chest x-ray during pregnancy!?

[koj518]

Hi ladies,

I had my midwife appt today and because I had the BCG vaccine (for TB) when I was younger, I always test positive for TB skin test. I tested negative in the blood test but my midwife told me that's not the correct use for the blood test and that I need to be treated as if I have TB. This means I need a chest x-ray and possibly take antibiotics to "treat" a TB that I don't even have.... She even threatened me that if I don't follow protocol, they won't let me see my baby when it is born..

Has anyone experienced this? For reference I live in the US and go to a well reputable major hospital.

This is making me want to switch hospitals at the moment..

Any opinion would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[melissalynn]

I would seek a second opinion. It is stupid to expose yourself to unnecessary radiation especially when you're pregnant. If the other doctor or midwife says you have to do it then I suppose I would.

 

[sbl]

I've no experience for you specific reason but i did have 3 chest xrays while pregnant with DD1.
I had a collapsed lung.
I wore an led apron around my bump and she's absolutely perfect.

 

[brittany12]

I'm an X-ray tech and while the further along you are in pregnancy the "better" along with wearing lead aprons. Having the X-ray done wouldn't be the worst thing that you could do if it's medically necessary and by that I mean like I would weigh the risks vs benefited. I am personally against xraying a pregnant lady unless it's life or death in a nutshell. I will mention chest X-ray to rule out TB is very common and the amount of radiation is very low these days. You could also have a second opinion to see if it's necessary while pregnant

 

[koj518]

Thank you ladies!!

melissa - yes I'm definitely going to get a second opinion!

sbl - glad to hear about your DD1!! It's very reassuring to know that other people have had x-rays while pregnant and are perfectly fine! I hope you've recovered from your health issues!

Brittany - Yes, I agree that if it was life or death it's totally worth it. But in this case, it is a non-issue (doctors are just uneducated about a vaccine that they do not administer in the US). Like you said, I may just wait until the very very last minute for the chest x-ray so that it has minimal impact on the baby!

 

[Nolimitxox]

I had a chest xray and lung ct with contrast when I was pregnant. My loss was unrelated though

 

[MindUtopia]

I personally would find a new doctor. There's no excuse for not being up to date on the evidence base for how to handle someone with a relatively common (albeit perhaps not in some parts of the U.S.) vaccine. It's very clearly outlined in U.S. vaccine guidance: https://www.vaccines.gov/diseases/tb/index.html

So you might consider seeing if you can get a referral (or pay out of pocket) to see an infectious disease specialist. I know I've seen one in the U.S. as I used to work in developing countries (I think it was because they were concerned I'd had a possible unexpected malaria exposure). Anyway, a proper infectious disease doctor should be well up on these things and able to give them better advice about clinical management. There's no excuse for wasting time and money on something just because they don't understand it. A x-ray is fine if you need it, but if you don't, and it just leads to unnecessary antibiotics anyway if they still get twitchy about it, then it could lead to more harm than good. Certainly, if you have TB, treating it could be life saving for both of you, but you don't, and I wouldn't risk a long course of antibiotics screwing with your body's balance of good bacteria for no reason because it's so important during pregnancy and birth.

 

[koj518]

nolimit - Hey friend!! thanks! did you know you were pregnant when you had the tests done? CT and chest x-ray sounds like a lot of radiation exposure! but in all respects, its probably the same as flying to China or something.. I'm probably being paranoid!!

mindutopia -a second opinion from an infectious disease specialist or an immunologist would be the best case scenario! I guess I'll have to do some research and find someone. Thanks for the link and advice!!

 

[Nolimitxox]

I did NOT know at the time. I'm sure if I had I would have been just as worried. When I found out I was expecting about a week later I was mortified. My pregnancy tests were negative at the hospital. The entire reason I needed those tests was to rule out a blood clot in my chest and lungs, I was having a really hard time adjusting to the pregnancy. When we were told we lost the baby, the first place I went was the testing. I had my baby tested and it was a chromosome abnormality that is NOT related to those tests. Gave me piece of mind. My OB, primary, and endo all assured me the loss was not caused by the testing.

 

[MEPride]

That's a load of bull***t. Forgive the vulgarity.

I was 11 when a Dr said I had a positive skin TB test. I was on antibiotics for 9 months. 9 freaking months. After, he said I'd have to get chest X-rays anytime I needed to test. So I went the better part of 2 decades getting unnecessary radiation thinking that's what needed to be done. When I started working in a hospital the employee health nurse practitioner was appalled. She said a chest X-ray only rules out an active infection and that I shouldn't have needed so many X-rays. A blood test looks for the antibodies in your blood. I got the blood test and it came back negative. That was sufficient to work in a hospital full of vulnerable people, including NICU babies.

As an interesting aside, the nurse practitioner convinced me to get the skin test again to see if it would come up positive. Turns out it wasn't positive at all but that I am ALLERGIC! So I went through almost 20 years of unnecessary treatment and radiation exposure for nothing!!!!



Do yourself a favor and get a second and third opinion. If I can work in a hospital with just the blood test (in an area that had active TB patients by the way) and had direct access to the most vulnerable of patients... then I don't see why you couldn't see your baby. Get yourself another opinion is my recommendation.

 

[koj518]

Nolimit - that must have all been terrifying!! Thank you for sharing your story

MEPride - that's what I wanted to scream at the midwife too!!! I've spoken to several friends of mine who've had BCGs now and now I know this protocol is abnormal. I am definitely getting a second and third opinion and if they still do not change their minds, I'm switching hospitals..