TB

[Sara]

As in, tuberculosis.  Is anyone familiar with it?  During the whole pre-list workup Joe had, he had a TB test on his skin and I think it showed that he had been exposed but didn't have it?  Does that sound right?  He was put on a course of medicine for a little while.  Regarding the medicine, his doctor said it was no big deal and that he himself had taken it at one point.  What does this really mean?

[Epoman]

As in, tuberculosis.  Is anyone familiar with it?  During the whole pre-list workup Joe had, he had a TB test on his skin and I think it showed that he had been exposed but didn't have it?  Does that sound right?  He was put on a course of medicine for a little while.  Regarding the medicine, his doctor said it was no big deal and that he himself had taken it at one point.  What does this really mean?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuberculosis

They gave him a course of medicine to help him become immune to getting it. Usually it's 3 shots, 1 shot a month. When they tested him he was a Negative/Positve which meant that he did not have it, BUT he could get it. With the medicine they gave him, it will make him immune to getting it. He
may have to repeat the course of medicine in the future as the immunity can wear off.

I hope this helps.  I will be getting my course of shots next month. Although since I am no longer "in-center" my chance of getting TB has greatly decreased.

- Epoman

[Sara]

He was put on pills though, not shots.   

[kitkatz]

Epoman, I think you mean the Hep B shots with the course of three shots.  TB is a course of treatment with pills.   I am currently on it and am seen pretty regularly by pulmonary doctor who checks the liver levels.  The treatment can give you Hep C and liver problems so they keep on eye on it.  If the urine turns a darker color or you feel funny, they say to discontinue the pills and call the doctor.  So far so good.  It is usually a six to nine month treatment to make sure any TB cellls are killed before transplant.  I am into the 3rd or 4th month of it.  No signs of any nasty side effects. 

[Sara]

Thanks for the info.  He was only on pills for a few weeks I think, so I guess this is something I'm going to have to investigate with his neph.  What exactly the pills were, why not a longer treatment, etc. 

[Ohio Buckeye]

Here in central Ohio in one of the suburban schools an active case of TB was
diagnosed and now they are testing other students and have found about 19 people carrying TB
but not active. 

[Epoman]

Epoman, I think you mean the Hep B shots with the course of three shots.  TB is a course of treatment with pills.   I am currently on it and am seen pretty regularly by pulmonary doctor who checks the liver levels.  The treatment can give you Hep C and liver problems so they keep on eye on it.  If the urine turns a darker color or you feel funny, they say to discontinue the pills and call the doctor.  So far so good.  It is usually a six to nine month treatment to make sure any TB cellls are killed before transplant.  I am into the 3rd or 4th month of it.  No signs of any nasty side effects. 

  Oops, you are right, I was mistaken. For some reason I confused the two. Thanks. 

[mcjane]

Sara,

If you've ever been exposed to tuberculosis, your immune system produces antibodies to fight the disease. The antibodies stay with you so when they do a tine or skin test for TB you will always get a positive result.
It doesn't mean you have or ever had active TB, just that at one time you were exposed to it.

[Sluff]

How are things going Sara?