Has anyone had TB or suspected TB?

[RubyStorm]

I had a chest x ray just as a routine thing really, not had any symptoms. Was then sent for a CT scan and my GP called me and said that it looks like I "might" have a lung infection and it "might" be TB. Which is all a bit vague.

He wants me to go to the TB clinic and I have a phone appointment with a specialist set up. Will they be able to find out for sure at the TB clinic? If so, I'm wondering why I then have an appointment with the specialist? I was a bit shocked when the GP told me (he called me) so didn't really think to ask questions.

Just wondering if anyone else has had this and can tell me what to expect. TIA.

Well it is eminently treatable these days, so please don't worry.

treatment is a long course (af least 3 months) of antibiotics and possibly steroids.

not sure about diagnosis for lung tb, but for bone tb a biopsy is taken.
you will be asked about risk factors, like close contact to infected people, travel, risky foods (raw milk!)

The TB clinic will be able to find out for sure - they will look at the images and will send a sample for testing if you can produce one, although with no cough I can see how that might be tricky. The hospital lab should be able to confirm a diagnosis but the sample will also be sent on for more advanced testing which will help with identifying the most effective antibiotics.

The course of treatment is quite long and those closest to you will need testing as well. But I wouldn't worry about that for now - there are around 5,000 cases a year in the UK so the chances are pretty good that you don't have it.

NHS.UK info here: www.nhs.uk/conditions/tuberculosis-tb/

Watching with interest as one great grandparent was found to have TB when admitted to hospital for end of life care. It was thought he'd had had it for decades, yet no close family had contracted it (he was a widower so not able to confirm spousal contagion). I hope it's all OK, OP.

Thanks everyone. Without wanting to be too outing, I did work for a good few years with homeless people, drug addicts etc as clients where I was in a small room with them talking so if I do have it I suspect it came from there as I read they are high risk groups. But I don't know. Not sure if that's long enough contact to catch it.

It's good to know about the clinic. Sounds like they can diagnose either way.

The not knowing is hard. The GP was so vague, which is not his fault, he was only going from what he got from the hospital. But at the same time he made it all seem very urgent, hence such a quick referral to the lung specialist, which then made me nervous! But I guess the sooner i know what's wrong the better.

TB needs diagnosing and treating quickly as it's pretty infectious when you have it in your lungs, so I think this will be the urgency rather than because you're seriously ill, if you see what I mean. There are targets for how quickly people should be starting treatment.

Contact with drug users/homeless people could definitely be a factor - you can see some stats here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tuberculosis-in-england-2024-report/tuberculosis-incidence-and-epidemiology-england-2023#social-risk-factors-deprivation-and-risk-of-tb

However, fingers crossed you haven't got it. If you have, though, I'd insist on 6 months up a mountain in Switzerland (as well as the antibiotics of course).

Thanks for the link, that's interesting.
That makes sense re the speed of things.

Ah I would love to be on a mountain in Switzerland! Although I am now keeping everything crossed that I don't have it as meant to be going on a long haul holiday in mid Jan and was reading today that I'll not be able to fly if I do have it 😫 its understandable, but will be very disappointing if so.

some countries have restrictions for travel with 'active' tb. check your destination.

Just a little update. I went to the TB clinic today and they did the tests and sent me onto ambulatory care. They got the results of the blood tests and said one of my infection markers was high, something along those lines. But they don't know what it is yet. They have prescribed me some strong antibiotics for 1 week to see if that sorts it out. I have actually just finished 5 days of amoxicillin from my dentist (had some work done) but he said these ones are stronger so I'm going to take those and see.

Okay fingers crossed, still the possibility of good news.

We had a case at our school, student had picked it up whilst traveling at Christmas. All staff and students that had come into contact with the student IE all staff, students in their half of year 10 and their siblings half of year 7 had to be given that 12 needle stamp on their forearm to check immunity and then those that needed it were given the vaccination a few days or so later