Tested positive for latent TB

Well, I wasn’t expecting this. During my round of blood work the GI said it was time to do my annual TB test, mind you I have ever tested positive in my 15 yrs of being on the biologics. Well, i guess my time was up, i tested positive. The good news is the chest X-ray was clear and i show no symptoms so it is considered latent, which means i have been around someone who has or had active TB and i picked it up but so far my body has keep it at bay. Now the GI is working with my PCP to decide the right course oof treatment, since i have so many other medical issues and drug interactions.

BTW, all of my ther blood work was OK, but those that are around nutrition like Vit D, B Zinc and so forth so working on how to address those. My iron saturation level was 11 which is below the min 15 for a male but no below 10 which is when they do iron infusions. It will be just a matter of time before i will need one.

Has anyone else tested positive for the latent TB? And if so what was the treatment plan. Thanks so much.

Many people have a positive mantoux test. This of course only means that you've been exposed to TB at some point in your life. I've heard that TB has been making a resurgence, as it was almost eradicated in Western life for many years.

There's been a few on the UC forum that had issues with latent TB. Here's one such instance:

suttie said...
Recap: Decided with my doctor to start Remicade because of persistent, mild, inflammation. But I failed by TB test. After waiting a month to see the infectious disease specialist, we did another test and it came back positive again (though just barely). Unfortunately, my travel history gave the doctor enough reason to believe that the result might be real, so he decided to treat the latent TB. He prescribed Rifampin for 4 months, but I was able to start Remicade after 1 month of treatment. I can not wait to be off the Rifampin. First, you are supposed to take it on an empty stomach (i.e. 1 hour before you eat or 2 hours after), but I've mostly given up on that, since I'd just forget to take it. It also interacts with birth control pills so they are less effective. And it can cause liver problems, so you aren't supposed to drink on it or at least not a first when they are checking your liver enzyme levels.

Source: https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=4075412

And another:
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=3946143
My reply to the above post:

ipoop said...
A user, Faithmac, on the UC forum went through this process. Pretty much the same story, been on humira and needed to switch to entyvio. Multiple positive tb tests, no signs of active tb, went to infectious disease doctor, and cleared to take entyvio recently.

3.) 10/13/2017: Going on Entyvio from Faithmac
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=3927035

2.) 9/13/2017: Update on TB test from Faithmac
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=3912002

1.) 8/18/2017: Initial post from Faithmac: Really screwed!
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=3900137

Her email is shared on her profile, so I bet you could reach out to her!

Good luck!