Finally appointment time!

[Js706]

Finally have my appointment for a second opinion at Heartlands tomorrow and to hopefully get the ok for bronchial thermoplasty as I’ve failed xolair and can’t get on any other biologics.

I’m on fostair 200/6, spiriva, intal and salbutamol inhalers, antihistamines, montelukast, theophylline, maintenance pred and 2 prophylactic antibiotics and there’s no scope to reduce anything really as I’m still not fully controlled (just had a steroid wean admission a few weeks ago).

I’ve got a bunch of clinic letters and discharge letters, details of admissions and months of peak flow charts to take along 😂 just in case my team didn’t send everything (my notes/referrals etc always seem to have a habit of going missing!!) Any other details I should make sure I have?

And any thoughts of any other treatments people have had I could possibly ask about if it’s a no to the thermoplasty? If I can’t get anymore control by about November time I’m probably going to have to drop out of my uni course after 5 years so it’s a pretty important appointment!

[Echoblue]

They are very knowledgeable at Heartlands 👍🏻 I hope you get the answers you want.

To get the most from your appointment do take photocopies of any of your letters/notes so they can put them on your file rather than having to spend time your appointment time reading them so you can take them home again.

Good luck with your appointment and I wish you all the very best to get the answers you need x

[Js706 in reply to Echoblue]

Thanks! I have a big folder so they can scan in anything that didn’t get sent over 😂

[Echoblue in reply to Js706]

Best to be prepared!! 👍🏻😉. Rather than risk overwhelming them, do you also have a list you have written of your main symptoms/ concerns/questions as it is really easy to forget your most important things when in the heat of it all and end up kicking yourself afterwards?! Not that I have done that myself on a number of occasions of course 😉🤦🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️😳 x

[Js706 in reply to Echoblue]

Going to plan out my main questions tonight, they sent me a big questionnaire to fill out which goes through symptoms, but I also have my little medical folder I take around with me for a&e that has about my typical presentation in! (Another silent chest-er here! 😉)

I’m hoping I’ll have time to go through all the questions as it’s meant to be a “second opinion” so they should want to go through everything in detail. Whereas while my normal team are lovely I sometimes feel I’m taking up too much time if I try to ask everything! 😂

[Echoblue in reply to Js706]

🤣 ah yes, the forms!! I was handed mine to me when I arrived last time. They took forever to fill in! So glad your have been sent to you in advance to be able to fill out. Oh the fun us silent chesters have 🤔😉 🤣 x