Does anyone know anything about latent TB, i.e old scaring on the lungs from exposure to TB earlier in your life.
I understand that there is the potential to re-activate the TB from this scaring when on immunosuppressive drugs.

Gogs

Thanks Paul - it comes from the consultant this latest.

I looked at the site you found and it does mention latent TB, although as you say the word immunosuppessive
isn't in the writing. I understand that if I have been exposed to TB in childhood (not necessarily had it!) then if I test positive
it produces more problems relating to drug management.

I've just started Leflunamide slightly under three weeks ago and have had no side effects. I was so delighted after my past
drug experiences, I understand this could affect what they can give me, and perhaps needing to stop the steroids and immunosuppressive's

Gogs

Thanks Kathleen.
This game is one step forward and ten back!
I'm going to the chest clinic today for review and will put the question to them, I'm also due another lung function and high resolution CT scan (HRCT)
so that should hopefully help to clear things up a little.

I was certainly exposed to TB as a child although don't remember actually having it.
The memory I have is of going to a hospital. The building was shaped like a boomerang, one ward up and another down on each side of the shape.
In the main door was a corridor on either side with a central office. All the beds were in cubicles off the corridor. The other end of each little room
there were patio doors and these opened out onto a concrete terrace - and this was were the fun started!

All the children would be pushed out in their beds, wrapped up in coats and hats with mackintoshes over their beds to keep the snow off
I remember jumping over or on the beds, playing snow ball fights and generally having a great time. Nurses I think would come out complaining
the beds were getting too wet etc. As someone who wasn't in a bed I had the advantage of hiding under the beds when someone was throwing at me.

That was TB, it was fun! Who took me there, how I got home afterwards, I don't remember, but the fun was amazing.
Gogs

Hi Kathleen,

So true - no 'elf' and safety in those days, ahhhh what bliss

What a day at the chest clinic I had!! First the consultation and a long chat about latent TB, Then off
to lung function who agreed to test me that day (nice of them). Then blood test for TB and finally back to
the consultant for another discussion. Three and half hours in total!!

The upshot is my lungs have shown a slight deterioration from last year (I knew that). The walking test showed
reduced oxygen after 6 minutes. The blood test results will take two weeks to come through, any possibility of TB
and I will have to have six months of treatment and sadly perhaps change the drugs I am on (no probs with them)

He also mentioned a further scan in six weeks, and the possibility of a lung biopsy.

So I'm in the lap of the gods at present, but the outcome could still be favourable

One of my present drugs is Leflunomide which I think causing a rise in blood pressure - more treatment!!

This is a laugh a minute if you don't weaken.

Gogs xx

Sorry to hear that you are feeling low and that you have slipped a disc and need the latent TB treatment. What a catalogue - poor you.

But pleased to hear you have had some R&R. Where have you been?

So sorry to hear this Gogs - you really didn't need anything else to contend with. I'm glad you had some heat on your holiday, and hope the extra steroids help your neck. Hopefully the TB treatment can follow.

Take care,

Kathleen.x

Thanks so much everyone for your support - desperately needed.

I have been taking the increased steroids now for two days and the neck pain has reduced by about 50%
Guess that means I have RA in my neck. I went to the physio again yesterday and she once again reiterated that I had
a really nasty neck that needed handling with great care - which she does and did. Today when I went out in the car to the Opticians
I found I could turn my head without shouting out in pain - boy did that make me happy

I will contact my consultant again on Thursday to ask her what I should do next i.e reduce the steroids and start the TB treatment
or stay on the increased steroids and start the TB drugs as well.

Thank you all again for your very kind support, I do get very low and despairing some days, then tell myself off
Then I come on here and get support

Love Gogs xx

Thanks for your alternative view on this neck problem Paul.

I do have prolapsed discs at C3/4, C5/6 and C6/7 but was given to understand that pain killers and physio
would resolve the situation. The initial physio was as I previously said - useless. My present physio is great, I've
seen her only four times, three the first week then after my holiday I again saw her yesterday. I also was given a cocktail
of tablets off my GP which though zonked me out really controlled some of the pain, but these were essentially for the prolapsed disc at L3/4

I had last October mentioned to the consultant did she think it might be RA in my neck, but she said no.
But then the same as all of us I suppose she had a re-think, especially as it has gone on for so long, and the back has almost cleared up in six weeks!

Thanks again Paul for your input, I'll keep it in mind but I doubt if anyone would consider anaesthetising me at present, nor would I
want to embark on anything else.

Gogs

They may be linked to RA but they are osteo based.

Many thanks for that info Paul, I will certainly talk with my physio about it.

I've just had an email from my consultant who said she would phone me at home tomorrow. When you mentioned wear and tear on the neck
Paul I would agree that will be there as well, but one thing is certain - steroids have no effect on OA that's why they are not used for the wear and tear
arthritis, only RA is affect by the use of steroids. It was that that made me think there is also RA in my neck.

And yes Paul, I will speak with my GP next time I see him.

Many thanks

Gogs