Today's Medical Appointment at Dr. Seiden's

[no one 0]

Arrived at 6:40am and there were already two guys in line. I'd walked from King Station and, at a moderate stroll, it'd taken me only 10 min tops.

The clinic opened at exactly 7am and we all had to submit our Consulate letter (with our case number & birthdate) before filing into the waiting room.

People were called every 5 min or so. First, I went into an office where I had to show the lady my passport and vaccinations record. Also had to give her one passport photo and $185 + $20 (courier fee) in cash. She returned my Consulate letter. The passport, vaccinations record, and some checklists were also given to me to take from room to room.

After sitting in the hallway for a couple of minutes, I was ushered into another room where I had my chest x-rays done. Shirts need to be off, and I was given a paper gown. I took a glimpse at my x-rays but have no idea if the results are fine! Maybe I should've asked the x-ray technician...

More sitting in the hallway. I went into another room where a nurse took my blood pressure and heart rate. She also asked for my height and weight. When I told her 110 lbs, she said "Looks more like 99 lbs!" I wish ;-) (She also told me not to get any thinner, haha).

I had a bit of time to make a trip to the washroom before I was told to strip and put on one of those paper gowns again. I was asked if I'm on my period (not sure what they'd have done if I was?). A doctor then came in and asked me health questions, recorded my vaccinations info, and used the stethoscope on me.

A nurse took over and did a breast exam on me.

Went back to the main waiting room to wait for my blood test. I was nervous, but the nurse laughed kindly, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of you." And she did. Felt a pinch and that was all.

That was it! I was told I'll get my results in the mail in a week's time, Hopefully everything will be okay.

It was a positive experience: everyone was friendly and professional. They worked well as a team and you were never left alone wondering what was going on. As soon as you step out of each room, there was always someone to usher you to the next place.

Good thing the entire process took only a bit over an hour and I was able to get home quickly, because on the way home, I heard over the subway P.A. that some trains were going to be delayed (another jumper or something...).

[Cygnet 0]

Thanks for sharing your experience, Echomyst. I'm planning on going to Dr. Seiden's in Montreal.

[no one 0]

Thanks for sharing your experience, Echomyst. I'm planning on going to Dr. Seiden's in Montreal.

That's what this forum's for... sharing info Whoops, I should edit my original post to write "Dr. Seiden's in Toronto". I'm sure all of their locations are run by friendly and professional staff!

(Never mind: looks like I can no longer edit my post!)

Edited May 31, 2006 by echomyst

[Cygnet 0]

Whoops, I should edit my original post to write "Dr. Seiden's in Toronto". I'm sure all of their locations are run by friendly and professional staff!

(Never mind: looks like I can no longer edit my post!)

It's okay. It was pretty clear you meant Toronto when you mentioned King Station right at the beginning.

[Jersey Girl 2]

Thank you for the report. I expect my husband to be going sometime this summer, and he'll be well prepared. Tell me, where did you go for the RCMP name check?

[no one 0]

Thank you for the report. I expect my husband to be going sometime this summer, and he'll be well prepared. Tell me, where did you go for the RCMP name check?

You're welcome! I went to Commissionaires (in Scarborough -- but they have several locations). It's a little bit more expensive than some places that others here have posted about, but they're reliable since a lot of visa applicants go to them. As usual: arrive early if possible! I got there 5 min after they opened, and I was around 10th in line

[Texanadian 10]

$185 + 20? That's it?

I had mine done today in Vancouver and it was $275 (although they do give you the results the same day). On the other hand you had to wait from 9AM to 2:30PM downtown with not too much to do. And there was no way that X-ray was going to fit in my briefcase.

I needed a tetnus shot, so they referred me down the street to a travel & vaccination place. The tetnus was free since it's covered by BC Medical. But the place still charged me a $15 administration fee.

I think you women probably get it easier during the exam. I was in my boxers for most of the exam and had to whip them off at the end for a testicle squeeze and cough.

$290 later and it's all done though.

[no one 0]

$185 + 20? That's it?

I had mine done today in Vancouver and it was $275 (although they do give you the results the same day). On the other hand you had to wait from 9AM to 2:30PM downtown with not too much to do. And there was no way that X-ray was going to fit in my briefcase.

I needed a tetnus shot, so they referred me down the street to a travel & vaccination place. The tetnus was free since it's covered by BC Medical. But the place still charged me a $15 administration fee.

I think you women probably get it easier during the exam. I was in my boxers for most of the exam and had to whip them off at the end for a testicle squeeze and cough.

$290 later and it's all done though.

Toronto used to have same-day results, but no longer... though I'm willing to bet that the price's gone up instead of down!

Haha, we have our breasts squeezed so that's nearly the same thing.