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Well, everything wasn't as plain smooth-sailing as it all played out.
The way it works is that when you are requested to undergo medicals by the CIC, you are directed to a designated medical practitioner (DMP), a doctor selected to perform medical examinations for immigration purposes. In Johannesburg, there are 2 DMPs. But we could widen the search as there are another 2 more in Pretoria, which is 50km north of Johannesburg. So I had a choice of 4 but my only criteria was to be whoever is the first one available.
I forgot to mention that the medicals had a time-limit. We had to get them done within 60 days of receiving instructions. So there was really not much time to spare when it comes to the booking and getting them done.
It was just to be a normal check-up with the DMP. Normal check-up included the tests of your blood pressure, sugar level, urine, eyes, reflexes. Some blood tests and x-rays for the lungs are also part of the package.
All was going okay until the DMP started with my hubby. My husband's blood pressure clocked in at about 160/100 and just wouldn't go down. I think they tried to test it about 3 times. The DMP dubbed this "the white coat syndrome" and it apparently afflicts many people. That is, when patients see doctors (the white coats), the patients suddenly develop elevated blood pressure. So now, hubby's not only got diabetes and high blood pressure, he's got another sickness....
Hubby had to book with a cardiologist to check his ECG. Further tests, further costs.....further stress as we waited for hubby's appointment to come. I was really under pressure. We only had less than 3 weeks to submit our medicals and hubby was still waiting to be seen by the cardiologist. Lucky that the DMP was nice enough to give us a referral and so the cardiologist squeezed us in to his busy schedule.
Finally, the day arrived. And hubby went to see the cardiologist who found nothing wrong with him. 2 days later, the cardiologist sent his report to the DMP and the next day, the DMP sent off all our medical reports together. My worries were for nothing.
All was going okay until the DMP started with my hubby. My husband's blood pressure clocked in at about 160/100 and just wouldn't go down. I think they tried to test it about 3 times. The DMP dubbed this "the white coat syndrome" and it apparently afflicts many people. That is, when patients see doctors (the white coats), the patients suddenly develop elevated blood pressure. So now, hubby's not only got diabetes and high blood pressure, he's got another sickness....
Hubby had to book with a cardiologist to check his ECG. Further tests, further costs.....further stress as we waited for hubby's appointment to come. I was really under pressure. We only had less than 3 weeks to submit our medicals and hubby was still waiting to be seen by the cardiologist. Lucky that the DMP was nice enough to give us a referral and so the cardiologist squeezed us in to his busy schedule.
Finally, the day arrived. And hubby went to see the cardiologist who found nothing wrong with him. 2 days later, the cardiologist sent his report to the DMP and the next day, the DMP sent off all our medical reports together. My worries were for nothing.
1 comment:
well.. it's still better to find out that you don't really have anything to worry about.. :D
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