Let me start by saying I have had HA for a while. I always have been able to keep it relatively controlled. It started about a decade ago when I was in my 20s. I had a routine surgery that went bad. I went septic and almost died. Dr prepared my parents for the worst. Recovery from that was really hard for me physically and mentally. Every since then I have had a hard time trusting drs.
My situation. About a little over a month ago I let my dog out before bedtime. He took off to the back of the yard and I heard him growling and making noises (like he was fighting) and the fence getting hit. Lasted just a few seconds. Figured he saw an animal and went after it. Not sure if he physical got into an altercation with it or it got over the fence first.
I called him in right away and looked him over and didn’t notice any abrasions or marks on him initially. My dog is vaccinated, FYI. About 2 weeks go by and I was petting him and I felt a bump on his neck about 2 or 3 inches below his collar above his shoulder blade. It was a scab about the size of my pinky finger nail. Probably just under a 1 cm in diameter. It flaked up when I pet him. And was only connected on one side so I pulled it up and there was a tiny mark that started to bleed. Not sure how big or small the initial injury was that I found prior to it scabbing up.
My concern was, if the scab was from an animal that he got into a fight with 2 weeks ago could I have contracted rabies from touching his hair in that spot when I looked him over 2 weeks prior to prior when he ran out back? I don’t remember seeing blood or feeling wet hair when I looked him over but I can’t be certain of it. I also can’t be certain that he didn’t cut himself at a later date or just scratched himself to hard when itching himself. I usually have small scrapes on my hands because I work with them a lot. I am worried about saliva left from the animal that may have gotten on my hands.
I asked my dr about possible exposure and he said very unlikely. I even called the state health department and the state rabies exposure hotline and discussed the situation with them. They said it would take a lot of “ifs” for there to be an exposure. Animal had to actually interact with my animal. Animal would have to be rabid. Animal would have had to have saliva in large quantities on my dogs fur. I would have had to touch that spot with open wound on my hand. Saliva would have to contain enough virus to infect, Etc. They said the chance is extremely low and one even said it doesn’t sound concerning.
I know I did have a few cuts on my hands at that time. I don’t know if they were covered or scabbed over.
I was fine for a couple days and then started freaking out a bit and went to ER where they said no shot. Chances are ridiculously low for transmission. I was doing fine but then over the last couple days I started feeling run down. I have been waking up with a shooting pain in my right pectoral muscle the last 2 days and have been having twitching in my forearm, which I have convinced myself that the twitching is muscle spasms due to the virus in my body. My right arm also feels a bit weak.
My rational side says “what the hell are you babbling about.” However, I have been that 1 in millionth person before and I almost died from it. So I have this fear hanging over me.
I don’t want to bug my wife with it because she has helped me with other health concerns I have had. I know it drains her trying to get me back on track and I don’t want to put her through it again. I figured strangers will help. Lol. Can I get some reassurance here (as long as it is warranted)?
---------- Post added at 22:41 ---------- Previous post was at 22:40 ----------
Sorry for the novel I wrote.