PLEASE PRAY FOR ME: Cat Bite & Rabies Shots!

[kimlovescats]

EDIT: Pictures added on post #61


To make as short of a story as possible, a stray male cat showed up on my front porch the past couple of days. Yesterday afternoon, I fed him and he seemed friendly and I was able to pet him. Last night around 9 pm, I was reaching down to pet him and he turned and bit down with all 4 of his fang teeth into the fatty part of my palm! Around midnight, my hand was hurting, red and swelling .... went to the ER. They put me on two anti-biotics and recommended rabies shots.

Today animal control has a trap set ... of course the kitty left "the scene of the crime" last night. I'm guessing he will come back for more food soon. Meanwhile I have to make a decision on whether or not to start the shots. I had a call into my regular doctor and her office just called back and she said that I should start the shots right away at the ER.

To say that I am scared is an understatement. PLEASE PRAY FOR ME!!!!

Kim

[MoonandBean]

Kim,

rabies shots are nothing nowadays. They are nothing like the rabies shots we've all heard about in the past...painful and in the stomach...yuck! Now they just give a series of 5 shots in the arm...just like the hepatitis B series (that's 3 shots but close enough). I'm only saying this cause I'm sure you're thinking of the old days when it was a horrible experience...not the case anymore, thank God. Go start the series and everything will be OK...better safe than sorry.

http://www.vaccineinformation.org/rabies/qandavax.asp

Above is a good link I found.

Good Luck; keep us updated,
Deb

[kimlovescats]

My biggest fear is not the pain of the shots (I had a tetanus last night) but the side effects that I might have from the shots.

[catfamily]

Kim
I am so sorry this happened to you!First the ankles..now the palm..
It's good that "moonandbean" told you that it isn't as bad anymore
(the rabies shots).
So that at least is a load off your shoulders...but just the whole thing!!
You've had your share these past couple months.
I'm praying for you.
I know you'll be fine...better days are ahead.

i just read that your worried about side affects....i hope and pray you don't have any.

[kimlovescats]

Kim
I am so sorry this happened to you!First the ankles..now the palm..
It's good that "moonandbean" told you that it isn't as bad anymore
(the rabies shots).
So that at least is a load off your shoulders...but just the whole thing!!
You've had your share these past couple months.
I'm praying for you.
I know you'll be fine...better days are ahead.

i just read that your worried about side affects....i hope and pray you don't have any.

Thank you, Carla. I just sent out an e-mail to some other rescues, asking desperately for help with my bottle babies. (week old)

[Freedom]

Kim --

You do realize that, if they trap that kitty, it will be PTS!

I was bitten last Fall by a feral from one of the colonies; she was recuperating here for her 5 days of post op prior to being released. She "mysteriously" disappeared from my home before Animal Control arrived. She i now happily living in her colony, spayed, up to date on her shots, and blissfully unaware of how close she came to the unimaginable.

In fact, she disappeared from my home before I even went to the ER, as I knew what would happen. Yeah, my hand was lots more swollen and painful than it would have been but . . . she was OK, te hee. She'd had her rabies shot that morning along with the spay etc.

Hang in there, you WILL get through all of this.
Sandie

[kimlovescats]

Kim --

You do realize that, if they trap that kitty, it will be PTS!

I was bitten last Fall by a feral from one of the colonies; she was recuperating here for her 5 days of post op prior to being released. She "mysteriously" disappeared from my home before Animal Control arrived. She i now happily living in her colony, spayed, up to date on her shots, and blissfully unaware of how close she came to the unimaginable.

In fact, she disappeared from my home before I even went to the ER, as I knew what would happen. Yeah, my hand was lots more swollen and painful than it would have been but . . . she was OK, te hee. She'd had her rabies shot that morning along with the spay etc.

Hang in there, you WILL get through all of this.
Sandie

While I would not under normal circumstances want a cat to be PTS, I can't really say "poor kitty" and then die of rabies myself!!!

IN ADDITION: If he is aggressive with me (extremely cat-oriented person) and I ignore him, how many children in my neighborhood would he bite and have to go through prophylactic rabies shots just so "poor kitty" could live?

[catfamily]

kim
if there were any way i could bottle feed those babies for you i would...being to far away from you...i can't and i feel terrible about it.
i'd do it in a heartbeat...i am home and have the time.
i hope you find soomeone to help you with the babies.

[Taz_Zoee]

Oh no Kim, this is not good. I hope you will not have any side effects from the shots and will be better soon.
All you do for the animals around you, you are a true saint of a person.

[nancys]

Sending prayers your way. Have you found out if you need the shots or not?

[caseysmom]

I think Kim has started the shots...how are you doing today Kim? I am still worried about you.

[kimlovescats]

Thank you for the prayers and warm thoughts. I do appreciate them all! Yes, I did start the shots. I had 4 on Monday and will have another tomorrow (day 3) and then on days 7, 14 and 28. So far the only side effects are gas, cramping and slight diarrhea from having to take 2 strong antibiotics at the same time. As far as my hand goes, it is getting much better each day ... today it is much less painful! It looks like I got treatment quickly enough to keep the infection from spreading any further! The red line that was starting into my wrist is now gone!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS! Just continue to pray that the other shots go as well as the first with no side effects!

Here is a picture of my hand. It's hard to tell in it, but the infection was spreading down to the pen marks done by the ER nurse. I think you can tell how swollen and red my hand was though.



Kim

[pitc9]

OUCH!

I hope the side effects start to calm down.

{{{hugs}}}

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

OUCH !!!!! That looks like a very painful hand to me . I am glad you went to the doctor and that you got all necessary medication!! A cat-bite isn't something to ignore...
I am so sorry that this happened to you, PT's best and sweetest rescue-mommy!! I hope that all pain and swelling will be over soon!
Hugs

[jasonjuicer]

Good luck!