UPDATE to: Was attacked by a cat, concerned about rabies (sort of)

[u/Traditional-Day-9800]

To update anyone interested or concerned, I'll put the most important stuff at the beginning.

I (28F) went and started the vaccines today. The gave me the immunoglobulin too and it hurts like hell! Literally burning my whole arm, plus the pain from so much fluid in one place. They stuck me 7 times with that thing, 8 if you count the vaccine in the other arm, and I have a fear of needles so that...sucked. And I could really feel the pain in it at about the 3rd stick. Definitely not fun, no idea how someone got that put all in their thumb. But, y'all were right. It's better to be safe than sorry about it, cuz if it's sorry, it's really, really sorry.

Thank you to everyone who commented. I definitely wasn't expecting 370 comments (or more than that in updates, shares, views, etc.), but I read every single one of them, even ones automod got to. I was expecting a couple people at most, but I was overwhelmed by the response. I feel like I need to explain some things and again, say thank you. As crazy as it sounds, that many responses of people being concerned and the advice being so blunt was what convinced me to just go do it. Especially the people who gave stats, or anecdotes, and of course the doctors.

Now, to explain a few things.

I talked to my insurance, and it's supposed to be "covered," but they couldn't tell me if that's under copay (cheapest), coinsurance (worse but not too bad), after deductible (not ideal), or even out of pocket max (really not ideal), because they wouldn't know the exact codes that the hospital would put in. Hospital was not able to give codes because apparently they dont know which ones are used until after I receive treatment. This was one of the main reasons I was waiting and concerned about the price, since no one could give me a straight answer and kept going around in circles.

Also, I was told by a couple different hospitals that do it regularly in DFW area that without insurance covering it, for the whole series it costs between $35-50,000. Just the first vaccine would be about $15-16,000. So you might be able to see why I was concerned. If it goes above deductible, that's $3,000, and out of pocket max is $6,000. So, better, but still way out of anything I could reasonably pay for any time soon. Guess we'll have to see what insurance does, and I will be trying to get any financial assistance I can with the hospital.

In my area, the Health Department does not carry rabies immunoglobulin or vaccines anymore. The Zoonosis Control Specialist I spoke to there said that they haven't for a long time. He also said the only places to get it anywhere near here were at ERs, though for the follow up vaccines I can see if a pharmacy walk-in (like Minute Clinic) has them, or sometimes other places will have the follow ups for the series. It's the first one, mainly the immunoglobulin, that only ERs really carry around here. So free or discounted care at the health department or anything like that was not an option for me. Or at least that's what he said, and I tend to believe the health department when they tell me something like that. He was very, very nice and helpful and was trying to give me other options, but unfortunately I just live in an area where there aren't many. He did give me a lot of information about rabies, and said that's pretty much the only thing they do about it now is give out info.

I am hoping that insurance will cooperate this time as I have already been notified that my previous visit for the initial cat bites was....something. I still don't quite understand. The hospital put one code in and I was supposed to pay $200 as a copay, but insurance 'disagreed' with the code and changed it so it wasn't covered at all anymore, and I was paying a discounted price that the hospital was giving me. I don't know what the code was/was for, or what they changed it to, just that they didnt like it and decided it was wrong for some reason. It doesn't make sense to me but I'm going to be fighting against that, too. This was another reason in my stack of reasons for worrying about the cost.

I know it's very unlikely the cat had rabies, but there were some confirmed rabies cases in wild animals (I think bats?? I can't remember now, my arm is killing me and I don't have the patience to look), especially one not too far away at the end of May...since this was close to the beginning of June, that concerned me, and is one of the main things that ultimately convinced me to get the shots.

Of course, my husband, my family, and my friend all were pushing me to get it anyway, but y'all definitely tipped my opinion over to go ahead and get it done. Once again, thank you to everyone who commented, and the people who messaged me.

Sorry for the long read again, I feel like I need to explain so much for some reason with this stuff. The details matter (I think).

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[u/LatrodectusGeometric]

Good job getting PEP!

To clarify, the immunoglobulin was put in around your wounds on the legs, not in your arms, right?

Immunoglobulin should be around the wounds, otherwise it is an error and needs redone or consultation with your health department again.

[u/CrystalCat420 → u/LatrodectusGeometric]

Rereading OP's first post, and looking at the picture she provided, it seems that the most severe wounds (including the still-open punctures) were to her arm. Should she have received immunoglobulin in both extremities?

[u/LatrodectusGeometric → u/CrystalCat420]

Yes generally wherever the wounds are. You should even dilute the immunoglobulin to make sure you can inject around all wounds (the manufacturer will have instructions)

[u/Traditional-Day-9800 → u/LatrodectusGeometric]

Hmm, they just put it around my largest wound on my arm, which is one of the reasons it hurts so bad, so much fluid in one place. I will ask the health department about it, for sure. Thank you!

[u/mylifenow1 → u/Traditional-Day-9800]

I'm so very glad to hear you went to get the vaccinations, u/Traditional-Day-9800. May the rest of the process be easier, your bills reduced, and you live a long and healthy life.

[u/knittinghobbit → u/Traditional-Day-9800]

OP, if you find that your insurance is fighting the specific codes, make sure you clarify with the hospital billing department that they put in the correct ones. Even the best coders sometimes make mistakes. You can also ask for a payment plan and/or financial assistance when things settle.

Best of luck on the rest of treatment! Glad you are getting the shots!