Had my yearly copd review with the practice nurse. Waste of time me taking time out from my work and driving to doctors and back.
Went in and sat down, she said how can I help, I said you sent me a letter for my yearly review, oh yes how are you doing, you look well, are you on any inhalers, I said no, good she said, let me take your blood pressure and weight, all fine she said, you must be doing things right, I will give you the flu jag, ouch right into my old BCG jag wound lol not. In and out in 5mns, nothing about smoking, diet. Exercise, emphysema, health and well being ect.
Just thought I'd get a bit more conversation going about my condition and maybe some hints n tips and advice. She dint have the time.
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1968
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Omg! That doesn't sound very good! I think - from looking at your previous posts that your FEV is quite good? I hope so, cos they weren't for checking you out any more! Like you say - bit of a waste of time coming out of work. O well - I think as long as you stay away from your ladders you'll be okay for a bit longer ha ha ha all the best x piggi
🚑🚑🚑lol that's another thing, I'm at my main doctors on Wednesday, I still don't have full mobility on my right arm-shoulder, don't mention the ladders lol😭😭😭
My advice would be to ask for a referral to see a consultant at your local hospital.
At my docs you get 30min appointment for your yearly check x
Yes you do at mine too. No matter how busy they are they should be doing the proper checks ie checking you are taking your inhalers correctly, checking your weight, doing at least a peak and flow test or a spirometry, asking how you are feeling, and talking about smoking. I would put a complaint in to your practice manager.
The NICE guidelines state what should be done at your review so have a google. x
I had always been happy with my old gp practice but recently relocated so new practice and 1st review was 30 mins and very thorough. I was given leaflets BLF ones, a rescue prescription for doxicycliclyn not the usual amoxicillin (which doesn't work for me) a nice plastic folder. Oh and a chart to record my results.
And a mini lecture about how serious my condition is. She obviously didn't see my results from when I was first diagnosed - they were bad.
So maybe consider another practice?
Keep an eye on your condition and be assertive.
Take care SK
She mentioned pulmonary rehab but as I am usually very active we agreed it might not be suitable at the moment.
I have not had a follow up from my gp practice since I had a spirometry test there in 2012. It may well be that they do not think I need it, as I am in hospital with one thing or anther at various time of the year. They did call me in to ask how I had so many blood tests done as they do not like doing that many in the practice? Then got stroppy when I told them it was A&E that did them as they are worried about my lung and heart problems and my low O2? Which until my last admittance to A&E they admitted I had a crap infection on crap lungs!
[i,ll speak of this as if it wasn't you David ! hope you don't mind ]
"It sounds as though you are "fairly" mild, off course only proper tests would prove or disprove this, as i'm no doctor."
"But lets just say for the sake of argument you were,, "fairly mild "
Surely to heck, this would be the right and proper time to explain all things like diet ,smoking, exercise, even change of lifestyle , all about inhalers, more importantly about any progression, and how you could help yourself, and much much more, i would say one of the most important times of all,
The old adage comes to mind "a stitch in time saves nine "
I'm afraid this just beats me, makes me very angry at times,
when like this they do absolutely nothing,,,,,but just say, next please,, to the next patient,
Then the fellow or lady a few years later , cannot walk, breath, on oxygen 24,7 lives his,her whole life, living copd,,takes full control of their lives, and worse,,, and for the money mongers government , moan how much copd costs,,,bahh it beats me entirely "
Anyway David i think your last sentence says it all, sorry to rant on my friend, but feel sure you'll understand me,,
I'm doing fine pal, I had taken control of my situation since being diagnosed, no help or advice from doctors apart from stop smoking. I don't drink and always did keep care of myself, my down fall was smoking, anyway, I exercise every day, joined a gym, changed my diet, researched bullous emphysema and just keep doing what I'm doing. No doctor has ever given me in depth advice about diet-exercise-lung exercise etc, I've done it on my own and help from you guys on here, just wish the doc or nurse would give me advice-guidance apart from see you in 20 years if your condition progresses, I'm a strong believer in prevention better than cure, advice in everything and I need to keep myself fit going into oldmage, only 47 just now but I'm looking at the future 😁😁😁
I've never been told anything by them. I'm doing OK keeping up the good fight. All I need is the help support and advice from yous on here.
Hello 1968,
I really thought most of your letter had been written by me. copd nurses don't have time - and that is when mistakes start to happen - I never even made an appointment for my last year's review. My first nurse who diagnosed me was brilliant, the second not so, and the latest gave me the same reception " What can I do for you?" I'm going to take coughalot's advice and print it out. sigh.
Well, it's a lovely crisp morning. My dog is waiting for his walk, so you all have a good day.
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