Sunday, November 8, 2009

My Medical Experience @ St. Lukes in Manila

It was March 4, 2008 when I flew to Manila for my medical and interview. My medical appointment was set for March 6, 2008 and my interview in March 12, 2008.

1st day
I went to St. Luke's Clinic for my medical on March 6, 2008 along with a friend, Gretchen, who also had her medical that same day and we got there around 8 o'clock in the morning.
When we got there, there's already a lot of people waiting in line outside.
I handed in an original and one photocopy of my appointment letter to the guard and he then gave me a queue number as well as forms that I filled out right away as I sat down.Black pen was really a requirement because they wouldn't accept forms filled out with red or blue pen.

$149 K1 Fiance Visa and $249 K3 Spousal Visa

I heared my number being called by the guard and along with the other numbers called, we fell in line to get our digital photos taken. After my picture was taken, the guy told me to go to the releasing counter and wait for my name to be called by a screener.

When it was already my turn, the lady asked me about my medical history. She then, stapled my 2x2 photos to the PDS form and she put the other two 2x2 photos to this small resealable plastic and again stapled it to that same form.
She told me to go to the 5th floor of the building to pay for the medical fees.

After paying for my medical fee, the lady on the 5th floor told me to go to the 4th floor.

On the 4th floor, I handed in my passport, photocopy of my appointment letter,receipt and the PDS form to the nurse at the reception. She gave me a form that I then filled out and returned to her.
A nurse called me and asked me about the last day of my period. I thought it was for a pregnancy test coz after that she told me to go to this room for blood extraction. Actually that was a pregnancy and HIV examination. She gave me back my papers after the blood extraction and pointed me this area for urine test. The nurse there gave me a vial and I gave it back to her after I put urine in it. I sat down and waited for my name to be called. Later, a guy called me and gave me back my passport along with my papers and told me to go to the 3rd floor for an x-ray exam.

On the third floor, a nurse took my papers and pointed me the changing room to put on a hospital gown. I went in there and change my clothes and put on the gown. The lady then showed me the room where they do the x-ray exam. A girl who was the technician that time was visayan and she was actually pretty nice to me. She told me to take off my necklace and tie my long hair so it wouldn't be in the way when she starts the exam. The exam was quick. She just asked me to inhale and hold my breath until she got a good picture of my lungs. After that, the nurse gave me back my papers and told me to go to the 5th floor.

On the 5th floor, I gave my papers to the guy at the US counter and he handed it over to the nurse who assisted me to the weighing station. She then checked my body height and weight and after that she told me to go to the eye exam room.

The nurse put me in this small room and asked me to wait for the nurse who was gonna do the exam. I heared other people taking the test in the other rooms. A nurse finally came in and asked me questions about any eye problems I have and I told him,no.He started off the test by showing me this board with letters of the alphabet in it with different sizes from biggest to smallest and asked me to read them all.
After the test, I sat down and my name was called for Vital Sign test. I gave my forms to the lady in the US counter and later my name was called and she gave me a number for my Physical Exam.

A lady called me and assisted me to this area where there were also girls there sitting and waiting for their turns. When it was already my turn, I sat down, greeted the doctor and she asked me few questions about my medical history.She asked me if I ever got pregnant or if I had an abortion or miscarriage.She also asked me if I ever had history in drugs and so on and so forth.The key for everybody to get more chances in getting approved is to be honest.Answer all the doctor's questions with all honesty because there had been stories about girls who lied to the doctors and they got denied.
If you have some infections or spots in your lungs, they make you clear it up first like giving you treatments and reschedule your interview but if you are using drugs, that's a different case scenario since there's a lifetime ban for drug users so usually if you have drug(cocaine) history, you will most likely get denied.

So, after that, the doctor had me sign that paper which said that I was telling the truth and following to that was, she asked me to take off my clothes and put on a hospital gown for my physical exam.She asked me to lay down and do whatever she asked me to do.She checked everything, like "EVERY" "THING",lol.

After the test, she told me to go to the US counter where I gave my forms to the guy there who also gave me back my forms with a slip in it and told me to go to the 2nd floor for the immunization interview.I gave my forms to the receptionist there and later on my name was called for an interview.

The doctor asked me about my previous vacccines, pregnancies and if I ever had chicken pox. When I told her that I had chicken pox, she asked me to show her the marks/scars left from it. She told me that they wouldn't give me any shots yet until they get my results from the exam.
After that, I went to the check out counter on the 2nd floor. The lady there told me to come back the next day for the results.My friend checked out too and was waiting for me outside the clinic.

$149 K1 Fiance Visa and $249 K3 Spousal Visa

2nd day

Me and my friend went back to SLEC for the results of our medical.I showed the receipt to the guard outside and he asked me to go inside and gave my receipt to the other guard inside.He then stamped my receipt with immunization and told me to go to the 2nd floor to get the vaccines that I was gonna get that day. I gave my receipt to the receptionist and waited for my name to be called.I was called to the check out counter and then somebody took my passport.

Later, my name was called for immunization. The nurse asked my name, birth, age and the date of my first and last period and if I am allergic to anything.She gave me three shots.One was for Measles/Rubella. The other one was for HPV and the last one was an Anti-Cervical Cancer shot.

Then, I went to the ground floor for the results.Immunization was the last part of the Medical.The shots kinda stings and I even got a fever that lasted for two days from those.

My name was called and the guy had me sign the PDS form and asked me for my passport.
I went back to my seat and my name was called again later and this girl handed me my X-ray result as well as the vaccine sheet.She told me that they would forward the results of my medical exam as well as my passport to the US Embassy which means I passed the exam and I just had to wait for the day of my interview at the US Embassy which I am going to write later for my next post coz I am tired typing now,lol. I have no idea how long this post already is, so, later.