I was bitten by a dog a few days ago, and I got the first of a series of rabies shots. I got one on 8/12, and should get one more on 8/19 and one on 9/2.
Well, it was the *wrong *kind of rabies shot. It was the pre-exposure shots, not the post-exposure shots.
Pre-exposure = 3 shots of vaccine.
Post-exposure = 1 shot of rabies immunoglobin (RIG,) + 5 shots of vaccine.
This may be a first such instance in medical history. What to do now? Do I go get a shot of RIG anyway, even though the order was mixed up (should be RIG first, then vaccine minutes later…not vaccine first then RIG days later). Does that cause any issues/problems in the body (order of shots mixed up?)
Also, if I do get the RIG, do I need 2 more shots of rabies vaccine, or 4? On what timetable? Why can’t it just be 1 shot?
Given the gravity of rabies, you consult with a medical professional. You do not ask for advice from random people on a message board.
This said, I’m aghast that if you got the original shot from a medical professional they would screw it up. I would suggest going to another practitioner since the first appears to be incompetent.
Rabies isn’t something to mess around with, stop asking for message board guesses and see a doctor. If your regular doctor is the one who gave you the wrong shots, go to another doctor and maybe talk to a lawyer about a malpractice suit.
I am going to guess that the HRIG was not available to whomever you saw. That is fine , the HRIG can be administered up to day 7, (7 days after the original vaccine). And I believe that you will get 3 more shots of vaccine.
CDC cite . From 2010, this is the protocol that we used several years ago, I am not sure if it has been changed.
It’s been 7 days since the bite. But don’t quarantines for biting animals run 10 days, and if the animal is sick, the human can still get the HRIG? That’s what Animal Control advised…
This is what I find for cost… ". Although the cost varies, a course of rabies immune globulin and four doses of vaccine given over a two-week period typically exceeds $3,000. "
With the order mixed up (should be RIG first, then vaccine, not vaccine first then RIG days later) - does that cause any issues/problems in the body (order of shots mixed up?) Shouldn’t, since the RIG and human-made antibodies don’t “conflict” with each other?
The protocol times are for administration of vaccines, not from exposure.
The quarantine time is 10 days for “an animal that appeared healthy at the time you were bitten”. If the animal does not have rabies, you can stop the protocol.
How do you know it was the wrong kind of shot? From the medical professional who gave it to you? I mean, how would you know this, if the doctor doesn’t? And if the doc thinks it’s okay, maybe it is okay.
Nope, you’re screwed. Your only chance now is to saw off your head and hope they can remove the virus under a microscope. Oh, and the rest of your shots will need to be given anally.
Seriously dude, you were nipped by a non-symptomatic pet, who is otherwise healthy, has had his vaccines, and is currently under quarantine with Animal Control. If you’d been attacked by a feral dog who ran away afterwards, we’d be having a different discussion. But you weren’t, and we’re not.
There’s a reason all the medical professionals you spoke withrefused to give you the treatment last week. It’s because, in their medical judgement, you don’t need the treatment.
You don’t have rabies. When you talk to your doctor about the misguided shot, ask him to help glue your wig down. It keeps flying off.
Okay, that other thread puts things in a different light. Based on the OP in this thread, I was assuming that Velocity had been told by medical professionals that he might have rabies and not diagnosed himself with the disease.