St Luke's Medical questions

[Dogwood_Poet 16]

I thought I would start this thread for people who have questions about their medical exam, so they can all be in one place and maybe help each other out.

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I just talked to Kathlene and they said they took a second x-ray to look at her left lung. She has no symptoms of TB, so hopefully there is nothing to worry about. She has already gotten her immunizations and all of her other tests were OK.

Is this something they do fairly often just to make sure? They told her to come back Monday and they would give her the results from the second x-rays.

Her interview is Wednesday, so I hope there is no problems and they can still get the results over to the embassy in time as well.

[StarProg 0]

Fely will be at St. Luke's on Monday for her medical. She hasn't had perfect health over the past couple of years, but I'm hoping everything will be OK. Wow good luck on that interview Wednesday.

[Sheriff Uling 3]

My Fellow Phil-Am Families:

Please read # 5 of the Manila Embassy K1 Visa Guide, which covers the St. Luke's Extension Clinic (SLEC). There maybe something there that can assist you.

Cheers!!!

Sheriff Uling

Edited June 1, 2007 by Sheriff Uling

[vsmtghdy 2]

I thought I would start this thread for people who have questions about their medical exam, so they can all be in one place and maybe help each other out.

I just talked to Kathlene and they said they took a second x-ray to look at her left lung. She has no symptoms of TB, so hopefully there is nothing to worry about. She has already gotten her immunizations and all of her other tests were OK.

Is this something they do fairly often just to make sure? They told her to come back Monday and they would give her the results from the second x-rays.

Her interview is Wednesday, so I hope there is no problems and they can still get the results over to the embassy in time as well.

Only those with suspicious lung findings on their 1st CXR are requested to have another CXR done to confirm their suspicion. They will do comparison on the 1st and 2nd CXR films, if it will be negative, then she will be fine. 2nd CXR on the left lung? Maybe they did an apico-lordotic view. Does she have any history of PTB in the past? As a child? Any family history of PTB? Nowadays, some PTB patients don't look sickly, most are healthy and only through CXR that they are found to be positive for PTB. If her CXR will be positive, then they will ask her to have sputum AFB exams for 3 consecutive days.

There was a scare reported by CDC about the guy who have Resistant type of TB (MDR-TB), I'm sure they just want to be cautious about this case. Although there's no reported case of PTB being transferred through a pressurized space like in airplanes.

I have a Doctor Colleague, he is not sickly, no symptoms, in good health (physically when looking at him), CXR and sputum AFB culture was done and it turned out he had the resistant type of PTB. Treatment for MDR-TB is costly (usually more than 5 drugs) and minimum of 1 year.

Good Luck! Let's just pray that her CXRs are normal.

[Dogwood_Poet 16]

Only those with suspicious lung findings on their 1st CXR are requested to have another CXR done to confirm their suspicion. They will do comparison on the 1st and 2nd CXR films, if it will be negative, then she will be fine. 2nd CXR on the left lung? Maybe they did an apico-lordotic view. Does she have any history of PTB in the past? As a child? Any family history of PTB? Nowadays, some PTB patients don't look sickly, most are healthy and only through CXR that they are found to be positive for PTB. If her CXR will be positive, then they will ask her to have sputum AFB exams for 3 consecutive days.

Yes that was the x-ray she said they did. She said the only problems she has had breathing was when she was young she fell into the water and had some problems as she recovered from that. No one close in her family has PTB that she knows of.

I told her they are probably being careful as you said with the scare of the guy coming in to the US. They went ahead and gave her the immunizations, so hopefully they are not too concerned.

[VilmaF 0]

Does the medical fee includes vaccination for children (K-2) and me (Beneficiary) or do i have to pay another fee if we get vaccination at SLEC?

[Dogwood_Poet 16]

Does the medical fee includes vaccination for children (K-2) and me (Beneficiary) or do i have to pay another fee if we get vaccination at SLEC?

Vaccinations are included in your medical fee, so you should not have another fee other than the standard exam fee for yourself ($95) and your children ($67)

[Dogwood_Poet 16]

I just talked to Kathlene and they said she has to come back then next three days for sputum exams, so now she will miss her appointment.

This is what we were afraid of since we had so little notice on her appointment, there being a problem with her medical.

Hopefully the sputum exams will come back negative and we will not have to wait too long for another appointment.

If they do turn out positive, how long will we have to wait for her treatment to be completed and can she return home while she is undergoing treatment?

[Dogwood_Poet 16]

I want to make it clear I am more worried about Kathlene being sick than when her interview is! It is so hard to be half a world away and feel so helpless!

Well, it is almost 3am, so I had better try and get some sleep so I can make it through work tomorrow.

[Dogwood_Poet 16]

Kathlene goes for her last of the three days of sputum tests in the morning. Will they give her any results after she is done, or will she have to wait for the results?

We are believing this is just something minor or it was a scar from an earlier infection on the x-ray and soon she will have another interview scheduled and we will be back on track to be together again!

[vsmtghdy 2]

Kathlene goes for her last of the three days of sputum tests in the morning. Will they give her any results after she is done, or will she have to wait for the results?

We are believing this is just something minor or it was a scar from an earlier infection on the x-ray and soon she will have another interview scheduled and we will be back on track to be together again!

They may have to give the results the next day or they may wait until all results (3) are in. Although it takes only 30 minutes to get a result for the sputum AFB. If 2 out of 3 results is positive, then she will have to undergo treatment. 1 out of 3 is suggestive but may also be false positive and they may opt to clear her or do more tests. Hopefully all will be negative, so she can have an interview schedule. Pray.

[Dogwood_Poet 16]

Kathlene goes in to talk to the Doctors today, but they will not tell her the results until the samples are cultured, so she will have to go back on the 12th to find out what the outcome is.

I am praying that she is not sick, but if the results are positive, we will carry on and I will just make plans to go see my wife soon and we will face what ever comes together.

I promised her in sickness and in health and we will cross this hurdle as well!

[vsmtghdy 2]

They don't usually do culture if there's no AFB (Acid-fast stain Baccilli) seen on the initial sputum exam. The process is to check the sputum for AFB and if it is positive, then proceed to Culture and sensitivity to know which drug the baccilli is sensitive and those drugs will be given as treatment. Sputum Culture and sensitivity (C/S) are also done to rule out the possibility of a resistant type of TB. For the Culture, if there's no organsism that grows after 48-72 hours, then that's a negative result. But Culturing AFB takes longer than 3weeks for the baccilli to grow because they are a slow-growing organisms... and if she was asked to come back on the 12th, then I think they will just have to wait for the 72 hours for the initial reading. Hopefully it will turn out to be negative. But like what you mentioned, you are ready whatever the results are. You're a good, loving and understanding husband. I'm sure both of your will pass this challenge. Let's just pray it will be negative! :

Edited June 7, 2007 by vsmtghdy

[Jasman0717 9]

Fely will be at St. Luke's on Monday for her medical. She hasn't had perfect health over the past couple of years, but I'm hoping everything will be OK. Wow good luck on that interview Wednesday.

Wow Gary, glad to see you are nearing the end of this process. Good luck

[smoke20 0]

we are a long way from the medical stage. but, does my fiance set her own medical up or does the embassy set it up for her. i've heard it both ways.