No TB for me!

As part of my return to work process, I had my annual tuberculosis skin test and I was sweating this one.

I was 7 months pregnant with my son when I decided it would be 'cool' to switch out someone's trach myself (instead of calling someone over from ENT). The patient was a recovering alcoholic and past IV drug user so I thought to myself, "hmmm, better gown up and put a mask on for this one." My senior resident actually rolled his eyes when I took these precautions. No sooner had I placed the new trach and started inflating the cuff, the patient panicked and started coughing through her stoma. Blood squirted everywhere, which includes drops landing on my face!!!

I forgot to mention that this patient had tuberculosis that was presumed to be dormant. As I tried to carefully wash the specks of blood away from my eyes I felt like the worst mother in the world for putting my unborn child in harm's way. . . again.*

Now that my boy is here looking healthy and I have this nice flat skin where the TB test was placed, I feel just a tiny bit better about calling myself a parent.

*I have a list!