Our K1/K2 Medical Experience

[ez2007 1]

Hello fellow VJers. . .

First Day (June 16, 2008)

We started our Medical Exam last Monday, June 16, 2008. I showed the guard my Appointment Letter E-mail and a Letter from the Embassy with a letterhead. He got the one with the letterhead and its 3 photocopies and showed it to the lady who was ahead of us, “This is what I need”. He stamped the letter and gave it back to me. I made sure I had at least 3 photocopies of each document that I brought with me.

St. Luke’s is full of people especially on a Monday morning but I had to get the Medical started. I had to fill up 3 sets of PDS, one for me and one for each of my child. Then, off to picture-taking. We didn’t have the time to brush our hair, so we looked like we just woke up from sleep on the pics.

I printed dbears (thanks Gay) K1/K2 Medical Experience and along with St. Luke’s Flowchart, I knew beforehand what to expect.

It was mostly waiting for the Tuberculin Skin Testing (TST) for the kids in the morning, then, x-ray, blood extraction and urinalysis for me in the afternoon. The x-ray technician was “grumpy”, must be the one that one of the forum members was talking about.

At the TST Interview Room, the doctor pointed out to me some of the immunization dates which were not initialed by the the kids’ pediatrician. I told her the names of the vaccines that were used on those dates and that I’m a nurse. It was then that she okayed. So mommies, be sure to check your kids’ baby books before going there.

The last part was waiting for the Physical Exam on the 5th floor. I briefed my 11-yr-old son about the questions, which were all on the P.E. forms, that the doctor would ask of him. I was called in by the male doctor inside cubicle 3 and asked if he’s taking meds, any allergy and then dismissed me. He said he was asked if he had tattoes, smoked, did drugs and had body piercing.

My 7-yr-old daughter and I went together inside cubicle 6. She was examined first and as usual asked me if she’s taking meds, any allergy, any exposure to TB, etc. (she was like script-reading).

As for me, I told her I’m taking meds for 30 days for my rhinitis and gave her the prescription from the specialist. She copied something from it.

Second Day (June 18, 2008)

We went back at 11:30 A.M. as instructed for the TST reading and as I had expected, they were positive. So off we went to 3rd floor for their x-rays, then to 2nd floor for my immunization. My daughter was paged to the x-ray dept. so we went back to 3rd floor. We were told that she would have repeat x-ray. After that, we went down again. Barely 20 minutes had passed, she was called again to x-ray dept. When I saw her coming out of the x-ray room, I rose to greet her but then again she was told to get back inside.

I asked the lady at the counter, “Baguhan ang Technician ninyo, Miss?” to which she replied, “Nasira kasi ‘yong kuwan, Ma’am”. I knew she was just making an alibi. When my daughter was out of the x-ray room, I asked them with a tiger look, “Are you sure you have a good shot already?”. The told me “Ok na po talaga, Ma’am”. We were told to come back at 1 P.M. the next day.

I was given 3 shots around 4:30 and we walked back to the hotel.

Third Day (June 19, 2008)

The guards checked the PDS Numbers of my kids. When I saw, 2nd floor Immunization Area, I was so relieved. After 3 hours of waiting, my son was given 4 shots because some of his previous immunizations were invalid. My daughter was given 1 shot only after almost 4 hours of waiting.

My son brought a puzzle book to keep himself busy while my daughter tinkered with my hair and face while waiting.

The papers were released at 7 P.M. The releasing nurse verified the meds I’m taking for rhinitis then gave us the x-ray films and the immunization records. We were so hungry and thirsty after 6 hours inside (it rained in the afternoon so we could not get out) but happy to know that it’s done at last. Yeheyyy . . . back to Davao.

[o0pink0o 3]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! and good luck on your interview

PiNk

[AllRightsReserved 0]

Hi ez2007! Congratulations!

Same here, am looking after dbears' journey step by step. We all are on the same boat, got 2 girls here. Am glad you had a successful medical exam.

Maybe I would also need to print, not just save dbears medical experience.

Good luck on your interview.

[KC♥MP 0]

Congratulations!!! . Good luck on your interview.

[Tanjay 0]

Congratulations EZ !!!

[ManilaIdaho 2]

Congrats and good luck on your forthcoming interview

[chris-lei 1]

Hi EZ! I'm glad that the you and the kids did fine. I was waiting for your post..praying that all of you will pass.

Goodluck on your interview!

[dbears 1]

I'm elated that our med experience had been of help.

CONGRATS for passing medical. and good success sa coming interview.

Btw, HEADS UP sa mga mommies whose kids had positive skin test sa medical. There is another vjer, vina, (too bad di cya nagpost POE experience, I did ask her to post it).. she also have two kids (9 & 11, both boys) and we had the same interview date and nauna lang sya one day sa medical but we still saw each other sa SLEC.

Anyweiz, she got their visa just 5days after our interview and they flew to the US june 1st. Their POE was Las Vegas. This is her POE account as she shared with me sa YM:

When the immigration officer opened the sealed visa packet it was written there that her kids was positive sa TB skin test kaya binigyan daw agad ng mask and two kids and they were made to wait two hours for reason na di nya alam. There was also a note on the medical part of the packet na "eligible for travel to the USA" pero di pinansin nong immigration officer. He made them wait without giving instruction and then he proceeded to entertain other new arrivals.

After 2hours, may pumasok another immigration officer who saw the kids already sleeping on the bench so naawa sya and nirelease na sila but with the instruction that the kids need to undergo another medical ASAP and once the kids are cleared of TB, they could enroll already and she could start working (yes, he gave her temporary EAD).

So, pinaskin test uli ang kids nya sa US and as expected, positive uli so they were requested to undergo another xray ($150 per xray per kid sa Arizona-- EXPENSIVE!!!!)... dinisregard nila yong xray result ng SLEC na isang buwan pa lang, parang naging useles binayad nya sa medical ng kids sa SLEC.

I don't know if it was only becoz she encountered an ####### immigration officer at the POE or standard na yon na pagdadaanan ng mga kids natin. Well, I am just sharing Vina's experience so we would all be aware and not be caught off guard when the time comes.

I plan to print out all information about BCG and how it could give a FALSE positive result on PDD test (TB skin test). I will bring it and give it to the immigration officer when he/she starts getting weird reaction on the "POSITIVE ON PDD SKIN TEST" note sa medical result ng anak ko. Plus I will also give him/her a copy of my kids immunization record so he/she could see that my kids did receive BCG vaccine when they were babies. Di ko ibibigay agad baka sakali di naman bubusisiin yong visa packet like the experience of others here on VJ, just in case lang. I don't know if it will help but well, there is no harm in trying. (Problema ko lang is I lost my son's immunization record, sa daughter ko lang nakeep ko --will be trying to get a copy sa health center soon)

Just a tip for moms who will have connecting flight from POE to point of destination: Make sure you will have enough time allowance between connecting flights just in case anything untoward happen. Kami, we chose a flight with 5 hours lay over sa Detroit (our POE) before connecting flight to Raleigh, NC. para we would have enough time should anything similar happen to us.

Hopefully, another mom who would be travelling to US with their kids soon could share POE experience here.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL HOT MOMMAS OUT THERE!

[AllRightsReserved 0]

Go,go,go BIG MOMMAS!! ooppss, GORGEOUS MOMMAS!!

waaaa, the more am getting paranoid about these stuffs. To all the moms here, Gay and EZ, please anticipate sa kakulitan ko.

[ez2007 1]

Thank you guys . . . .

Salamat Gay sa pag post ng POE experience ni Vina. Will prepare for our POE also and print some info about BCG and the TST.

Vanz