Do you think that I did the correct thing . Last week I had an exaserbation resulting in a trip to my local A&E department. After triage and stabbing {Blood Tests and a Canula} along came a Doc1 who I could hardly understand so I suggested another doctor, and ghe went off and a better English speaking Doctor came and carried out his teats and said that I did not have asthma because ALL ASTHMATICS WHEEZE. I asked how much knowledge that he had about asthma and he said enough. I requested another opinion and shortly after the along came the Doctor who is the head of the depart and as I know him from previous visits he carried out the tests again resulting in XRay & CT Scan. I had a bad chest infection and he prescribed the usual antibiotics. On the CT Scan he found a nodule. I was allowed to go home. The next day my Consultant phoned me to see how I was and he said that he would see me in his clinic next week. I would appreciate any comments about my reactions with the medics at my local A&E
A&E Doctors : Do you think that I did... - Asthma Community ...
A&E Doctors
It sounds like you did well asking for other opinions!!! You were obviously needing to be there and needed a doctor who would listen and take you seriously! Wish I could be that brave if I was ever in that situation!
I am not at all brave but this time I was not ill enough to lie down without contesting probably basic registrar doctors. We all have had or are learning a job. As a plumber my mentor did not give me a blow lamp on my first day. It appears to me that some medics think that they are like gods and they should not be contested about their dignostics
I have been told off so I think I will quit this and carry on with my usual happy go lucky
self
good bye
What do you mean you've been told off? By who?
A bit of a battle is it not as a fellow non wheezer.
Perhaps in future you need to get your consultant to write something down that you can give to a and e, so the mistake does not happen again. What you need sounds relatively well known, so surely the consultant can put it on your records and print it out for you, as back up.
I tell them very early on, normally that my consultant says that I do not wheeze, this is difficult when you cannot speak though. So far they have listened to me. Maybe I need to follow my own advice and get the consultant to write it down.
Last visit to the gp duty doctor, who rang me out of the blue and asked me to come to the surgery, the doctor was working off the NHS guidelines, ticking his way down, it was openly on his computer.
Unfortunately he was on the page, for a chest infection, rather than asthma. He worked steadily down his page, insisted that I had a chest infection when I did not, and was adamant that he would not look at his asthma page, because my oxygen levels were OK. He explained in detail that I could not have asthma with normal oxygen levels.
Took my blood pressure and said the reading of 160 over 90, did not concern him, as it is the bottom figure that counts and sent me off with a prescription for antibiotics, which I did not need.
I did not have the energy to argue and since I had not requested the appointment, just chalked it down to experience.
So to me managing asthma is about building your own knowledge up.
Thanks for this valuable information. I do have a letter from my consultant, in the past I have had to insist that they read thecomplete document. One doc actualy said agressively I know my job I do not need to read it. I told him to get my consultant down immediately or I will phone his secretary and she will ensure that along with his name that my consultant will be informed about his remarks. He soon read the document and appologised and thaty he did not have this knowledge.
Hi Wheesy, Answer U spoke up for yourself, well Don. Great result. Bernardine xxx
Should have read- Well done Wheesy, great result all round. Bernardine xxx
I think you did the right thing.
Hi Wheesy, you definitely did the right thing. Unless we challenge Dr's who don't know about silent chest, oxygen sats ok but carbon dioxide levels can rise which can be very dangerous (has happened to me several times) they will never learn. I really wish they were trained better in treating asthma in an emergency.
I will sometimes wheeze but other times I won't, it depends on what has triggered the attack.
So I had a similar issue last week and tried for 11hours at home for help we have a ridiculous rule in Norfolk they won't give nebulisers at home only back to back ventoljne inhalers I have been intubated 8 times in itu due to severity of respiratory disease but I was in ambulance for 4 hrs then the ambulance staff said I needed to be seen I saw them then got rushed to resus and saw 1 senior doctor who agreed I also had chest infection but I had the issue that I went to ward and no notes were transferred so I spent 24 hrs on a ward who stopped all treataments as nobody knew why I was there so I self treated and went home the nhs is broken and maybe if government listened to the real people using and working then maybe we can save lives I hope you are on the mend and feeling better
Sorry you had a bad experience. I suggest that you contact PALS and get them to look into all of the problems. I no that Ventolin is becoming a none goes for asthma. Ventolin has been used for asthma since Adam was a lad so I personaly do not understand why they are stopping prescribing it for asthmatics. Iwould have thought that the ward magager should have located any notes unless you are a hologram or perhaps a mirage. You are a person so i would get in touch with the hospital and insist to see in writing all your notes from the ambulance and any other department who dealt with your case, you are within your rights do this,as you may require them for future reference. Whenever I see a medic I request to have the notes i n writing for my own files which can become vey useful when required especialy if you have to use a different hospital etc. Hope that you are much better now Take care and look after yourself
I'm not sure if allowed but here goes... I bought a nebuliser, saline nebules and ventolin online and see to myself thought Im sick of begging for treatment. I understand that sometimes we need intervention by medics and I would seek help if a couple of nebulisers didn't work but sometimes desparate measures. I think we know our chests better than anyone more than medics at times we should be able to speak out. My friend has cough variant asthma and never wheezes.
Hi, I do appreciate the frustration, and it is possible for some asthmatics to use nebulisers safely, with medical advice. However, in general buying your own and using them without a clear plan and without medical advice is not a safe way to do this. Therefore, can you please avoid advising/discussing buying prescription medication online when it hasn't been prescribed for you - thanks. This goes for all users.
As a fellow silent asthma patient I have the same problem. Stats are usually fine until they do my blood gases.
They just don't get it that each patient is different. I can also present with a cough which also confuses them.
So well done on standing your ground especially when unwell.
Yup, this happened to me - I too had a ‘debate’ with a locum junior doctor about whether all asthmatics wheezed and whether reading my notes, including from respiratory consultant was necessary, particularly given I’d gone into respiratory arrest last time I was admitted as an in-patient at same hospital. Eventually, I received the combination of drugs that is proven to work. I complained via PALS. The response to complaint was great and the steps they put in place have also proved to work moving forwards. So yes you were correct to stand ground.
Yes we must stand up to all the NHS Staff including the consutants. Luckily I have an excellent team looking after me it is A&E and also Paramedics who think they need to clear the department of people who appear at first to be medicaly fit. The funny side of this is that my son in law although his complection is white, but he is actualy Indian[NOT RED} and he can talk fluent indian. When he does not understand them he will use Indian and it is quite funny how they can quickly speak English with a normal english accent. Yes they can put their different accent on and off.
I can't comment on your son-in-law's accent or which Indian languages he speaks, but can you please avoid comments like 'they can put their different accent on and off'. This comes across as racial stereotyping even if not intended that way - some NHS staff have Indian or other accents and they are not necessarily 'turning it on and off', nor do they need to have an English accent to communicate.
It appears that you have lost your sense of humour
I'm happy for it to be off when it comes to racial stereotyping. Could you please drop this topic now, as it's extremely close to breaking more than one of the community guidelines - thanks.
Well said.
You absolutely did the right thing. If some doctors are unintelligible, it's not the fault of the patient, but invariably it becomes the patient's problem. I've been there myself, and I used to just put up with it, but now, having retired from teaching English, I don't. It's so important that the patient understands their diagnosis, but more importantly, when a patient understands their own condition, the doctor should listen and if a second or third doctor is requested (either for language issues or medical concerns), then it should be followed through. Let's not forget that many elderly patients may have hearing impairment and this, coupled with a doctor whose English isn't particularly intelligible, can make them feel isolated and left totally ignorant of their condition.
Good on you! I hope you are feeling better.
P.S. My asthma was diagnosed when I was a student at Leeds University, and I have to say that I have NEVER wheezed!
Just read your text again a see that you have obtained ventolin nebs on line I would appreciate it if you could let me know for future reference
Many Thanks
Can you please avoid asking for/advising/discussing buying prescription medication online when it hasn't been prescribed for you - thanks. This goes for all users.
I've got 3 too. Lol. a plug in one and 2 portable I prefer the hard held ones. I agree saline does help they will give me that but no ventolin. I bought a nebuliser over 20 years ago for my mam. They gave her medication but no nebuliser we had buy that. Pneumonia takes months to recover from. I think we all want to be at home if possible. We are stuck don't trust us to self administer but don't want us taking beds. Catch 22.
as long as you are polite and courteous you should be allowed to ask for a second opinion. Always risky to base a complaint which could be interpreted as potentially racist but I had problems with understanding a Geordi accent once!!
You did exactly the right thing, well done. It's your health that they are playing with and not all of them are perfect so you were spot on. If it had of gone wrong you would have wished you had followed your instincts so well done all the best.
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