Guest XIAP Posted May 17, 2004 Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 Hi all, I am in Edmonton, and as of yet I haven't received my admissions packet. Let's post here when they come so people can be on the lookout XIAP By the way IP waitlisters, I can pretty much guarrantee that the list will be moving by one. I hope to defer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kirsteen Posted May 17, 2004 Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 Hi there, I'm looking forward to receiving the packet to see what sorts of needles I'll be needing this summer, as well as other, more pleasant, things. :x However, it did not arrive here in my Toronto mailbox today. Cheers, Kirsteen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bananacreampie Posted May 17, 2004 Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 Hi, I live in Calgary, so I recieved my package on Friday. It was a great little bundle of info (as opposed to U of A where we have recieved NO info). Anyways, it has the schedule for the first week, info on immunizations, as well as applications for some of the available bursuries. I think the due date is in June, so I am glad that they are on top of getting those applications out. Anyways, be watching for a 'big' envelope. cheers, bcp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kirsteen Posted May 17, 2004 Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 Hi there bcp, Given that I have a major needle phobia (I'm working on it, though ) I was wondering if you wouldn't mind posting what we need to be poked with? I assume the Twinrix (Hepatitis) shots are necessary, and perhaps a TB test as well as DPT. I've got the first and the last, but not the middle. (How bad is that nasty little beezer, for you who have had the tuberculin skin test?) Any others? (I'll gladly take any needles that I have to get, but you can tell I'm a little anxious!) Cheers, Kirsteen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lorae Posted May 17, 2004 Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 <hugs kirsteen> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tea Posted May 17, 2004 Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 hi there, little trick i've learnt... pinch yourself somewhere else so you won't be focussing on the needle; a friend of mine dug her thumb nail deep into another finger tip. It works. and ya... remember to breath. Holding your breath will intensify the pain. ouch!! ps. ask for a 26G (if sub-q) or a 27G ( if IM) needle. hihihi.... you 'll hardly feel it. But i doubt that they'll agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lactic Folly Posted May 17, 2004 Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 Hi Kirsteen, If it's the same TB skin test that I've taken a number of times before in conjunction with hospital volunteering, then I'd have to say it's not as bad as other needles. Instead of going deep into the arm, the needle is inserted horizontally to inject the fluid underneath the skin, and you don't feel more than a slight prick if your administrator is skilled. Finally, you end up with a cute little circular bump on the underside of your forearm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ticket Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 Yeah, I found the Calgary package in my mailbox today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest aiko Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 i wish i had that cute little bump you were talking about. i had a huge red mark on my forearm. The nurse freaked out when i revisited the office 3 days later. i was immediately taken into a different room and x-ray were taken left and right. A specialist was called and he examined me all over to check for a TB vaccination mark. Sheeshh...!!! I was warned not to have another TB test otherwise i can go into anaphylactic shock. I'm wondering now what would i have to do if i get accepted to med school? 'ko Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lactic Folly Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 Yikes, that's scary :| I'd hope that they'd make an exception in your case, seeing as you have an adverse reaction to the test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bananacreampie Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 Here is a quick rundown of the list: -diptheria, tetanus, and poliomyelitis (many may have had these) -documentation of immunity against rubella, or a rubella vaccine -must have had rubeola or the vaccine, suggets considering the measles, mumps and rubella combo vaccine -have had chicken pox, or if unsure must be tested with the Varicella IgG test -Hepatitis B immunization (takes 6 months) -Mantoux test (for TB)-I've had this one, it made me very woozy?? -influenza vaccination also recommended It also mentions that there are costs associated with many of these, so suck it up. Definitely not enjoyable, but I know that we are willing to get stuck with whatever they demand. cheers guys, bcp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Wong Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 I was warned not to have another TB test otherwise i can go into anaphylactic shock.How long did it take for the red nodule to come up? Did it come up within a few minutes to an hour, or did it take like a day or two before it became really noticeable? If it came up within a few minutes, it's likely to be an allergic reaction within the Tb fluid itself, but if it took 1-2 days for it to present, that is more likely not to be an allergic reaction, particularly not an anaphylactic-type reaction. The Tb test just consists of injecting some Tb antigens under your skin. For those people who have previously come in contact with Tb, their immune system is sensitized to it, and in particular, the T-cells within your body that are attuned to those Tb antigens will congregate at the injection site and start up an inflammatory response; a Type 4 hypersensitivity reaction, to be nerdy about it. If you've never been exposed to Tb before, your T-cells won't get all hyper to the Tb antigens, and therefore you won't develop a red indurated lesion at the injection site. Of course, those people on immunosuppressants, or who have HIV or anything else that can knock out your T-cells also wouldn't necessarily respond to a Tb skin test. The chest x-ray is the specific test used if the screening test (which is the Tb skin test) is positive. It's looking for signs of previous Tb infection like enlarged chest lymph nodes, calcified lymph nodes, opacities/consolidation of the lung itself (the lung looks denser/whiter than it should be if it was completely air-filled), scarring of either the lung tissue, or the lining of the lungs, etc. Tb is an aerobic bacterium (loves oxygen), and therefore a primary site of infection is often the lungs. In fact, in old times, a treatment for Tb was actually to puncture the lungs in an attempt to deprive the mycobacteria of oxygen! Good thing we have antibiotics for it now. While it's usually preferable to get a Tb skin test vs getting chest x-rays and being irradiated all the time, the radiation dose of a chest x-ray is extremely low (roughly the same as walking around outside for 3 days), and about 1/500th that of getting a CT scan. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest XIAP Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 I somehow knew that the day I posted this thread, I would get mine in the mail, and sure enough, I did Great job U of C and Fulmars for putting together a really informative package! Cheers, XIAP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ticket Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 I really like the package that Calgary sent out. Cheers to all the hard work that went into that!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jerika81 Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 Thanks guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kirsteen Posted May 24, 2004 Report Share Posted May 24, 2004 Hi there, I excitedly had a read of my Calgary package last eve. Reading the "I am very pleased to inform you..." part of the acceptance letter is quite the feeling. Echoing what has been said above, great job on the package you Fulmars. The immunization sheet is quite formidable, and on that, I have a couple of questions. For each vaccination or test there is a space for "Date" and "Signature". There is also a spot for the signature of a doctor or public health nurse at the bottom of the sheet. Obviously a doctor or nurse signs the bottom of the sheet, but is it they or us who signs the spots beside each of the tests? Also, I know that I need to snag a couple of tests/immunizations de novo, e.g., Rubella titre, but what about those which were received a while back for which there may be no remaining proof? For example, while in primary school in Scotland, we received one of those polio vaccines that were pink and soaked into a sugarcube. I no longer have proof that this crunchy moment took place. Do you think it's possible that the university will take our word for it? (Especially given that most of us received some good ethics grilling during the interview, and have demonstrated some degree of integrity? ) :rolleyes Lastly, is there anyone else out there who never had chicken pox or am I one of the only unlucky wee boffins? Cheers, Kirsteen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lorae Posted May 24, 2004 Report Share Posted May 24, 2004 I"m pretty sure they are able to draw antibody titres for many different diseases... also, sometimes they just give a booster dose to make sure you're covered - depends on what you're dealing with. It's tough when records get lost... As for the signatures, I was going to get the health nurse to do all the signing... cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Makunouchi Posted May 24, 2004 Report Share Posted May 24, 2004 Yeah, that was a good package - thanks! I suppose you can get titres for polio... not sure.... sorry can't help with that question. I'm sure someone will chime in though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Wong Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 I don't know how they'll handle your polio vaccine; definitely something to ask about. I was born in Canada within the time frame when polio vaccine was being used, and this was taken at face value. Usually those forms should be signed off with a health professional, but realistically, as long as there's a nurse/doctor's signature anchoring the bottom, you should be fine. If you really want to do things by the letter, you bring in proof of all your vaccinations to the health care provider, and let him/her fill in the details. If you haven't had chickenpox, then you need the VZV vaccine. It's two shots, done several weeks apart. After that time, you can draw a VZV titre to see if you are producing anti-varicella antibodies. That's three sticks in all, but a much better deal than catching chickenpox during your Peds rotation and blowing up with recurrent shingles for the rest of your life. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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