Pre appointment anxiety because of previous bad experience with consultant 🙄

[mylungshateme]

Hey guys hope you're all well and staying safe the best you can in these challenging times?!

So appointments have never bothered me in fact almost looked forward to them as hopeful they will find that magic cure to make me better and get my life back...😂🤣😅.

However, as some of you know that last appointment with severe asthma cons, umm didn't quite go according to plan he really turned my world upside down, upset and confused me 🤣😂 and made some of you quite cross too 😡 and with your support I plucked up the courage to ask for a 2nd opinion which has been accepted at another trust just waiting on appointment 🙂.

In the meantime I have an appointment in morning (well later) for Synacthen test at my usual hospital ordered by the cons who I have no faith in anymore, but I feel sick to the pit of my stomach literally not slept.

Think I'm just scared of going through the post trauma of a negative consultation again as really affected me - obviously!!! I know not seeing cons, just having tests but 🤷‍♀️.

The joke is I don't suffer with anxiety but they make me anxious by making you feel like crap an trying to blame asthma on everything else but asthma! Anyway sorry for rant just hoping now I can sleep almost a dear diary post... 😂🤣😆

[twinkly29]

Hope it goes well today - once you get there it will be fine (and probably good to have to go for a test as a first revisit)..... but the feeling beforehand is probably horrible.

I hate the fact that doctors etc cause it in us - I can definitely relate to feeling anxious or under strain because of them, either those at the time or because others before them have caused problems. Often the next times are much better.... but the fear is always there.

[madonbrew]

Dear diary....bless you!!! It’s always better to share these feelings somewhere than keep them locked up inside! Then they escalate 🙃

Take some deep breath’s hun and remember this isn’t actually to go and see consultant!!! And remember that you won’t have to see that consultant again because you were brave and that the CL is looking after you now!

I’m not sure you’re if you’re allowed to take anyone with you atm are you...possibly not, but think of all of us here for you, holding your hand, so to speak!

Praying it all goes well and calmly!

🤗😘❤️🐻🎄

Dee x

[Poobah]

I've lost count of the little hand grenades a consultant has thrown into the appointment, stuff that I didn't know about my lung development or my meds or current thinking. It is often contradictory and I've always put that down to individual cons and their own interests in respiratory diseases and the fact that I haven't seen them before. I rarely see the same cons twice, but when I have they have, on occasion, contradicted themselves. It's frustrating but at least I know it's no me.Over the years I've found that the asthma nurses that work on the hospital respiratory team are more consistent, remember me and my asthma and are more engaging. They run the tests and answer all my questions and make suggestions. I have their contact details and they're happy to take phone calls and answer emails. So even when I've had a heated appointment with a completely new consultant, never to be seen again, of course, I can talk through the situation with one is the nurses.

I've only had one nurse who was unhelpful when I rang, I think she was new to the team, but I managed to get things resolved through my GP practice asthma nurse.

Over the years I've been up and down, asthma wise, and none of it makes sense as to why things are great or rubbish. And it's so difficult to make progress at times if I have a hand grenade appointment. I know I'm an emotional asthmatic when things aren't good and the frustration at not having my expectations met by the asthma cons has made my asthma control worse at times.

I think your seeking a second opinion is great as you're taking control. Hold your nerve, and share your frustration at having to seek a second opinion and why that came about. At the end of the day, as patients all we want is to be listened to and our asthma experiences to be acknowledged as real and relevant treatment to be prescribed. Sounds so obvious...if only!

Good luck with your test and appointment. Keep us posted.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

I know the feeling all too well! I mostly find tests easier though as I don't have to actually do much or talk to anyone. As others have said I'm not anxious about the asthma but I am about appointments because they almost invariably don't listen, or I think they do and then the letter has all sorts in it that wasn't discussed. My cons loves to book tests without ever discussing them with me or telling me why he wants them.

Currently completely fed up with my entire team and would be more than happy not to see any of them again, but had a synacthen test a couple of weeks ago and that was fine as it was a different dept and I didn't need to do much. Hope yours goes ok and you don't feel too rubbish having to stop steroids.

I confess I let the call with the results go to voicemail though. I just cba talking to anyone about it and the message told me what I needed. My GP surgery wants me to have an asthma review and I don't even want to do that despite knowing it's a total tick box exercise.

Well done for asking for a 2nd opinion which I know isn't easy! Hope you get an appt through soon and it goes better.

[madonbrew]

How did it go today? Was thinking of you!

[mylungshateme]

Hey sorry girls I didn't get any notifications of replies! Your all so right as usual the Synacthen test went ok bit bruised but ok, ouch doesn't it sting going in 😂🤣.

I knew it would be fine in my rational self but the hand grenade scenario (good description poobah) just kills you for next one.

It's funny that half the battle with the rollercoaster complex unicorn asthma is actually learning how to deal with consultants/nurses that knock your confidence, patronise you like (have you had your ventolin, or do you keep up with meds) or the cheek to blame it on anxiety what they don't realise is they are the cause of any anxiety not anything else 🤦‍♀️ and as for just not listening to us then when the dreaded letters comes its traumatic 😅😆🤣😂.

Anyways thanks for your support I'm so glad I have you all on this journey as it's a frustrating bumpy ride at times - who needs Alton towers... just have to wait for results now and no my area remains tier 3 so no visitors to hospital at all. Lysistrata I don't blame you letting call go to voicemail it's just best for our sanity sometimes 🙂. Thanks twinkly and Dee 🙂. X

[twinkly29 in reply to mylungshateme]

Glad it's done and well done for getting through it! Our rational sides often know deep down things will be ok but that doesn't help at the time.

[mylungshateme in reply to twinkly29]

Absolutely it's quite ridiculous really all because of 1 appointment silly me!! 😂🤣 thanks again. X