A future without TB?

[HelenC]

Calling all TB patients and former patients - please let us know how you would like to see TB care change in the next ten years and why? Contact [e-mail]

[Dana02]

I would like people to be tested earlier, especially if they have persistent cough or other symptoms. This way they will start the treatment earlier and not expose all the ones around them to TB. During 6-12 months (this is probably the average time of a TB diagnostic being given) there can be lots of people contaminated. Also all people that have been in contact with somebody with TB should be tested, not only the members of the family. I have not caught TB from a member of my family. Ideally this should be one of the tests done when you register for GB and many people would be treated for latent TB and not wait until it becomes active.

Educating the population and being very transparent about how many cases there are each year might help too.

Just my thoughts...

D

[HelenC Partner TB Alert in reply to Dana02]

Hi Dana,

Thanks for this. Your views very much chime with our own. Prevention is better than cure!

You'll be pleased to hear that many parts of the UK are beginning to roll-out latent TB testing for new arrivals as they register with their GP. We're now working to drive up demand with a Facebook campaign which is due to launch in the next few weeks!

Best wishes,

Helen

[hottchoc]

I want TB to have more publication to help raise awareness, both in the medical profession and for the general public. If no one knows what to look for then we are all at risk of spreading this dreadful disease which is sadly killing people every day. I would also like it to be known that you do not have to live in a high risk area to catch TB and everyone diagnosed should be given counselling automatically.

[Ehinoma]

Hello helen i was pregnant and i lost my pregnancy after 3 month my doctor said the heart is no more beating, he said it can be from the medication of TB that I am saying, please I want other members that have similar situation tell me their experience please, because I have waited for this pregnancy for one year. And my heart is bleeding

[HelenC Partner TB Alert in reply to Ehinoma]

Dear Ehinoma,

I am so sorry to hear of the dreadful loss you experienced when undergoing treatment for the awful disease that is TB. I hope you have finished your treatment now and are soon able to look to the future once again.

Unfortunately, pregnancy is a key risk period for women to develop TB, as pregnancy suppresses the immune system. This is why TB Alert is currently working on a trial to help identify women at risk of TB in pregnancy and to give them the support they need. I am sorry it came too late for you, but by sharing your story you will help us to help others.

best wishes,

Helen

[Ehinoma in reply to HelenC]

Dear Helen , it is possible why taking the tablet someone can develop back pain from the right side, and I noticed that since I started taking my medication since May 2018 I noticed that I cannot really sleep good , is it because of the medication??? Because I was diagnosed Lungs Tb and my doc said i still have a mark in my lungs that it is getting better now , I don’t really understand why I am still going through all this pains , please I want other people to please share their experience with me , thanks

[HelenC Partner TB Alert in reply to Ehinoma]

Hi Ehinoma,

It is not unusual to suffer side effects from TB treatment, so this could explain the pain you are experiencing. You can read about the common side effects here: thetruthabouttb.org/wp-cont...

Have you told your doctor about the pain? They may need to monitor the situation and/or they may be able to prescribe some painkillers to help.

Best wishes,

Helen

[Hidden]

Dear Helen C I would have thought that as in some cities that have a high incidence of Tuberculosis there is a system in place of None Referal......... This is not the case here in Nottingham...... The authorities are very good at making money from drivers of any vehicle but are useless at seeing to it that humans are cared for properly.

Let's face it the situation regarding the fact that doctors are not fully aware of the implications of Tuberculosis on a person's life and how destructive it can be for them. It is a most devastating experience to find that a patient has nowhere to turn to and no one to approach simply because there is no one of adequate ability in the medical profession that the person who has the TB can consult.........

I knew I had had TB but no one else knew because 'they' did not consult my medical history.

In my case the situation is unforgivable because it was only 13 years before the confirmation that was there in black and white was available to 'them'. No one would believe that 26 doctors never ever mentioned my TB disease ever.

To cap it all I have researched all I can into the general subject of tuberculosis. One aspect is that as a diver a long time ago I knew quite a bit about the lungs but through ignorance I did not know that cells from the lungs can migrate through the blood due to stretching of the alvioi. I often breathed air at 5 times atmospheric pressure . The dangerous sea didn't get me on many occasion but TB is far more insidious.......... Why don't doctors know that?

Hence it is essential for Self Referral to TB doctors to be in place right across the country for the benefit of patients not doctors and of course the chance to eliminate TB as well. At present the outcome will be that TB will continue to infect as it has done for thousands of years.