Lungs and Heart

[anng18]

Hi Everyone,

I am looking for some advice. My mother has severe/very severe COPD and also has left sided heart failure. She has had a lot of short visits to hospital and it has now been suggested that her GP prescribes her some medication for her heart (anti-coagulant drugs), as she is so weak and breathless. Her short term memory has also become very bad in the last 6 weeks. Initially, I thought it was due to medication, but now I'm wondering if she has possibly had a minor stroke, as her Oxygen SATS never seem to be that bad 90-95.

I was also wondering if any of you have ever heard that someone with COPD is better to have oxygen Sats of between 88 and 92 - the nurse said it was something to do with blood gases exchange.

Any advice very welcome.

[Hidden]

Your mother needs to be referred to a respiratory consultant for her copd and a heart specialist for her heart. Ad hoc treatment when admitted to hospital and second guessing on your part is not going to help her. What on earth is her GP doing. This is dereliction of the duty of care towards her and neglect of her needs. Get in there and insist that she is treated properly by the experts

[anng18 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, littlepom. I will suggest that she is referred to those consultants you mentioned. If necessary, she can go private. It makes total sense, what you have said, as the heart and lungs and medication are all so complicated.

Thank you

[Hidden in reply to anng18]

I have been treated by an excellent NHS consultant for my lung condition at a big teaching hoital for over 30 years. I believe that they are better than private because they have more diagnosic equipment and the tests and treatments are soooo expensive privately.

Having failed to persuade my GP that I had developed a different type of breathlessness for 2 years I took myself to a private heart consultant in 2012. I had developed dilated cardiomyopathy and AF ! It is controlled with drugs and I pay for a check up every six months. Sometimes he checks with the echo cardiogram which costs a little more but it has proved worth it. Good luck for your Mum. She is entitled to this care on the NHS and her GP should get off bis backside and sort it.

[anng18 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you very much for your help.

I will discuss this with my mum and force hr GP to send her to the heart consultant.

[Whitechinchilla in reply to anng18]

You have had some great advice here and I cannot add anything of value as such but to say your mother is entitled to best care that she can get. I wish you well and your mother too, and she is blessed to have such a caring daughter.