. Kestrel posted some CDC links JanMichael Sep 2013 #67

One of our local weathermen recently had a similar experience. MNBrewer Sep 2013 #69

My raccoon bit me. I didn't surrender him roseBudd Sep 2013 #70

One question: why do you have a raccoon? Marrah_G Sep 2013 #116

While we're on the subject of rabies..................... kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #74

The treatment isn't prohibitively expensive Warpy Sep 2013 #78

The treatment is prohibitively expensive JanMichael Sep 2013 #83

It wasn't always that way Warpy Sep 2013 #87

Back when I was a child, I got bit by a dog and had to have rabies shots. LisaL Sep 2013 #80

My sister rescued a sick horse. Turns out it had rabies. She went to the doctor and morningglory Sep 2013 #85

I'm glad you were told to go get treated Marrah_G Sep 2013 #86

Do you get many cases of rabies in the US ? dipsydoodle Sep 2013 #88

Do we?? And howdy!!!! Take a look: kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #112

Thanks dipsydoodle Sep 2013 #123

As a veterinarian I have had the "pleasure" of kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #124

Yes telclaven Sep 2013 #98

All we need is an occasional single booster. kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #113

I had a bat clamp on to my face a few years back. Went through the whole $ shot thing. Owl Sep 2013 #99

Whoa. That's intense. FourScore Sep 2013 #122

I don't know--but don't you have to be bitten to get rabies? Deep13 Sep 2013 #107

You can get rabies without a bite AND DIE. I had kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #114

good to know. nt Deep13 Sep 2013 #125

I was bitten by a rabid dog and took 14 painful shots in my stomach dem in texas Sep 2013 #111

Not only are the shots not painful now, kestrel91316 Sep 2013 #115