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Smoking after TB

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Hello,
So I've been searching the internet for an answer to my question, but all the pages I visit seem to be related to the risks of getting TB because of smoking. I already have had TB 8 months ago. It was in the lower right lung, a part which is apparently rarely afflicted by the disease. I found out because of a referred pain in my right shoulder, resulting in a CT scan which accidentally caught the TB patch (X-ray was negative). I was a heavy drug user who lived a horrible lifestyle for six months before I contracted TB. I also smoked about a pack a day. Once I was diagnosed, I quit smoking for four to five months. Since then, I have started smoking once again after a follow up CT scan reported that I was no longer infected. I smoke much less, perhaps 4-5 cigarettes a day. However, disturbingly, even though I am still taking medication (Rifampizin and Isoniazid, which I have taken extremely regularly, having forgotten perhaps a couple of days in the past six months), I find that this past week my referred pain has returned slightly at the same place in my shoulder, along with pain in the previously afflicted part of the lung when pressed by my finger. I stopped smoking immediately, but am getting paranoid that my TB may have relapsed. I am unable to tell my family doctor that I have been smoking even when I should have stopped (since I cannot have the news reach my family), and since she has been treating me all along, I have no one to consult. However, I have none of the other tell-tale signs of TB (weight loss, fever, night chill, massive sweating) that I had when I contracted it. Please do advise me on whether it is possible that I have relapsed, and if not, why my referred pain has begun.
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First Helper TBFree
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replied February 10th, 2012
As you know, it's the TB bacteria that caused your TB condition to start with (as "inactive TB"), and smoking + drugs probably contributed to the weakening of your body that allowed the bacteria to prevail ("active TB").

When TB won, it began damaging your lungs, which resulted in the pain symptoms you describe.

Since you've been medicating, we can assume that the TB bacteria have been eradicated, and your lungs started their slow recovery.

Now that you've re-started smoking, you may have slowed or stopped that recovery; it's the reason you're feeling the same pains.

Per se, you don't have TB any longer but you still have damaged lungs. All of us who've had medication are free of the TB; we do have remaining the damaged lungs.

I would think the solution is to stop worrying about the TB and resume the recovery regimen (no smoking/adequate sleep & rest/proper nutrition/sun & exercise).

I have other posts here about my experience as a TB survivor; it's taken me almost 4 years of the recovery regimen I speak of to approach a normal state.

Heal those lungs by giving them healthy air Wink
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replied January 9th, 2013
hey tb free,i also finished my treatment of tb but i have still pain in both side in chest,i havent weight loss,no fever and no cough...is my tb is relapse??/
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replied January 9th, 2013
If you've finished your treatment, you're probably rid of the TB bacteria but not of the damaging effects, such as injured lung tissues causing your chest pain.

To have a "relapse," you'd have to have been exposed to an active TB carrier, re-acquired the TB bacteria, and developed from inactive to active TB condition. Only clinical tests can tell for sure.

But since you don't have weight loss, fever, cough, and the other active TB symptoms, chances are you don't have active TB again.

The pain is from your injured lungs - you'll need to heal them through ingestion of fresh air and an overall healthy lifestyle.

As a note, I had those pains for about 1.5 years after finishing treatment. Only now, at 4 years and 2 months after treatment, can I say that I'm 100% free of the symptoms.

It takes time and a determined effort to recover for a TB victim to fully recover.
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Users who thank TBFree for this post: remmy007 

replied January 10th, 2013
hey tb free actually i am so thankful to you...thnku so much...!!! in my sputum (AFB test)tb is negative,in my blood(TB GOLD test)also negative and my x-ray is also clear..and as i told u tht i have not any symptoms..but i want to ask u something tht when i was seek with tb i havent chest pain..i never feel pain in chest ...just tht time i lost my 10 kg weight and now i gain more then 10 kg but before my diagnosis i was smoker and when i dignosed tht i hav tb i quite smoking...n i took my treatment regularly ...but now i am feeling severe pain in chest and some time pins and needle like sensation in my lungs and tightness also in lungs ...mostly i am feeling pain in lower chest near sternum..this pain is irritating me so much ..so is this pain is realy due to recovering of lungs?????plz help me again thnxxxxxxxxxx
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replied January 10th, 2013
hey tb free actually i am so thankful to you...thnku so much...!!! in my sputum (AFB test)tb is negative,in my blood(TB GOLD test)also negative and my x-ray is also clear..and as i told u tht i have not any symptoms..but i want to ask u something tht when i was seek with tb i havent chest pain..i never feel pain in chest ...just tht time i lost my 10 kg weight and now i gain more then 10 kg but before my diagnosis i was smoker and when i dignosed tht i hav tb i quite smoking...n i took my treatment regularly ...but now i am feeling severe pain in chest and some time pins and needle like sensation in my lungs and tightness also in lungs ...mostly i am feeling pain in lower chest near sternum..this pain is irritating me so much ..so is this pain is realy due to recovering of lungs?????plz help me again thnxxxxxxxxxx
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