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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to worry after a possible bat hit my forehead?

217 replies

OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 21:35

Hi all, this evening I decided to go for a walk as I’m struggling with my MH and anxiety - namely health anxiety. I was walking down a quiet street past a hedge when I felt something impact the side of my forehead. I was confused and thought something had been thrown at me but it appeared something flew off past me very quickly. I didn’t see what it was but due to the time I’m going to guess it was a bat.

My skin has no bleeding or wounds and I don’t think I was bitten or scratched by it.

However, I’m now completely beside myself. Google is telling me to call 111 for rabies advice but I text a few family members about it who seem to think it’s just funny and this is an over reaction, and my partner thinks the same.

i have extreme health anxiety so this is just a complete nightmare to me.

AIBU to panic over this?

OP posts:
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6
Anothercake · 09/09/2026 22:09

Do you even use Mumsnet if you haven't been hit in the head by a bat and panicked over rabies? I think not.

Ablondiebutagoody · 09/09/2026 22:08

OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 22:03

This is a bit rude really. It felt like the body of something rather than an object and it was dark and late. It’s not unreasonable to question if it was a bat.

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Maybe a weasel riding on the back of a woodpecker?

HexInductionHour · 09/09/2026 22:08

OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 21:48

It may well have been, as I didn’t see what it was for sure, but I don’t usually see birds flying around at this time of the evening so a bat seemed more likely.

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Call Van Helsing. He will know exactly what to do

vodkaredbullgirl · 09/09/2026 22:07

Robin will sort the bat out.

MsSmartShoes · 09/09/2026 22:07

YANBU - you’re probably batshit now.

HexInductionHour · 09/09/2026 22:05

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 09/09/2026 21:43

Baseball bat? Yes, seek medical attention.
Pipistrelle? No need to worry.

fantastic 🤣

Original poster
OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 22:05

PollyBell · 09/09/2026 22:03

Maybe people could get through to 111 easier if they had a dedicated health anxiety line so people with genuine issues could get through

Therapy is better than over using 111 it is there for a reason

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I’ve used 111 about once in the last five years for my toddler as advised by the GP. So it’s really bold of you to just make the assumption I ‘overuse 111’.

OP posts:
LadySlipper · 09/09/2026 22:05

OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 21:43

I don’t read on here as often anymore - has someone else had a similar issue? Lol

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I didn't post but I was trying to catch a bat this week, it got loose, started flapping and flew into my neck, got caught in my hair where was easily able to grab it and box it up to go off to the bat man! Only a mild bit of panic and a fair ole bit of laughing and humour. Definitely no concern whatsoever about rabies!

PollyBell · 09/09/2026 22:03

fudgesmummy · 09/09/2026 22:00

@OneQuickCoralQuoter
I can completely relate with how you are feeling.
I have got crippling health anxiety and once you have got an idea in your head it’s just impossible to dismiss it ☹️
If it was me I think I would try and tell myself that there is nothing I can do about it at the moment, that the chances of catching rabies is really very low. If I still feel as anxious in the morning I would contact 111.
I know it’s easy for me to give this advice, health anxiety can just take over your life

Maybe people could get through to 111 easier if they had a dedicated health anxiety line so people with genuine issues could get through

Therapy is better than over using 111 it is there for a reason

Original poster
OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 22:03

fudgesmummy · 09/09/2026 22:00

@OneQuickCoralQuoter
I can completely relate with how you are feeling.
I have got crippling health anxiety and once you have got an idea in your head it’s just impossible to dismiss it ☹️
If it was me I think I would try and tell myself that there is nothing I can do about it at the moment, that the chances of catching rabies is really very low. If I still feel as anxious in the morning I would contact 111.
I know it’s easy for me to give this advice, health anxiety can just take over your life

Thank you. ☺️

OP posts:
NotEnoughRoom · 09/09/2026 22:03

If you don’t have any broken skin, then even if it was a rabies-carrying bat, it would be difficult to contract rabies.

i wouldn’t even be worrying about this, but as you are, then give 111 a call. Flowers

Original poster
OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 22:03

Ablondiebutagoody · 09/09/2026 22:01

Bats have some serious echo location skills in order to chase insects in the dark. They ain't crashing into people's fucking foreheads

This is a bit rude really. It felt like the body of something rather than an object and it was dark and late. It’s not unreasonable to question if it was a bat.

OP posts:
Ablondiebutagoody · 09/09/2026 22:01

Bats have some serious echo location skills in order to chase insects in the dark. They ain't crashing into people's fucking foreheads

fudgesmummy · 09/09/2026 22:00

@OneQuickCoralQuoter
I can completely relate with how you are feeling.
I have got crippling health anxiety and once you have got an idea in your head it’s just impossible to dismiss it ☹️
If it was me I think I would try and tell myself that there is nothing I can do about it at the moment, that the chances of catching rabies is really very low. If I still feel as anxious in the morning I would contact 111.
I know it’s easy for me to give this advice, health anxiety can just take over your life

PenelopePinkerton · 09/09/2026 22:00

God, not another bat thread.

Keroppi · 09/09/2026 22:00

Yes I would do the same. Ring GP in the morning. Try and have a bath, relax, get some sleep and have a bag packed ready with bits if GP sends you to urgent treatment centre tomorrow or wherever has the vaccines. If you've been bitten you might feel some.pain over the night too so you'll know more by morning. If you're too worried then get up early morning and call 111 before your GP opens as they'll prob just send you to the same place anyway.

Blarn · 09/09/2026 21:58

Gertlushthatis · 09/09/2026 21:54

Is this the new plimsolls?

It does seem like it! Soon we will be unable to type horseshoe or mouse-eared!

DahliaDelights · 09/09/2026 21:58

My skin has no bleeding or wounds

so you think rabies is airborne? youve answered your own question. Rabies needs a cut or wound

NotSurprisedReallyNow · 09/09/2026 21:55

OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 21:42

I did ask and it’s telling me to call 111 for a rabies assessment which has just made me even worse.

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Just call them then and get the preventative treatment. It’s one of those things that is such a rare occurrence and a tiny risk but if you’re the one in a million unlucky one it’s not worth it to just hope for the best

BigWig78 · 09/09/2026 21:55

vodkaredbullgirl · 09/09/2026 21:50

Love bats.

The blooming Archers radio soap also had a bat in it last night!! Some Kind of weird bat propaganda going on…

vodkaredbullgirl · 09/09/2026 21:55

.

Dc Comics Batman GIF by HBO Max
Gertlushthatis · 09/09/2026 21:54

Is this the new plimsolls?

Blarn · 09/09/2026 21:54

Could it have been a moth. A moth as large as a small bird (OK, slight exaggeration but only just!) few into me at dusk the other day. Bats tend to be quite good at flying round things.

NolanChanceJustLikeTheWeatherNSoul · 09/09/2026 21:53

A ding bat perhaps
Or straight off the bat.🦇

Original poster
OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 21:53

Keroppi · 09/09/2026 21:52

Call 111 anyway or your GP in the morning, it does no harm and if you would feel better asking for advice then why not?

This is one of the prev threads
www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5567904-bat-flew-into-my-hair-aibu-to-seek-further-advice

Thank you. I’ll probably wait until morning now as it seems a bit silly to make a thing of it at this time. And I’m more than sure my OH will roll his eyes at me if I dial 111 lol.

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