Hello all
After waiting a couple of months
Sputum culture results are now available for my wife to make an appointment to travel to Manila
Touch wood all is well
Hello all
After waiting a couple of months
Sputum culture results are now available for my wife to make an appointment to travel to Manila
Touch wood all is well
Originally Posted by lloydegbrick
Ah yes, thank you Terpe
Why did she need to do that test ?
Did she have a questionable x-ray ?
YesDid she have a questionable x-ray ?
Glad you can tick the TB test off the list now
Hello AnneGlad you can tick the TB test off the list now
It's not off the list just yet because we don't know the results?
I see. Has your wife booked an appointment at IOM already?
Hello AnneI see. Has your wife booked an appointment at IOM already
We only found out that the results are on Friday 30th Jan
Now hoping to go to the clinic soon to find exactly what the results show?
Book a flight to go to the TB test centre in Manila.
Because there is only 1 clinic of this kind in the whole of the Philippines Islands, this takes more time and extra cost.too....
I feel for you Lloydegbrick. I was also wishing they would open branches in Visayas and Mindanao. I, too, had to fly to Manila just to get the TB screening done.
Wishing a positive result for your loved one.
Hope all is well with your wife Lloydegbrick
Hello all
How are you all been keeping?
Thank you all for your kind words and best wishes
Sorry not had much to report since I was last on here, only that my wife had to see a doctor to talk with her about the sputum test, no TB, but the X-ray showed a slight shadow on her right lung which turned out to be a bit of mucus. The wrote out a prescription to treat this. My wife had an X-ray done locally and the results show all to be clear. Her next appointment is on the 13th April. Touch wood all goes well this time.
On another subject
Chikka free text messaging service, we been using this for ages, but recently it has not been working very well for us. Are there any more free or cheap text service around for us to used?
Thank you all
Do you use whatsapp or viber ?Hello all
How are you all been keeping?
Thank you all for your kind words and best wishes
Sorry not had much to report since I was last on here, only that my wife had to see a doctor to talk with her about the sputum test, no TB, but the X-ray showed a slight shadow on her right lung which turned out to be a bit of mucus. The wrote out a prescription to treat this. My wife had an X-ray done locally and the results show all to be clear. Her next appointment is on the 13th April. Touch wood all goes well this time.
On another subject
Chikka free text messaging service, we been using this for ages, but recently it has not been working very well for us. Are there any more free or cheap text service around for us to used?
Thank you all
I will check out whatsapp and viber. Thank you Cheekee
Thank you Anne2014
Hello all
Well it looks like that TB X-ray and sputum test has come back to haunt us
Earlier on I reported that it was clear but, this not so now.
It seems that the X-ray still shows a little bit of mucus in the right lung the first TB team did not spot this until the put the X-ray on a CD and enlarge it to have it viewed on the computer. So to be on the safe side my wife has to have further sputum test and to continue with the medication for at least another 4 months. Thank heavens this was spotted in time as my wife now has a better chance to be totally cured of this disease Although the 1st sputum test was not conclusive, the TB clinic is not taking any chances
So whatever happens? We just have to wait
Sorry to learn of yet another delay for the visa application, but as you say, the big positive is that your wife will be treated and monitored.
Good luck and thanks for the update.
Thank you TerpeSorry to learn of yet another delay for the visa application, but as you say, the big positive is that your wife will be treated and monitored.
Good luck and thanks for the update
It's been over 10 months since my wife have had a meet up and the way things look at this moment it will be a long time yet before we another meet up again?
hi, I know what you going through as my wife went through something similar last year...after her 1st TB test at the IOM, she was told that she has shadow/mucus on the lung and was told she need to do a sputum test, when we receive the result from the sputum test after 10 weeks which were negative for TB, the IOM were not prepared to give my wife a TB clearance certificate. she was then given a course of antibiotic, which did not clear mucus up and another x-ray....don't know what happened next, but the doctor at the IOM, told my wife to go to a Pulmonologist, which she did(outside hospital)....another x-ray 1/4 of the cost, and they gave her TB blood test ...which was negative....she took back the results to IOM and they give her a TB clearance certificate for 13weeks...
we never got around to submitting that TB clearance certificate, as we were waiting for our 2 children's uk passport to turn up before we could submit our visa application..
on my wife's second visit to the IOM, she took all paperwork/scans from before, she had another x-ray, still a bit of a shadow/mucus but not as much as before...they gave an medical interview and was given her 6 months TB clearance certificate.
the problem at IOM, is they are general doctor, not Pulmonologist. if I was you, I would ask them if your wife could see Pulmonologist and have a TB blood test, I am sure they would let you do it, as they done it for my wife..
will
I’m sorry to read of the problems you each had with your wives’ pre-entry screening and treatment for TB, and wish you well for the future.
As always, without knowing the individuals concerned, I can only make general comments which I hope may be useful.
• The " mucus " / " shadow " seen on X-rays in each case was likely to be an area of inflammation and scarring which the specialists have concluded was due to TB infection. Proof requires identifying the TB " bugs " microscopically in sputum samples ( or sometimes an actual tissue biopsy ). A very large number need to be present to actually see them – hence the result may be " inconclusive ", or apparently negative, even if TB is present. " Culture " of the sputum sample – attempting to grow the TB " bugs " in special media over several weeks - may then be needed to confirm a suspected TB diagnosis.
• I can’t vouch for the individual doctors at the one clinic in the Philippines approved by the UK Border Agency ( but they are subject to quality control / audit ). However, as TB may not just affect the lungs, they must be good general doctors aware of all the possible signs and symptoms of active TB. A " pulmonologist " is what we call a " lung physician " or " respiratory medicine physician " in the UK ( there are around 1,800 ) - of course they also need to be good general physicians.
• The " blood test " mentioned is relatively new and expensive. It may well help in the diagnosis of TB ; but be aware that it has so far mainly been used for " latent TB " ( no symptoms ), rather than the " active TB " targeted by pre-entry screening. A positive result may not necessarily mean active TB and a negative result may not necessarily rule out active TB. Be careful what you ask for - but if you do, it’s called " IGRA " ( and measures/Assays Interferon-Gamma Release from cells responding to parts of the TB " bug " ).
• It’s vital that if a diagnosis of TB is made, the full course of antibiotics is taken, usually for at least 6 months. With appropriate treatment, TB should be cured, as we ALL wish for any of our loved ones affected by this illness
hi doc..wife had the all clear by the IOM, no TB and no TB spores found in the sputum test and the TB skin test and blood test, sorry forgot to mention the skin test.
talking to my uncle who is also a doctor at uhw, he told me that prior medical history "may" of had a lot to do with the infection with my wife...the funny thing was my 1+ year son passed on a chest infection to all of us over the Christmas period, as my wife had just given birth to daughter and she seemed to catch it worst, more than me. maybe due to a low immune system when she gave birth, I wish now we did not attend the 1st TB until she was clear of it...but we wanted to get the visa application on it way.
I had the same infection for almost 8 weeks, and several different antibiotic did not clear it until I came back to the uk, does that mean that I possibly had TB,??? ...no aircon and no pollution, and seemed to go away.....
will
Thanks for your reply, Will. The " skin test " which you mention is also known as the " Mantoux test " or " Tuberculin skin test ". It involves injecting a protein derivative of the TB " bug ". While a positive reaction ( firm red swelling ) can mean immunity, and either latent or active TB, a negative reaction may not rule out TB. In fact the skin and blood tests alone can’t distinguish active from latent TB – which is why specialist doctors are needed to assess all signs and symptoms for accurate diagnosis
Regarding your chest infection, which thankfully has now cleared up, it’s impossible for me to answer your question as to whether or not this was TB – your GP would hopefully confirm that it wasn’t.
A lot of info to take in, thank you and a clearance certificate that is value for only 13 weeks?
With this in hand
It can take that long to get a visa if one is granted?
Very tight situation there.
This could go on and on?
TB clearance certificate starts on the day your wife/partner takes the test, so if she passed the test on the start date at the IOM, she would have got 6 months.
thank you for that WillTB clearance certificate starts on the day your wife/partner takes the test, so if she passed the test on the start date at the IOM, she would have got 6 months
I almost forgot to mention that my wife has to go back to the clinic each month until the end of August, her next trips is for the 25th of May for further X-rays
We had to pay for another whole new set of applications for the Tb clearance certificate plus the extra cost of staying in Manila for 3 nights to have another sputum test each morning before she can eat her breakfast
It is a tough place to live in if you don't have a welfare safety net like we have here in the UK
I must Vote labour if we want to keep our NHS for the people. For I believe the tories will turn this country into a 3rd world place like the rest of the countries around the world if they get back into power again?
"Sorry for being political in here"
Also it is now almost 10 months since we last saw one another
I am wondering if I should go back there to see her soon as it looks more than likely this whole business could take until November before we will get her visa, that is if we will get it anyway?
I have already been over there twice before and will it increase our chances of a more successful visa application if I were to go there again?
I have been sending her a bit extra money to support herself, I have to honest with myself the journey is very tough and it takes forever to get there, not to mention the heat and discomfort of being in a strange place too.
I'm probably getting too long in the teeth for all this global trotting now
There are more question than answers
Regards to all
Hello
How are you all keeping?
My wife will go to the Manila TB clinic on Monday 25th May for further X-ray This will continue for each month until the end of August. If she gets the all clear. please God?
Then we can begin to apply for her visa.
When my wife was last at that clinic, they ask her to take some blood, 9 in all and HIV screening and bring the results with her when so that the doctor will be able to look at them.
By the way, please could you tell me if there has there been any new changes to the rules of the visa application since or is there some more new rules in the pipeline that we should know about?
Oh almost forgot, does anyone know where I can find out the names of the staff at the British Embassy in Manila, who deal with the visa clearances?
It would be very helpful to us when and if we need to write and to address these members of the staff
Thank you
all the best
LG
Please take at look at these forum threads, especially review the new BRP impacts and the Health Surcharge:-
Round up of UK Immigration changes from April 2015
Changes to visa process for applicants travelling to UK
Migrant Health Surcharge to Raise £200 million a year
Thank you for this TerpePlease take at look at these forum threads, especially review the new BRP impacts and the Health Surcharge:-
Hello Terpe
Can my wife apply for the C.F.O.sticker on her passport before she has the visa?
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