Tuberculosis awareness

Standard treatment for TBC usually drags on for six months—sometimes nine, and if you're really unlucky, twelve. For the first two months, anyone dealing with TBC is basically stuck in the hospital because you have to isolate yourself so you don't spread the infection to everyone else. Once your sputum tests come back negative and you aren't contagious anymore, you might get allowed home for a few days on the weekends. That usually happens after about a month, which makes the hospital stay a little more bearable. Personally, I spent two months stuck in a hospital bed followed by ten days at home, though honestly, I acted like I was still in the ward while I was home. Then came another three months of recovery at the house. I ended up taking pills for almost nine months because the scarring on my lungs was taking forever to heal. But hey, it’s better to stay on them longer if the X-ray shows those shadows aren't clearing up fast enough. I could have stopped earlier, but I told my doctor that the side effects weren't a big deal and I'd rather just keep taking them until I'm actually better. Honestly, I’d take those pills for a hundred years if it meant being fully healthy again. I was in the ward with some middle-aged ladies who had lymph node TBC; I don't think they were contagious, meaning their sputum tests didn't show direct positive results, but when they did the culture test—you know, where they put the bacteria in "fertile soil" to see if it grows—it came back positive for TBC.

Regardless of the specific type of TBC, the anti-tubercular therapy is pretty much the same. You end up taking four different types of medication, totaling at least ten pills a day. The doctors over at Rockefeller Hospital are absolutely top-notch. Dr. Glad and Dr. Vučić, in particular, are wonderful. I also have an amazing private specialist I can recommend—Dr. Čučević—who is a total expert when it comes to TBC. It’s a brutal disease, but thank God it is curable. Everyone just needs a ton of patience to push through it and massive support from their family and friends. I really hope your cousin pulls through okay. Let me know if you need anything else. Best, 🙂

Thanks for the heads-up. The doctors told her it wasn't contagious, so she'll just be recovering at home.

Honestly, it’s probably for the best they let her go home. We had some women with us who had issues with their lymph nodes and absolutely had to stay hospitalized, so maybe since she’s older, they’re just playing it safe. I just hope she gets plenty of rest, eats some actual decent food for once, and gets out to breathe some fresh air.🙂

You guys have been discussing this for a while, but I’m finally jumping in.
Back when we were in school, I got vaccinated and had a massive reaction—a 20mm wheal—which was right on the edge of being significant.
Well, I was just at my doctor's office, and she started asking me all these pointed questions, and now I am absolutely terrified that I might actually have tuberculosis. I am honestly scared to death. What on earth should I do? 😢

Take it easy. First, you need to get all the right tests done. Don't go stressing yourself out until you actually know for sure if it's tuberculosis.
Are you feeling anything yet? Like a fever, a cough, losing weight, or just feeling totally wiped out?

Hi everyone, looks like I’m joining the club of people dealing with this illness. I've been told to come in for a follow-up once all my tests are in, since my chest CT showed something on my lungs (the radiologist told me to be ready for a hospital stay 😢, saying it isn't anything too scary, but still...). I'm also waiting on my sputum culture results, which should be ready in about five days. My blood work came back normal. So, after New Year's, I'll be seeing the pulmonologist with everything gathered
Does anyone know if I'll actually need to be hospitalized or stay overnight? And if so, how long does that usually last? I'm asking because my job is pretty demanding right now, so I can't exactly count on being out on medical leave for six months (though regardless, health comes first and I want to get this sorted as soon as possible)
Thanks in advance, everyone.

From everything I’ve seen and heard, if you’re dealing with TBC, you’re looking at about two months stuck in the hospital. After those first two months, they usually transition you to pills you can take at home. They typically set aside six months for sick leave—though it could be longer or shorter, maybe five months—but honestly, the less stress on your system, the better. That’s why they keep you in the hospital initially; they want you strictly resting.
If people start acting negative once you finally clear your lungs, just ignore them. They'll let you go home for the weekend, so you head out on Friday and then make your way back Sunday night or early Monday morning before the doctors do their rounds.

Look, it’s a rough illness, but nothing is impossible. Since you don't have a confirmed diagnosis yet, don't spiral. It could just be pneumonia, which shows up on lung scans too and often requires some hospital time. Don't worry, things will work out. Let me know if you need any more info. The most important thing is getting healthy; don't sweat the job situation. You see how easily things come and go, but the truth is, our health is the only thing actually keeping us standing.

Good luck 🙂

Thanks for all the replies and the kind wishes. I'll reach out if I end up needing anything else. Wishing you all the best in the New Year.

Hey there!

So, about six months ago, I was diagnosed with tuberculosis. I’ve been on my medication for half a year now, and I’m actually approaching the point where I might be able to stop taking them. However, I’m still dealing with some lingering symptoms that were there from the start—things like chest pains and those sudden bouts of sweating. It makes me wonder: has anyone else here gone through this? I'd love to hear about your experiences and if you dealt with any lasting issues after finishing your treatment.

Hey there. Honestly, I haven't really dealt with those specific symptoms myself. The only thing I get is this sudden, random bout of sweating whenever my stress levels spike—but hey, maybe that’s just a normal reaction to life being a mess, right? If I could give anyone one piece of advice, it would be to stay as far away from stress as humanly possible, because that's exactly what triggers this whole illness. Physically, I feel fine, but mentally? You just can't shake the memory of being sick. You end up constantly worrying it'll happen all over again, which is totally understandable since the recovery process takes forever. How did you find out you had TBC?

cosmicseal39 said:Hey there. Honestly, I haven't really dealt with those specific symptoms myself. The only thing I get is this sudden, random bout of sweating whenever my stress levels spike—but hey, maybe that’s just a normal reaction to life being a mess, right? If I could give anyone one piece of advice, it would be to stay as far away from stress as humanly possible, because that's exactly what triggers this whole illness. Physically, I feel fine, but mentally? You just can't shake the memory of being sick. You end up constantly worrying it'll happen all over again, which is totally understandable since the recovery process takes forever. How did you find out you had TBC?

It was a bit of a rollercoaster for me. I had this persistent cough for quite a while, lost my appetite completely, and dropped a significant amount of weight. Then, if I went too long without eating, I’d feel like I was going to pass out. I had chest pains, too, and these moments where I’d just be drenched in sweat out of nowhere. After a while, a high fever would kick in. I finally went to see a doctor, and the tests showed fluid in my lungs. Next thing I knew, I was admitted to the hospital, and they confirmed the fluid was caused by TBC. That was it—the tests came back positive. I saw my doctor again this morning, and they’ve taken me off the medication, but I’m still dealing with some chest pain and shortness of breath. The night sweats are still hitting me occasionally, too. So, is sweating the only thing you're experiencing?

Daniel Evans10 said:It was a bit of a rollercoaster for me. I had this persistent cough for quite a while, lost my appetite completely, and dropped a significant amount of weight. Then, if I went too long without eating, I’d feel like I was going to pass out. I had chest pains, too, and these moments where I’d just be drenched in sweat out of nowhere. After a while, a high fever would kick in. I finally went to see a doctor, and the tests showed fluid in my lungs. Next thing I knew, I was admitted to the hospital, and they confirmed the fluid was caused by TBC. That was it—the tests came back positive. I saw my doctor again this morning, and they’ve taken me off the medication, but I’m still dealing with some chest pain and shortness of breath. The night sweats are still hitting me occasionally, too. So, is sweating the only thing you're experiencing?

Did you actually tell the doctor that you're still experiencing symptoms?

vividsailor7 said:Did you actually tell the doctor that you're still experiencing symptoms?

I did. He told me the X-ray looks fine, basically. He said I have some pleural thickening on my right lung because of the pleurisy and fluid buildup, plus some minor scarring at the top of the lung. He didn't show me much, but he insisted everything is perfectly clear regarding TBC. As for that thickening, apparently, I'll just deal with those pains forever...

I was actually thinking about heading back to see the specialist—the pulmonologist who handled my case at the hospital—just to get a second opinion. To be honest, I'm not entirely convinced about the whole TBC situation since I'm still dealing with the exact same issues. That sharp, stabbing pain in my chest keeps coming back, and the night sweats haven't let up either.🤷

Daniel Evans10 said:I did. He told me the X-ray looks fine, basically. He said I have some pleural thickening on my right lung because of the pleurisy and fluid buildup, plus some minor scarring at the top of the lung. He didn't show me much, but he insisted everything is perfectly clear regarding TBC. As for that thickening, apparently, I'll just deal with those pains forever...

I was actually thinking about heading back to see the specialist—the pulmonologist who handled my case at the hospital—just to get a second opinion. To be honest, I'm not entirely convinced about the whole TBC situation since I'm still dealing with the exact same issues. That sharp, stabbing pain in my chest keeps coming back, and the night sweats haven't let up either.🤷

Since the symptoms are clearly persisting, you absolutely need to follow up with your pulmonologist immediately.

I know that TBC can't be completely wiped out from your system, but rather just managed through treatment. A guy I've been seeing recently just finished his course of treatment for TBC, and while I understand that anyone's immune system could dip enough to pick up those bacteria and fall ill, I’m really curious about one thing: is there a risk of me catching it from him? If we spend a lot of time together and my own immunity happens to take a hit, will he still be acting as a carrier? Could you please clarify this for me? Thanks so much!🙂

biokem As requested by:
Look, I’m fully aware that you can’t completely wipe TB off the face of the earth; you can only manage the symptoms and treat the infection. A guy I’ve been seeing recently just finished his course of treatment for it, and honestly, it's a wake-up call. When your immune system takes a hit, anyone can pick up those bacteria and end up sick. It’s a real threat. But what I really want to know is this: can I actually get it from him before anyone else does? What if I spend time with him and my immune system takes a hit? Is he just going to be a permanent carrier? Please clarify, thanks.🙂

It all boils down to whether they’ve actually recovered. If they haven't? Honestly, your chances of getting anything out of this are practically zero.

vividsailor7 said:

biokem As requested by:
Look, I’m fully aware that you can’t completely wipe TB off the face of the earth; you can only manage the symptoms and treat the infection. A guy I’ve been seeing recently just finished his course of treatment for it, and honestly, it's a wake-up call. When your immune system takes a hit, anyone can pick up those bacteria and end up sick. It’s a real threat. But what I really want to know is this: can I actually get it from him before anyone else does? What if I spend time with him and my immune system takes a hit? Is he just going to be a permanent carrier? Please clarify, thanks.🙂

It all boils down to whether they’ve actually recovered. If they haven't? Honestly, your chances of getting anything out of this are practically zero.

Well, I suppose so, even if he’s still heading back for follow-up appointments! I was under the impression that even after someone gets over it, they might still carry that bacteria around, which could potentially make me sick if my immune system happens to take a dip or something like that... isn't that how it works?

Greetings, everyone. I suppose I’m a bit late to the party here... unfortunately, I’m joining the TBC club. I was diagnosed with TBC about two and a half months ago. It started with a persistent cough—just endless, really—and this overwhelming sense of exhaustion, among other things. Based on those symptoms and my chest X-rays, they confirmed the TBC diagnosis. I ended up being hospitalized, where they were able to confirm it immediately from my first sputum sample. I’ve been on the treatment regimen from the start, and I'm still currently taking all four medications. I’m curious to know which side effects people typically encounter—mostly just so I can cross-reference them with what I'm feeling myself—and also, what kind of impact does it have if one doesn't quit smoking (I'm at about five cigarettes a day)? Thanks.

George Cox3 said:Greetings, everyone. I suppose I’m a bit late to the party here... unfortunately, I’m joining the TBC club. I was diagnosed with TBC about two and a half months ago. It started with a persistent cough—just endless, really—and this overwhelming sense of exhaustion, among other things. Based on those symptoms and my chest X-rays, they confirmed the TBC diagnosis. I ended up being hospitalized, where they were able to confirm it immediately from my first sputum sample. I’ve been on the treatment regimen from the start, and I'm still currently taking all four medications. I’m curious to know which side effects people typically encounter—mostly just so I can cross-reference them with what I'm feeling myself—and also, what kind of impact does it have if one doesn't quit smoking (I'm at about five cigarettes a day)? Thanks.

Are you asking about medication side effects? Honestly, I didn't have major issues, though my stomach would ache quite a bit. Also, whenever I got hungry, I’d start shaking just like someone dealing with low blood sugar. On top of those meds, I was also on corticosteroids, so my face looked super puffy, almost like I hadn't slept in years...

Anyway, I finished my treatment back in August. So far, everything seems fine, except I've started coughing again. I get occasional chest pains too, and there's this wheezing sound when I breathe. I have a follow-up appointment this week where they'll do a chest X-ray, so we'll see how things look then...

As for the TBC itself, I had every single symptom. I was coughing for a couple of years, I was way too thin, sweating constantly, getting exhausted easily, etc. Now, I’ve actually gained about 35 pounds!🙂I don't get those shakes anymore whenever I catch a cold; I basically feel alive again. TBC is a brutal thing—it drains you down to nothing. I knew my body was changing, but I never once suspected it was TBC. Anyway, I'm just hoping everything stays on track now.😁

I’ve been back on my treatment since September 12th, and after two months of progress, those two little spots have reappeared on my scans—just like they did when I first started the regimen. Consequently, they’ve put me right back on all four medications. The only lingering issue is this occasional chest tightness and pain; I assume it's just the lingering effects of TBC. I find myself getting winded just from talking... I'm also curious about the sick leave situation. I read somewhere that patients with this condition should have 100% coverage through Medicare, but naturally, they try to find any excuse to push back. Has anyone actually had their full leave covered by them, or did they treat it like a standard illness—only paying out 70% of the base rate? Also, how much damage am I really doing if I light up a cigarette now and then? Thanks!