Manila, St. Lukes and TB

[tomrein 0]

the long and short,

long, my wife diagnosed with tb more then 12 months ago, I payed for 4 months of Meds in the province then she moved to pasay, MM.

Then I sent her 8 months ago to a St. Lukes Doctor to be diagnosed and prescribed treatment. She has been on the meds for 8 months but the Doc seems to think she needs four more, because she could only handle low dosage. She was told by him that after one months treatment she is no longer communicable or contagious, and we dont know if the StLukes exam will allow her visa this March27 interview at embassy. The doc said she shouldnt have a problem but he wont write a letter stating he believes she is clear to travel. He says, according to my wife, that they are doctors and know what they are doing. I just know we better not have to start from scratch on these meds.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Even more so if you have medical or personal knowledge of a like situation

God Bless

I feel so ill right now

too get so close and feel so far

Edited March 7, 2007 by tomrein

[Rob and Melinda 0]

Yes they are very stickie on the TB thing. If she is not cleared by the doctor, they will not let her even go to the interview. What else do you have to do to get her cleared by the doctor?

Rob

[beameup 0]

Get a $econd opinion.

the long and short,

long, my wife diagnosed with tb more then 12 months ago, I payed for 4 months of Meds in the province then she moved to pasay, MM.

Then I sent her 8 months ago to a St. Lukes Doctor to be diagnosed and prescribed treatment. She has been on the meds for 8 months but the Doc seems to think she needs four more, because she could only handle low dosage. She was told by him that after one months treatment she is no longer communicable or contagious, and we dont know if the StLukes exam will allow her visa this March27 interview at embassy. The doc said she shouldnt have a problem but he wont write a letter stating he believes she is clear to travel. He says, according to my wife, that they are doctors and know what they are doing. I just know we better not have to start from scratch on these meds.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Even more so if you have medical or personal knowledge of a like situation

God Bless

I feel so ill right now

too get so close and feel so far

[vsmtghdy 2]

the long and short,

long, my wife diagnosed with tb more then 12 months ago, I payed for 4 months of Meds in the province then she moved to pasay, MM.

Then I sent her 8 months ago to a St. Lukes Doctor to be diagnosed and prescribed treatment. She has been on the meds for 8 months but the Doc seems to think she needs four more, because she could only handle low dosage. She was told by him that after one months treatment she is no longer communicable or contagious, and we dont know if the StLukes exam will allow her visa this March27 interview at embassy. The doc said she shouldnt have a problem but he wont write a letter stating he believes she is clear to travel. He says, according to my wife, that they are doctors and know what they are doing. I just know we better not have to start from scratch on these meds.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Even more so if you have medical or personal knowledge of a like situation

God Bless

I feel so ill right now

too get so close and feel so far

tomrein,

First thing your wife can do is to get a Medical Certificate from her Doctor. The doctor doesn't have to clear her if that is what he once told you. All he need to do is to write the Medical History of your wife, the diagnosis, the laboratory exams done (CXR and sputum AFB's), and the treatments given.

MDR-TB (Multi-Drug Resistant TB) usually have a minimim of 1 year of treatment and that depends on the follow-ups (specially the sputum AFB and the CXR). Since your wife is on her 8th month of treatment, I think she belongs to that category (if I'm not mistaken). What are the meds she's taking now?

And yes, continuous treatment of anti-Koch's medicines for 2 weeks renders the patient no longer contagious. But some Doctors would suggest 4 weeks, but DOH/WHO have it for 2 weeks. But for employment purposes, 4 weeks of continuous treatment is necessary before they can go back to work.

For your wife's medical exam, She needs to bring all her laboratory exam results. This means the CXR plates, so the St. Luke's Extension Clinic can compare her CXR (the one that she will have for her medical exam) to her previous CXRs. So they can see if there's improvement or not. Also the results of the sputum AFB and other lab. work ups that was done on her.

St. Luke's Extension Clinic's Panel of Physicians will not treat her condition/disease nor will clear her. They will refer her back to her private Doctor for clearance. Only when cleared, then Panel Physicians can clear her for the medical.

But since her Doctor would not want to clear her, then I suggest just get a Medical Certification from him and seek another consult with a Pulmonologist. But if you seek another consult, you need to bring your previous CXR plates and sputum AFB results. I don't know where you are, but since you're having your check-ups at St. Luke's then you must live near that area. There's a Pulmonary Convention at Sofitel Philippine Plaza (Philippine College of Chest Physicians - March 7-9) and I just attended this morning's session and all the Pulmo's will be busy until March 9.

After her 2nd consult opinion (if she decided to have one), she better have an early medical. Be ready since they will do sputum exams on her for 3 consecutive days (she knows the drill) and probably more exams as necessary and this may take a lot of time, so it will be better to have an early medical.

I hope this will elighten you. Good luck and God Bless!

Helen