HELP Might be Exposed to Brain Eating Amoeba

[AlwaysNervous]

I am beyond anxious and stressed. Monday September 16th I was paddle boarding in Austin Texas (in the Colorado River under the Bat Bridge) and I fell in. Upon falling in I took a load of water up my nose. The minute the water went up my nose I instantly panicked about it including naegleria fowleri a brain eating amoeba that just killed a Texas girl in the last few days. I am absolutely terrified. I spent all of last night sobbing between panic attacks. Today I went to the ER to get more information on it and they told me that they can not diagnose it until I am showing multiple symptoms. Right now I only have a headache (which rationally could be from all the crying - however - my anxiety is convincing me otherwise.) It takes 1 - 15 days for symptoms to appear and if they do is 99% fatal within 3 days. I am paralyzed by fear and even called out of work. Any advice on what to do would be appreciated. All I can do for the next 15 days is stress in copious amounts.

 

[Howlingvapor]

I understand that knowing the facts don’t always help, but I did some research and from 1962 to 2018 only 145 people have ever been diagnosed with a brain eating amoeba in the US. I know that may sound like a lot, but any cause of death that’s only in triple digits for that many years is probably nothing to worry about. I know the numbers don’t always help, for instance I know the odds of a commercial plane crashing are next to nothing, but I’m still terrified of flying. However knowing the statistics behind it helped my anxiety about it a lot. You gotta think about how many people that have jumped into that water just like you did and get water shot up their nose and ended up just fine.

I hope you don’t see my statistic as the classic “what are you worried about? You’re more likely to get struck by lightning than attacked by a shark.” Way of dismissing anxiety. It’s just something that helps me because when I understand the chances of something bad happening I don’t worry as much about it.


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[Mjh23]

Hey, I wanted to let you know I actually went through the same exact thing. Sometimes google can be our biggest enemy with anxiety. A few years ago I went on a trip to myrtle beach and I had just read an article about brain eating amebas. I remember after a wave hit my face and water went up my nose I bolted to the bathroom to blow out any water. I started crying because I thought an ameba went up my nose and was going to kill me. The next few days I couldn’t stop reading articles and had major headaches. I thought I also had the brain eating ameba. However, know that this is extremely rare. I know your mind fills itself with these worries and fixates on them. Mine did too. I hope you find comfort in knowing you’re not alone. You’re going to be fine! Hang in there.


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