What can we expect

Hi I am not sure if anyone has seen my previous messages, my Husband is finally seeing a respiratory consultant 7 months after a lung problem was mentioned . At the time was being treated for heart failure and atrial fibrillation . Two weeks ago our cardiac consultant asked what our respiratory consultant thought, we hadn't had one !.So basically now we are seeing someone next week, as it is a first lung appt ,what can we expect, I am not expecting great news as apparently calcification shows on heart and lungs. Thanks xx

[Jaybird19]

Sorryy to hear this , but typical i find

good luck for the appointment .

[Hidden in reply to Jaybird19]

Thank you,we seem to have waited so long, initially I was glad we were being seen , now I am terrified that the outcome will be worse than the HF and AF x

[Jaybird19 in reply to Hidden]

They do not seem to know what else is happening. surely the record is there on your notes . I always say whatever else is happening in my life but never know how much info they have ! So tell them. Make notes and tell them . Ask how one might affect another

Different hospitals have different patient numbers .If so take those as well, just in case.

With visits to two main hospitals and two local hospitals for different health problems and physio at local treatment centre I am collecting a very large file .! Got another hosp coming up next month . I will need another file!

Try not to worry.

[Hidden in reply to Jaybird19]

Hi thank you for the reply, you are right about the files, our file is building up already. Thank you for the advice regarding 2 hospitals 2 numbers, I hadn't thought of this at all. Best of luck for your next appointment x

ps. trying to keep calm. xxx

[Jaybird19 in reply to Hidden]

You will keep calm simply because if there is someone depending on you it just happens. You also find it easier to remember what is said then too. You have managed so far , havent you. People are thinking of you. Good luck

Today i am stiff because went to pulmonary rehab and spent too long on treadmill !

And this is voluntary !

[Hidden in reply to Jaybird19]

Bless you,well done with the exercise , my Husband finds it difficult as he is so breathless , hopefully this can be improved xx keep up the good work

[Hidden in reply to Jaybird19]

Thank you . Hope that you are well today x

[wheezyof]

Make a list of questions you would like answers to. Take it with you. Keep it handy and if the consultant has not covered the questions during the first few minutes whip it out and start asking.

Not sure what to ask? Look on the British Lung Foundation website and browse around to get some ideas.

Best of luck x

[Hidden in reply to wheezyof]

thank you , do they do tests ?, not sure if they will discuss keeping him in , he is quite fearful of hospital. The heart failure , lung problems have come as a huge shock, prior to this he had only taken lemsip , paracetamol on rare occasions

[wheezyof in reply to Hidden]

Normally tests are on a different day to your consultant's appointment but he may ask for blood samples or xrays to be taken the same day. This has only happened to me once though.

[Hidden in reply to wheezyof]

I wasn't sure if they would use his existing ct ,mri , chest xray , etc, despite it being a different hospital. If they don't do test on the day ,what do they do?. As this has taken so long after an urgent referral , I was hoping for something positive . Thanks for your reply x

[wheezyof in reply to Hidden]

If all the tests are done fairly recently the consultant will certainly take account of them. Hopefully he will spend the time explaining the results, the type of treatment needed, possibly listen to the chest on the day and answer your questions.

If you go armed with your list of questions you should get the answers.

Most consultants are pretty good at giving you information but of course they don't like to overload you or seem patronising by stating the obvious. That's where problems arise, if the consultant is just meeting you he won't know how much you already know or how much you want to know.

I like to be fully informed but I am sure some people prefer not to be told everything, just be given their medication.

[Hidden in reply to wheezyof]

Hello too true regarding the need to know, not sure if my Husband will cope if the news isn't good, or me for that matter. The test were all done in August 2019 . Thank you for the reply x

[ssafa in reply to wheezyof]

I think this is great advice as things can be missed and you come away thinking why didn't I ask that. Its helpful if you both go as what one misses the other remembers. If you don't know what something means then ask again. I have always asked for any copy of letters sent to my GP to be sent to me as well. Our new practice gives accessibility to computer records for your own treatment and test results, Take care and try not to worry, not easy we all know that but try. Good luck

[Hidden in reply to ssafa]

Thank you so much for your wise reply , will let you know how it goes xx ps, hope this message finds you well xx

[Oshgosh]

WRT your questions down , leave spaces to write answers.

I always take the type of pen that clips to my top,as otherwise I lose pen in my stressed state.i hope you get some information

[Oshgosh in reply to Oshgosh]

I quite often find that the Dr covers stuff I want to know. If they do I cross them of as I go along.

Then when they ask “ is there anything else,I can ask the remaining questions.

It’s really hard ,but you have to be able to write stuff down ,so that you can look over it when you get home.

When I was first referred to the Specialist unit,the first thing the lead consultant said to me was “ you won’t get better,but we may be able to relieve your symptoms.” I don’t know how,but I asked loads of questions and wrote the answers down.

Am thinking about you

[Hidden in reply to Oshgosh]

thank you for the reply, that must of been a very difficult time for you , I hope we can be as brave , we both realise he will never be the person he was, just hope that he can live an improved life x

[Hidden]

Thank you for the advice,am feeling stunned at the moment,as my Husband has been treated for heart failure , didn't think about the lungs,presumed breathlessness was due to this x

[HungryHufflepuff]

Thinking of you and your husband, and hoping the appointment goes well 🤞

[Hidden in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

Thank you so much, hope this message finds you well x

[anng18]

Hi,

I had a spirometer test done before I saw the consultant, but this did vary from one visit to the next. There is a very simple bit of equipment they may use, which your husband would just have to blow into.

Yes , there is a big link between heart and lungs.

Good luck and let us know how you and your husband get on.

[Hidden in reply to anng18]

Hi thanks for the reply I am going to look up spirometry. Will let you know how it goes x

[Mooka]

Whenever I have been referred to another specialist I have been bombarded with questions. They have asked about what illnesses I have had, how my current problems started and illnesses within the family. Perhaps be prepared for that. Expect questions about how far your husband can walk. He will probably have blood tests and maybe allergy tests. As others have said take your list of questions. Your husband is lucky to have you to go along and be his second pair of ears too. I hope you get good news.

[Hidden in reply to Mooka]

Thank you for the reply, I am sure there will be lots of questions, I feel angry on his behalf that the lung issue is only being looked at now, really hoping for some good news. Hope this message finds you well x

[soulsaver]

If he hasn't had a spirometry, he may get one on the day.

If so he may need another appointment to see the consultant.

[Hidden in reply to soulsaver]

Hello not even sure what spirometry is, will now look it up . Thanks for the reply

[Dedalus]

Good luck for your husband's consultation next week.

[Hidden in reply to Dedalus]

Thank you

[lKeith]

stvalentine-33

Hi, Many of us have had the appointment, it;s nothing to be worried,about,they will only ask pertinent questions, many of which you already have had, they probably will ask him to do the 6 min walk test taking a reading at both ends, walk up some steps and the like.

Readings are taken to see how the exercise has effected him and whether he needs to take things a little easier. They may also tell him not to expect to do all the things that he has in the past, life must go on in a more limited style.

He may also have to have some breathing tests, to judge where he is at.

Go to the tests with a positive note.

IKeith

[Hidden]

Thank you for the reply , his previous life is nowhere near comparable to the one he has now .Will let you know how it goes