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As a part of working at ds's coop preschool, I had to have a TB test. It came up positive, so they did a chest X-Ray to rule out active TB. That came out ok. The doctor referred me to an infectious disease specialist, who asked me a bunch of questions about my history. He said based on what I'd told him and the size of my TB reaction, it wasn't mandatory that I take the antibiotic they have for TB, but that I could go on to develop active TB unless I take the medication. The thing is, you have to take it every single day without fail for 9 months, I would still always test positive, and there is no way to know 100% whether the antibiotic worked unless I had active TB. I don't like the idea of being on an antibiotic for 9 months (I have had candida issues in the past), especially since the side effects are pretty bad -- hepatitis for one.
I should add that I'm sort of on the edge of being in the higher risk group -- I was homeless for awhile about 16-17 years ago, during which time I ate in soup kitchens several times, although I never actually stayed at a shelter. Then around 1993 I got sick with bronchitis and was treated at several medically indigent clinics, in San Francisco, during which time I remember hearing that one of the other patients had TB.
Any advice? I'm also going to see a naturopath as soon as I can get an appointment.
I should add that I'm sort of on the edge of being in the higher risk group -- I was homeless for awhile about 16-17 years ago, during which time I ate in soup kitchens several times, although I never actually stayed at a shelter. Then around 1993 I got sick with bronchitis and was treated at several medically indigent clinics, in San Francisco, during which time I remember hearing that one of the other patients had TB.
Any advice? I'm also going to see a naturopath as soon as I can get an appointment.