Wellness

[namaste000]

Back in 1971 I moved from NY to NC and got job as a hs teacher. The medical form for employment included the TB test. It came back positive! This does NOT mean you had or have TB. The tubercullin germ, as many others, will stay in your body for your lifetime. If your immune system becomes weak, then those germs may become active.

At that time I was told more than half the people in NYC would test positive. I took pills for about a year and have not thought it about it since. Once you test positive, you don't run that test anymore - it will always be in your system so you will always test positive.

[happycat]

On 7/20/2014 namaste000 said:

Back in 1971 I moved from NY to NC and got job as a hs teacher. The medical form for employment included the TB test. It came back positive! This does NOT mean you had or have TB. The tubercullin germ, as many others, will stay in your body for your lifetime. If your immune system becomes weak, then those germs may become active.

At that time I was told more than half the people in NYC would test positive. I took pills for about a year and have not thought it about it since. Once you test positive, you don't run that test anymore - it will always be in your system so you will always test positive.

I don't understand this. Because my dads sister had TB and he always tests positive, but has never had to take any pills. He tests positive on the skin test at the health dept. They nurses told him it was from being exposed to his sister.

[happycat]

On 7/20/2014 NanciJ said:

If your daughter hasn't had a TB test already, I would hope that she gets one now. Her roommate may not be contagious, but since they're roommates and close friends, they may have both been infected by the same person. I hope that your daughter is fine, and that her friend does well.

She got tested about 3 months ago, when she started a new job and was clear. But my dh saw where it takes about 8-10 weeks from exposure to it showing up. So, in essence, if both girls were exposed at the same time, then dds might not have shown up then. Because her friends just showed up last week.

[happycat]

On 7/20/2014 glmama said:

Wow, I hope that she heals and recuperates well.

I *think* that this is one of those diseases that is coming back. Since my children were born, I am asked at every visit-still to this day-a series of questions about who has come into contact with them. Of course this is a different population with lower immune defenses on some level, but I've read that it is being more vigilantly screened.

Thank you, I hope she does too. Her family is not in the picture unless they need something. She does have us and she has some H.S. teachers who are still involved in her life.

[happycat]

On 7/20/2014 annabellethecat said:

Due to so many people coming into the country who haven't had shots or TB tests, it would be a good idea for elderly to get tested.

There are a lot of diseases that are showing up that we haven't seen in years. Just try googling some of them.

Yes, you are right about that. There are lots of folks coming into this country, and who knows what they might be bringing with them.

[happycat]

On 7/20/2014 annabellethecat said:

Back in the 60's, during a routine military check-up my late husband's TB test came back that he'd been 'around' someone who had TB.

Back then he was told he didn't have TB but someone he'd been around had it. If I remember right, he took medicine for 1 full year because of this.

I was tested too and my test came back negative.

He took medicine for a full year? See, like I posted earlier, daddy's comes back positive and he has never taken anything for it. I don't understand this. I think I will call my dr. in the morning.

[terrier3]

On 7/20/2014 happycat said:

On 7/20/2014 annabellethecat said:

Due to so many people coming into the country who haven't had shots or TB tests, it would be a good idea for elderly to get tested.

There are a lot of diseases that are showing up that we haven't seen in years. Just try googling some of them.

Yes, you are right about that. There are lots of folks coming into this country, and who knows what they might be bringing with them.

...and there are a lot of native born people who haven't been able to afford a doctor for years who also may have TB.

When I was a f/t social worker, we saw many people with TB, hepatitis, illnesses you think they would have taken care of. Many street people have these illnesses - and kids whose parents don't believe in shots . This is why universal healthcare is so important. It protects US from the poor sick people all around us - like the guy making burgers at McDs or the cashier at Walmart.

[happycat]

On 7/20/2014 Madisson said:

My nephew's former girlfriend here in SoCAL got TB, and it was active. All of their friends, family, and co-workers had to be tested. No one else had it, although a couple of them showed a positive Mantoux test and had to be checked out further. She was actually brought the medication every day by a nurse from some agency and had to take it in front of her. They said that way they knew people would take it. That went on for at least 6 months.

That is just something else. I guess they wanted to make sure she took it, rightfully so.
Well, our girl has to go to the health dept. every week and get it for the next 12 weeks. And the pills are making her sick. She is supposed to talk to another nurse tomorrow.

[Colonel Meow]

Latent TB is not uncommon in institutionalized populations, such as prisons or state hospitals where individuals live in a communal setting. Most providers working in these settings are required to have yearly PPD tests.

[happycat]

On 7/20/2014 terrier3 said:

On 7/20/2014 happycat said:

On 7/20/2014 annabellethecat said:

Due to so many people coming into the country who haven't had shots or TB tests, it would be a good idea for elderly to get tested.

There are a lot of diseases that are showing up that we haven't seen in years. Just try googling some of them.

Yes, you are right about that. There are lots of folks coming into this country, and who knows what they might be bringing with them.

...and there are a lot of native born people who haven't been able to afford a doctor for years who also may have TB.

When I was a f/t social worker, we saw many people with TB, hepatitis, illnesses you think they would have taken care of. Many street people have these illnesses - and kids whose parents don't believe in shots . This is why universal healthcare is so important. It protects US from the poor sick people all around us - like the guy making burgers at McDs or the cashier at Walmart.

I was afraid she had gotten it from her mother, who is a drug addict and has been for years. But she it has been several months since they have seen each other.

This was just interesting to me- I asked dd how much the friend had to pay the people at the health dept., who give her the medicine- She said she is not having to pay them anything. I don't know if it is cause she doesn't have insurance yet- Hers will start Aug 1, or what, but I am very thankful.