Medical test - Growth found Thyroid

[jamesls1]

Hi gang,

So I called my Panel Physician yesterday to see what had progressed since I did the medical on 12 Jan 2017, before I hit submit on my application and pay the fees.

Not sure if they were allowed to tell me this but they said the Chest X-Ray radiologist had notice a "mass" on my neck around my thyroid, on the right side. The PP told the assistant (who I was on the phone to) that I should wait until Immigration get back to me with the next steps but he's sure they will wish to follow up with either an Ultrasound or CT scan. The Radiologist has recommended ultrasound but the PP said to wait so I don't pay for US when CT is the preferred route.

Obviously this has scared me but from researching online about thyroid problems it looks like a swollen thyroid / growth / nodule is a common thing and it can be down to an under or over-active thyroid. In either case, medication can be taken to correct it. However I have no idea that this is the case, I am just hoping it's nothing worse.

I'm a visitor in Canada and I do have True Traveller insurance to cover me while I'm here which is quite thorough and I have opted for no excess / deductable.

So I could go see my girlfriend's family doctor right away (putting my health first) to get it checked out and hopefully put my mind at rest long before the wait from immigration.

I spoke with immigration call centre yesterday and they said (not sure if this is right) that they wouldn't get in touch with me regarding results until I'm e-APR.

So do I just go get seen and check this out privately, before submitting e-APR? Do I check this out privately and still submit e-APR tomorrow / this week as I intended?
Do I not see a doc privately and just wait for immigration to get back post-e-APR (potentially long scary wait)? Do I go back to PP and ask for the ultrasound anyway despite his advice to wait?

Any help will be appreciated. I understand the cost burden B-grade stuff and will have to cross that bridge later but right now just want to get whatever it is sorted.

Thanks

 

[Tocanadawego]

Hi gang,

So I called my Panel Physician yesterday to see what had progressed since I did the medical on 12 Jan 2017, before I hit submit on my application and pay the fees.

Not sure if they were allowed to tell me this but they said the Chest X-Ray radiologist had notice a "mass" on my neck around my thyroid, on the right side. The PP told the assistant (who I was on the phone to) that I should wait until Immigration get back to me with the next steps but he's sure they will wish to follow up with either an Ultrasound or CT scan. The Radiologist has recommended ultrasound but the PP said to wait so I don't pay for US when CT is the preferred route.

Obviously this has scared me but from researching online about thyroid problems it looks like a swollen thyroid / growth / nodule is a common thing and it can be down to an under or over-active thyroid. In either case, medication can be taken to correct it. However I have no idea that this is the case, I am just hoping it's nothing worse.

I'm a visitor in Canada and I do have True Traveller insurance to cover me while I'm here which is quite thorough and I have opted for no excess / deductable.

So I could go see my girlfriend's family doctor right away (putting my health first) to get it checked out and hopefully put my mind at rest long before the wait from immigration.

I spoke with immigration call centre yesterday and they said (not sure if this is right) that they wouldn't get in touch with me regarding results until I'm e-APR.

So do I just go get seen and check this out privately, before submitting e-APR? Do I check this out privately and still submit e-APR tomorrow / this week as I intended?
Do I not see a doc privately and just wait for immigration to get back post-e-APR (potentially long scary wait)? Do I go back to PP and ask for the ultrasound anyway despite his advice to wait?

Any help will be appreciated. I understand the cost burden B-grade stuff and will have to cross that bridge later but right now just want to get whatever it is sorted.

Thanks

It is true that the immigration medical team will not contact you until you submit your application because that is when they assess your medical results. It will probably take several weeks for them to get back to you after that. They will most likely specify a doctor/clinic where they want you to go to do the additional test and you will have no choice. However, for your own peace of mind you can go and have it checked with your GP. But do know that those results most likely won't be accepted by IRCC.
I say, submit your app as planned. There is nothing else you can do at this point.

 

[jamesls1]

Thanks Tocanadawego. +1'd you.

I think that since the Panel Physician is the one who set up my IME and test profile, I will be best off going back to him for a referral for ultrasound. Hopefully, because it's an approved panel physician for CIC they will accept those results, and hopefully too he can set me on a course of treatment sooner.

Best case is it's nothing at all and just a cyst or swelling. I was totally unaware of it until now and I can feel a bulge on the right side now that it's been alerted to me, but it isn't hard, isn't painful and just feels like a normal swelling.

I think I'll have to bite the bullet like you say and go to the PP, pay the costs and also go ahead with the app.

 

[fordori]

I have no CIC related advice but just sending you by best wishes. I hope everything will be just fine.

 

[Tocanadawego]

Thanks Tocanadawego. +1'd you.

I think that since the Panel Physician is the one who set up my IME and test profile, I will be best off going back to him for a referral for ultrasound. Hopefully, because it's an approved panel physician for CIC they will accept those results, and hopefully too he can set me on a course of treatment sooner.

Best case is it's nothing at all and just a cyst or swelling. I was totally unaware of it until now and I can feel a bulge on the right side now that it's been alerted to me, but it isn't hard, isn't painful and just feels like a normal swelling.

I think I'll have to bite the bullet like you say and go to the PP, pay the costs and also go ahead with the app.

I doubt the panel physician will be willing to do this for you until you get a furtherance email from IRCC. He himself probably won't know what they will ask for (and even if they will ask for anything!). So my suggestion is you just wait to hear back from IRCC. It took only 10 days after submitting an application for me to get a furtherance email. So I'm sure it won't take too long.

And as I said, if you wish, for your own sake, do your own check up with your doctor.

 

[jamesls1]

Good advice, I will wait and see if they get back to me quickly.

The problem is I'm a visitor in Canada right now and don't have Alberta Health or a family doctor because of my lack of status. So I am doctor-less and would have to pay to see my girlfriend's family GP anyway.

The panel physician is a family doctor and is taking on new patients. They said it would be $75 for a follow up with him.

 

[Mthornt]

I would say get it checked out at your earliest convenience, since the most important part of this whole equation is your health. Also, it will calm you down a great deal to hear a doc tell you that everything is fine, but for sure health comes first, application and anything else comes second. Best of luck to you man, I had a similar situation a few years back, and had an ultrasound on it, almost identical actually and everything turned out fine.

 

[jamesls1]

Thanks!

 

[johnny123]

Good advices, I would just add to calm you down that in terms of CIC and passing medicals you are good and have nothing to worry about. What they want to make sure is that you don't have some heavy disease, and won't represent a burden on their social and/or healthcare system. The worst that can happen is CIC sending you to a specialist, what will result in delaying your application.

 

[jamesls1]

Hey guys,

Few updates on this:

1) I passed my medical on 31st March
2) My BG is "in process" (IP1) and IRCC have requested I get an RCMP. Got my fingerprints sent off Monday morning so about a 10-14 day wait from them until I can upload it. Hopefully this turns my BG status to N/A shortly after and then hopefully IP2.
3) I went to have the ultra-sound done yesterday (I waited until I knew what IRCC wanted to do)
4) The radiologist has suggested a biopsy as the next step as they're unsure what it is.

I'm FSW Inland and am in Canada as a visitor (current status expires 30 April but I have sent off for an extension and believe I have implied status until the decision). I don't have a health card as I can't get one as a visitor obviously. I have True Traveller insurance but I doubt they will consider this as covered as it could have been pre-existing.

I'm going to see the doctor this afternoon to go over the results of the ultra-sound and take his advice.

Just did a quick research and uninsured biopsy tests are potentially around $3500 CAD. After that it could be more and more depending how many further tests I have to do (could potentially spiral). Going to discuss this with the doctor today.

I could either: a) wait for my PR and then get a health card and take it further from there. b) Fly home to the UK asap and get it checked out at my home hospital which as a UK citizen will be free with the NHS.

If I go home, will this have any affect on my PR? I believe I'll have to update IRCC with a letter to say what my new address is. But I'm worried me going to the UK at this late stage might have a negative impact- and if so I'd rather wait as I feel PR could be around the corner?

I already waited 2 months because I was waiting to see whether IRCC would request further medical tests to progress my file.

Any help/advice will be really appreciated! Thank you.

 

[ashu1710]

If I go home, will this have any affect on my PR? I believe I'll have to update IRCC with a letter to say what my new address is. But I'm worried me going to the UK at this late stage might have a negative impact- and if so I'd rather wait as I feel PR could be around the corner?

It wouldn't have a negative impact. You would, however, be required to get a new PCC from the UK (assuming you got the yours after you left the UK). You don't have to stay in one country while your application is processed,

 

[DEEPCUR]

Since your medical status changed to passed, does that not mean you are all set with medicals?

 

[jamesls1]

Yeah, medical on my immigration file is all good so that's a big positive. However I need to consider my health and how urgent it may be to get it checked out. I could wait until PR which I probably will at this stage but I need to act soon then going to the UK is an option.

 

[DEEPCUR]

Yeah, medical on my immigration file is all good so that's a big positive. However I need to consider my health and how urgent it may be to get it checked out. I could wait until PR which I probably will at this stage but I need to act soon then going to the UK is an option.

Got it. If they have given a go ahead, you should definitely be good! Good luck and I pray that everything turns good for you!

 

[jamesls1]

Thank you!

Just saw the doctor here and he advised I go back to the UK to have this looked at. $ cost + wait times here vs the NHS.

So I'm going to head back to England next week. He said it is potentially benign but wouldn't wait around!

Can anyone tell me what the process is to report my new address / residency as the UK? Do I need to raise a CSE? I'll also most likely be in the UK before my RCMP is posted to me.