Trouble With Toronto Medical

[SF2007 48]

Sorry to read your post, I wish it would have gone smoothly for you

When I asked for a copy of my medical (Medisys), I was told the results were owned by the consulate and I would receive a separate correspondence should anything be wrong with my medical. Good for you if they can provide duplicates but DO NOT open the sealed envelope as it will invalidate your whole medical.

[decocker 7,198]

They said it was because they only had a record of one (I had the record of the January one) and that they wanted to have two dates on file, even if they were close together.

so you had a tetanus shot in january but they wanted two? is this a new requirement cause that sounds odd to me...

so sorry you had to go through such insanity, this too will pass - right?

[ralyse 31]

I still don't know exactly *why* they wanted another tetanus shot... but I had a voicemail at home from Dr. Seiden asking me to call him tomorrow so I guess I get to continue to be stressed out over whether or not I passed this medical. (What kills me is that it's not like this is over any medical conditions, it's over a tetanus shot, basically. The medical was supposed to be one of the less-stressing parts of this entire experience.)

[OBX 51]

What a terrible experience for you...no wonder your blood pressure was high. I also do not understand why Seiden's office wanted you to have another tetanus shot. I can understand, from a medical perspective, why your MD did not want to give you another but his behaviour was totally unprofessional. I'm sure you will clear your medical since your MD spoke to Seiden's office; try to relax and think happy thoughts of your visa approval.

[Colleens 40]

I had the blood test done, though not varicella. They took my verbal assurance that I had chicken pox in the past. Apparently they don't do a titre test for tetanus/diptheria/pertussis in Ontario anymore, or so says the "required immunizations" form they gave to my doctor. (There's a place to check to have that titre test done, then big bold letters saying NOT DONE IN ONTARIO).

So, make sure to have a tetanus shot, I guess.

Hmm..that is odd because I had mine done it Ontario with no issues. I just went to my doctor and she requested the blood work. I know that some people have a problem getting the Tdap shot and not just the Td shot, so maybe it has something to do with that. Mine was just the titre test for the Td

[Neoalissa 1]

I would have totally cried too! This whole process is heck on our nerves Hope all goes good

This is making me think i should go out a couple weeks before the medical and go get a tetanus shot for my daughter and I to avoid the stuff you went through.

[Canadiandggal 49]

I still don't know exactly *why* they wanted another tetanus shot... but I had a voicemail at home from Dr. Seiden asking me to call him tomorrow so I guess I get to continue to be stressed out over whether or not I passed this medical. (What kills me is that it's not like this is over any medical conditions, it's over a tetanus shot, basically. The medical was supposed to be one of the less-stressing parts of this entire experience.)

I was told when I had mine medical at Dr seidens last September that They wanted the shot to be less than 6 months old But preferred that I have it done no longer than 2 months before the medical. So although I think it is ridiculous and cannot see why the want you to get a second, I do know that they would have wanted me to get one to. I hope all goes well and works out. Hang in there

[Lise+Michael 13]

I meant to edit this into my post but waited too long: Your doctor is a total jackass. I definitely would've cried had I been in your situation. That kind of manner is totally unacceptable! I hope everything gets sorted out for you.

So sorry to hear about your experience, I echo the sentiments of others, your family doc is a definite example of 'unprofessional behavior'. Is there a walk in clinic or health clinic you can go to for a few blood pressure readings to have on record for your interview date? Best of luck, Lise

[Moosker 7]

I was thankful for my Mom who had kept this nice little yellow book from Public Health with ALL of my immunizations in it! I need to be more organized like her

What a day you had!! Glad it's over though eh

[ralyse 31]

So, I talked with Dr. Seiden just now. He wanted to "explain" because I guess my doctor had gotten pretty rude with him on the phone yesterday (colour me surprised). Basically all he said was he understands that I didn't "need" the tetanus shot, but the US requires it be more recent than 6 months ago if there's no previous records. (Is this documented anywhere? I don't remember reading that at all when I was stressing about my vaccinations prior to the medical). He wanted to assure me his staff wasn't trying to "practice bad medicine" as my doctor accused him (sigh) and confirmed that the medical was being shipped to me, so I'm going to try and relax now and assume that all is well with it.

He did mention that had my doctor not tracked down my records from public health, he would've told me to go to a walk in clinic for the tetanus shot.

So... I guess what we can learn from this is if you don't have a record of your tetanus shots, don't get it until right before the medical? (This all seems very stupid to me, to be honest.)

[Lise+Michael 13]

So, I talked with Dr. Seiden just now. He wanted to "explain" because I guess my doctor had gotten pretty rude with him on the phone yesterday (colour me surprised). Basically all he said was he understands that I didn't "need" the tetanus shot, but the US requires it be more recent than 6 months ago if there's no previous records. (Is this documented anywhere? I don't remember reading that at all when I was stressing about my vaccinations prior to the medical). He wanted to assure me his staff wasn't trying to "practice bad medicine" as my doctor accused him (sigh) and confirmed that the medical was being shipped to me, so I'm going to try and relax now and assume that all is well with it.

He did mention that had my doctor not tracked down my records from public health, he would've told me to go to a walk in clinic for the tetanus shot.

So... I guess what we can learn from this is if you don't have a record of your tetanus shots, don't get it until right before the medical? (This all seems very stupid to me, to be honest.)

Glad Dr. Seiden was able to talk to you and straighten it out! I have 10 recorded tetanus vaccines since 1963...guess I will be okay!

[NinoniAndBoosBoos 6]

I had my medical this morning, through no fault of Dr. Seiden's office (mostly) it was basically a nightmare.

So, I overshot traffic estimates and we were there at 5:45am. Good call, because we were second in line. They let us in at 6:30 and I was out by 8:15 with only a bit of waiting in the actual exam room. I *really* recommend getting there as early as possible because by 7:30 the waiting room was standing room only and there were lines for every part of the process.

So, they did my intake and took my forms and money. Then chest xray, which was fine. Then took blood, which was fine. Then I went to an exam room where they did height/weight/blood pressure. Then I was asked to undress and put on the "gown" (Which, I will note, was incredibly tiny and very difficult to wear.) I waited a little while before a doctor came in, took my medical history and looked over my vaccinations. That's where things got messed up.

All I had in terms of vaccinations was a blood test showing immunity for Measles/Mumps/Rubella/HepB and a record of my last tetanus shot (January 2011). I had tried calling Peel Public Health a couple of months ago and they just weren't able to obtain my vaccination records after a nearly 2 hour phone call. The doctor said what I provided was fine, but even though I just had one in January they wanted me to get another tetanus shot. She then gave me a form to take to my doctor and fax in. Then someone else did the actual exam, which consisted of checking my eyes/ears/mouth, a stomach exam, reflexes, a breast exam and a quick check between my legs. She did my blood pressure again because it had been a little high (but nothing unmanageable) earlier in the appointment. They decided that because I was seeing my doctor anyway for the tetanus shot, they'd get one more blood pressure reading from him to see if I were more relaxed at that appointment.

So I left, woke up my fiance who was snoring in the waiting room (Sincere apologies to anyone who was there) and we headed back to Kitchener. I called my doctor as soon as they opened at 9:00, explained that I needed a tetanus shot and blood pressure and they told me just to stop in any time that morning.

We went right to my doctor's office to get it dealt with, they put me as a walk in just to see the nurse... and she came in to take my blood pressure and said she wouldn't give me a tetanus shot because I "didn't need" it. So I gave her my form from Dr. Seiden's office, explained the reason I was told to get it (They wanted a record that I'd had more than one, even if they were close together) and she stepped out to see the doctor. A few minutes later, my doctor came in and was incredibly rude and unhelpful about the tetanus shot requirement. (We have a bit of a strained relationship anyway, but he was being outright rude). I'm explaining that I was told to get this done, I have the papers showing they want it done, and he confirmed to me there would be no "harm" in getting one 6 months after my last tetanus shot, but he refused to do it. Kept saying it was bad medical practice, shot is good for ten years, etc.

So I try and call Dr. Seiden's office, but predictably go to voicemail. My doctor makes several attempts to call them and I send an email from my phone. My doctor gets very high and mighty about it and proclaims that I should just get my vaccination records from Public Health. He knows I've already tried that once because he fought me on getting a blood test done for immunity when I was unsuccessful. So he sets his nurse to calling Public Health and leaves me in the waiting room, admittedly upset because I'd been up since 4:30 and I just want this dealt with. I get an email back from Dr. Seiden's office, saying they're going to find the doctor now to confirm what they want me to do in light of my doctor refusing to give the tetanus shot. The nurse comes by to tell me she's gotten my records from public health. A few minutes later she comes back and says it was the wrong "Laura Clarkson" and she gets back on the phone with them.

I'm sitting in the waiting room, overtired and upset and just making a sobbing #### of myself in the chair when I get another email that Dr. Seiden's office is trying to call my doctor now. I then get called into my doctor's office area and he gives me my immunization records that they *were* able to track down from public health. He's kind of a jerk to me about not being able to get them myself when I tried, gives me a lecture on how it's "terrible medicine" to have asked me to get another tetanus shot for "no reason" and basically accuses Dr. Seiden's office of not know what they're doing. I'm hoping (but not sure) the vaccination record will be enough, crying again because I'm really emotional and overtired and that's when he decides to take my blood pressure again. Needless to say, the reading was really high and he starts to go on about wanted to monitor it over the next few weeks, etc.

He faxes a scathing cover letter with my vaccination record and blood pressure reading and sends me home.

So, for several hours I have had no idea if I've passed or failed the medical, if they still wanted me to get that tetanus shot, if my blood pressure getting so much higher is going to be an issue, etc. I finally got a voicemail from my doctor stating he spoke with Dr. Seiden's office, the vaccination record is enough and he "told them I was really upset" when he checked the blood pressure.

I'm still not entirely sure what's happened, I'm pretty drained and upset (Not to mention super proud that I broke down like a child, sigh.) and I've put an email in to Dr. Seiden's office. I've paid to have my results fedexed to me, so I should see them the end of the week if everything is fine...

But I felt I should share that experience, on the off chance it helps anyone else. I don't know if my doctor was just being a jerk or if they shouldn't have asked for another tetanus shot or what, but it was a couple of extremely high-stress hours when the medical was otherwise quick and painless and I'm still unsure of the outcome.

My goodness, I am sorry your family Dr. was so unprofessional. I think you shouldn't worry, I think they try to push us on the the smallest of details to see how we handle it, and it is no wonder your blood pressure was high, mine was high too that day. I almost want to tell you to call the College of Physicians and Surgeons to put in a complaint of hisunprofessional handling of the situation, and to keep his Friggen opinion about "bad medacine" to himself: my goodness he exhibitated such complete "bad medicine" by upsetting you so.

Keep your chin up kiddo....all will be well. This whole process is overwhelming and I think they test us on every level with such unnecessary procedures..but you will show them that you will perservere with your strength, determination and fortitude...keep strong my friend...

[Stuart and Thea 95]

Before you go complaining to the CPSO about your doctor, please listen to the perspective of someone who works in a family practice and regularly hears requests from employers and such for similar things and feel much like your doctor does that it IS bad medicine. Required by the US government or not, it IS bad medicine. There is no medical reason for it to be required, just that it suit some paperwork requirement. It doesn't make you any less likely to get the disease for having a second shot, and while it won't hurt you to get it, it's requests like these that add up and cost the Canadian taxpayer a lot of money. And to the poster that said it is free to test for these titres in Ontario, it's really not. They're quite expensive actually, and countless thousands of dollars are wasted every year for these useless requests. Patients that go to emerg for minor problems, unnecessary tests are only part of it. In fact, if you read the fine print, your doctor is supposed to have you pay for your tests for this kind of blood work when it's not required to treat you, such as would be the case if they were researching your immune status to see if you were sick with Hep B, and not just for your work, or your application for Visa. No wonder your doctor was righteously indignant, and rightly so. Also, his patient was being subjected to something completely ridiculous and unnecessary, so that would make him doubly angry. He did a poor job in relating to you that it was on your behalf that he was so upset, you should feel thrilled that you have a doctor that gets so upset on your behalf to actually call and tell off Dr Seiden, (who unfortunately, is also just doing his job, though that particular part of it is medically BAD medicine).

I myself have been angry with Public Health for their treatment of patients with regard to their vaccine records. I've been known to get angry on behalf of a student being threatened with expulsion for not having their immunization done, even though they may still have up to a year and a half to get it according to good medicine. Public Health has also been known to "lose" records, as I still get requests from them after faxing, phoning and mailing in records to them. I'm sorry that you had a bad day. I'm also sorry that your doctor made you feel worse. I can't imagine that there would be any reason to deny you based on high blood pressure especially if your doctor did not put you on a blood pressure med. I think in this case, Dr. Seiden was just looking out for you, and it's not a reason to deny you entry. Blood pressure is highly manageable, with diet or medication, so it's really not a biggie with the US government, I'm sure. Just please consider my perspective, and no, I don't work for either of the two doctors mentioned in this thread, though I'm very familiar with the kind of righteous indignation presented here, and can just see the doctor that I work for going into just such a tirade. Too bad your doctor didn't do it right though, you should have left your appointment feeling like you want to right every wrong in this world, I'm sure that's how your doctor felt.

And it IS bad medicine!

[Andy and Kayla 45]

Before you go complaining to the CPSO about your doctor, please listen to the perspective of someone who works in a family practice and regularly hears requests from employers and such for similar things and feel much like your doctor does that it IS bad medicine. Required by the US government or not, it IS bad medicine. There is no medical reason for it to be required, just that it suit some paperwork requirement. It doesn't make you any less likely to get the disease for having a second shot, and while it won't hurt you to get it, it's requests like these that add up and cost the Canadian taxpayer a lot of money. And to the poster that said it is free to test for these titres in Ontario, it's really not. They're quite expensive actually, and countless thousands of dollars are wasted every year for these useless requests. Patients that go to emerg for minor problems, unnecessary tests are only part of it. In fact, if you read the fine print, your doctor is supposed to have you pay for your tests for this kind of blood work when it's not required to treat you, such as would be the case if they were researching your immune status to see if you were sick with Hep B, and not just for your work, or your application for Visa. No wonder your doctor was righteously indignant, and rightly so. Also, his patient was being subjected to something completely ridiculous and unnecessary, so that would make him doubly angry. He did a poor job in relating to you that it was on your behalf that he was so upset, you should feel thrilled that you have a doctor that gets so upset on your behalf to actually call and tell off Dr Seiden, (who unfortunately, is also just doing his job, though that particular part of it is medically BAD medicine).

I myself have been angry with Public Health for their treatment of patients with regard to their vaccine records. I've been known to get angry on behalf of a student being threatened with expulsion for not having their immunization done, even though they may still have up to a year and a half to get it according to good medicine. Public Health has also been known to "lose" records, as I still get requests from them after faxing, phoning and mailing in records to them. I'm sorry that you had a bad day. I'm also sorry that your doctor made you feel worse. I can't imagine that there would be any reason to deny you based on high blood pressure especially if your doctor did not put you on a blood pressure med. I think in this case, Dr. Seiden was just looking out for you, and it's not a reason to deny you entry. Blood pressure is highly manageable, with diet or medication, so it's really not a biggie with the US government, I'm sure. Just please consider my perspective, and no, I don't work for either of the two doctors mentioned in this thread, though I'm very familiar with the kind of righteous indignation presented here, and can just see the doctor that I work for going into just such a tirade. Too bad your doctor didn't do it right though, you should have left your appointment feeling like you want to right every wrong in this world, I'm sure that's how your doctor felt.

And it IS bad medicine!

I understand where you're coming from and I'm not saying you're wrong but I also think that he overreacted and took a lot of those frustrations out on one poor girl who has no control over what immigration wants, which was inappropriate and unprofessional, in my opinion.

Denying one patient her vaccine was not going to solve the problem, KWIM?

[ralyse 31]

Before you go complaining to the CPSO about your doctor, please listen to the perspective of someone who works in a family practice and regularly hears requests from employers and such for similar things and feel much like your doctor does that it IS bad medicine.

I have no intention of complaining officially about either doctor. Mine only has me as a patient as a favour to a relative and constantly makes me aware of this fact, but out of respect for my uncle I don't say anything. So while I can understand that perspective too, it's hard to really articulate exactly how rude and unhelpful he was being to me. And I frankly find it terribly unprofessional how he behaved to Dr. Seiden, professional disagreement or not.

I also think it's completely understandable how upset I was, given how much rides on this medical and the immigration process, a fact my doctor is very well aware of. This post would've been markedly different had the entire situation been approached with some degree of sensitivity on behalf of my doctor. His disagreements with Dr. Seiden or the immigration requirements should never have been aired in front of me like that. I was under no immediate timeline to resolve the issue, and he knew that. Had he said "Let me look into this, I don't feel comfortable giving you this shot." and sent me home while he contacted Dr. Seiden or public health, I would've been fine. Worried until it got resolved, but by no means a sobbing mess in his office while he yelled at Dr. Seiden on the phone.

It was very hard not to feel like they were then going to look for the tiniest thing to fail my medical over, since my doctor was being such a jerk to them.

So, no, my intent here is not to be angry specifically that my doctor wouldn't give me the shot, its that everything was handled in such a terribly unprofessional manner. It worked out, and having my vaccination records (that I was previously unable to obtain) will be helpful down the road. I just think it's fairly appalling that a medical professional behaved in that way.