Lung specialist referral

[reidie01]

Hi everyone been about six months since i posted on here but in need of if someone has been through a similar situation some general advise or if anyone hasn't to be honest. I was diagnosed with gerd and ashtma after I had a viral six months ago. My breathing became slowly better with inhalers and montekulast and a strick diet. I had a ct scan done and had the results back that there is a bit of damage to my right lung and some mucus at the bottom of the left. It has been referred to the specialist I'm just worried what it will be if its permanent damage. I have had a antibodies test for covid and has come back positive so I'm worried about long term covid. My symptoms only came back recently when I over indulged in a big meal and a few beers so I was wondering if the gerd is causing the lung damage. I just feel so unsupported by the doctors all they have said is its ashtma and it will get better in a and e they turn me away everytime so at least there is something getting done now. I just wanna do basic things with my son and eventually return to wrestling. Any advice or reassurance would be appreciated I just want to know there is hope yo get better ?

Thanks

[twinkly29]

It does sound like the gerd caused the recent symptoms (given what you've said about the big meal etc) - but when that happens it's symptoms occuring due to a trigger, not lung damage being caused. The symptoms could just be GERD itself (symptoms can be very like asthma symptoms) or could be asthma symptoms caused by GERD.

When you get symptoms like that, do you have a treatment you would take, eg Gaviscon or something?

[reidie01 in reply to twinkly29]

Yes gaviscon by the end of sunday I think the damage was already done tho and I over eaten. Today I have coughed up bright green flem probably from the gerd coming into my lungs breathing a little bit better I'm just constantly bloated evenr when I'm hungry..I need to shift a fee more pounds and exercise more I'm just scared I'll exercise and my ashtma will have me back in hospital. I've come so far and all it takes is a few beers and a big meal and I feel I'm back to square one. I just hope its gerd when I see the specialist and nothing too serious. The fact I'm improving must be a good sign its nothing too bad but you never know

[twinkly29 in reply to reidie01]

Yes it's good to know what's what for sure.

Are you also on longer lasting meds for the GERD, like lansoprazole or omeprazole or something? If not it might be worth asking your doctor about something like that. Some people take it long term but others for say just a month to settle the acid down I think.

[reidie01 in reply to twinkly29]

Yes been on lanzoprazole about 6 months now. Is this something that will get better with time even if it is lung damage. Surely it's got to be the gerd causing the issues it's just so scary is the asthma that is happening with it if that's what it is?

[twinkly29 in reply to reidie01]

I can't say for certain what your symptoms are but it does sound related to GERD given it flared up for food/drink reasons. However, it could be only GERD as that can cause symptoms identical to asthma - or it could be GERD and asthma symptoms together.

But neither of those necessarily cause actual lung damage when you get the symptoms - it's something (so quite possibly the GERD) triggering symptoms but not causing lung damage each time.

Your doctor might be able to change or add to your lansoprazole (I'm sure there are all sorts of options for acid issues). Or it might be a one off flare up. For some people, keeping a food diary helps them to work out particular foods that cause them issues (it's a very personal thing as what helps or doesn't help one person will be the opposite for another). I know that's not very helpful though because when it flares up it must be pretty unpleasant! But in a sense, yes, with the right medication and also working on out what isn't ideal for you as a trigger, it should get better over time.

But do speak to your doctor as I'm sure they'll know more .

[reidie01 in reply to twinkly29]

Yer I have a bloated tummy constantly I get bubbling in my throat all the time I burp even after a drink of water or anything ice eaten I do think its gerd just dont know what's caused the lung damage maybe the covid before. Could be a possible mix of all sorts really the ashtma is a funny one as the gerd I have once bad enough no inhaler works but when it's under control I have my fostair reliever every day it seems to make a difference. Cold weather hits my ashtma aswell. Funny old human body seems to be linked with everything when I get stressed my stomach seems to rumble aswell and with the recent news I cant see it helping my stress. I just wish there was more support while I'm in this middle period of seeing a specialist if I go to hospital when it gets bad they just turn me away and say you have to wait for a specialist through a gp emergency care cant direct you through to a specialist. The doctor said it's a ct scan that is different to what they see but a specialist might have seen a lot of them I've just gotta hold out. I appreciate you getting back to me

[reidie01 in reply to twinkly29]

Do you know what the process is when I see a specialist will it be a sit down appointment?

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to reidie01]

You might find this post helpful; healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...

I know pre covid they were all ‘long’ introduction appts (or at least they were for me) where they ask about everything. I think local hospitals aren’t as long as tertiary (specialist) hospitals can be but that is just my experience and I got my local appts via hosp admission so we’d already covered most of it 😅

Hope this helps

[reidie01 in reply to EmmaF91]

Thanks its come through on my nhs app I've got a referral to the respiratory medicine clinical assessment in two weeks oddly enough at 2 am is that the same as the severe ashtma clinic. I'm wondering if it's two weeks they dont see it as too severe. I've had a tiny bit of improvement then yesterday tried to exercise tonight still panting now. Soon as I lose weight tho it seems to get better got to be piinting at gerd I'm just worried there is nothing they can do to help me

[twinkly29 in reply to reidie01]

Are you already under a consultant? If not it will be general respiratory I would have thought but I could be wrong. If it's assessment I imagine it will be in person as they'll want to do tests as part of that. There might be more information when you get a letter? If not then can you phone your GP and ask?

[reidie01 in reply to twinkly29]

Nope just a gp who looked at my ct scan said hes referring it. Left abit in the dark really he just said that there is damage and fluid on my left lung but to be fair the ct scan was when my symptoms was really bad and I wanted them to see everything what was going on. I'm sure they will get to the bottom of it a specialist must of seen hundreds of lungs to know what's going on

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to reidie01]

2 weeks tends to be an urgent referral.

And it’s hard to tell. But it really depends on where you’re being referred to. Cause there are local resp clinics which are under the secondary care label, and their are tertiary care which is a specific hospital which specialises in resp care. All hospitals have asthma clinics and resp clinics. But even under secondary care it usually involves a history and tests (or being booked for tests... depends on their efficiency 😉). Since covid what some hosps have done is a triage appt. so you have the initial assessment 2 weeks After referral then depending on what they thing your second appointment might be earlier or later.

I hope this helps

[reidie01 in reply to EmmaF91]

Yes that does help it's just a case of waiting to see the specialist and see where it goes from there I'm worried but I've gotta stay positive

[starveycat]

With gets you must avoid all spicy food, acidic foods, and eat a very bland diet. I would also think beer as it's gassy wouldn't help. I didn't know I had gerd and have landed up with vocal chord problems, please take care

[reidie01 in reply to starveycat]

Thanks you I need to stock to a strict diet from now on.