[Jacki]

Hello, I'm new.

Hubby has fallen in love with the idea of going to NZ, he is luckily in a needed occupation. I on the other hand am just general housewife admin control dogsbody.
Get to the point, I do waffle on so....

What does the medical intail, and how stricked is it? I have the forms to fill out but every time I look at thm I just want to forget the whole idea, they are so indepth...I'm a little over weight, I smoke and drink coffee, I am relativey healthy, I rarely if ever get a cold, but what if...
and what is liver function got to do with things and HELP... I think I'm getting a bit paranoid......
I have been reading the forum, and I am quite terrified they will find something I am blissfully unaware of, and therefore overturn the apple cart as it were.

some soothing words of advice would be welcome I'm sure I'm just freaking out for no reason.

[Mickstim]

Hi Jacki and welcome to the forum! I would say don't panic - my OH was just like you and convinced he would fail at every turn (although he had stopped smoking), but all his worries were needless and he passed with no problems - as did I.

Work out your BMI and if it is over 35 then get yourself on a quick diet before your medical, and I would suggest not drinking alcohol for a couple of days before the medical may help with the liver function. I'm not sure about the smoking being a problem (I don't smoke) but I am sure that loads on NZ immigrants are smokers and managed to get through the medical. Hopefully one of them will answer with some reassurance for you!

Good luck!

Barb

[Georgebulldog]

Hi Jacki
I'm in the same boat as you, OH has the job, I have our 2 year old to look after. We have our medicals tomorrow & I'm dreading it, I starte filling out the forms only to find I should have stopped as it said they had to be done in front o the Dr, but all I keep thinking is that we are fit & healthy but what if they find something we know nothing about, all those blood tests. Sorry I'm not helping am I. I'm sure it will all be fine, it's worth it for what you will get at the end.

[Nathan]

Welcome to the forum.

The medicals are comprehensive, yes. They don't seem to be a stopper for most people, but they can be a hassle if you miss one of the criteria. My (cheap, free, ...) advise is to do all the 'healthy' stuff starting now... stop smoking, get buff, cleanse your liver. Even if you don't need it for the medicals, it feels better in the long run and helps with the stresses that go with the process of emmigration.

Cheer's,

Nathan

[migratory birds]

Welcome to the forum!

Don't sweat the medicals...there are LOADS of other details/paperwork/approvals that need to occur if your family recieves an "Invitation to Apply" (ITA) after submitting your EOI. And even more once you are approved (selling the house, determining where in NZ you will live, packing/shipping, making travel plans, etc, etc)

If it's a vision you both hold together the process will unfold a day at a time.

[Jo Jo]

I have been reading the forum, and I am quite terrified they will find something I am blissfully unaware of, and therefore overturn the apple cart as it were.

some soothing words of advice would be welcome I'm sure I'm just freaking out for no reason.

Hi Jacki,

I think it's quite normal to worry the medical will reveal something you are blissfully unaware of, especially if you smoke - I had exactly the same worries beforehand. The chances are you will be fine. But if the medical reveals there is something wrong that you didn't know about then that would be a good thing as it means you would be able to get treatment early on. Of course, that could delay your plans to get to NZ, but I don't think you'd mind about that too much if a potentially life-threatening illness or condition had been detected early on and successfully treated as a result of the medical!

[Georgebulldog]

Had our medicals done yesterday, they were nice & easy although expensive, £570 for 2 adults 1 child. We had them done in Southampton by a nice Dr Goodall, he was quite quick really, weight, blood pressure, urine saple,listen to chest, blood tests taken few Q's answered & we were on our way after about an hour
Glad it's over though

[bobbyj]

I really worried about this from the moment we decided to move. OH is a Kiwi so she didn't need to have a medical so it was just down to me. My family have a history of high blood pressure etc and I'm the same. I went on a health kick for a month running up to the medical (gym 5 times a week, plenty of veg, cut out red meat, NO booze etc)...I don't mind saying I was bricking it the entire time :uhoh I thought they would pick something up and it would totally ruin my plans (we had already booked the flights to tie in with my parents going out there on holiday at the same time as us)...in the end, I don't think I have done many things with less stress. It was a very quick morning with a few questions (how much do you drink, do you smoke etc), they take your blood pressure :uhoh but it turned out just fine thanks to my health kick :nice1 and they do your chest x-rays. All very quick and painless (apart from the cost :wah ) and at the end of the day with any luck you are getting a full and comprehensive clean bill of health - as well as ticking off another thing on your list of following your dream.

All I thought about during that month of healthy eating and no drinking was it would all be worth it when I am sitting in Allan Scott's winery for Sunday lunch in the sun!!

You will be fine.