I have seen all three and only know about this as you good people have talked about it being benefital to you.
I want to know is it only if you have severe copd that you are allowed to go on the course or can you go if you have emphasima as this is what i have also nodules on both lungs.
I do not want to ask my gp as when i have been to the surgery and i have seen a lot of gp's not one has ever talked about the subject.
My consultant does not want to see me anymore so whati am saying is this, that if it is consultant then i will never be sent on one,if it is the gp then i will now ask them about these courses and see what they say.
Thank you Lornadoon
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lornadoon
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Hi stone it was as i think i would not agree to go to a hospital for scan that was nearly forty miles away when my first scan was only a few miles away, we had a disagreement in the consulting room over this.
in the end he did get me in the hospital nearer to where i lived.
At the end of the consultation he told me that my gp would get the results and that he was discharging me.
Ignore any concerns about seeing him, you may even get a different consultant , I did, your main concern is your health and well being. Speak to your GP or another doctor in the same practice and ask are you suitable and can you be referred.
Ask your GP to refer you to another Respiratory Consultant at a hospital you prefer. Tell your GP (whoever one you get to see) that you request to attend Pulmonary Rehab - this is another reason for you to get a Respiratory Consultant you would be happy with.
My previous Consultant always discharged me following his treatment etc and left me in the care of my GP. This was ok for me as any problems that arose and my GP would just request the Consultant to see me again.
Good luck.
Dangirl1
Hi my husband has never had a consultant! And he is severe they prefer to use a specialist respiratory team but I had to ask the practise nurse to refer him to the team and they in turn referred him to pr. the go told us he was not ill enough to be referred! Good luck and my advise would be to persevere! Take good care T A D x x. Ps the blf helpline maybe able to offer advise on monday
Hi, i was referred by the nurse in my practice then i had to go to nearest hospital for a walking test i passed for the rehabilitation course after that i could pick to go to a maintenance class once a week been going for over a year now....got the first 3 months free then only £2-50 a week i enjoy it and think it helps, so i would as at your practice either nurse or Doc i live in Scotland so dont know if different where you are, take care.
Hi Lornadoon, It was my resp nurse who asked me if I like to do it. I was surprised and delighted because I'm mild - as far as I know.
The cons was a b......., my several GPs never mentioned it on visits over the last 3 years. Who know, perhaps I wouldn't have had such unwell periods and so soon if I'd gone before.
Anyway, it was great and when I thanked the physios for allowing a 'mild' in. They said the current thinking is to try to get people early. Good luck. P
BTW I refused to see my cons after the 2nd appt.I asked to see another one but the receptionists at the hosp said I couldn't but I could see one of his registrars. Best thing I did, the registrar was fantastic.
Lornadoon, the severity categorisation of COPD is extremely variable across
individuals. I am classed as severe, although I am fitter and more able than some
classified as moderate. In other words it is not the only measure.
Please don't take this the wrong way, but today we must all be more assertive with
both doctors and consultants when it comes to our medical needs, they all "understandably" put their budgets at the forefront of their thinking.
Not everyone, I appreciate, can do this. However you are obviously genuinely unwell and you must have the best available treatment. Unless there is an underlying medical problem that
is not clear, it is in the NHS's interest to offer you PR which I believe, will improve
most COPD people's life. In the nicest possible way, demand a place on the course.
Hi, I was in a similar situation to you and my practice COPD nurse didn't know what I meant by PR. She later admitted that the COPD check ups were a role given to her with very little training. I used the computer and found a Respiratory team in Derby and when I contacted them, they paid a visit and got me on the next course...very well worth it. I don't know where you live but the problem around here is that we may be taken into Nottinghamshire for treatment and to see consultants etc but they don't know what is happening in the next counties. Have a good route about on the internet and see what you can find for yourself....then next time you can tell your COPD nurse.
Hi all and thank you all for the advice it is much appreciated. The next time i have to go to see my gp i am going to ask them about these courses.
When i had been to the hospital i rang the blf and the lady i spoke to was really helpful she told me that i had to ask my gp to refer me to another hospital as you can now ask to go to a hospital of your own choice.
This i did i told the gp that i wanted to see another consultant at a different hospital.
After all i go to a different hospital for my SLE Lupus.
Once again thank you all for the advice and take care everyone.
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