TB treatment at SLEC . . . need some info and advice.

[WCF 16]

I just read the report from the CT Scan that my fiancée had at the request of SLEC. She is to return in about 5 weeks for the results of her sputum test. Even if it is negative, I believe that they will require her to go through the treatment because of what's in the CT Scan.
My question is how does she live in Manila near SLEC for 6 months with nothing to do? To me, this sounds absolutely horrible. There is little chance of her finding employment. I can't imagine her sitting everyday watching TikTok for 6 months. How have others endured this? Is there a boarding house or someplace to stay so she will not be alone? This is absolutely devastating but I can't just leave my job and go live with her by the hospital for 6 months. Even if I could I know it would drive me crazy.
Information, referrals for places for her to stay, tips . . . prayers? 

[Edward and Jaycel 157]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Jaycel and I will pray for you guys. What is in the results of the CT Scan that you feel they will interpret as requiring actual TB treatment? (If you are comfortable sharing) I can't believe if her cultures come back negative that they would still want to treat her. It's just mind boggling

[WCF 16]

1 hour ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

I'm so sorry to hear this. Jaycel and I will pray for you guys. What is in the results of the CT Scan that you feel they will interpret as requiring actual TB treatment? (If you are comfortable sharing) I can't believe if her cultures come back negative that they would still want to treat her. It's just mind boggling

 

You message means a lot to me. I appreciate the prayers and best wishes.

I just got off a video chat with my fiancee. She has been so stressed out and sad, and this was the first time I have seen her happy in days so I didn't have the heart to tell her my suspicions.
The CT scan came back with three small nodules. One calcified, two non-calcified. These are consistent with a past infection or infection of undetermined process. I work in the healthcare field and familiar enough with these findings that I suspect that the MD will likely speculate TB as a possible cause.
I fear this CT scan will cause SLEC to require the treatment even if the sputum test is negative. 
I guess we will soon find out as my fiancee will go to the hospital tomorrow to obtain the report being sent to SLEC.
I know if my fear is true, she is not going to handle it very well and I can't imagine her stuck in Manila for 6 months alone with nothing to do.
I have to figure out how to get us through this.

[bowens44 214]

4 hours ago, WCF said:

I just read the report from the CT Scan that my fiancée had at the request of SLEC. She is to return in about 5 weeks for the results of her sputum test. Even if it is negative, I believe that they will require her to go through the treatment because of what's in the CT Scan.
My question is how does she live in Manila near SLEC for 6 months with nothing to do? To me, this sounds absolutely horrible. There is little chance of her finding employment. I can't imagine her sitting everyday watching TikTok for 6 months. How have others endured this? Is there a boarding house or someplace to stay so she will not be alone? This is absolutely devastating but I can't just leave my job and go live with her by the hospital for 6 months. Even if I could I know it would drive me crazy.
Information, referrals for places for her to stay, tips . . . prayers? 

Hopefully this won't happen. My fiance ( now wife of 10 years) had to go through the treatment. She lived in a condo a couple of blocks from SLEC. While there she met several women in the same situation. She became good friends with a few of them and they are still in touch today here in the US  nearly a decade later. 

Edited August 13 by bowens44

[RO_AH 1,659]

My prayers for you and your fiance. My wife and I spent 4 hours a day in video chat (when she was still in the Philippines). We spent more time talking and getting to know each other than couples who are not long distance. I first  met my wife in person in 2011 and she arrived here in 2021. 10 years of 4 hours a day, 3 hours a day the last 2 /12 years because she was real busy with our 2 children. If you do end up going though this, spend every moment you have with her even if it's long distance. Maybe others will have other suggestions. One more thought, why not have family members join her from time to time. Stay a week or 2 then return.

[Edward and Jaycel 157]

My fiancee and I have been nothing but text and video chats for the past 11 months. No doubt it is hard but it made us so much stronger. If she has to go there for that treatment, I would imagine she would meet others in the treatment program too that she could bond with. Maybe look at getting her an inexpensive laptop that she could use to take some online courses, really study the AOS process and become an expert on it so that when she does get there, you guys can breeze through that? Sorry if I'm rambling here, just trying to spitball some thoughts for you both. I hope it doesn't come to all that but if it does, try your best to make it into a fruitful time. 

[WCF 16]

Thank you everyone for the support and suggestions. Yes, she did meet a new friend during the sputum collection and they shared a hotel together. This made all the difference in the world, and I am sure she will find other new friends if she must go through this. I like the "laptop" idea, and I have an old tablet that I rarely use anymore that I may try to send to her. 
I started trying to find housing, which is difficult from here in CA, but think it might be best to look for a boarding house type situation and then if she makes some friends like last time, perhaps we can look into a shared living situation with these new friends.
I told her that I need to talk to her in private tomorrow. I need to start having this discussion with her and she told me this morning that she is scared. If this happens it is another major turning point in her life as she will certainly lose her job and her current housing, be separated from her family, and living in a city where she is frankly afraid. 
If anyone has any specific leads on housing, or how to go about searching, please post or DM me.
Thank you!

[J.M. 230]

34 minutes ago, WCF said:

I need to start having this discussion with her and she told me this morning that she is scared

I'm not sure how you plan to approach the subject, but I wouldn't think it would be a good idea to share your suspicions with her.  Certainly, discuss the possible outcome of needing DOT and how to handle that, but I wouldn't think it would be productive to share that you expect her to have to go through it.  Discuss that as a possible outcome, but don't share that you expect that to be the outcome.  Just my opinion.

[WCF 16]

9 minutes ago, J.M. said:

I'm not sure how you plan to approach the subject, but I wouldn't think it would be a good idea to share your suspicions with her.  Certainly, discuss the possible outcome of needing DOT and how to handle that, but I wouldn't think it would be productive to share that you expect her to have to go through it.  Discuss that as a possible outcome, but don't share that you expect that to be the outcome.  Just my opinion.

 

Thanks, J.M. We are on the same page. I have chosen not to talk to her about it yet until we see the report that the Dr. writes after reviewing the CT scan. The Dr. has a choice here to be conservative and make a diagnosis of a nodule on the lung and recommend a comparative scan in 6 months, or she can report that the results are suggestive of TB and recommend immediate treatment. I hope to at least have some clarity tomorrow. It's been over a week since her final sputum collection. I am in "wait and see" mode and choosing not to upset her any more than she already is. 

[RO_AH 1,659]

13 hours ago, J.M. said:

I wouldn't think it would be a good idea to share your suspicions with her. 

Filpinas love to worry and are able to come up with lots of things to worry about on their own. Please don't add to it.

[WCF 16]

The Dr. just confirmed what I suspected she would say from the CT scan. 
She handed my fiancee a medical report diagnosing her with TB.

[RO_AH 1,659]

10 minutes ago, WCF said:

The Dr. just confirmed what I suspected she would say from the CT scan. 
She handed my fiancee a medical report diagnosing her with TB.

On the bright side she now knows she has it and is getting it treated. Had you not gone through the process, how much longer would it have gone untreated.

[widude 38]

 We just ended up with this, 6 month TB treatment plan. I was thinking it was a possibility. The way I understand it, more an issue with the X-rays than active & current TB.

 

     I’ll look for a window to go over and visit, may take a few months.

[maryaaaaaaaaaaa 26]

SLEC is really messed up! The new medical guidelines are stirring up confusion for many K1 beneficiaries. I have read a lot of feedback about getting positive results on IGRA for latent PTB and was cleared for immunization. 

 

[widude 38]

 The way I see it, one has to satisfy St Luke’s to get to the interview. There may be ways to message the margins, but they control the marching orders. 
 

  I’ve had someone ask, ‘can’t they just get treatment later on’? The answer is no. One has to adjust for the conditions presented.