Medical Process

I am currently working to become medically cleared for Comoros. Unfortunately, doing so from Shanghai has turned out to be a nightmare! I was able to book a dentist appointment with an English speaking dentist only to find out later that I didn't get the right x-rays and the dentist doesn't have the kind I need. So I paid $200 for that exam and have to have it redone at a special clinic for three times the price. That was disheartening but what came next was worse. I called around to various places but couldn't find a clinic to do my physical in English and provide all of the right tests. I settled on going to the foreign department of a hospital.

The doctor I saw was really nice and spoke pretty good English. I thought she would just rubber stamp everything like they generally do here in China but she was actually really thorough and did all of the tests she was able to. Including the anal probe. Thanks doc. Unfortunately that office wasn't equipped to do all of the tests. They weren't able to go my pelvic, my titer test, or the metabolic panel. There is no option for a G6PD titer test here because apparently it is a genetic disorder not really found in China. The foreign part of the hospital didn't have a GYN for the pelvic and my doctor spoke English but didn't understand what basic metabolic panel meant. They did the rest of the physical for about $1k. I've been calling them to get the results for the tests but no one will answer the phone. I also dropped $200 on a vision exam that was total BS. Thankfully I emailed PC med and they said I didn't need it. Just wish I knew that before I spent the money!

So! All-in-all it has been expensive and disappointing. I will be able to do the rest in April when I get back to the States but that is already well past the due date. I think I will try to get my pelvic exam done at Planned Parenthood since I am uninsured. I am hoping the VA hospital can do the remaining blood tests and that I can find a travel clinic for the Yellow Fever vaccine.

I was finally able to get my FBI background check done! It was ridiculous and insanely expensive to be fingerprinted in Shanghai but at least it's over.

My advice to future PC applicants- don't try to get your clearances done from abroad!