Medical: 06/19/2024
Sputum Collection: 06/27-29/2024
Pulmo Eval: 07/01/2024
Findings:
Negative smear test
Pending culture test
CXR findings suggestive PTB due to cavitary lesions
To undergo DOT at St. Luke's for 6 months (additional 2 months for another sputum collection/tests
During the Pulmo eval, I clarified twice with the doctor if it's essential to undergo treatment for something "suggestive" with a negative smear and she answered YES. Is it also okay to start the treatment while waiting for the culture results? YES.
I failed to clarify my what-if question regarding what will happen if the culture is negative after 8 weeks. Will the treatment have to stop (depending on the negative culture and improvement on routine x-rays of course).
I spoke to my bestfriend's sister (now in the US) who had a similar situation on 2017, and I was told that she underwent treatment for 2 months only (outside SLMC) while waiting for culture results. The results came back negative, and she was released and was able to reschedule her interview. I also spoke to fellow patients at the DOT facility and a nurse advised her that the duration of the treatment will depend on the progress and maintaining the ideal weight while being on treatment.
Has anyone experienced the same predicament? 😞 DOT is ongoing and I'm on my second week of the intensive phase taking 3 pills of Quadmax daily M-F.
I hope you can shed some light on my what-if question. I have been researching on Facebook groups and VJ about the same scenario but no luck, so I created this post.
I am worried that maybe I am misdiagnosed or maybe misinformed. Maybe other doctor at SMLC may have a different say? As to why treatment is required due to CXR findings only?
Has anyone here been asked to undergo treatment due to CXR findings only? (with negative smear results)
Was the treatment stopped after a negative result of the initial culture?
Thank you for reading and your inputs! 🙂