I live in North Wales and our waiting lists are crazy.
has any one else found that they need... - Lung Conditions C...
has any one else found that they needed to wait six months to see a hospital doctor before they go on to a 12/18 month wait for a COPD group
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mishawaka
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I also live in North Wales and was told the waiting list was 9 months. I have had a severe cough since the end of 2012 (I put my back out coughing a few weeks ago!). In the end I paid to see a consultant privately. So much for the "if you have had a cough for more than three weeks....." adverts on TV. My GP surgery has diagnosed COPD. I have had endless courses of antibiotics and a couple of courses of steroids. Nothing has helped. My X ray has shown nothing significant so am now awaiting a CT scan. It's a worry.
I think you will find that the TV Advert say's if you have a cough for 3 weeks or more is to see your Doctor (GP) not an hospital Doctor. Sorry for this because no one as called our Drs more than me. I am being told that this comment box looks to be empty so I will stop now. However if everything is alright I will add some more. PLEASE take care
I waited three months for an urgent appointment request to see a chest physician and after the initial appointment am on the waiting list to join the bronchiectasis clinic - another three months so far. (Salford area)
do you have a respiratory nurse at your GP practice? I realise things work differently in different regions.
My practice's nurse put me up for Pulmonary Rehab not the GPs. She also did the pneumonia jab and pushes for other things like bone density checks. peeg
Hi Mishawaka, this wait is really shocking. So much for preventative healthcare - It's disgraceful for you to have to wait up to two years during which deterioration will happen.
I'm assuming you mean a pulmonary rehab group (exercise for people with lung disease, mostly COPD).
If so, I would suggest phoning the blf helpline and discussing this. If you talked to them about exercise which could be suitable for you, and you then talked to your GP and got cleared by her/him to do them - then you could get a head start. You need to be exercising at the level which is right for you in order to do as much as possible to stabilise the condition - just walking is great exercise even if you have to start by doing just one minute! Doing exercise with a friend helps keep you motivated. Do get in touch with the blf - they are truly brilliant, kind and full of helpful ideas.
Good luck and best wishes, jean
The wait some of you mention is shocking. However, if you have had an X-ray and then been diagnosed with COPD by your GP there really is not a lot a consultant can add to the equation. Fortunately --- and unfortunately-- COPD is so common that there is a well codified standard of practice. My husband was able to attend Breath Easy sessions and got lots of specialist attention years before the GP actually referred him to a consultant. He only saw the consultant because his COPD had become extremely bad and so was his overall health. (Why? He ignored all the help offered, did no pulmonary exercise and continued to smoke.)
The problem is AbbyRudi that GPs often misdiagnose lung complaints and many people with COPD are diagnosed correctly only after years of being treated for asthma. In fact, a member was on here recently saying his GP had dismissed his back pain for years and yet he had just been diagnosed as having cancer of the spine. now inoperable because of the delay. This is why I always recommend asking to see a consultant as soon as is possible for the diagnosis to be confirmed. Another reason is that the consultants specialise, and so are much more likely to know of all the latest research, medications and treatments.
i think its shocking c.o.p.d. is a progressive illness and it saddens me to see people having to wait so long to see a specialist its high time this dam government got off there greedy backsides and put c.o.p.d. has a priority illness instead of pussy footing around and putting things like new trains and such a priority.
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