Job Discussion Forums

[BigZen]

Hello Everyone:

I have a question for the older teachers out there. I am a 56-year old male and have two common medical conditions: hypothyroidism and an enlarged prostate. I take medication for both and visit a hospital/clinic every three months for routine blood tests and to get my medication. Would either of these conditions preclude me from teaching in China? I have been applying for university jobs. I understand there is a medical exam required for the Z Work Visa. I had to undergo the same type of medical exam to get my work visa for my Saudi Arabia in 2015-16, and there were no problems.

BigZen

[jaybet3]

I've taken two med check-ups in China. They send you through an assembly line and there's no extensive examination by a doctor.

Unless these conditions show up in a blood test, I wouldn't tell them.

It's likely they don't even test for these conditions.

I take medication for borderline hypertension and I still passed the test. I do question the accuracy of this hospitals equipment because the results of their blood pressure test were way higher than my tests in another country.

The problem you may encounter is finding a reliable place for your routine tests. I small city -- good luck. A Tier 1 city is your best bet for follow-up tests.

Also, my new school had me send verification that I already have medical insurance before I enter the country.

I think they're very paranoid about foreigners getting sick or dying in their country.

[rogerwilco]

Almost every foreigner seems to get labelled as having a "fatty liver" at the medical exam in China.
Don't be alarmed if you get told you have that also.

[tin man]

I got the fatty liver diagnosis my last time. I guess they think most of us are tubby.

[nimadecaomei]

Where exactly on the medical report do you see fatty liver?

[jaybet3]

the ultrasound test. the rub this gel on your body and use a device to scan the inside of your body. It doesn't hurt, but the gel is nasty to get off.

The lady handed me a wad of paper towels for me to clean up. Like, thanks!

[nimadecaomei]

Weird, medical I just had mentions nothing about this. Ultrasound just said no abnormal findings. I have been and am a fairly heavy drinker. I also had Hep B in my last medical (7 years ago) but seem to have fought it off at some point.

[nimadecaomei]

Sorry to go off topic before. They definitely are not going to check your prostate. The lymphatic system is checked, but very rudimentary check, I doubt they would notice thyroid issues. I always get the feeling they want to make sure you have all your organs, you have no communicable diseases, and your heart is beating. The fact they make you do an xray seems so unnecessary.

[Volver]

Everybody runs around like chickens without their heads when I fail the color blind test. Happens every year.

The medical test is just another way to put people to work and wring more money out of the system. I hardly think the results have any meaning whatsoever.

V

[daophos]

No, not everyone gets 'fatty liver'. But it's telling that many ESL teachers have fatty livers.

The only reason I have seen people ever kicked out after a medical test is that they are HIV+.

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

According to my stateside doctor, whether one has fatty liver doesn't necessarily indicate alcoholism or even frequent drinking. Though it's prevalent among alcoholics, one can be a teetotaler and have a fatty liver. It largely depends upon how the body stores fat.

Some people get a fatty butt while others get a fatty liver. Some get both.

I'm 6'1" 190 lbs. I have a fatty liver even though I'm not even a weekly drinker.

[GMark]

[enterthedragon]

i got the fatty liver diagnosis too during my medical. I also reluctantly went to one of the chinese hospitals to see a "specialist" internal medicine about mycough and there were hundreds of people all walking about the hospital and familes of people in the Dr's rooms gathered round the computer screen. When he saw me, he did not take a chest xray (good internal medicine specialist hey) and he did not take a blood test and he did not do any tests, He just said cough so i did and he said you have acute bronchitis. Then he gave me this antibiotic agent (one noone has ever heard of and the wrong one anyway) and that was that. Needless to say I subsequently found I had a house dust allergy from the british doc at the clinic where I had been already diagnosed but my employer wanted me to go to see a chinese hospital.

So go to a chinese DR at your peril cos the one I went to did no tests, gave me the wrong diagnosis and treatment and it was sheer hell inside there with the hundreds of chinese milling about, Never again will I set foot inside one.

[rogerwilco]

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

The only possible problem that I see for the OP is getting the medications.