London Medical - Knightsbridge Doctors

[Laura. 90]

I had my medical on 9 July. Got to say, it was more stressful and intrusive than I had expected, although all the staff were friendly, professional and understanding, which did make it better than it otherwise might have been.

I had mine on 9 July too. Weirdly my experience was incredibly quick and simple and far less intrusive than I had expected. I went into it expecting to have my every orifice and limb examined, and none of that happened. No peeking downstairs or breast examining.

I think the kiwi woman you mentioned may have done my chest xray. The rest of my medical was done by an Asian doctor called Dr Huang, who was very nice and kept joking around now and then.

[PearlyLemons 13]

Portlandia, sorry to hear yours was a stressful experience. I had mine on the 5th of July and it was pretty non-invasive. She did do a breast exam but did not have a peek downstairs, even though I had braced myself for that part! Did anyone else get their blood tests results in the mail?

[lost_at_sea 995]

Portlandia, sorry to hear yours was a stressful experience. I had mine on the 5th of July and it was pretty non-invasive. She did do a breast exam but did not have a peek downstairs, even though I had braced myself for that part! Did anyone else get their blood tests results in the mail?

I am so confused about the breast exam thing. I did not have one. Some ladies do. I thought it might be an age thing (older ladies being more regularly screened etc. as breast cancer rates go up with age) but that doesn't seem to be holding true (you look pretty young from your photo, Emmy I'm 30). I did get the quick (nanosecond) peak down the top of my knickers.

I don't necessarily care that they do them - but it does bother me that it's not equally applied, because if they're not checking everyone, then what's the point?

Edited July 21, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[PearlyLemons 13]

I am so confused about the breast exam thing. I did not have one. Some ladies do. I thought it might be an age thing (older ladies being more regularly screened etc. as breast cancer rates go up with age) but that doesn't seem to be holding true (you look pretty young from your photo, Emmy I'm 30). I did get the quick (nanosecond) peak down the top of my knickers.

I don't necessarily care that they do them - but it does bother me that it's not equally applied, because if they're not checking everyone, then what's the point?

lost_at_sea, I totally agree with you. I think the fact that the checks are inconsistent are a little concerning and like you said, there's no point to them! She chastised me a little when I told her I don't regularly check them. I then told her it runs in my family (women over 50 though) and she told me not to worry about getting breast cancer because of that reason(I'm 25)! I didn't quite get the point of that but hey ho.

[Jeannie & Al 18]

Has anyone seen anyone have issues with cholesterol? My fiance is in great shape - eats right and works out but he has a hereditary cholesterol condition (Dad had heart attack in his 50s with early retirement). They check my fiance and his sister's cholesterol regularly and his has been higher at times than they'd like but to avoid medication, he made dietary changes and it has been really good...he recently had a test that wasn't as good although still not bad...they are taking another test to make sure that one wasn't a fluke...

Has anyone seen anyone with issues at the medical for inherited cholesterol issues? His medical is in about 10 days...

Edited July 23, 2013 by Jeannie & Al

[QueenOfBlades 224]

Mine is now booked for 8th August at Bentick Mansions. I called up today and she said she had one for tomorrow morning, I nearly pooped myself and said that was a bit TOO soon. XD

[lost_at_sea 995]

Has anyone seen anyone have issues with cholesterol? My fiance is in great shape - eats right and works out but he has a hereditary cholesterol condition (Dad had heart attack in his 50s with early retirement). They check my fiance and his sister's cholesterol regularly and his has been higher at times than they'd like but to avoid medication, he made dietary changes and it has been really good...he recently had a test that wasn't as good although still not bad...they are taking another test to make sure that one wasn't a fluke...

Has anyone seen anyone with issues at the medical for inherited cholesterol issues? His medical is in about 10 days...

I've not come across anyone with that specific issue. Probably the best option would be to have his GP write up a note about what's up with him, his prognosis and treatment.

They don't test for cholesterol at the medical specifically, but does it cause his blood pressure to be up? High blood pressure reading is the #1 thing I see people have problems with at the medical in London, generally causing the applicant to have to go to their GP to get re-checked and an appropriate treatment plan in place (or have their GP fax them a statement to say they're fine).

Edited July 24, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[Jeannie & Al 18]

Mine is now booked for 8th August at Bentick Mansions. I called up today and she said she had one for tomorrow morning, I nearly pooped myself and said that was a bit TOO soon. XD

Congrats Queen - one more step! My fiance called back today and moved his medical up one week to this Friday. I think the one you mentioned was already taken.

I've not come across anyone with that specific issue. Probably the best option would be to have his GP write up a note about what's up with him, his prognosis and treatment.

They don't test for cholesterol at the medical specifically, but does it cause his blood pressure to be up? High blood pressure reading is the #1 thing I see people have problems with at the medical in London, generally causing the applicant to have to go to their GP to get re-checked and an appropriate treatment plan in place (or have their GP fax them a statement to say they're fine).

Thanks LAS He does not have any blood pressure issues at all - he said in fact it's low normal so we're hoping it won't be a problem. He took the new cholesterol test yesterday but he won't have the results in time for his moved up medical date this Friday, nor do we think he'd have the time to get a letter from his GP. He seems very confident that he'll be okay since they don't specifically test for it anyway and his has been pretty good..and he has his vaccinations and medical history stuff from his GP which is only from a couple weeks ago saying he's in good health,etc.

should I be worried? I can picture now driving up to NH this weekend to see my sister and have her finalize which dress to wear, I'll be worrying a bit I think lol...

I just noticed you have your POE date - congrats! you must be so excited! thanks for all your help!

[UK-USA-K1 128]

Congrats Queen - one more step! My fiance called back today and moved his medical up one week to this Friday. I think the one you mentioned was already taken.

Thanks LAS He does not have any blood pressure issues at all - he said in fact it's low normal so we're hoping it won't be a problem. He took the new cholesterol test yesterday but he won't have the results in time for his moved up medical date this Friday, nor do we think he'd have the time to get a letter from his GP. He seems very confident that he'll be okay since they don't specifically test for it anyway and his has been pretty good..and he has his vaccinations and medical history stuff from his GP which is only from a couple weeks ago saying he's in good health,etc.

should I be worried? I can picture now driving up to NH this weekend to see my sister and have her finalize which dress to wear, I'll be worrying a bit I think lol...

I just noticed you have your POE date - congrats! you must be so excited! thanks for all your help!

I wouldn't worry about the cholesterol thing at all if it's not causing any other issues. With cholesterol tests, you have to have not eaten for 8-12 hours before the test or it won't register correctly. I don't believe they give this instruction for the medical (at least they didn't give my fiance that instruction). If you have eaten they can't get a proper reading, so cholesterol itself shouldn't be an issue.

[Jeannie & Al 18]

I wouldn't worry about the cholesterol thing at all if it's not causing any other issues. With cholesterol tests, you have to have not eaten for 8-12 hours before the test or it won't register correctly. I don't believe they give this instruction for the medical (at least they didn't give my fiance that instruction). If you have eaten they can't get a proper reading, so cholesterol itself shouldn't be an issue.

Thanks Uk-US - that's a good point...he seems to think it will be fine so hopefully all will go well.

So because I'm a nervous type lol, here's what he is bringing to his medical Friday:

-Passport photo (either size- he has both)

-Passport

-Filled out medical questionnaire - only answer yes is to hospitalization

-Medical history from GP including explanations for any hospitalization

-Vaccination record including the notification of the booster he got a couple weeks ago

- Police Certificate (never been arrested or any trouble with law) from a couple months back

-Debit card to pay for medical

Also, unlike the interview, he can bring an Ipad and phone to the medical appointment, correct?

[UK-USA-K1 128]

Thanks Uk-US - that's a good point...he seems to think it will be fine so hopefully all will go well.

So because I'm a nervous type lol, here's what he is bringing to his medical Friday:

-Passport photo (either size- he has both)

-Passport

-Filled out medical questionnaire - only answer yes is to hospitalization

-Medical history from GP including explanations for any hospitalization

-Vaccination record including the notification of the booster he got a couple weeks ago

- Police Certificate (never been arrested or any trouble with law) from a couple months back

-Debit card to pay for medical

Also, unlike the interview, he can bring an Ipad and phone to the medical appointment, correct?

Sounds like you guys have it all under control. There is no security issue with electronics at the medical, so no worries about the phone and such.

[Jeannie & Al 18]

Sounds like you guys have it all under control. There is no security issue with electronics at the medical, so no worries about the phone and such.

Thanks

[lost_at_sea 995]

Thanks

Yeah - it's very much like any other British GP surgery. Nothing particularly special. There are signs around the place asking you not to use your phone, but I didn't notice anyone paying any attention to that.

(p.s. Thanks for the congrats! More trepidatious than excited, but I'm sure that'll change when the movers arrive on Monday)

Edited July 24, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[Jeannie & Al 18]

Yeah - it's very much like any other British GP surgery. Nothing particularly special. There are signs around the place asking you not to use your phone, but I didn't notice anyone paying any attention to that.

(p.s. Thanks for the congrats! More trepidatious than excited, but I'm sure that'll change when the movers arrive on Monday)

thanks..he will keep it off I'm sure but good to have with you when you live hours away for on the way there and back.

I can only imagine! if I was the one moving, I would be the same way...he has to find a taker for his pool table but otherwise, he's in pretty good shape even though we don't have a date. hope all goes smoothly for you - you are always so patient and helpful.

btw - I think you did it the right way..now that the K1 is taking longer, it probably would have made sense for us to go for the one you did where he would have the green card when he gets here...especially being a teacher where he can't just start and stop work so easily...but i guess that's on us - we should have done more research first. at least we are okay financially although we weren't originally going to rent out his flat but now we are..

anyway, good luck with the move - I hope you don't abandon us when you get here!

[lost_at_sea 995]

thanks..he will keep it off I'm sure but good to have with you when you live hours away for on the way there and back.

I can only imagine! if I was the one moving, I would be the same way...he has to find a taker for his pool table but otherwise, he's in pretty good shape even though we don't have a date. hope all goes smoothly for you - you are always so patient and helpful.

btw - I think you did it the right way..now that the K1 is taking longer, it probably would have made sense for us to go for the one you did where he would have the green card when he gets here...especially being a teacher where he can't just start and stop work so easily...but i guess that's on us - we should have done more research first. at least we are okay financially although we weren't originally going to rent out his flat but now we are..

anyway, good luck with the move - I hope you don't abandon us when you get here!

Yeah. I feel good about how things have turned out. If I'd spent more time on here before we made a decision about what to do, I'd have realised more quickly how little our now-fired lawyer knew (and the 2 others we'd had consultations with - not one of the 3 suggested DCF). Such is life, and everything's okay now.

And no, no plans to abandon. If I did, I'd only have to come crawling back when I get to RoC.