St. Lukes Medical

[EricN 0]

My finacee is at St Lukes now for the Sputum test which is her 1st day of testing. If we find out that she is positive I will let you know for I am sure that she would like to have a roommate while under going the treatment if this turns out for the worst.

Even if she is negative now on the 3day test, they may very well come back and say in 6-8 weeks that the culture came back positive. So you may not need an apt in Manila until then....GOOD LUCK and be understanding for your spouses as it is very stressful on them. They know how anxious we are for them to be here and yet there is nothing they can do to make things go faster...St.Lukes and the Embassy have this one down to a "science".

Eric

[George and Movi 1]

When St. Lukes does reschedule the interview, What is the time span between them actually doing it and then having the interview itself? Would it be within 1 month of her being cleared from St. Lukes that she would have interivew?

Hi,

My daughter had undergone the sputum smear tests last Nov 17-19, 2009. Her tests were negative and we were advised to make a call on Jan 18, 2010 for the culture results. Today, I called and was advised that on Jan 20, 2010, we bring her passport, the receipt and the original appointment for interview and her new interview is scheduled on Jan 22.

[mrs.jswalker86 0]

what is a culture test???

i know i have a small scar on my left lung. i had tb 6 years ago, had all the treatments for 6 months. i've already had x-rays and sputum tests after that, which all showed negative. so will i still have a problem?

my husband suggested that i could go get a sputum test (and now possibly whatever a culture test is) done right before my medical exam from st. lukes to show them in case they want me to take it, that way i wouldn't have to wait an other 2 months..... do you think that would work????

thank you

the walkers

[mrs.jswalker86 0]

what is a culture test???

i know i have a small scar on my left lung. i had tb 6 years ago, had all the treatments for 6 months. i've already had x-rays and sputum tests after that, which all showed negative. so will i still have a problem?

my husband suggested that i could go get a sputum test (and now possibly whatever a culture test is) done right before my medical exam from st. lukes to show them in case they want me to take it, that way i wouldn't have to wait an other 2 months..... do you think that would work????

thank you

the walkers

oh, i almost forgot. what happens if you do have to wait 2 months? do you have to file new paperwork? does the embassy just wait for you? do we start the process over? i'm really confused.

thank you

[Dakine 26]

St.Lukea will schedule a new appointment for you. You should update any documents that have expired.

EX. NBI and CENOMAR.

[EricN 0]

Hi,

My daughter had undergone the sputum smear tests last Nov 17-19, 2009. Her tests were negative and we were advised to make a call on Jan 18, 2010 for the culture results. Today, I called and was advised that on Jan 20, 2010, we bring her passport, the receipt and the original appointment for interview and her new interview is scheduled on Jan 22.

That is great news! Congratulations...I guess by now she is finished with the interview too...bon voyage' !

EN

[George and Movi 1]

oh, i almost forgot. what happens if you do have to wait 2 months? do you have to file new paperwork? does the embassy just wait for you? do we start the process over? i'm really confused.

thank you

In the case of my daughter, after 2 months and the results was negative. St Luke's advised us to report to their clinic for her vaccination and pregnancy tests( since the last preg test was Nov.2009, thus has expired by then). St Luke's gave her a new appointment for interview. We did not file new paperwork.

[tedskie 0]

I don't want to sound like a downer, but please be prepared in your mind for the worst...we were in a very similar situation. If they do decide to put her through the process, my best advice is to have her get to know 3 or 4 others that are also recent victims and let them all "Graduate" together. My wife now has 4 "Colleagues" and they are able to celebrate birthdays together, go to the mall together and eat a mid-day snack each day together. Because all 5 are from "the province" they have been able to take weekend tours of some of the sites on Luzon that they otherwise would never have had the opportunity to visit (Bagio, Ilocos Norte, etc.).

OK here you go on our experience...we are just finishing the process.

Last May, after a record fast paper processing my wife showed a slight shadow on her XRAY during her general exam. Never had TB before and never had a questionable xray in the past. BUT that does not matter. They did the spetum test and 5 weeks later they claimed that her first of 3 samples indicated that it could be considered positive, although not postive. We were never given the results of the 2nd and 3rd tests even after repeated requests. My wife was ordered to undergo 6 months of daily medicine treatment at St. Lukes (starting mid-June). In the end she will have to repeat the General Exam which obviously, creates more work and jobs and money for St. Lukes and the US Embassy Manila.

So she had to quickly pack her and her daughter things together and move to Manila from her home with her family in Mindanao. Along with her went an Aunt to help watch her daughter.

Meanwhile we had her family that lived with her and her daughter all checked for TB. ALL were negative on skin tests. I too was tested (most reliable method Blood Test) and was negative. Doesn't matter, but just helps us realize she is probably negative as well.

After 6 months and thousands of dollars spent on rent, travel etc., she is finally finished with her treatment (mid-December). However, the final spetum that was taken during the 5th month of treatment (ALL SPETUM EXAMS HAVE BEEN NEGATIVE since that first questionable result) will not be finished until the 7th month of the process (late January).

Late January she will have the repeat GENERAL EXAM including xrays and vaccinations. Soon after that they will hopefully give priority scheduling for an interview at the US Embassy. Regarding the embassy interview, we are being told to provide an updated Marriage Certificate, NBI, and Affidavit of Support. Well she is going to to ahead and get the Marriage Cert and NBI Clearances because they are easy to get, but the AOS states on the instructions that it is valid for 1 year from the date signed (March 13th for us) so I am not redoing it...I am going to send the 2009 Tax Return infor because it was not available when I did the AOS last year.

I went to an Infectious Disease doctor here for my testing. He is from the Philippines and told me that every time he or his children go back for a visit, when they return everyone is tested for TB becuase it is that common. He also told me that the full treatment really only takes 2 months but that policy is not used by St. Lukes. The "Gold" blood test is also the most accurate and quick test to determine TB infection. It only takes a day and not weeks to determine the results. It costs more than the spetum bacterial growth method.

More Questions... Just Ask, we just finished the treatement are awaiting the exam and interview so all of this is fresh in our minds.

EnE

nice 1. .im also from iligan. .i had a primary complex when i was 14 and is now worried that i had to experience the dreaded 2months. .i already miss my wife and my kid. .hope it ends well when i have the medical soon...

[Hank_ 9,174]

You do realize you are replying to a posting that is almost 3 years old...

As for your medical, I hope all goes well for you.

[tedskie 0]

i was to flustered at all the things they were saying i ddnt realize it till u said it hhahaha