Should I wait or see Gp now?

[upset]

I have got a cold and since this started my peak flow has dropped to around 70%. I have occasionally got a tight chest but ventolin helps relieve it. Should I wait an see how it goes, or given it takes forever to see the Gp, book something in just incase it gets worse?

[freefaller]

Yes. Telephone now and make an appointment. My Doc tells me if my peak flow drops by between 15 and 20 points to go and see him. When you see your Doc today ask him about this.

Hope you get better soon

Sian

[upset in reply to freefaller]

Thank you for your reply. I will ring today but as it's not an emergency, won't get to see anyone for at least a week.

I would like for my gp to be explicit when they think I should seek help, I never know and then it ends up been more of an emergency. I would prefer clear guidelines of if x happens do y etc. But when I ask they won't commit to anything.

[freefaller in reply to upset]

I always get an emergency appointment. Once I say my peak flow has plummeted by that much the receptionist makes me an appointment that day. I think this should be standard for all asthma sufferers. We can't wait for a week or more by then we could be really ill. Discuss this with your GP They should be able to tell you when it is necessary for you to make an urgent appointment so that you can get medication in time.

[upset in reply to freefaller]

Wow, I want your gp surgery! We just get told that there's a walk in if we need to be seen quicker! I wish they had telephone appts at ours as I'm sure they could cut a lot of face to face appts in favour of telephone appts therefore freeing the face to face for more important cases.

[freefaller]

Well our surgery is better than some worse than others and some things are better and some worse. I hate going and sitting in the waiting room as I usually pick up another but whilst there! Yes we used to have a triage system where we would ring and the receptionist would get one of the docs to ring back. That used to work well then they would get the prescription to the chemists for you by lunchtime usually or you could collect it from the surgery and no need to go to the surgery. Don't know why they stopped that.

Sian