[nancyral]

Sorry this took so long to post:

Not to be crass but the cost was $1,500 (which got higher later for us)

We had a ten o'clock appointment. I think everyone gets a ten o'clock. Our coordinator/driver dropped us off and we filled out some paperwork on a clipboard - just like home!

We had a delightful young woman with us the entire time and there was another couple we traveled with that were great and made the whole thing much better.

Step One: blood draw - two vials, blood pressure, height, weight.

Step Two: Doctor in a suit behind a desk asked us if we had any major physical ailments. We all said no!

Step Three: Psychologist: He asked me if I'd ever been depressed (I said yes - who hasn't?) He asked my husband "Have you ever been so even-keeled?" He said yes.

Step Four: Chest X ray. Ladies and gents - here begins the part of the day when you take your shirt (and bra)off repeatedly. My husband's x-ray was done badly so he had to go back later and we were charged for the second one. Things turned out ok but for a while my DH sat alone thinking he was dying of some horrible disease and had to tell me the adoption was off. (See my later comments on my experience)

Step Five: Shirt off, bra off. Female doctor did a complete breast exam, felt my thyroid and did a stomach feel. Here's where I got pulled out of the rotation becasue she had asked me if there a was a family history of cancer and I said yes. When she felt one of my many annoying cysyts she sent me off for a sonogram and trans-vaginal (sorry guys) ultrasound. So, I sat drinking warm water alone in a hallway thinking I had some horrible disease and would have to tell my husband the adoption was off. Everyting turned out fine and actually the sonogram tech was excellent (weird that it was a he, though) and told me several things that let me know he really knew his stuff.

By now it was tw o'clock. Glad I brought granola.

LATE LUNCH BACK IN TOWN

BACK AT 6:30
Step 6: Neurologist. She asked my if I have numbness or tingling (I am diabetic so I don't know if it was specific to me) and she asked me to close my eyes, extend my arms and touch my nose. Of course, I missed and hit my upper lip and we all cracked up. I had to do the same thing standing up. She hit my knees and ankles with that hammer thing and it was done.

Step 7: Skin doctor: asked me if I had any problems. I have some sebhorea(Sp?) on my face but that seemed okay with her. Shirt off: she looked for skin cancer, I guess.

Step 8: Infectious diseases doctor. I think I had to take my shirt off again and I think she felt my thyroid. She asked me about vaccinations for things like Hepatitus and about mumps, measles, etc. Also asked me about night sweats or high fevers (OK all you pre-menopausal friends of mine!) and I said no and the interpreter said the were looking for TB.

I'm not telling anyone to lie, but I wish I hadn't said what I said about my mother because my husband's x-ray and my sonogram cost us an extra $500 and added to our stress and the time it took.

That's all for now. If my 65-year-old husband and gyno-impaired diabetic me can make it through - so can all of you!

Good luck everybody!

[Kasey]

Thanks for the run down!! e have been told to anticipate this even though not all their regions are requring as yet, sounds like a crazy day.

Stupid question, but my main fear as a nurse, with the blood draws, did you see them take the needles out of the package or did they just come over to you with them?

Thanks for the great description--I hope to heck I don't need an ultrasound, they will probably flip with all the cysts that hang out on my ovaries!!

[nancyral]

I do not remember, but in general I was not worried about cleanliness or professionalism. Parts of the clinic building are older but my home doc works out of an old house with a lime green tiled bathroom but he is the best diagnostician around so maybe that's why I wasn't so worried. Lots of the docs were women, too so that was interesting.

[Waiting2Be]

Thanks for the update, we have to go through this on Monday, so at least now I am prepared for what is ahead of us. Doesn't make me any less nervous though.

[Shamrock]

Nancy, did they know you are diabetic and did they have any concerns about that? I heard of one family that was almost turned down by the judge because of the husband's diabetes, and then when the adoption was granted, the judge kind of said "I guess its okay." Ugh.

DH had cancer 20 years ago and has a total knee replacement. An incountry physical stresses us out because they will see the knee replacement scars and scars on his back and it will lead to lots of questions.

Which region was this?

thanks!

[kretzklan]

This was very interesting - I didn't go through that...but I was intrigued by your story - and I can imagine it was LONG day!!!

[k8c]

Originally Posted by nancyral

Sorry this took so long to post:

Not to be crass but the cost was $1,500 (which got higher later for us)

Thanks, Nancy, for posting! It's an eye-opener...

I was wondering what region you were in for your medical. I've been quoted costs of around $300 for this.

(Just passing this on as I found it interesting--One bit of soviet-era pride was that they had so many women doctors. However, doctors here are not the well-paid higher-status job they are in the US.)

[Waiting2Be]

We are having our medical done in Moscow on Monday andare being told it will cost us $1300.

[lovestruck]

Thanks for the post! The info is priceless.


Do you know about the blood work. In the states you usually have to wait a week or so for blood work to come back. Do they pass you conditionally, meaning only if blood work comes back normal?

[k8c]

waiting, I've heard costs in Moscow are much higher. I was wondering if that's where Nancy was.

Kate

[nancyral]

Our region is Ryazan but the American Clinic is in Moscow. Please don't worry. My husband had his hip replaced two years ago and they didn't ask and he didn't tell. I don't think he had to drop his drawers. He told them he had some skin cancer removed about five years ago. They didn't blink. Also, the 30-something husband of the couple we were with had half his colon removed as a preventive measure because his dad had died last October at 50-something of colon cancer. Yes, they did know about my diabetes and my numbers were a little crazy but they never said a word. I am type 2 and not on any medications - just diet and excercise. Also, right before we left my agency made a big deal about renewing our TB, etc tests and sent us with original apostilled documents which we got 15 minutes before leaving for the airport and not one person in Russia asked us for that info. Yeesh!

[_Steve_]

Thanks for sharing your story. My wife and I have been interested in this topic.

I wonder how much the process varies by region. Hopefully others will reply to inform how "typical" your experiance was. We all normally assume that the first that we hear is normal, I guess, and your story sound like what I expected based on my reading.

We are going to Bryansk, so if anyone has any specific information about the experiance there, please post or PM me.

[cathvash]

I just can't get over how the first folks who did this were being charged $100.00, and now it's 15X that!!! Unbelievable. I also hope that there will be some in-region alternatives for a more reasonable price!