Why do I need to see ID doctor?

[Totie]

I tested positive for TB & EBV about 3 weeks ago. My symptoms are night sweats/chills/weight loss, slightly enlarged inguinal lymph nodes on both sides, but I have had those for the last year, so used to it. No one can seem to give me a reason for any of it. My PCP states that neither are active. I had the chest x-ray done (perfect lungs). I do not recall ever having mono or the symptoms for it. I know the weight loss/chills/night sweats are not normal, but all my blood work has come back normal (CBC - lab work). I have been deficient in B-12, Vit-D, high end of calcium (10.0) , low end of potassium (3.5)., but other than that everything normal. I have had surgery due to infections of the thyroid gland (graves disease), submandibular gland (chronic sialenditis), both gland had to be removed. I have had to enlarged lymph nodes removed (benign), a calcified ligament (Eagle Syndrome), a mass in the neck (benign), a mass in the midleine underneath the aorta (benign). I have had to have my left ovary along with a complex cyst removed as well. They are good at telling me I need them surgically removed, but they can not tell me if any of this is related. I have also dealt with oral thrush for 3 months, had a abscess cut & drained twice in the left buttock that pathology said was K. pneumoniae, and streppoculous, i was also told I have intesterial cystis (IC)(sp?).All of this in less than a year.

Okay, enough complaining...two questions if you have any opinions about it or not. Could all this be related, or am I just getting old and falling apart? I am 38 (female).

When I asked my dr. about being sent to ID dr, he just told me that their is an infection going on in my body but he does not know what. Alot of people test postive for both because of exposure, do they also have to go see an ID doctor?

[Totie]

I did go see the infectious disease doctor. He says I am not contagious and did not want to put me on antiboitics just yet. He did more blood work and told me to come back in 4 weeks.

My biggest fear is that I will catch a cold (or I will think it is a cold or viral infection) and I will let it run its 7-10 course because doctors will tell you, let it run its course nothing we can do for you since it is viral. The only problem is that I will assume it is the normal cold, viral or bronchitis infections, and will not go to doctor. And long and behold it will be active TB and I am spreading it. The infectious dr. says I should not worry about it since only 10% of people with Latent TB actually become active.  I don't think he wants to put me on the antiboitics, but I guess we will know at the end of the month..

[toolong]

i can't tell you what you need, but i think you owe it to yourself (and anyone you come into contact with including friends, family and the public at large) to see someone who has the most experience with the widest range of infections-- that would likely mean an infectious disease specialist.