Remedicals: Doc says you can't do sputum test!! Pls Help!!

[greta]

Hello All:

We got a request for re-medicals that needed a sputum test and chest x-ray. When we went to get this done, the DMP wrote the prescription but they refuse to do it saying your chest x-ray is already normal, you are healthy and you can't possibly produce any sputum and we won't be able to culture it!!!

I have called the DMP (who is in another city so its tough to follow up these things with her!!) but I don't know what to do now?

We can send x-rays instead, but they want x-rays that are at least 6 months apart - we don't have any old x-rays to send!

Anyone here can help us out? Anyone come across this problem before? Did your doc do the sputum test even when you had absolutely clear lungs and not coughing up sputum?


Greta!

[johny gaddar]

Hi Greata...
It's very strange thing...DMP are already authorized by the CHC, then why r u facing this sort of problems...May be you can request your DMP, to give a written certificate confiming that you didn't have any lung problem before and yu are in sound health.

Along with that letter...you may send those current X-rays...

All the best....plz do tell me if you get through this by any means?

Regards, Johny

[beauhoe]

Hello All:

We got a request for re-medicals that needed a sputum test and chest x-ray. When we went to get this done, the DMP wrote the prescription but they refuse to do it saying your chest x-ray is already normal, you are healthy and you can't possibly produce any sputum and we won't be able to culture it!!!

I have called the DMP (who is in another city so its tough to follow up these things with her!!) but I don't know what to do now?

We can send x-rays instead, but they want x-rays that are at least 6 months apart - we don't have any old x-rays to send!

Anyone here can help us out? Anyone come across this problem before? Did your doc do the sputum test even when you had absolutely clear lungs and not coughing up sputum?


Greta!

If your DMP told you that there is no need for you to take another x-ray but Ottawa is asking you for it, ask her to communicate with Ottawa while you are in her office or let her send a letter, email, fax whatever to Ottawa to let them know that you don't need it anymore. Make sure that you get a copy of the message sent to Ottawa as well as the response (if possible) and send it to your VO, however, you do have to make sure that you comprehend what Ottawa is asking for Vs what your DMP is telling you otherwise, your DMP may right.
Cheers,

[rinks25us]

If your DMP told you that there is no need for you to take another x-ray but Ottawa is asking you for it, ask her to communicate with Ottawa while you are in her office or let her send a letter, email, fax whatever to Ottawa to let them know that you don't need it anymore. Make sure that you get a copy of the message sent to Ottawa as well as the response (if possible) and send it to your VO, however, you do have to make sure that you comprehend what Ottawa is asking for and what your DMP is telling you otherwise, your DMP may right.
Cheers,

or if possible look for another DMP and also send CIC for using a different DMP .. just a thought ..

[greta]

Thanks people.

I don't know what to do. The problem is, I live in a state with no DMP's. So I travel to the closest state that has the DMP. She gave me the prescription to get the sputum test and chest-x-ray done and said - get it done at any lab in your state (as the sputum test has to be done for 3-4 consecutive days, its not possible for me to live in DMP's state and get it done).

So, I went to the lab to get the sputum tests done and showed them DMP's prescription. They said we won't do it because you won't produce any sputum as your lungs are perfectly normal, even if you cough something, it will just be spit that we won't be able to culture because there's nothing in it. I again spoke with DMP, she insists you have to do it, lab says they won't do it. Its sheer stupidity!
 

I'm going to try some different lab now and see if it can be done. 

[beauhoe]

Thanks people.

I don't know what to do. The problem is, I live in a state with no DMP's. So I travel to the closest state that has the DMP. She gave me the prescription to get the sputum test and chest-x-ray done and said - get it done at any lab in your state (as the sputum test has to be done for 3-4 consecutive days, its not possible for me to live in DMP's state and get it done).

So, I went to the lab to get the sputum tests done and showed them DMP's prescription. They said we won't do it because you won't produce any sputum as your lungs are perfectly normal, even if you cough something, it will just be spit that we won't be able to culture because there's nothing in it. I again spoke with DMP, she insists you have to do it, lab says they won't do it. Its sheer stupidity!
 

I'm going to try some different lab now and see if it can be done.  

No worries your last message clarifies better your situation and I would like to suggest you a couple of things.
1.   You may ask this question to the second doctor (from your state): What makes him/her concluded that no bacteria or fungi will grow in your sample? Also ask if drink a lot of water or fluids the day before your appointment (sample collection) will help? Be also ready to tap several times on your chest before you cough just to loosen deep sputum
2.   Tell him/her that your goal is to show that no grow occurs in the culture and that you need to do it as soon as possible and do not give them the chance to push you back. He/she should not assume anything, ask for any evidence or a signed letter you could send to your VO.
3.   Ask your old DMP (other state) to recommend you to a well known lab  
4.   Or contact another lab as soon as possible to give them your sample. I am sure that they are going to be looking for: Bronchitis, lung abscess, pneumonia as well as tuberculosis and as far as I know, mycotuberculum is going to take at list 21 days before you can see any grow, for that reason, expect one month before a conclusive result. That may be the reason why the doctor from your state is refusing to conduct the experiment.
5.   I am sure that something is wrong in your lungs and they just want to make sure that it is nothing special so you have to convince Ottawa that there is nothing to worry about and a negative culture will do.
Hope that help my friend and by the way do you smoke?
Cheers,

[shibuya]

Hi greta,
1. Go to a govt hospital and do a xray with lateral and pa view.
2 Remove a CT scan (Lungs).
3. Go to ur DMP and present this and tell him to send it across to medical section of Visa office.
4. The question of Sputum test does not arise if ur a fit and fine.
5. This has happened in ur case due to the xray technician at DMP clinic not removing a clear xray and maybe a shadowed one was sent earlier.

Regards,
Shibuya

[ice_man]

tha was strange, the lab has their own way to make you produce enough amount of sputum, and they will guide you how to make it. my experience was, eventhough i had previous history of TB (we declared it in our medical), they did not ask for futher sputum test, we just gave them my x-rays from the past 2 years up to present (about 5 films), all are taken with the AP lordothic view (not so sure with the spelling)

[greta]

Oh OK. Thanks everyone for your kind inputs! So I was finally able to get the lab to do it, I had the doc from my state talk to the previous DMP and they agreed to do it for me after they spoke with each other - turns out, you can do an "induced sputum test" on persons who are generally fit and not producing sputum (they said sputum per se is a sign of some infection, so healthy people normally don't have any sputum from the lungs  ), so they decided to do that.

Let's see, what next. I also had them pull out my 3 yr old chest x-ray film from records, so will have that sent over too just in case along with the new results.

Thanks again.