Copd review

[Jake25]

So I turned up at the surgery for my review today, and was told by a different receptionist it was meant to be over the phone. (FGS) anyway saw the copd nurse asked all the questions I wanted to ask. I asked how do they know it's emphysema and not anything else, she said the spirometry determines this. She has agreed to change my inhaler Anoro for Trimbow to see if there's a difference, because the Anoro didn't seem to be doing anything. She also said I wouldn't be seen by a respitory team unless I was admitted to hospital. I also asked if I could buy a nebulizer for when I get these bad exacerbations and she said they would not prescribe the medication for it. A respitory team would have to prescribe it. She just advised me to keep doing what I'm doing which is exercising daily now the I've stopped smoking, and to try loose a bit of weight by buying healthy snacks. So basically you won't get a consultant or see the respitory team unless you are really ill and get admitted to hospital.

[Hidden]

Your post made me rush to check that my COPD review appointment was face to face. The text says to take all my inhalers with me so that pretty much confirms that it is I suppose. Experience has taught me to put a in an extra repeat prescription request so that I have plenty to last me if they try to change anything. 😉 My old GP and the previous nurses have left and the new lot are sure to try a cost cutting exercise.

[Jake25 in reply to Hidden]

Hi DonI'm glad you have a face to face appointment, it's seems to be getting silly now, it's time the surgeries started opening up to see their patients. Any way when they told me it was meant to be over the phone I said..... Well I'm here now 😁

[Alberta56 in reply to Jake25]

Good for you. It obviously worked.

[Bevvy]

It might be worth speaking to your gp about a nebuliser. It was my gp suggestion that I purchased a nebuliser and subsequently was prescribed nebules for it. Not every gp will agree to prescribing nebules but worth asking as opposed to accepting what the nurse has said.Also do you have a rescue pack - antibiotics and steroids for use in emergency when you can’t get an appointment with gp. Especially useful these days when it is getting harder and harder to speak to a gp never mind actually see a gp!!

[Jake25 in reply to Bevvy]

Hi bevvyYes I do have the rescue pack. I was explaining to her how ill I was last November, I had a really bad infection / pneumonia but didn't want to go to hospital because of covid. But apparently I'm way not ready for a nebulizer but will ask the GP if I ever get to see him lol 😊

[primrose71]

Hi Jake I just recently got a nebuliser you Doc needs to refer you to hospital to get one here in Scotland anyway or nurse when I got an appointment to go to hospital for a trial said I had bought one but she said they would not repair mine if it broke better to use theirs didn’t work very well first week phoned them said to talk to my Doc told him when you go to hospital with chest infection which I have just now it lasts 20 minutes but only getting 2.5 mg lasts 10 minutes so he gave me 2.5 mg saline to mix with it and is helping now spoke to other Docs before I finally got nebuliser some said it not any better than blue salbutamol another one said some Docs now not keen to give them don’t know why take care.

[Jake25 in reply to primrose71]

Hi primroseThank you for your reply.

[ninelives in reply to primrose71]

Hi there.My nebuliser was prescribed by hospital.

You are correct that some doctors say the ventolin inhaler attached to a spacer does the same job as a nebuliser (am sure someone more knowledge able will be able to confirm this)

The reason the hospital gave me re reluctance to prescribe nebulisers was that folk can be lulled into a false sense of security and may not realise they are deteriorating .Wonder if it's really a cost issue as well as clinical decision.

[primrose71 in reply to ninelives]

Thanks ninelives maybe you are right and could be the cost .

[ck101]

Jake I see from earlier posts you were on Trelegy, did you find it any good.

[Jake25 in reply to ck101]

Hi ckI used Trelegy for a month but noticed I was having bladder issues with it, on a few occasions I nearly didn't make it to the loo. But everyone is different I'm hoping this trimbow helps with the breathlessness.

[maggiewhiteley]

I believe it is xray or ct scan that confirms emphysema not spirometry, And you can ask to be referred to a rehab team. Stay well

A respiratory. Nurse can prescribe nebuliser if needed, but like oxygen will not supply unless needed

Maggie x

[Jake25 in reply to maggiewhiteley]

Hi MaggieThanks for your reply. I think what she meant was the spirometry determines copd. They don't offer you a scan just because you have COPD. I have had xray which just showed lung scaring. She said I was no way on needing a nebulizer as my copd is only moderate, even if I bought it myself they would not prescribe any meds for it. I did ask about rehab but its only via zoom, and I would prefer doing it face to face. For now I an walking around my local park daily, but not looking forward to the winter months. 😊

[maggiewhiteley in reply to Jake25]

Sorry, you mentioned emphysema in your post.

[katieoxo60]

Thanks for info