I just woke up to......Update

[annie1995]

Glad everything worked out then!!!! I'm sure its different in every area. They'll know where the rabies outbreaks are!! Hope you are feeling better now, and can relax about the little nasty bugger!

 

[DawnM]

If I can shake this *&^&%^ cold I will be fine!

DH threw the bat in the yard and today it is gone. I am thinking a hawk or something must have taken it off. Or, I guess there is a slim chance the thing wasnt' really dead????

Not sure.

Dawn

Glad everything worked out then!!!! I'm sure its different in every area. They'll know where the rabies outbreaks are!! Hope you are feeling better now, and can relax about the little nasty bugger!

 

[PinballFamily]

Dawn-
The reply from momoffiveboys was right on target. Please, please, please (re)consider her advice.

Yes, you were told correctly (more or less) that the chance of the bat being rabid is extremely small. But, rabies is 100% fatal, and by the time a person exhibits symptoms, it is too late. If the bat was flying around your house erratically, it doesn't sound good. We had exactly the same experience last summer, and there was NO question from our local board of health - the shots were mandatory. A bat's teeth are extremely small and pointed and a sleeping person can be bitten and not be aware of the bite. If adjoining bedroom doors were open, the bat could have been in anyone's room.

Your health insurance company may be concerned about the expensive cost of the shots and therefore *may* not be putting your health first. The series of gamma and vaccine shots run about $1,000 a person. We were totally covered $$$-wise for the series, but our doctors did have a bit of difficulty locating enough of the vaccine for our entire family. But, they did, ASAP.

Yes, people laughed at us - we were the "bat family" - but the feeling of being protected was well worth the relatively minor pain from the shots and the embarrassment of the situation. Not to scare you, but if one bat got in, perhaps more might sometime in the future - they can get into houses through spaces about the size of a dime. If so, please catch the bat safely and get it tested. AND START THE SHOTS.

(Note: My husband just walked past me and saw me on the disboards - again!!! - and rolled his eyes. I explained your posts/situation and that I was responding and his face grew very grave. He said "please tell her to take this very seriously and talk to her doctor again. She and her family should really get the shots.")

Sorry to be dramatic - but we've literally walked in your shoes on this one. Good luck - and keep us posted.

 

[DawnM]

Thanks. I can call again and talk to them again.

The bat was not flying erradically at all. It was just peacefully flying around. I was the erradic one!

I didn't call my insurance or the doctor. I called the CDC. They said that the bats we have here are fruit bats and not the kind that typically carry rabies or the kind that bite humans unless they are infected and then they asked a bunch of questions and said they were 99% sure it was not an infected bat.

The only reason the bat flew out of the bedroom (under the door) after we shut the door is because my husband was chasing it with a broom.

Thank you for your concern.

Dawn

Dawn-
The reply from momoffiveboys was right on target. Please, please, please (re)consider her advice.

Yes, you were told correctly (more or less) that the chance of the bat being rabid is extremely small. But, rabies is 100% fatal, and by the time a person exhibits symptoms, it is too late. If the bat was flying around your house erratically, it doesn't sound good. We had exactly the same experience last summer, and there was NO question from our local board of health - the shots were mandatory. A bat's teeth are extremely small and pointed and a sleeping person can be bitten and not be aware of the bite. If adjoining bedroom doors were open, the bat could have been in anyone's room.

Your health insurance company may be concerned about the expensive cost of the shots and therefore *may* not be putting your health first. The series of gamma and vaccine shots run about $1,000 a person. We were totally covered $$$-wise for the series, but our doctors did have a bit of difficulty locating enough of the vaccine for our entire family. But, they did, ASAP.

Yes, people laughed at us - we were the "bat family" - but the feeling of being protected was well worth the relatively minor pain from the shots and the embarrassment of the situation. Not to scare you, but if one bat got in, perhaps more might sometime in the future - they can get into houses through spaces about the size of a dime. If so, please catch the bat safely and get it tested. AND START THE SHOTS.

(Note: My husband just walked past me and saw me on the disboards - again!!! - and rolled his eyes. I explained your posts/situation and that I was responding and his face grew very grave. He said "please tell her to take this very seriously and talk to her doctor again. She and her family should really get the shots.")

Sorry to be dramatic - but we've literally walked in your shoes on this one. Good luck - and keep us posted.

 

[DawnM]

Ok, I called our local animal control and they seem more concerned than the CDC did.

I now have called my doctor and we will see what we will do.

The bat is gone. It has been eaten by something. So we can't test it.

DH is adament that he NOT get shots. Not sure why. I really don't need a rabit husband in my house! He is just like that.....won't ever see a doctor, won't go to the dentist, etc.....he drives me NUTS!

I am waiting for a call from my doctor.

Dawn

 

[Tikicampers]

Ok, I called our local animal control and they seem more concerned than the CDC did.

I now have called my doctor and we will see what we will do.

The bat is gone. It has been eaten by something. So we can't test it.

DH is adament that he NOT get shots. Not sure why. I really don't need a rabit husband in my house! He is just like that.....won't ever see a doctor, won't go to the dentist, etc.....he drives me NUTS!

I am waiting for a call from my doctor.

Dawn

I think your local animal control is probably more familiar with rabies outbreaks in your area. Having to get the shots would be awful, but if you don't get them early, it's too late. If your DR reccomends that you get them, I would do it.

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

Scary! Please keep us posted on what goes on with your doctor.

 

[DawnM]

What a hassle of a day!

The woman at the animal control was just the secretary. Truly she got me in a flurry.

Anyway, we located the remains of the bat and took it in. The trip was 40 min. each way and then we just got called and told there isn't enough of it left to test.

My doctor says not to worry.

I called the health department. They said not to worry.

The animal control dept. told me they have only seen 1 case of bat with rabies in a couple of years.

I really don't know what to do. My doctor said he doesn't give it anyway, it is ONLY given in emergency rooms here and they only like to give it if you have a visible bite. I would probably have to call my insurance and argue with them for some time on getting it. Meanwhile DH is adament that he will NOT be getting it.

This is all too stressful.

We are getting the dog's rabies booster on Thur.

Dawn

 

[annie1995]

You need a {{{hug}}} They are the experts, and if they don't feel it's a concern in your area, then I'm sure everything is fine!

 

[pweyl36]

Yes, please get the bat tested. CDC guidelines state that if you were sleeping and awoke to a bat flying around your room you should get rabies vaccination. If you get the bat tested you may be able to avoid that. Yest just had a family of 5 in our ER getting their first round of shots. Some places will even start the shots before the animal is tested and then stop the vaccination process if the animal tests negative. Vaccination involves getting rabies immunglobulin injections (these are based on your weight, injections go in your behind) and rabavert(this shot goes in your arm) You get another of the arm shots at day 3,7,14 and 28.(I'm pretty sure that's right don't have the paper in front of me) Good luck

This happened to the dr I work for.He just moved in to his house and found
bats in the attic. well he found out that his whole family had to get rabbie shot even though they were never bitten,He read an article about a man who had bats in his attic,had them removed then he started to get real sick and died.After the autopsy they found out he had rabbies.So you should call your dr for an appt.

 

[DawnM]

Ok, another issue with the doctor.....

Apparently in our state, or maybe just this county.....rabies shots are ONLY given at an emergency room. The health dept. and the doctor both told me that at the ER they will want confirmation that I was actually bitten. I know what the CDC website says, but they both said that if I had been bitten I would KNOW I had.

Dawn

 

[septbaby]

We've been there, done that! We live in an old house, across the street from a church(with a bell tower). We've probably had 2 or 3 of the little critters in 8 years.

My DH tries to catch them in a towel and then lets them back out.
Marcy

Marcy, its actually the same bat.

 

[Juliet25]

Ok, another issue with the doctor.....

Apparently in our state, or maybe just this county.....rabies shots are ONLY given at an emergency room. The health dept. and the doctor both told me that at the ER they will want confirmation that I was actually bitten. I know what the CDC website says, but they both said that if I had been bitten I would KNOW I had.

Dawn

Dawn,

I don't want to add to your stress, but the PP was right -- if you wake up in a room with a bat flying around, you need to get the bat tested. Since you tried this already with no luck, your family really does need the shots. It sounds as if the bat was not rabid since it was flying around just fine, but better safe than sorry, right?

Check the cdc website. Shots are most definetely recommended.