Belated response

[Anniecath]

I must apologise to everyone who replied to my post back in June, for not getting back to everyone.

To cut a very long story short after breaking my wrist and no follow up I wrote a letter of complaint to my surgery as I could not get an appointment with a GP to enable me to get a DEXA scan, and I was also concerned that the last two years I had suffered a chest infection with hacking cough so that I needed antibiotics. The cough had lasted for a couple of months in both cases, which for me was severe as I had not had this for decades.

Following my letter within days I had an appointment with the practitioner nurse who instantly prescribed Fexofenadine which she thought might help with the infections. She was right it did. She also prescribed calcium and vitamin D supplements to help with my osteoarthritis. I then had an appointment with a GP who offered injections to my knees to help with the pain. I was also booked in for X rays and a DEXA scan to test bone density. I was then diagnosed with thinning of the bones and follow up appointment with the same GP who gave me exercises to strengthen my knees. All this was a follow up to breaking my wrist in February. The practitioner nurse was great and didn't mess around. I thought at last someone I could trust. Unfortunately she retired the following day. Following on from that I had an asthma review with the asthma ( ? ) nurse who asked questions and then proceeded to talk over me while I was trying to reply. She then tried to get me to change my medication which I didn't want to do since I had no side effects with my present medication which I had experienced in the past with attempts to change medication. She then took my blood pressure which was sky high by this time And I thought oh oh, back to square one. I am happy that I have found a GP who comes up with solutions and follow ups, but yet again I seem to have an asthma nurse who doesn't seem to be fully aware of the effects her actions and words have on an asthma sufferer. I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and feedback and apologise for not replying sooner, and also for the length of this post

[Patk1]

Xx

[Phoenix1992]

I feel asthma nurses are less qualified than they were a few years ago. The one I used to have was a nurse practitioner and a Sister in the practice. She understood my asthma's quirkyness and I felt it was 2 way conversation. Now they seem to have tick boxes with scripted questions and little understanding of someone living with it or maybe on different medications to the bare minimum. They struggle to go off script.

[Anniecath in reply to Phoenix1992]

Hi Phoenix1992, yes that's certainly my feeling. I couldn't avoid all triggers without living in a sealed bubble, and always getting a lecture about use of rescue inhaler. Clues in the name. I don't feel so isolated when I hear of other people having similar problems, thank you !

[Phoenix1992]

You're welcome. I agree, I feel less isolated also, reading other peoples' experiences. There are some great forums on this site! With lovely communities.