Thursday, November 17, 2016

My Three Day Sputum Exam Experience in Saint Luke Manila

I failed my Medical Exam at Saint Luke, Manila last July 22, 2013. I was so sad after I saw the stamp of my receipt. The guard stamped it "4th Floor". It means, I need to go to 4th floor for sputum exam. If you passed, the guard will stamp your receipt "2nd Floor". This is for immunization.

When I went to 4th Floor, there are also many people waiting for the procedure of collecting sputum. I saw my new friend there from Davao. She stayed at Paragon Hotel close to Hotel Soriente. I was so surprised when I saw her because I thought that she passed the medical exam. I felt very alone before I met my new friend Bembem. But when I saw her, I encouraged myself to fight and don't give up. This is only a trial.  I do love my husband and I need to do it!

When the attendant called my name, he instructed me to go back next week for the sputum collection. The date to return to them is July 30- August 1. Supposedly, my interview in US Embassy is August 1 but since I failed the medical exam, Saint Luke will be the one to cancel it and reschedule it after 2 months if I will pass the culture test for my phlegm. He explained to me that it doesn't mean that you have a TB if you undergo Sputum Exam. Since they saw some abnormalities in my chest X-ray, they required me to undergo Sputum exam to find out if I am positive to Tuberculosis (TB).


My first day of Sputum Collection is not fun! I think we are 300 people on that day. When you go inside the building, the guard will give you a mask. I get very embarrass using it because it seems that I have a very bad illness that people should avoid me. I need to go to Saint Luke every 6:00 A.M. for 3 days with empty stomach. You are not allowed to take breakfast. NO BREAKFAST, NO LIPSTICK! You only need to brush your teeth. You can drink water. You can only eat breakfast after the sputum collection.

The guard will call your number that is why you need to be attentive. Every batch is 30 people. All of you will go inside the big elevator and go up to the roof top of the building. The attendant will give you a container and instruct you to cough deeply. Your saliva wont work that is why you need to cough deeply to spit a phlegm to your container. My throat was sore because I force myself to cough even though I don't have a cough. That is why I said that my First day is not Fun. All of you will be coughing together. The attendant will also provide each one of you a chair. The distance between you and the other patient is 3 meters I think. You can hear and see them of course when they cough. The attendant will know that you are spitting saliva or phlegm. If she is not satisfied of what she saw in the container, you need to cough again until you can spit more phlegm in the container. The same procedure was happening on the second and 3rd day.

After my third day Sputum Exam, I was instructed to go back on August 7 for the Pulmonary Evaluation and result for the 3 day sputum exam. I and my family stayed in the hotel for 3 weeks. It is very expensive. They never give us a consideration to go early since my place is in Davao. Three weeks in the hotel is very expensive. I have no choice but to return to Saint Luke Medical Center on August 7. The guard gave me again a mask when I went inside the building. I showed my passport and receipt to him. I proceed to Pulmonary Evaluation in Second Floor.

The doctor explained  and showed me my Chest X-ray result. He also explained to me why I had to undergo sputum exam. He also told me that my three Sputum are all negative. I was so happy hearing it but they still need to culture the 3 samples of my phlegm for 2 months to make sure that it is not positive in TB. There are possibilities that the sample is negative but when they culture it, it will turn to positive. The attendant instructed me again that I need to call Saint Luke on October 2 before I will go to Manila to know the culture result. I really prayed to God that the culture test are all negative in TB. If Saint Luke will call you before two months, it means that you are positive in TB and you need to undergo 6 months treatment at Saint Luke Manila. You need to go there everyday because they will not give you the 6 months medicine. You need to go there everyday because aside of taking their medicine, they will monitor your weight and etc. I was so glad that they never called me within two months.

Last October 2, 2013, I called them about the result. They wont really tell you the result on the phone. They just told me to bring my documents like passport, receipt and 2 pieces of 2x2 visa photo. They told me to go to Saint Luke on October 7. When I get there on that date, I showed my passport and receipt to the guard. He was looking for my name and instructed me to go to 2nd Floor. I was so happy because it means, I passed the culture test and I will have my vaccines. I was instructed to pay Php550 if I am not mistaken for Pregnancy test. I told them that why do I need to have a pregnancy test? My husband is in USA. They told me that it is a part of the Medical Processing that is why I have no choice but to follow. After the Urine test, the attendant gave me a vaccine. After that, I was instructed to go to the ground floor for the releasing of medical result. I got the CD and the Vaccine report. I waited for another 10 minutes for my interview schedule at US Embassy. They are the one who reschedule my interview. The lady at the counter H called me and told me that the available early schedule for interview is October 10 and 22. Of course! I chose October 10. So, she printed the schedule and gave it to me.

I immediately text my husband and family that I passed the medical and I am waiting for the day of my  interview in US Embassy. They are very happy for me especially my husband. I really praise the lord for His mercy and grace.

I will write again soon my interview experience for CR1 visa category  in US Embassy Manila.

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