Tuberculosis and My Sister: Leona's Story
Editors' Note: WebMD Staffer Leona Perry has been taking the story of tuberculosis patient Andrew Speaker a little more personally than the rest of us here at WebMD. Her sister unexpectedly was diagnosed with tuberculosis in late 2004 and it put their family into a difficult medical situation. Here's her story:
My husband and I always take our kids to visit our families in South Carolina every Christmas.
In December 2004, we all ended up at my mom's on Christmas afternoon. My sister, Bonnie, drove down from Charlotte, N.C., and my sister Renee, and her boyfriend, Brad, had just come in from Durham.
Renee was coughing. "I've got this cold I just can't seem to kick," she said. I'd had pneumonia before, so I suggested she might get that checked out. She sounded pretty bad.
A couple of weeks later my mom called. "Leona, I have some bad news..." I hate it when my mom starts a conversation with those words. I'm always geared up to find out who has passed away. But, what she told me next was almost worse. Renee had gone back to the doctor and had some tests run. She had TB (tuberculosis).
I didn't know much about TB, but I did know that it could be deadly. Way back in the day, they called it "Consumption" and a lot of people didn't live through it. I had a mild panic attack about my sister BEFORE my mom handed out even more bad news...Renee had been highly contagious when she was coughing all over us at Christmas. (Sorry, Renee!)
Everyone in the family who had had any contact with my sister during the past month was going to have to be tested for TB. I had to call my local health department and let them know my kids had been exposed. They told us to contact our pediatrician immediately to set up appointments to have the tests done.
I sat the kids down and explained what was happening. They were worried about their aunt, but they also wanted to know what type of test they were going to have to take. I told them it would be a Tuberculin Skin Test, and went immediately to my handy-dandy WebMD to find a good explanation of what it was going to entail. My son, who was seven years old at the time, still didn't like the idea that they were going to stick a needle under his skin and put something in there.
As a mom, I wasn't half as worried about the little bit of pain my kids were going to have to endure for the test as I was that they might actually have TB. All sorts of nightmares were running through my mind: "Colton is so little. Can his body take this disease?" "What if one of the girls has it? Will they be able to kick it?" "Even if they kick it, what kind of permanent damage would it do?" Scary, scary thoughts.
I also had to call all the parents of my kids' friends. If my kids came up positive on the test, they'd then have to have their kids tested. See how this begins to snowball?
We were all on pins and needles the next few days while we waited to see if the tell-tale bumps would appear inside the circles the nurse in our pedi's office had drawn around the exposed area.
No bumps. Yay!
But, we still had to go have the pediatrician confirm that there REALLY were no bumps so she could alert the Health Department that we were all clear.
Finally, the fear was over on our end. But Renee's journey was just beginning.
Renee's story begins with a nagging cough. Read about her scary story here.
We'd love to hear what you think. Add your comments below..
My husband and I always take our kids to visit our families in South Carolina every Christmas.
In December 2004, we all ended up at my mom's on Christmas afternoon. My sister, Bonnie, drove down from Charlotte, N.C., and my sister Renee, and her boyfriend, Brad, had just come in from Durham.
Renee was coughing. "I've got this cold I just can't seem to kick," she said. I'd had pneumonia before, so I suggested she might get that checked out. She sounded pretty bad.
A couple of weeks later my mom called. "Leona, I have some bad news..." I hate it when my mom starts a conversation with those words. I'm always geared up to find out who has passed away. But, what she told me next was almost worse. Renee had gone back to the doctor and had some tests run. She had TB (tuberculosis).
I didn't know much about TB, but I did know that it could be deadly. Way back in the day, they called it "Consumption" and a lot of people didn't live through it. I had a mild panic attack about my sister BEFORE my mom handed out even more bad news...Renee had been highly contagious when she was coughing all over us at Christmas. (Sorry, Renee!)
Everyone in the family who had had any contact with my sister during the past month was going to have to be tested for TB. I had to call my local health department and let them know my kids had been exposed. They told us to contact our pediatrician immediately to set up appointments to have the tests done.
I sat the kids down and explained what was happening. They were worried about their aunt, but they also wanted to know what type of test they were going to have to take. I told them it would be a Tuberculin Skin Test, and went immediately to my handy-dandy WebMD to find a good explanation of what it was going to entail. My son, who was seven years old at the time, still didn't like the idea that they were going to stick a needle under his skin and put something in there.
As a mom, I wasn't half as worried about the little bit of pain my kids were going to have to endure for the test as I was that they might actually have TB. All sorts of nightmares were running through my mind: "Colton is so little. Can his body take this disease?" "What if one of the girls has it? Will they be able to kick it?" "Even if they kick it, what kind of permanent damage would it do?" Scary, scary thoughts.
I also had to call all the parents of my kids' friends. If my kids came up positive on the test, they'd then have to have their kids tested. See how this begins to snowball?
We were all on pins and needles the next few days while we waited to see if the tell-tale bumps would appear inside the circles the nurse in our pedi's office had drawn around the exposed area.
No bumps. Yay!
But, we still had to go have the pediatrician confirm that there REALLY were no bumps so she could alert the Health Department that we were all clear.
Finally, the fear was over on our end. But Renee's journey was just beginning.
Renee's story begins with a nagging cough. Read about her scary story here.
We'd love to hear what you think. Add your comments below..
More information on TB:
Technorati Tags: Andrew Speaker, tuberculosis, infectious disease, lung disease
33 Comments:
What an awful experience! Thank goodness thought that the family took such great precautions and warned people unlike the reckless Mr. Speaker. Looking back on it the man could have infected thousands worldwide, could you imagine the impact?! Thank goodness your family is ok and I hope Renee will get batter soon!
Its funny because I've always associated TB with 3rd-world nations or something...I guess I never realized that people were walking around here with it.
I look forward to your sister's story...its hard to be sick but its gotta be a lot harder when you feel guilty that you might have passed it to others.
After the Northridge earthquake many people came down with symptoms of what they thought was TB -- it was Valley Fever, which is similar but not as destructive as TB. I'm glad your sister got that cough diagnosed, but I've gotta tell ya...it makes me even more paranoid about being around people who are coughing...Yikes!
I'm looking forward to your sister's story... I hope she's feeling better by now!
It's the waiting game that always gets to you.. Your mind just races with all the problems and things that could happen while you're waiting on the results. And this sounds like it just seized your family in fear!
It's great to hear a personal story from someone at WebMD; thank you for sharing yours and your sister's.
I wish I'd had WebMD when TB found our family 19 years ago.
Prior to that, my mother had had TB as a teenager. She grew up in war torn Europe, in a poverty-stricken area, and it wasn't a big surprise. But her lung x-rays almost got her turned away from Canada when she emigrated here as an adult.
When my younger son was two-years-old, he developed a lump on his neck that kept growing bigger and eventually became painful and infected. The infection kept being dealt with (in sometimes painful ways) but no one could figure out what it was. Imagine a little toddler with a golfball-sized lump on his neck. It was a scary 6 months for us, a painful half year for him.
Finally, when everything else failed, we took him to a big Children's Hospital and his diagnosis was guessed at immediately and the surgery and biopsy (what a scary word THAT is when it's one's child) proved the guess to be accurate. Somehow, in winter in an affluent area, he had contracted TB. In his case it was atypical TB and manifested in his skin.
Lung x-rays and those TB tests for him and the rest of us proved he was the only one with it. Since my older son had already combatted croup more than once, this was a huge relief.
The lesson is that illness can hit in weird and wonderful ways even when and where you least expect it.
TB a horrible horrible disease! Poor Leona sounds like she was in for misery. A disease which in 19th century was deadly. Hope this does not happen again because of people like Mr. Speaker. What was Mr. Speaker thinking!!!!! He knew what he was doing when he went overseas! Why did he drive back from Canada? He only stayed in Greece for 2 days. Wonder if his girlfriend told him to get home and go to the doctor. DO you think he cared? From the actions he took seems NOT. He KNEW what he had and what it meant!!!!!!! Does anyone know how he got it? Anyone with TB needs to get to their health care provider and get the help they need. SAD!
Did anyone get that Mr. Speaker is a personal injury lawyer? It's hard to believe anyone can be arrogant enough to go against his doctor's advice. Even though he was on the no fly list, he went anyway. I don't buy his apology for one second. Even after he was advised in Italy not to take a commercial jet home, he could have gotten a private jet to bring him back. They have pilots and medical personnel on those planes who bring sick people home all the time. My mother was on one. She became sick on a cruise and had to be flown home on one of them. How can anyone be so heartless as to endanger the health of others?
Hey im 23 years old from cali. and i got exposed to TB like 2 years ago. The doctor told me i didnt need the medication. id only need it if i iver got HIV or somthing that slowed my immune system down. . Me being exposed will i have to keep worring about it becoming active. no one tells me any answers /..
Speakers apology is worthless.
He knew he had TB (weather it was the XDR type or not is really not relevant).
He flew from Atlanta to Paris and from there to Greece, stayed at a hotel, then back to Italy where he stayed in a hotel, flew to Prague and from there to Montreal Canada to then drive back to Atlanta.
Let think about how many people breathed at least 50% recycled air on those international and inter european flights, how many people he was close to at the hotels and restaurants and during the occassional pitstop.
Who is going to notify them all?
He was reckless and he knew he was. If anyone should be able to figure that out you'd think a personal injury lawyer could.
All because he wanted to get married in Santorini Greece ( which btw the local authorities say he never did - so lets stop talking about his "wife").
This is a man that didn't give a damn about exposing others to a potentially deadly disease that they may not have the abillity to get treated in their country or because of their financial situation.
Lets not even talk about all the interviews he has done without wearing a mask since he was back.
Thankfully Leona's family was responsible and I wish her sister all the best in her recovery from this horrible disease.
My grandmother who grew up in wartorn germany had it and thankfully got cured, lets not talk about the scars left on her lungs.
This situation though makes me question why TB immunizations are not available in the US, they certainly are a required immunization in Germany, where TB had been erradicated for yeras until a few years after the Iron curtain opened.
I am glad my daughter who is visiting family there will have the chance to get that shot...
I got the immunization as a child , got exposed to a highly infectious TB patient in the US hospital I worked in and it scared my employer when my TB test came back positive.
Until I told them not to worry and about the immunization, sure enough 2 days later I tested negative as well as at 1 week and 3 weeks. Of course they did a chest X-ray as well wich came back clear.
So do the immunizations work?
Many US doctors , including the hospital officals at the hospital I worked do not think so.
I think the eradication of TB in european countries and my case speak for themselves though.
Diana
I WAS EXPOSED TO TB ... FOR 2 years now i feel fine.. what are my risks of getting it active slim to non. unless iget cancer hiv or whatever
I have been exposed to tb, I think I have been exposed within the last two years of my testing. the doctors at the health department dont want to treat me because during my yearly check up I told my doctor I drink about twice a week, guess what ? The doctor who did not treat me , has a glass a wine everyday. What if I get sick then what.
When my mother-in-law came over to the USA from Europe in 1913, her family was kept in New York. The authorities thought that her brother had TB.
The doctor found out that her brother had asthma, and was allergic to something on the ship. If he had had TB, he would have been sent back to the country he came from.
We are not that concerned about people coming into this country to live. We should not allow any one to come in to this country until their TB is controlled. The health of our people is important.
Jeff:
These TB FAQs should answer your question.
Take care!
carol:
If you are concerned that you might have TB or should be tested, please contact your local public health office.
Thank you so much for publishing your personal story about your sister. I'm happy to hear that the rest of our family is ok and I pray that your sister is better and remains healthy. It's always hard to hear of such a scary health issue. I have no patience or sympathy for people who seem to be selfish and self-absorbed as Mr Speaker. And him, a personal injury lawyer of all things! His license should be revoked or he should incurr a huge fine of some kind. I'm glad to hear your family took all the appropriate measures and notified all the persons who could have been exposed. It's good to know that some people today do have a good heart. I wish the best for you and your family!
I was recently had a postive tb test done on myself. It scared me to death because of all the horror stories I have heard. The crazy thing is that I was exposed while being deployed to Iraq. I was more worried about bombs and bullets, that I never thought I would get this disease. I have had negative chest x-rays so that is a plus, and am currently on INH so we will have to see how that goes.
I've been very interested in Mr. Speaker's story since it aired. I also worry about the others he has exposed to TB.
About 7 yrs ago... my Mom was quite sick. Spitting up tons of phlegm, coughing all the time, general malaise. Her doc told her it was because she had given up smoking... it's normal to cough up stuff. Mom complained that it was quite a lot she was coughing up. However, the doc told her to take tylenol and rest. With-in a few months, her back (lower back) was so sore, she could hardly walk. After seeing her doc again, he gave her a TB test. She was positive! The raised area on her arm was quite large, and remained there for a while after the skin test. Her TB has migrated to her spine, causing painful scar tissue that will never be normal now. I can't remember the name they gave it. She immediately went on numerous medications for a year.
As a result of that... the whole family was tested... us, our spouses, our children, etc. Of all who were tested, only I tested positive. I was frantic! I was a hairstylist at that time, in contact with many many people each week! My doctor put me on some meds for 6 months INH I think it was called. I feel fine, always felt fine, but in the back of my mind, I always worry if it'll manifest itself somewhere down the line.
Many years ago I decided to open a family home daycare. State law requires that everyone in my home be tested for TB. My kids and I all tested negative, but my hubby's test results were positive. We were quite suprised and a bit scared (his grandmother had died of TB when her children were quite young). He had no symptoms...no cough what-so-ever. Thankfully, the disease had not gotten into his lungs. The doctors put him on isoniazid for about 9 months. The meds were quite hard on his liver...he became jaundice (he experienced some other side effects as well), but at least the TB has never spread to his lungs.
My mother got TB over 60 years ago. It was shortly after she and my dad were married and he was overseas serving in WWII. Back then they were put in Sanitariums which were VERY bad places. She still talks about the rats that ran all over the place including over the patients in bed. Horrible! She had half of a lung removed and then had hip surgery done because of it. She has to wear a type of girdle to support her hip. When I was just about 2 years old in 1953 I spent a year in NC with my grandparents while she was in a sanitarium and then again when I was about 6 I spent time with my aunt and uncle in my home town in MI while she was in one in northern MI. She was treated with streptomyecin? during that time. For many, many years she was on many meds to keep it controlled. I remember she always had her own drinking glass and would never ever share eating ultensils. She was also from Durham just like Renee. I wish the very best to Leona, Renee and their family.
Thank you for your story it is giving me hope. I've just found out my family my have been exposed to TB, from a nephew. We are now waiting for conformation. I has been scary but you give me hope thank you, and my prayers are with you.
I know of a friend who is positive for TB. Is now on antibiotics.For 9 months. Is still working. Is this good or bad???
No symptons or cough.
I thought they had to be in quarantine?? Am i wrong???
I have always tested positive for tb. My grandmother died of it in 1916. Maybe my father had it and I was exposed.
I also had the smallpox vaccination done 5 times but it never took.
I hope Renee makes a speedy recovery.
a neighbor who does A/C work scratches up my car, and sprays toxic smelling orders into my garage for talking about my asthma, any suggestions?
Both my husband and I are professionals in our community. We have two girls ages three and five years old. My children had their PPD test to start school and my three year old tested positive for TB Exposure (INACTIVE). How could this happen to us? My baby, my little child who has had less contact with the outside world then rest of my family. You spend you life as a parent protecting your children but you can’t always protect them from some bacteria like TB. Fortunately, she has no symptoms, was cleared with an x-ray, and we elected to start her on the 9 month antibiotic INH so that she will never develop the ACTIVE TB which is when a person is contagious. What's strange is that everyone in my family and extended family AND friends all tested Negative. It’s unlikely that you can pick this disease up from the grocery store. It can happen but it’s unlikely. Usually, this comes from being in a closed environment, POOR ventilated, and repeated exposure to the person who has the ACTIVE TB. This got me thinking. My daycare provider had an elder mother residing with her whom is often sick with lung problems. The City Health Center wanted to have that entire family tested too in attempt to identify the source. They were all tested but would not disclose the findings to us. Instead, the daycare provider elected to not take my kiddo back. Ignorantly, she felt that my child was a threat to them even though we had doctor notes clearing her to return to daycare and to start school. How horrible is that? She has been caring for my daughter for 2.5 years. The bottom line is is that TB does not discriminate. People do! Therefore, it’s in everyone’s best interest to educate yourselves. The best site is the CDC website (TB fact sheets). You can even request that the CDC update you on any subject matter via emails. Furthermore, it’s always a good idea to be retested 12 weeks after the initial PPD test if it was negative. Something most people don’t know is that you may have in deed come into contact with an ACTIVE TB individual but not have enough bacteria has grown in your body to make the initial PPD test read positive. Good luck to everyone that reads this and I do recommend that anyone whom has had a positive PPD TB test start INH and complete it. If not, you put the rest of your family, friends, and community at risk.
I don't know exactly when I was exposed to Tuberculosis, but I found out when I took the TB shot to get into high school. I am now 20 years old it has been inactive since then. My doctor put me on Isoniazid of 90 tablets and I've been doing alright. I'm grateful that I found out about it early. I don't know what I would've done if it had been active and not have known about it.
I hope Renee is doing well!
quick question.. what is the AMERICAN way of handling a TB patient.. is every person with tb in the USA handled the same way? will they be quarantined if they have it
just curious how we handle it here.. because a woman i was involved with said she had tb and went 2 the hospital and they tested her 4 it right away.. she supposedly had it but was able 2 leave that same day.. i don't know much about the disease but that didnt sound right 2 me.. some1 give me an answer.. thank u
I too have TB. I had NO symptoms what so ever. I also new nothing about TB. I do now. It can go in your joints(knee,spine,etc) or into any organ in the body. I found out when the health dept. called after I had a knee surgery done. WHAT A SURPRISE THAT WAS! A REAL SCARE. My jaw hit the floor. PPD was positive. Waiting for knee fluid culture to come back to see if it's in the knee. I will start medication in the next couple of days hopefully for latent TB. Good luck for all that have TB.
I have a dear friend with latent tb and the flu is ramped right now. She took ABT for a couple of days Amox 875mg because she had 102.0 temp What do you do when you catch cold with TB? How harmful was it to take the ABT while still being on the INH?
Anonymous
I have recently had a positive tb skin test and also positive lung x-ray. I am a college student and briefly worked in an assisted living center. I have no idea how I was exposed. I am having a ct scan next week.I will bw starting medications if the ct scan is also positive. I was wondering who is also at risk that I have been in contact with and should they be tested also. Also I was wondering how one knows if the tb is active and contageous.Also will I have to be in isolation not be able to continue my college education and what about being able to work around people.Any information would be helpful from anyone who has been in the same situation. Thank You
My freind works in a hosiptal she cleans patient rooms one night while cleaning one of the rooms one of the orderlies came up to her with a mask and said I'm giving you heads up the patient that they just took out of the room might have TB but by that time she was almost done cleaning the room should she be worried and is there any vaccine that can be given to prevent you from getting TB If antone knows please respond
I work for the Health Dept. Believe me! Here in the South of the border. I see gots of folks leaving the state for the summer and returning with a positive tb test. Most of these are children who are returning to school. The clinic gives them free medication to prevent TB. The treatment is usualy for 9 months. some of the children do not even finish the 9 months treatment It is say that if medication is not taken as properly as doctor's order. Your body can develop a resistance to the meds. It is also said. Children do not spead the disease. Thank God that these are children and not adults who can spead the disease.
My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and less than one year to live. When they did a pet scan they said it was only stage one and could be removed. after the surgary to remove the right upper loab of her lung opps it was just T.B. and it was ok becouse it was normale to remove your lung to treat tb. I think they are full of it. is this true?
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