I have been taking the Seritide Inhaler for 6 months for the COPD But my GP has not asked me to go back for a check up.I now assume

[Bill76]

that i will have to take the Inhaler forever.Does any one know if this is a fact?

[pergola1]

I am on Seretide and other inhalers. I do see my GP as necessary, but have a periodic review with the respiratory nurse. I presume that I will be on my inhalers forever since the condition wont disappear but it has become a habit with me.

You need to look out for chest infections, Bill. If you are getting them, ask for a rescue pack. You need to discuss any other problems you have. I hope you aren't smoking. OMG reading this, I sound like a schoolmarm or a nurse!!!

[Hidden]

You should have annual respiratory checks, either at the hospital or through the respiratory clinic at your GP surgery. Check with the BLF helpline next week about this, click on the red balloon top right for contact details.

While the inhaler works for you its likely you will stay on it indefinitely until your doctor advises otherwise, or if you find after time that the medicine is no longer helping you, but this is something you can check with your doctor next time you see him/her. Also ask your doctor for a referral to a pulmonary rehabilitation course if you've not already attended one, this will help you understand and manage your symptoms and be aware of the things that will help you keep your condition stable and slow down the progress of COPD

PR videos :

healthunlocked.com/blf/post...

With my own GP surgery I sometimes get a note put on the repeat prescription to make an appointment for my annual lung check. The hospital usually send me a letter asking me to attend the chest clinic. But there is no reason why you can't make an appointment with your own doctor, by phone or in person to ask questions you are unsure about.

The pdf download from the page below may give you an idea on things:

blf.org.uk/Publication/Deta...

Best wishes BC

[Offcut]

I have been on Seretide for about 3 years and I have a review every 6 months for all my drugs to get them reinstated. However It was not until I demanded tests that they did a spirometry and I am now seeing specialist and having tests. My practice had decided all my breathing problems are because of my heart problems?

[tomc]

Hi Bill76.

15 years ago I was diagnosed with asthma And was given inhalers, I saw the practice nurse twice a year for check ups which generally were to see I was using the inhalers properly and doing there thing.

4 Years ago I had a really bad exasperation and was carted off to hospital which after discharge meant tests started as I was not improving.

After months of going back and forth to various tests I was getting really fed up of not getting answers or seeing any improvement, I was blacking out couldn't breath lethargic and becoming intolerable to live with.

Last January, I stopped breathing in any meaningful way and was carted to hospital on blues & two`s.

I spent two weeks on my back and eventually told "we don't think it`s asthma but you have Asthma, Bronchiectasis and scarred lung.

I was totally shocked and scared..

So now I have to take two inhalers ABs of all sorts on a regular basis steroids ( when required ) and I see the hospital once a year and practice nurse and doctor regularly.

I actually feel a lot better both in mind and in body. In mind because I have the safety net of the medication and the support I need when I need it and even when I don't.

So having to take inhalers from now on is no bad thing and if you also have the support of the medics, the future is good.

If you are concerned about anything make an appointment with your doctor and don't be shy about asking questions, its your health and it is not covered by any secrets act that I am aware of other than confidentiality between "you and your" consultants.

All the best to you.

Tom.

[Hondabike3 in reply to tomc]

the trouble is doctors solicitors vets and dentists are all practicing, glad you made it through the miss diagnosis my friend. I went thru oh its hay fever nothing to worry about for two years you would think after all this practicing they would get a few more right huh ??

[tomc in reply to Hondabike3]

I think that in certain cases the practicing GPs just aren't qualified in any particular specialist way so a miss diagnosis at that level is more likely.

BUT A specialist consultant you would think should be able to make some kind of link as to the problem and take forward the necessary tests, scans and the like to get a fast result and quick effective treatment.

I am in no way as bad as some poor souls on this site and I thank god for that daily.

However that may not have been the case if it had not been for CT and a particularly persistent consultant.

They tried me on powder inhalers, but I got thrush of the mouth and blisters so they reverted to Serevent evohalers and now Seretide Evohalers,Which I have not had any reactions to.

I hope that you to will find the right inhaler and treatment it make a big difference to the quality of life.

Stay healthy.

Tom.

[Hondabike3]

hi I was on seretide twice daily x 2 puffs expected it to be for life now the specialist has taken me off seretide too much use can in some cases cause pneumonia in certain cases so now I am prescribed glycocopypyronium a capsule powder inhaler once daily for my moderate C O P D I have to admit I much preferred the seretide but hey lets see how the new one goes

steve

[peege]

Hi Bill, I too take Seretide. Having been diagnosed with asthma about 10 years ago I started on Becotide (brown one) it was changed to Symbicort at some point then to Seretide which works well for me.

After PR, I now know that I was inhaling all of them wrongly and I wonder if that didn't lead to the deterioration of my lungs.

There are different ways to take the different varieties so it's so imperative that they're properly used. Blooming minefield.

Right now I'm on Seretide 500 accuhaler (powdered capsules, very easy to take properly) 2 x daily. I'm allowed to taper it down to 250 then to 125 when I'm well in the warmer months which pleases me because I'd rather not have all those steroids in my system if at all possible. My blue one is Easi-Breathe.

I see respiratory nurse at GP practice 2 x annually.

I think you need to make an appointment with yours, take your inhalers along so she/he can check you're using them correctly and are on the right ones for you.

Hopefully you too will be able to have a low dose one too but as the point of them is to help keep your airways open . If you've had no infections in six months that's a good sign.

Take BCs advice and get yourself on Pulmonary Rehab , PR. You'll learn so much to improve your health, almost everyone here will tell you how amazing it is. Good luck

[Bill76 in reply to peege]

Thank you Friends for all your good advice Great Site