Re: Tuberculosis Medication

[Guest guest]

Hello,

A positive PPD is an indication that you have been exposed to TB, it does not

however mean you have active pulmonary TB. There will not be a lot of

creativity around the isonazid issue. It is required by your local public health

dept. It is given so you do not develop active pulmonary TB and then become a

public health menace. You are usually required to pick up the prescription

monthly

so the dept of public health has some assurance that you are following the

protocol. You can request that LFT's(liver function tests) are done monthly when

you pick up your prescription.They may give you some assurance that your

liver is tolerating the treatment. -Margie

Margaret Schmidt-Stein MSN, CRNP

Asst Clinical Professor

Drexel University

College of Nursing and Health Professions

mms33@...

[Guest guest]

It's my understanding that a very large percentage of people DO test

positive for TB. It doesn't necessarily mean that they are infected with

it - usually it means that they have at some time been exposed to it, and

now have immunity to it. I'd get another doctor's opinion before starting

any medication.

---

Start weight 365#

Lap RnY, Distal - Dr. s

Vanderbilt University Hospital

Surgery date June 3, 2002

Current weight 205#

----- Original Message -----

> Hi- My name is Randall and I had RNY 7/2000. I have a question

> regarding TB; and it's treatment. I got a positive reaction to my TB

> test in November, had a chest x-ray in December (which was

> negative)... so I am infected with TB, but I do not have the TB

> disease (there is a difference:see link for TB facts)

>

> http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/phd/tb/facts.htm

>

> The Doctor is putting me on Isoniazid for 6 mos/ as well as

> Pyridoxine (a fancy term for a B6 supplement). My concerns for the TB

> meds is it affecting my vulnerable liver (you can be succeptable to

> Hepatitis while on this drug)- and the B6 is to be used in

> conjunction with the Isoniazid- I also have concerns regarding our

> malabsorption issues. Anyone out there dealt with this? Any

> suggestions? My surgeon moved to So-Cal....

[Guest guest]

, I tested positive for TB in August of last year. I was on

Isonaid for 9 months (the new protocol is 9 mos versus the old one of

6 mos.) In my research it said that any one having had gastric

bypass surgery for rapid weight loss with a positive TB test has a

higher risk of developing active TB. Can you believe it? I had

never even seen the phrase " gastric bypass surgery " except when

researching wls. <LOL> My research also said that gastric bypass

patients were at a higher risk to have stomach problems with taking

Isoniazid. You're also in the catch-22 position of if you start the

antibiotic & you find you cannot tolerate it, if you do develop

active TB you may not respond to treatment because your form of TB

can mutate once you start taking the drug & not complete it. Also,

by taking the drug there is no guarantee that you won't develop

active TB.

Okay, that's all the confusing news. I was frightened when this

happened to me. There seemed to be no good news. My doc recommended

I give it a try. He felt strongly that it was worth the risk. I

did. I took it for 9 months (just stopped this past May). I had no

stomach problems and my liver was checked regularly & it is find.

Also, if you take the drug, you should avoid alcohol & fish

(something to do with the liver).

I hope this helps. There are no definitive answers. I wound up

taking the risk. I decided I wasn't going to let myself stress out

over it. Yeah, every time I got a cold I worried a little and every

movement in my tummy was paid close attention to. I know each of us

responds so differently, but know this, you are not alone.

If you want to talk, e-mail me.

Lorraine

> Hi- My name is Randall and I had RNY 7/2000. I have a

question

> regarding TB; and it's treatment. I got a positive reaction to my

TB

> test in November, had a chest x-ray in December (which was

> negative)... so I am infected with TB, but I do not have the TB

> disease (there is a difference:see link for TB facts)

>

> http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/phd/tb/facts.htm

>

> The Doctor is putting me on Isoniazid for 6 mos/ as well as

> Pyridoxine (a fancy term for a B6 supplement). My concerns for the

TB

> meds is it affecting my vulnerable liver (you can be succeptable to

> Hepatitis while on this drug)- and the B6 is to be used in

> conjunction with the Isoniazid- I also have concerns regarding our

> malabsorption issues. Anyone out there dealt with this? Any

> suggestions? My surgeon moved to So-Cal....