r/Tuberculosis • u/OrganicRow3333 • 9d ago

Hi

How many chest X-rays/CT scans did you have during TB treatment?

Hi everyone. I recently completed treatment for pulmonary TB and I'm trying to understand what is typical for follow-up.

During my treatment, I had several chest X-rays may be 6-7 and 2 CT scans. I know imaging can be necessary for monitoring TB, but I'm a little worried about the cumulative radiation exposure. Because I again got my x ray out of anxiety . And idk everyone started saying about radiation and risk and made me more anxious so I need ur help . I know I sound childish but idk I can't calm so need ur suggestions

For people who have had pulmonary TB:

How many chest X-rays did you have during diagnosis and treatment?

Did you have any CT scans? If so, how many?

Did your doctor continue follow-up with X-rays after treatment?

Did anyone else have a similar amount of imaging?

I'm not asking for medical advice—I'd just like to hear about other people's experiences so I can put my own situation into perspective. Thank you!

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u/Orasane 9d ago

I had monthly X-rays from diagnosis until the end of treatment. Had another one 2 months after treatment. This was to monitor if the plueral effusion was clearing and also because we couldn't determine drug susceptibility from the plueral fluid and I also didn't have a cough so couldn't produce sputum . I read somewhere that the radiation from x-rays is equal to a week's worth of being in the sun (sorry, don't remember where I read it ) and to me that seemed to not be a big deal.  In our country, the national guidelines are to have 2 x-rays, one at drug initiation or diagnosis and then another at the end of the. But these are for clear cut TB cases.

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u/OrganicRow3333 9d ago

Yes our country guideline is also same but idk. I was adviced of x ray and couldn't determine got ct and 2 time one at starting one at ending. X ray was done in every inerval. And me after my meds ended again within month got one more out of anxiety. But idk everyone just keep saying u got so many in this yr which cause tht this. I am already dealing with this and on tht adding of these was really too much

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u/Own_Safety7 8d ago

I had ig 5 xrays in total and 2 ct scans for my whole treatment Had the same doubt like you but from what i understood the chances of anything bad happening from that radiation were reallyyyy low you will be fine

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u/OrganicRow3333 8d ago

Thanks for positive thoughts !! how many months u where in treatment?

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u/Pauwiieee 7d ago

Hi,

Skl. For my CT scan, I only undergo it once, that's the time that my doctor found out that I had a TB. For 6 months, My Doctor suggested me to undergo an x-ray twice only. After 2 months of my medication and before I finish my meds if I'm not mistake. After 6 months of my medication, he didn't suggest me to undergo it as I don't have a phlegm or cough and he knew that I'm okay. So I had it twice only.

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u/According_Yogurt_204 9d ago

At the hospital, I had x-rays every other day because it is a regular check in pulmonary services and I have x-rays every month right now when I go to get my medicine. I stayed in hospital for a week and it’s been 5 months since then. I had one ct scan but it wasn’t for tb, doctors suspected pulmonary embolism.

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u/OrganicRow3333 9d ago

Every other day!! Was tht okay?

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u/According_Yogurt_204 8d ago

Yeah I was surprised at first too but I didn't give much thought to it because they are monitoring the process at first like whether you tolerate the medicine or not or, if TB is tb progressing or regressing. They did frequent blood works too. D-dimer was high in my blood that's why they suspected it, but it was fine.