Damn

[mandragora]

So, friend who I'm going out with tonight has rung up to check whether we're still on and said that I might want to know that he's just got his test results and that he hadn't got TB!

I knew he was having tests, but he didn't mention what for. The reason he's been tested is that his girlfriend does have TB. Well, it's either that or she's in the terminal stages of lung cancer. I never thought I'd be hoping that someone has TB, but obviously in this case I am. It's not likely she has lung cancer as she's a 26 years old life-long non-smoker and she has none of the usual symptoms of advanced lung cancer.

But still. Damn.

Here's hoping that her TB is not one of the drug resistant strains and that the 6 months course of antibiotics she's on will cure her.

This is a depressing reminder of how TB is making a come back.

Comments

[seiyaharris.livejournal.com]

Most of my year had to be retested after a girl in three of my classes got TB. I had to have a chest x-ray and take the course of pills because my six needles wasn't conclusive. Mum gets TB scares all the time, teaching in Tower Hamlets.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Most of my year had to be retested after a girl in three of my classes got TB

Yes, this is exactly what I meant. When I was at school it was unheard of for anyone to get TB. Sorry you had to take the pills, but at least you did actually take them. The reason TB has become drug resistant is because too many people don't finish their prescribed pills.

I'm not surprised that your poor mother suffers TB scares a lot, what with Tower Hamlets being one of Britain's most deprived boroughs. Sigh.