Hi everyone
My husband was diagnosed with c.o.p.d about six years ago he is now down to a lung function of 52% well that was the reading last year, he has not seen gp since diagnosis and the yearly check up is done by nurse in surgery who is not a respiratory nurse he is only on Seebri because a nurse at rehabilitation recommended it my question is should he be seeing a consultant by now and are we right to request an appointment
Hello lynisa48. I would say that your husband is way overdue for seeing a consultant and that with his function down to 52% his surgery are very remiss in not having referred him. Worse for no GP or qualified respiratory nurse to be regularly checking on him is dereliction of duty. Your husband needs the lung function tests which can only be done in hospital clinics and a consultant’s advice on management and drug therapy. It is his right so gird up your loins, get in to the GP and insist! Good luck.
I agree with LP - good to see you here again Littlepom 
Hi O2 trees. It is nice to be reading the replies from my old friends on here and hopefully being able to help some people a little. I was very sorry to lose Billiejean but seeing others hanging on in there is very uplifting.
Yes, RIP the wonderful BillieJean - irreplaceable.
She sure was and has left such a huge gap. x
Thank you so much now I have to convince him lol
I agree with the others. I am in the same boat as your husband but my lung function is around 20 points higher. I only ever see a nurse once a year and that's it. My doctors even refuse to talk about my copd as they 'haven't got time' and 'The nurse knows more than we do anyway' etc. I was told originally that they only refer to a consultant if they can no longer handle your care, so I never expect to see one. In fact when I asked the doctor got annoyed with me claiming I would just see one of his minions and would be humiliated and they would be angry at my surgery for referring me!
I think us lungies should automatically be referred to a consultant the way cancer and heart problem cases are but we are definitely the poor relations despite the huge numbers who have lung disease and all those who die from it.
I hope your husband succeeds in getting to see a consultant. x
Yes defo x
Hi lynisa48 I am in the same boat, I was diagnosed 11 years ago and i am at 32% and I have never seen a lung specialist, I just have my yearly check up with one of the practice nurses. I have seen my GP three times since I was diagnosed. It does make you wonder if we are being taken seriously, this is the 3rd highest killer behind heart disease and cancer. Surely it is about time that we got better treatment than we are getting
Definitely see a consultant , as COPD needs X-rays to see how the lungs are coping , lung function tests , and it can have an impact on the body , it needs monitoring .
Get that Gp to do his job it is your right to request a referral .
I done a pulunary rehab coarse and that is how I got under the wing of the respiratory team.
I am already under consultant, but by asking to do coarse it might be a back door way of edging away from your gp care.
It looks like a rehab course is the way to go without incurring the wrath of the GP. It would seem perfectly reasonable to be put on a pulmonary rehab course.
Hi Lynisa
Appointment with consultant is well overdue I would say.
Let us know how you are getting on 😊
Thank you for your advise hubby had agreed to see gp so will let you know what happens I have told him I will request a private consultation as the lady result it seems like your saying you have this condition it’s not going to get better so go away and don’t bother us it’s your fault anyway x
These days folk only seem to be referred to a consultant for an acute problem.
I was discharge from outpatients 2 years ago, although I do have direct referral to the Community Respiratory Team if I need it and an annual check with COPD nurse.
Gp is also there if I need him.
So a consultants opinion is not always necessary. Why not discuss with the GP who will need to do such a referral anyway.
PollyP
Hi kittiecat here my copd nurse is useless we are just given inhalers and sent home I donto think that is good enough whenever I ask for something breathing machine and trials nothing stemc ell I'm told is years away I'm 58 and have empyhsemia now something wrong with my chest had a exam by doctor who hurt my chest so been in pain nearly 2 weeks now being fast tracked to breaSt general surgical dept eek now scared
it is a pity your GP has not referred you to a consultant or a RESP team who would look out for your husband. Mean while good luck in all you do and never give up.
Dan
Thank you will keep fighting in his corner no matter what x
After a long period of having one chest infection after another, I asked to see a consultant privately. I got an appointment within two weeks and he immediately transferred me to his NHS list. A great result! He changed my inhalers and put me on another med and I've been greatly improved since. I see him once a year now. Could this be worth trying?
Yes have already decided that private is an option if gp won’t refer
Can one take the private option without a referral fron GP?
Of course should be seing a pulmonary consultant. have scans and a plan of treatment.
I only got referred to a respiratory physician because I had an episode with blood in my sputum and 3 infections in 4 months. I had been asking for a referral and ct scan so I would know my exact problem / diagnosis/ level for 3 years. It seems to me that referral is not automatic with many surgeries but just when things get bad. But now I’ve seen the lung man I have another check up soon. My level started off @56% and now thanks to the right inhalers etc is around 70%. So good luck in getting the right help.
This is about the level at which your husband might start to get symptoms - I was diagnosed with 50% lung function after a series of incessant winter colds, some tight chestiness and excessive mucous. All this is treatable (though not curable) and might be partially reversible if there is an asthma component (as in my case, and spirometry will be needed to verify this). My consultants have been keen that I take corticosteroid and beta-agonist dual inhalers, and I have to say that the chest tightness has been better and the colds less frequent (though the mucous is a nuisance when I do have a cold). The presumption is that treatment does reduce the speed at which the lungs deteriorate, which can only be a good thing.
Hello lynisa48,
COPD is a very serious disease. Your husband has got to be regularly supervised by a pulmonary specialist, and soon.
Hello lynisia,
COPD is a very serious disease. Your husband has got to be regularly supervised by a pulmonary specialist, and soon.
Just sent a new post got appointment with nurse practitioner not doctor but will see what she had to say
I tried asking for a referal to see a specialist and it was refused. I felt so ill that even though it is against everything I believe in I went to see one privately.
Within 40 mins he had examined me organised a chest X-ray carried out a spirometer test and blood tests. He changed my medication and one week later I feel so well that I have booked a holiday for later in the year.
It is so sad that the NHS treat us this way. Beginning to think it is an ageist thing.
So go ahead and ask they can only say no - good luck
Hi I did post an update today saying we have got a referral but was not sure if you lovely people had seen it thank you all again just goes to show being pushy seems to work although it should not be the case Lyn
new consultant 
consultant today
Consultant appointment 
update on doctors request 
