I had to be tested for anthrax at work. My site has a payment processing area and since we get 250,000+ pieces of mail daily, they quietly and proactively tested everyone.
Then yesterday, we find out a temp IN MY DEPARTMENT tested positive for active tuberculosis.
So this morning I get to get tested for that, and I’m scared. Being diabetic means I have a supressed immune system, plus I have chronic bronchitis, and I still smoke.
Is it bad I have the complusion to go take a very hot shower and follow it with a rubbing alcohol rinse?
TB, while not common, does pop up here and there. If diagnosed positve, you may be required to stay at home for a few months until cleared up. But if I am correct, it’s pretty treatable. I wouldn’t worry about until you get a positive.
You also have to feel sorry for the person who has tested positive for TB because her doctors will insist on performing an HIV test since most cases of TB nowadays are seen in HIV-positive patients. Of course, unless you are actively swapping bodily fluids with this person, that is not something you need to worry about. But now this person gets the added worry of wondering whether he/she is HIV-positive too.
The shortstop of the Seattle Mariners tested positive for TB and missed some games. He was put on medication and was able to play in the playoffs, but I was surprised to hear someone who is definitely not on the lower rungs of the economic ladder would test positive.
hardygrrl, as an asthmatic and sometime bronchitis sufferer, may I gently suggest you try to quit smoking, if you haven’t already?
HG,
Just remember that if you test positive for exposure it doesn’t mean you get TB. My mom always test positive for exposure. She never contracted it, and was probably exposed as a little girl somewhere in the Cenozoic Era.
[sub] hey, she’s computer illiterate and will never see this. I have that edge on people like Punha. [/sub]
testing positive isn’t that bad. one of my tests for tb came back positive in '81. I didn’t miss school at all. I did have to take a pill (not a clue what it was) once a day for a year. Only residual is that the arm test will always come back positive. The only way to diagnose is with a chest film.
First off, I know rationally I probably won’t have TB, but…
And yes, I’ve tried to quit smoking, but my oral fixation is too intense I guess.
Work pretty much shut down again as we all got our tests, compared the lumps and a few people got some “lump lovin.” [sub]Defined as rubbing the lump on another person’s face while moaning. Hey, he started it![/sub]
First we all get our noses swabbed, then shots…hate to see what they would do if there was an outbreak of chlamidia. Imagine the conference room scenes then, hehehe.
Except, you have to be careful if you do test positive for exposure, you can get TB if they test you again. At least that’s what my mom’s doctor told her when he got really upset that someone tested her again (she has never had it but a friend from school did, so all his friends now get false positive results, yipee.) Even if the doctor was over reacting I’d suggest telling your doctor if you’ve been exposed, before being tested, to be safe.
I’ve found something that helps with the stress of quitting smoking; chewing sticks. Locally I have found tea tree australian chewing sticks. They’re birchwood, which you can chew on for a while, are antiseptic, and taste pretty good. When I do finally decide to quit smoking, this, a healthy dose of ambition, and some nictoine helper (nicorette, patch, etc.) will surely remedy me of this horrible disease.
Disclaimer: there is no guarantee that a seven figure body count will result from this treatmetn. You have been warned
