tenzin’s tb journey Wisconsin Mycobacteriology Laboratory Network Conference Wednesday, November 4th, 2015

give thanks & recognition

All the workers today – person that made your

coffee, custodial staff, hotel staff, people that will

cook and serve your lunch, etc.

Indigenous and native people whose land we

are on. Decolonizing our world begins with

recognition, historical accuracy, and

accountability.

This opportunity to speak with you all today.

who i am

Tibetan American born in Hobli,

India

I’m 25 years old cis-gender straight

man who is temporarily able-bodied

I’m currently in graduate school

studying higher education at Iowa

State University

I love learning about things and

working to live in a more socially just

and equitable world

I love dogs

who i am not

Like other TB patients

Someone afraid of an oppressive culture that

stigmatizes people’s lived experiences

http://positivedoodles.tumblr.com/

overview of the talk

Provide a TB patient’s perspective

Talk about diagnosis

Talk about quarantine and home isolation

Talk about medication

Talk about stigma

What I learned

Q & A

diagnosis

Thursday, April 25th, 2013

Symptoms

Chest pain

Cough

Sore throat

Dry throat

No skin test

Chest x-ray

Blood test

what i struggled with

Isolation

Side effects of meds

Stigma of infectious diseases

http://www.msf.ca/en/article/sluggish-response-risks-squandering-historic-opportunity-tackle-global-drug-resistant

quarantine and isolation

Isolation

Boredom

Loneliness

Dehumanizing

Feeling Purposeless

Others before self

Artwork: “Waiting for Sunshine” by Lisa Murphy

my regimen and side effects

Amikacin – PICC line – loss of hearing and

anxiety

Paser – loss of appetite and fatigue

Ethambutol – loss of visual acuity

Ethionamide aka Trecator – extreme nausea and

peripheral neurapathy

Pyridoxine aka Vitamin B6 pill

Linezolid aka Zyvox

Moxifloxicin aka Avelox

Peerizinomide

Clofazimine aka Lamprene – darkening of skin

https://33.media.tumblr.com/7c78c84c60e022fef1dc58a91a44e0f6/tumblr_mvhxc2EevX1qaejg5o1_1280.gif

stigma

When I was diagnosed

When I arrived to Iowa State

University

When I opened up about my

illness

How stigma impacts students with disabilities in college

http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2014-10-13-appstigmamentalillness.jpg

what helped me succeed

Netflix – HIMYM, new girl,

parenthood, the walking dead, etc.

Judy, Dr. Pepperell, Jen, and Tammie, & more

My family & friends

Walking/exercising & nature

Optimism and an attitude of

gratitude

an attitude of gratitude

Being grateful is a reflective

practice

Gratitude happiness

Gratitude ≠ positive attitude

Positive attitude is socially

culturally constructed and can be super ableist

what i learned

Interaction and connection is

essential to the human

experience

My family and friends love me

And I love them

I am pretty darn strong

I am extremely privileged

thank you

Email me: tenzinlobsangkunor@gmail.com

Read my blog: https://tenzinlobsangkunor.wordpress.com/