Any smoker who passed the chest X-ray at SLEC

[jog 0]

im about to have my medical exam, im so nervous because im a smoker

[RICARDO4EVA2 194]

im about to have my medical exam, im so nervous because im a smoker

so stop smoking if you're concerned about the exam or better - your health . Also ... smoking doesnt cause the medical exam to fail ( sadly).

Edited November 21, 2011 by RICARDO4EVA2

[Allegra+Hadrien 2]

Let me know how it goes. my husband is worried about that too. heheh.

[jog 0]

Let me know how it goes. my husband is worried about that too. heheh.

sure i will

[Heather&Paul 7]

I am pretty sure that the chest x-ray is to merely check for tuberculosis (TB). A person with TB will show active signs of it in their lungs, so the imaging via x-ray is done to examine this. You don't have anything to worry about. You can also look it up on: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3745.html#_What_if_the_1 . In this information segment they are referencing the use of x-ray on pregnant women, but if you read through the paragraph it states how the x-ray is for TB. Also they talk about the TB test and talk about the use of x-rays to diagnosis TB.

Hope this helps.

[cdneh 3,112]

im about to have my medical exam, im so nervous because im a smoker

I was, but I was worried needlessly. Passed fine, and I checked out the x-ray myself later at work. Clear as a bell.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Marlboro Reds give a bonus coupon of "5 Miles" per pack. The good news is they give a new lung at 1 million miles!

ps, yes, like the other poster said here, it is better just to give up smoking so you don't have to worry about passing the SLEC exam.

Good luck!

[cdneh 3,112]

They are looking for TB. Marlboro Reds don't give you that, in spite of all the anti smoking bias about the place.

The OP stated that he was worried, preaching doesn't help now does it.

[Heather&Paul 7]

Exactly! That is what bugs me about this thread, how ignorant some of the responses have been. The individual smokes, so what! The person wants intelligent help about a test for a visa, not to be criticized for a life decision that at this point can not be undone. In some cultures it is hard not to become a smoker, I am not sure about the Philippines but in some other European countries it's hard to not become one due to the cultural and social influence of it. The test is for TB and is not in regards to whether or not a person smokes. No where in any of the medical forms does it say it is illegal to smoke. So until you can give some useful information, get off your soap boxes.

[jog 0]

I was, but I was worried needlessly. Passed fine, and I checked out the x-ray myself later at work. Clear as a bell.

i'm just worried because i been smoking for 12 yrs if its not clear as a bell like yours maybe they would recommend me for sputum culture (though i don't have TB Symptoms) that would mean another two months of waiting.

[jog 0]

Exactly! That is what bugs me about this thread, how ignorant some of the responses have been. The individual smokes, so what! The person wants intelligent help about a test for a visa, not to be criticized for a life decision that at this point can not be undone. In some cultures it is hard not to become a smoker, I am not sure about the Philippines but in some other European countries it's hard to not become one due to the cultural and social influence of it. The test is for TB and is not in regards to whether or not a person smokes. No where in any of the medical forms does it say it is illegal to smoke. So until you can give some useful information, get off your soap boxes.

[Richie Rich 70]

im about to have my medical exam, im so nervous because im a smoker

Dont worry too much .The test is for TB, not lung cancer .It may do you well to quit for about 2 weeks before the medical so as not to leave anything to doubt . May I add that many non-smokers have failed the test . Good luck .

Edited November 21, 2011 by Richie Rich

[RICARDO4EVA2 194]

Exactly! That is what bugs me about this thread, how ignorant some of the responses have been. The individual smokes, so what! The person wants intelligent help about a test for a visa, not to be criticized for a life decision that at this point can not be undone. In some cultures it is hard not to become a smoker, I am not sure about the Philippines but in some other European countries it's hard to not become one due to the cultural and social influence of it. The test is for TB and is not in regards to whether or not a person smokes. No where in any of the medical forms does it say it is illegal to smoke. So until you can give some useful information, get off your soap boxes.

I see it got you torn now the Facts are facts & the text wont change but stay the same. Give your answer to the man or woman's inquiry instead of wondering "just why" someone answered the way they did. Back up ... Relax and give yo mind a break.

Edited November 21, 2011 by RICARDO4EVA2

[Heather&Paul 7]

This may help you out in regards to your question: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/tuberculosis.htm . Unfortunately, even though the test is for TB, sometimes the chest x-rays can come back looking similar to positive TB x-rays, especially in people that are smokers. In that case they would need to do the sputum test like you had mentioned. It may not hurt to stop smoking for a bit, it may not help much since it's a short period of time but it is worth the try. Try to keep your mind at ease, you'll get through this, you just have to wait for the medical and take it step by step.

Edited November 21, 2011 by Heather&Paul

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

They're looking for a dense mass in your lungs. An active TB infection could cause this. Lung cancer can also cause it. If you fail the chest x-ray then you should probably hope that it's TB since it's relatively easy to cure compared to lung cancer.

A heavy or long term smoker without cancer may show some scarring of the lung tissues, but it won't look like either TB or cancer.