Please address my concerns regarding rabies anxiety.
Hello doctor,
I came here for a second opinion and to get answers to some questions. I spoke to a doctor of general medicine today for my rabies anxiety. The incidents were as follows. Four years ago, a German shepherd of my friend scratched my hand. The dog died one and a half years after he bit me. I was scared but calmed down, as a dog cannot live very long. Eight months ago, some stray pups tried to climb onto my leg. Their claws poked me, but I did not receive any scratches. So, the doctor told me that rabies symptoms appear in three to eight weeks, and since it has been eight months, there is no need to worry. He prescribed me pre-exposure prophylaxis for my peace of mind and future protection. He said that if I got bitten in the future, I do not need to have extra doses of post-exposure prophylaxis. Today, I got a day-0 shot of Vaxirab.
My questions are: If there was no history of rabies or rabid dog in our locality, is there any chance of those pups getting infected? Some pups died, but some are still alive. What are my chances of getting rabies? Is it really that rabies symptoms occur in three to eight weeks? Are German shepherds aggressive by nature? Will pre-exposure prophylaxis really protect me? Please answer.
25 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
Why do I still have gastritis problem after a laparoscopic fundoplication?
Hello doctor,
I am a 29 year old, who is 1.83 m tall and weigh about 70 kg. My health problems started two years back, when I had a lot of stomach pains, though they went away quickly once I had a filling meal. After an endoscopy, the doctor observed a large axial hernia as well as moderately pronounced gastritis. I was prescribed PPI, and the problems went away for a while. The effects of the PPI seemed to diminish after a while as the pain returned during nights and while exercising. In the mornings, I suffered from severe heartburn and short-term breathing troubles possibly because stomach acid went into my lungs at night. Over time, I have been prescribed different PPIs like Pantoloc, Esomeprazole, and Pariet, and the dosage always increased.
As the symptoms did not improve, the doctors recommended a surgery last year. Beginning of this year, I had a laparoscopic fundoplication. I could not swallow anything, not water or even my saliva, during the first five days after the surgery. The doctors suspected this was due to strong swelling, and I was able to start swallowing again after the sixth day. After the suggested diet phase, I was able to eat almost everything and was very happy about that.
Since the end of last month, however, I have had strong symptoms again. I celebrated my birthday by drinking some alcohol the day before it started. The stomach pains, bloating, gurgling noises in my stomach, and most uncomfortably, pain in my lungs started again. The chest pains come mainly when I bend my upper body or when I turn in bed. My primary care doctor prescribed me 20 mg Pantoloc to take for a week, as she suspected gastritis. The symptoms were still present after a week, so the doctor who performed the surgery did another endoscopy. He determined it is a moderately pronounced gastritis and suggested three weeks of PPI therapy.
As I was still concerned about the pain in my chest, I also went to a lung specialist, who diagnosed an inflammation of the bronchi, probably caused by the yearlong influence of the stomach acid. He prescribed a Cortisone inhaler, which I have been using for two weeks now. Also, I currently take 40 mg Nexium in the morning and try to take a light diet. The conditions now have lasted for about six weeks already, and I am starting to worry. Can it be anything else? Is it normal that it takes so long? I should have no heartburn after the surgery, right?
18 Feb 2024 - 1 min read
Attaching ultrasound and semen analysis report. Is my report may cause infertility?
Hi doctor,
I am suffering from varicocele. I am attaching my ultrasound and semen analysis report. Please clarify me if it is infertility. Can I join the gym? I love to exercise. I feel no pain and all my body functions are good. I have varicocele for almost five years now. I am not on any medication. My age is 23. My height is 5'7" and weight is 62 kg.
06 Feb 2024 - 1 min read
I have a pinching pain in my arm, shoulder, palms and fingers. Why?
Hello doctor,
From the last two months, I have a pinching and wound-like pain in my left upper arm and shoulder. I also feel pain in my palm and fingers while bending, stretching or gripping.
02 Feb 2024 - 1 min read
My bowel movement is not satisfactory. Is that a symptom of IBS?
Hi doctor,
Around 3 to 4 years ago, I had normal bowel movements. My bowel movement was good enough that I had to wake up to go and felt quite empty, except sometimes I had to go in the evening and also no farts. I then moved to a new place and I think the water changed; still I was quite fine with two times bowel movements. I then moved to another place due to work where the water was not quite good in taste. I stayed in the same place for about 15 months. Here, my BM changed and I did not use to get the feeling of complete emptiness. I had to go in the evening every day. After a bowel movement, I used to get lots of burps and farts in the night.
Now, I have moved back to the place where I was 4 years ago, but my current situation is still the same. When I wake up, I do not get the normal urge for bowel movement. When I go to the toilet, initially, I will get farts and then stools. Though I go to restroom for three times in a day, I do not get the feel of emptiness. Is this IBS? I do not feel constipated and I do not have a complete watery stool or diarrhea. I feel quite normal other than the disgusting farty feeling during the day and the irritation that I have to go to the toilet more than three times a day. I do not what is wrong with my digestion or colon.
29 Jan 2024 - 1 min read
