Hi all...again.
I'm in the process of determining whether or not I have lupus; I've seen a rheumatologist because of my somewhat confounding results - negative ANA, positive anti-dsDNA. In the meantime, because of some of my symptoms (night sweats, occassional low fever), my internist did a PPD test for TB exposure.
Naturally, the PPD test came out difficult to read, but the doctors labelled it positive. It is right on the borderline of positive (it is 12 - 15mm, and official positive for me would be 15mm) and the doctors said it was "not a typical positive," which I took to mean that it does not look at all like the large, obvious indurated circle that you'll see when you google the images of positive tests. My chest x-ray was negative, so now my decision will be whether I go on antibiotics for 9 months to hopefully kill any TB germs that may be latent in my body, or wait for six months to a year and re-do the
PPD. The only problem with waiting that long is that if I actually have latent TB, there's a chance that it could convert to active TB. (only a 10% chance, but still...)
My concern is that, since I've been going through some of these autoimmune-like problems, I've had reactions to all sorts of tests. I had a flu pneumovax and developed a HUGE hard, red welt on my arm. I went to an allergist and tested positive for tons of things that I had not been allergic to in the past (shellfish, dogs, etc.). So I'm a bit suspicious that I had a skin reaction that mimics a positive PPD.
So sorry for the long-winded post, but I'm wondering if anyone else started developing odd skin reactions to allergens, injections, vaccines etc. when they started having autoimmune problems.
I'm in the process of determining whether or not I have lupus; I've seen a rheumatologist because of my somewhat confounding results - negative ANA, positive anti-dsDNA. In the meantime, because of some of my symptoms (night sweats, occassional low fever), my internist did a PPD test for TB exposure.
Naturally, the PPD test came out difficult to read, but the doctors labelled it positive. It is right on the borderline of positive (it is 12 - 15mm, and official positive for me would be 15mm) and the doctors said it was "not a typical positive," which I took to mean that it does not look at all like the large, obvious indurated circle that you'll see when you google the images of positive tests. My chest x-ray was negative, so now my decision will be whether I go on antibiotics for 9 months to hopefully kill any TB germs that may be latent in my body, or wait for six months to a year and re-do the
PPD. The only problem with waiting that long is that if I actually have latent TB, there's a chance that it could convert to active TB. (only a 10% chance, but still...)
My concern is that, since I've been going through some of these autoimmune-like problems, I've had reactions to all sorts of tests. I had a flu pneumovax and developed a HUGE hard, red welt on my arm. I went to an allergist and tested positive for tons of things that I had not been allergic to in the past (shellfish, dogs, etc.). So I'm a bit suspicious that I had a skin reaction that mimics a positive PPD.
So sorry for the long-winded post, but I'm wondering if anyone else started developing odd skin reactions to allergens, injections, vaccines etc. when they started having autoimmune problems.
....things that i wasnt allergic too i am now!....i dont know anything about the TB results, but im certain someone will pop along to help you....all the best..speak soon jane
