My Gosh! This Sputum Ordeal with St. Luke's!!!

[raven52 234]

My fiance took physical the 3rd week in Jan. 1st doctor, ok.,.,2nd doctor, ok,.,,.3rd doctor says "supicious".,., so this triggers the "Sputum Ordeal" of more than 8 weeks, after a 6 and 1/2 month ordeal with VSC! The last week of Jan. she had sputum test 3 days in a rwo, then consultation, and the "smear" was negative, that was Jan 25! She was informed to call back March 27, that is well over the 8 week time for the test results to come back!

I have read everything I can find, but who I trust are the people on this sight for sound thinking and objective, informative suggestions.,.,.,I sure hope to hear from some of my friends here at VJ.com!

Have read, "that if smear is negative +95% of the time the test is negative"

Also, "never call between weeks 3-6 as "you will always be found positive"

Also, "the test results are always back to St. Luke"s after 7 weeks, BUT they never call the person!"

Also, "hope you do not get a phone call between weeks 3-5, as it has been found positive, and must start medication then, but she lives in Cebu, how can she do this in Manila evey day???

Does anyone have any opinions or experiences with finding out the results before my fiance was told to call back March 27, over 2 months after the testing was finished????? PLEASE, SOME OPINIONS AND SUGGESTIONS, GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!!!!

[toastedpancake 15]

aww Im sorry to hear that, I cant answer your question but I hope everything will turn out fine. Im going to have my medical next week.. this makes me more anxious

Edited February 1, 2013 by toastedpancake

[LSnBigBear 61]

Sorry bro as this was my fear earlier this week that kept me awake most of the night while my fiancee was at the interview. We are fortunate but still hurt for those that are going through this. I can relate as my ex went through what your fiancee is going thtough in 2007 so this sucks I know. You under normal circumstances will not hear anything from St Lukes for 8 weeks from her last test. It takes this amount of time to spin the sample, let it go though all it needs to so they know 100% what direction her results are in. So unfortunately unless something has changed you are looking at end of March for her results. I know the waiting hurts. All you can do is look back as you at two months ago and see it was just Dec 1 which seems like yesterday. Good luck.

[CajunKitty 8]

Think positive and hope for the best, I too just like you was worried sick the whole time thinking a lot of 'what ifs' but in the end everything went great.. Had my medical done in 1day..

By the way i'm from Cebu too so I know how you feel.. Goodluck and hope everything is going to be fine!

[christracy 0]

Hi there..sorry you are both going through this and hopefully it will only be the 8 weeks delay for you. For my wife that was not the case. She will be called by St Lukes about when to show up for result...no answeres over the phone will be given. If she gets a call before 6 and a half weeks it is surley bad news(positive result)...I say 6 n a half cos I know a woman that got her negative result that early. All you can do is wait for the call..they will not give updates or results over the phone.As was our case we got a call to report to St Lukes at the 3 and a half week point(she tested negative right after the 3 days)they did not tell her over the phone why. Turns out her culture tested positive and she had to start 6 month DOT at ST Lukes(she is 4 hour bus trip from Manila).I had to rent her an apartment there so she could recieve daily meds..in 2 weeks she will be done with meds n hopefully we get on with interview(we applied aug 2011) As for the 95% negative results thing I have no idea...there are many there going through DOT right now. She will need your encouragement and support now as she will be hearing stories of how others have been dumped at this point...again..I am sorry you and her are going through this.Hopefully 8 weeks pass quickly and she is cleared..it is all about patience and faith at this point...anything else feel free to ask..ingat lagi

[LSnBigBear 61]

Hi there..sorry you are both going through this and hopefully it will only be the 8 weeks delay for you. For my wife that was not the case. She will be called by St Lukes about when to show up for result...no answeres over the phone will be given. If she gets a call before 6 and a half weeks it is surley bad news(positive result)...I say 6 n a half cos I know a woman that got her negative result that early. All you can do is wait for the call..they will not give updates or results over the phone.As was our case we got a call to report to St Lukes at the 3 and a half week point(she tested negative right after the 3 days)they did not tell her over the phone why. Turns out her culture tested positive and she had to start 6 month DOT at ST Lukes(she is 4 hour bus trip from Manila).I had to rent her an apartment there so she could recieve daily meds..in 2 weeks she will be done with meds n hopefully we get on with interview(we applied aug 2011) As for the 95% negative results thing I have no idea...there are many there going through DOT right now. She will need your encouragement and support now as she will be hearing stories of how others have been dumped at this point...again..I am sorry you and her are going through this.Hopefully 8 weeks pass quickly and she is cleared..it is all about patience and faith at this point...anything else feel free to ask..ingat lagi

This is super great advice. Good luck to you all.

[TBoneTX 47,545]

*** Thread moved from USCIS Service Centers forum to Philippines regional subforum -- country-specific topic unrelated to USCIS processes. ***

[graciee 1]

hi there!

i've been on this situation too.. the waiting game made me crazy! but ofcourse we need to be patient and im thankful that my husband is supportive, he's the who always tell me that everything will be fine in Gods time..

i had my sputum test October 16,17,18 of 2012.. the smear test was negative.. they told me to call back on December 18, 2012 (i need to wait for 8weeks)

a friend of mine who also had sputum test told me that it is ok to call SLMEC already even if you're only on your 6th-7th weeks. just be polite and be friendly on asking on the phone.. before calling make sure to know your PDS# because they will ask for it..

i should be calling SLMEC on December 18, 2012 but i try to call them last December 7, 2012 Friday..the guy i talked with ask for my PDS# and my name.. then he ask me to hold on for a while for him to check if my culture test result is already on their system. then he's back on the phone, he told me that theres already a result for me and its negative.. and he told me that i can go to SLMEC any day of next week to finish my medical.. but i told him to scheduled me on december 13,2012..

on December 13, 2012 @ SLMEC, the guard gave me my number stub & told me to proceed in the pulmonary section 2nd floor.. at the pulmonary section i gve my number stub to the nurse and as i handed him my number and gave him my name then he looked for my folder and told me to take my seat and wait for my name to be called.. thank God because the color of my folder is orange..

a friend that i also met at SLMEC during my 3days sputum collection told me that those who have red folders are positive.. and she's right.. i've been observing while waiting for my name to be called and those who have red folders are positive..

then my name was called, a doctor talked to me and told me that my culture test was negative and i can proceed to the next step..

to make the long story short, i had another pregnancy test where in i payed 450pesos.. then they gave me 2 vaccinations.. then i went down to the releasing area for my medical result & new interview schedule thats around 11am so i decided to have my lunch.. good thing i ate my lunch na becoz you know what, they release my medical result(cd) & interview schedule at 4:30pm.. thats it!

just be patient and everything will be ok good luck!

[graciee 1]

This is super great advice. Good luck to you all.

i've heard that after the treatment, the patient will under go another sputum test.. during my 3days sputum collection, there this woman who is on her 2nd sputum test.. we asked her why she's having another sputum test.. she told us that she had a 6months treatment at SLMEC bcoz her 1st culture test resulted positive.. she said she has no choice but to follow what SLMEC procedures..

[graciee 1]

lets hope no calls from the embassy between 3-5weeks because the result may be positive.. because during the culture test process, its usually between 3-5weeks that those unwanted micro organisms or whatever you call them, shows/grow in the sputum..

when you're on your 6th weeks and no calls yet fron SLMEC then there's a big chance of having a negative result.. because when the culture test process reach its 6th weeks and no unwanted micro organisms or whatever you call, shows/grow in the sputum.. then there's this chance that they will see nothing at all on your culture test

[rm29 0]

I'm already in my 5th weeks culture (my sputum collection dated was April 3, 4 ,5 2013) and hopefully this coming weeks no phone call will receive.... God' will! My four kids had their visa already,

[kenyanqueen 1]

four more days to go. no calls so am hoping for a negative results on the 15th of this month,my interview is on 22.Alll the best to all of you going through the same.

[Travelpro 3]

Is there anyway to get ahead of the game such as sending my fiance to be tested privately? I have plenty of time...

[rm29 0]

i'm now in my 2nd week tb treatment, ask ko lng kung side effect ba yung magpantal at makati?

[collnin4412 0]

Is there anyway to get ahead of the game such as sending my fiance to be tested privately? I have plenty of time...

i have this in my mind also, so that at least we know if we need to get treated