Depression and copd

[Margie2553]

Not long been diagnosed with copd 5 months gave up smoking Straight away doing well till this week when at a appointment with respiratory nurse was accused of still smoking which i definitely am not the way she talked to me i felt like I'd been given a death sententece now feeling very depressed

[sassy59]

Hi Margie, try not to let such an unprofessional person get you down. You have done really well to quit smoking so just focus on that and keeping as well as you possibly can.

Good wishes to you xxxx

[Margie2553 in reply to sassy59]

Thank you x

[Hidden]

Hi Margie,

What a stupid unprofessional woman to treat you like that. Just when you need advice, support and a massive pat on the back for managing to give up smoking. Please report her to the surgery practice manager. Also the Patient Participarion Groups at l surgeries are being asked to suggest ways in which the parients can benefit from better methodsn their practice. You can get in touch with them through your practice website. Suggest that they test for smoking using the mouth swab which private insurers use to confirm non smoking status. It costs pennies, can be patient concensual and leave no cause for doubt.

Meanwhile you will get lots of sensible and kind support and advice from the folks on here.

[2greys in reply to Hidden]

All that really matters is that you have stopped smoking and don't slip back into it. She obviously does not have a clue as to who has or hasn't stopped, very unprofessional of her. If she knew her job, she would know that having a chronic disease can lead to depression and not to promote it with such outrageous statements.

COPD is not a death sentence at all as many here will testify to. There is a lot you can do for yourself to improve your symptoms and condition. Keep chasing them up to refer you for Pulmonary Rehabilitation, it is there that you will learn how to manage your condition with exercise, diet, how to use the different types of inhalers correctly, mucus clearance, breathing exercises and how to recognise the start of a flare-up and begin your emergency pack.

There is always a shoulder to lean on here in this forum and to reassure you.

[Margie2553 in reply to 2greys]

I'm on the waiting list for rehabilitation she made it sound like a death sentence nice to know there are people who care

[Margie2553 in reply to 2greys]

Your ost was helpful to me as soon as she said do you realise how bad it is I've felt so depressed the opposite to what i am I've pulled myself back from cancer and kidney failure this time it's different like there's no hope am really struggling with this

[Margie2553 in reply to Hidden]

It wasn't going it was hospital

[Hidden]

If you know your not then you should not feel bad and if you are it's your choice ...some ppl in the profession need to check in with themselves don't get depressed over a stupid comments from someone who should know better than that xxx

[Margie2553 in reply to Hidden]

I wasn't smoking she said she smelt smoke and accused me i said my hubby just had one in the car which I've stopped i told her if i was I'd only be fooling myself i stopped like people have said i know i haven't

[Inamoment in reply to Margie2553]

So she could smell smoke. You do realise if you are in a car with someone who is smoking then you are smoking too?

[Hidden]

And I will add he or she is a total muppet 😀😀

[Time_2_drink]

What a horrid person how dare they speak to you like this needs reporting

[Margie2553 in reply to Time_2_drink]

My consultant is brilliant but she's set me back

[Time_2_drink in reply to Margie2553]

People like her we could do without glad you got good consultant i been on oxygen since december struggling and haven't seen consultant yet

[Pantani]

When I was first diagnosed with COPD, and was trying to quit smoking I received support and no hint of condemnation from my respiratory nurse. Yours sounds very unsympathetic.

[Margie2553 in reply to Pantani]

I was supposed to go for breathing test first but only had one letter went on time to lung unit she came through said what are you doing here we are waiting for you tried to explain only one letter then it just got worse and I've been on rescue pack since

[Nottobad]

Please don't get upset by the nurses unprofessional attitude. You are doing the right thing please don't let it get to you so much. I once had a consultant go on at me so much he had me in tears. You know you don't smoke. So try to forget about it. I know for a fact that at least two people in my GP's surgery smoke and one has asthma. Take care xx

[Margie2553 in reply to Nottobad]

Thank you

[Carnival567]

Sounds like my nurse last Thursday. I definitely don't know where I am with her. The first time I saw her she did an earlobe ABG test and said I couldn't have oxygen because my gases were ok, and then sent not very helpful report to GP. Second time I saw her she was completely different and we had a good chat. That was just after I had been dxd with obliterative bronchiolitis as well and she was fine. Then Thursday she was horrible, told me what in fact was an untruth and sent me out in tears. This after reading a letter saying I was a complex patient therapeutically difficult to manage. Same thing with ABG earlobe test , told me I was ok no oxygen, and yet consultant wants me tested for ambulatory oxygen. Why do they have to be so awkward especially when depression is recognised as a consequence of serious illness? This attitude makes things worse.

[Margie2553 in reply to Carnival567]

I know most nurses and docs are very good i did have a bad experience with a breast cancer nurse who told me the day after my mastectomy "you no Margaret all your friends are going to cross the road when they see you now" i said excuse me i don't have friends like that she was sent for retraining i coped with that one this one not so easy i shall be prepared next time xx

[Watfordgirl]

My first respiratory nurse was like that, Margie. Tried to get me to buy a nebuliser - I still don't use one. Rude about my weight and why wasn't I eating. And so on.

It is depressing having to come to terms with your diagnosis and all it entails, but as far as that nurse goes you should be feeling angry, not depressed. She has no right to speak to you like that and, believe it or not, it's not within her power to deliver a death sentence.

Prove her wrong. Think about making a complaint. Be well, Sue x

[Margie2553]

I am angry everyone who knows me says I'm the most honest person i just found it insulting if she had asked me first if there was a smoker around me instead of jumping in she already showed me up saying I'd not turned up for the first appointment but i only had one letter as far as she was concerned i was a liar know i have a lot of medical conditions and since otc have had 9 hospital appointments and 12 go appointments and never missed one I'm not keen on seeing her again but i think my GP is taking over my care soon

[Nottobad]

Hi margie if she smelt smoke from you she would think you were smoking. But you saying you don't that should be the end of it. You are aware that if your husband smokes around you that will affect you. People with COPD, should stay away from people who smoke and smokie places.

[Inamoment in reply to Nottobad]

It's will affect you not could. And if you smell of smoke you have been inhaling cigarette smoke.

[Nottobad in reply to Inamoment]

Thanks I have corrected it .

[Margie2553 in reply to Inamoment]

I know he's very stubborn but he's stopped now

[Margie2553 in reply to Nottobad]

It was only in the car but he doesn't know hes seen the problems it caused me

[Six1]

Margie2553 That's the first step to take in living with copd quitting👍They can tell if u around someone who smokes it's in the fiber on. their clothes it will trigger u depression comes along with it don't let it get u down stick with these great people on this site I've learned so much u came to the right place Hold your head up focus on all the things u have to live for I'm 49yrs old I have a 29yr old daughter and a,26yr,oldson a 9yr old grandson Worth fighting for 👊

[y_not]

HI Margie2553, I saw my GP a couple of weeks ago - he asked if I still smoke (stopped 5 years ago). When I said No, he asked when I last had one, was I around others who smoke and had someone smoked in the car.

The answers were 5 years ago, no (and I complain when I run the hospital entrance gauntlet of smokers) and my wife gave up 2 years ago so no to the car.

First time anyone has been so probing - I still don't know why but, I guess he was just doing his job ... at the end he did say "Good, I won't have to give you the stop smoking lecture then!!" so maybe he believed but, in truth, I don't care because I know the truth ... which is what I answered.

Either ignore the ignoramus or take her on by asking "What is the complaints procedure, I'd like a written copy, please" - that usually shuts them up! And the reality is that you've stopped so, well done!

[O2Trees]

Yes, well done Margie. I despair of these people and great idea asking for complaints procedure protocol. I'll remember that though Im lucky my health people are pretty great.

Have faith in yourself and don't let them grind you down - you deserve better. And make sure that husband of yours understands what he is doing to you if he smokes next to you.

[Clamdigger]

She should be reported I had really bad one for a while I won't see here. She kept blaming me for falling sick ... Some people are not nice there nasty and there in the medical field but me I report them. We are sick we should be treated with respect . I got rid of mine see some one else and report her......Plus tell your Dr if you don't want to see her again and tell him or her how she made you feel.... She could be treating every one like this... I was treated badly buy the Asthma Dr for being over weight never went back its the drugs they put you on made me hungry all the time . Lost over eighty pounds still have more to go and still get treated badly for it.. Stick up for yourself don't let any one beat you down. It is a reflection of them not you.

[Andreajolly]

So sorry to hear how you where spoken too I would have got up and walked out have auburn hair go back to yr surgery ask to see yr doctor and get to see another nurse it's obviously the one you saw is crap at her job .....hold your head up high for stopping smoking as some friends of mine have copd and still smoke. These nurses are here to pick you up not knock you down but there is a nurse at my surgery which I would never go see heard horror stories lol .... excellent group here to pick you right back up.... Andrea x

[Hopeymon123]

Try not to take it on board still a lot of judgements around about smoking just keep it up however hard it is

[webar4780]

As a retired nurse and now a patient, I am so sorry for your experience. I was once in a job that I considered vocational and caring.

I had no idea how many patients are being treated by some very, very insensitive practitioners.

I do now!

I have ranted on the thyroid community, just this morning, over a very similar experience. Take a look.

Another arrogant, self centred, opinionated practitioner displayed his personal failings, (and being in such a privileged role), he thinks he is all powerful and right!

Please don't get down about that individual. You know the truth. But even if you have, do, or did smoke, that is your right and your choice.

Practitioners need to remember they are facilitators working in partnership with patients.

The role of medical practitioners does not entitle them to dictatorship.

First duty of care... do no harm!

I am ashamed to think I was associated to such a profession, hearing and experiencing, how people are treated sometimes has left me very disillusioned with the nhs. Forget about the future, we need and deserve respect from practitioners, now!

Health unlocked friends offer more support, understanding and advice (often, very well researched, up to date advice), than we will likely find in the modern nhs.

Hope you feel well soon.

[Kasmic_8]

I'm in a respiratory ward , have been since Hogmanay, the nurses don't have a clue even about which nebuliser I should have first, they pick up a lot of bad habits. Next time you see her tell her you were upset at the way she spoke to you and that you were a liar , so much for the caring profession, chin up , unless they have copd they do not have a clue, take care