Emphysema missed by specialist. Should I be annoyed?

Hi all, I was diagnosed with asthma a few years ago after my lung collapsed, but I always felt there was something else wrong. The specialist ordered a CT scan aswell as blood tests. The report specifically said there was no emphysema and that my blood tests were “unremarkable”. I think because of this, my doctors no longer took me seriously. They would tut and eye roll when I complained about symptoms. They tried to take away my inhaled steroid, which ended in a trip to hospital. One time I couldn’t get a sentence out at all and I think the doctor looked amused about it. I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling how I did when the doctor clearly though I was hamming it up.

Fast forward several years and I moved abroad, which luckily for me meant I had to visit another specialist. She did the same tests and found I had a milk allergy (quitting milk has madequite a difference), plus emphysema which is the reason I have had several collapsed lungs. Oddly enough, instead of feeling upset to be diagnosed with a condition that changes your life, I was actually relieved that I have justification for what I’m going through. Not to mention the new medications which make me feel so much better.

I’m feeling quite annoyed that the original specialist missed things that perhaps should be obvious? Am I right to be feeling this way? I feel like I want answers, but before I complain about it, want to get other opinions.

Thanks for reading.

[hypercat54]

Hi it's possible you didn't have emphysema when the original tests were done if they were a few years ago, which developed since. Could this be the case? x

[Hidden in reply to hypercat54]

Thanks for the reply. The new specialist said it was emphysema that caused my lung to collapse several times. I was referred to the original specialist because of the lung collapses, so it was definitely there. He noted that I had many blebs, which are apparently a sign.

[Hidden]

I thought I would update this with the first results of the review I requested. It turns out that they did spot emphysema, but accidentally made a typo and put “no emphysema”, which “could be interpreted differently”!