Misdiagnosed with COPD

[Debs4]

Hi All

Just want to say to anyone who has been told they have COPD after an X-ray please don’t stress or worry too soon as I did.

The comments on my X-ray results were ‘Early signs of COPD.’ It was enough for me to think I had it because all my symptoms fit. I was told though that it could not be diagnosed from an X-ray, I would need a spirometry test. However, apparently this would takes months as there was such a backlog and then they were only going to do 1 at the end of the day on a Monday. Luckily for me, soon after this diagnosis, I was browsing in a natural healing centre and started a conversation with a lady who has emphysema. She said her GP surgery was doing testing as normal and had even arranged for her to have pulmonary physio. Turns out I could transfer to her surgery as I was just in the area. So I did, asap!

Long story short I had the test within two weeks and it was totally normal. The X-ray had been taken after Covid followed by a chest infection so what the radiographer had seen was probably from that.

Turned out the terrible coughing I’d been experiencing night and day for over 8 weeks was due to Candesartin BP medication. It gradually stopped within a week of my coming off them.

Just want to make people aware that there is hope if they can change surgeries. And if you are on BP medication and coughing make sure it’s not the drugs that is causing or exacerbating it. Ramipril also made me cough.

And finally, thank you to all those kind people who gave me help and advice!

[RoadRunner44]

Hi Debs, You have highlighted an extremely useful point! I had a cough for years and yes certain medication can cause a regular cough particularly some for blood pressure ones. My cough was supposedly due to the medication I was taking. According to my doctor it was an unfortunate side effect as I was taking some for high blood pressure. However, some years later I saw a other doctor who asked how long I had had the cough and decided to take a sputum sample and the result being I was referred to a consultant. After a scan I was finally diagnosed with bronchiectasis. The point I'm making is the importance of us not to accept an initial diagnosis as if the symptoms continue it could be something more serious. Many of us tend to still think our GP is always right but we only have one life and need to be more proactive where our health is concerned .

[Debs4 in reply to RoadRunner44]

Hi Roadrunner44

Thanks for your reply.

You are so right.

How are you managing with Bronchiectasis? I hope it is not too bad for you? My daughter who is 4o had a cough for ages and finally got referred to a Specialist who has diagnosed her with it. We’re hoping it can be managed?

[RoadRunner44 in reply to Debs4]

Yes, thank you, I have learnt the best ways of keeping it managed and under control.Cheers and hope you have a lovely Christmas and a healthy New year.

[darlikxxx9dx in reply to RoadRunner44]

my sisteri n law had hacking , for yrs it turned out it was coming from here heart she had open heart surgery that was 2 yrs she is ok now

[Mazda_Man]

If your coughing continues, I can fully recommend taking fisherman's friends. I think it has to be original flavour or eucalyptus.It doesn't stop a heavy bout of coughing but that niggling throat feeling, even just before the cough gets heavier, is soon stopped.

Best to use the "low sugar" as well because it looks after your teeth.

I buy the large boxes on the internet to save searching for some when running out.

I have a box in use and one unopened so I have never run out since I started that regime.

Good luck and I hope you have the same success as I am experiencing.

It won't help your COPD nor IPF, ( of course there isn't any cure for IPF) but you cannot have everything.

[Debs4 in reply to Mazda_Man]

Thanks Mazda_ man! Funnily enough the same person I was talking to advised the same thing. I used to have them as a child and remember them helping coughs. Will definitely get some in ready for my next coughing bout!

[peege]

what great news and well done you on changing your gp practice. Mine is useless however I'm hopefully moving to another town early next year.

thank for your post, very encouraging for others in a similar situation. Your post will be here for years to come so others will see it in the future 😃

[Debs4 in reply to peege]

Good luck Peege! My surgery was good pre pandemic but unfortunately it is very old school and couldn’t seem to manage. It is very sad.

This is a very valuable forum and I’m pleased if there is a chance that my comments may help someone else. I had been anxious about the ‘diagnosis’ for 6 months and wouldn’t wish the anxiety in anyone.

Good luck!

[Alberta56]

Thank you for the info. I'm glad you're clear of lung disease.

[Izb1]

So pleased for you Debs that not only have you managed to change to a better gp practice but managed to get your diagnosis sorted as well. I really dont understand gp's giving out these older meds for high bp to lung patients when they know that they cause a cough. Years ago my doctor gave me Lasartan and when i went back with a dreadful cough she said yes we know about this. I am sure this post will encourage people to not accept a disgnosis if they think it is wrong , thanks for posting x

[Cloudancer]

Delighted that you are feeling better and thank you for the points you raised.Have had 2 unfortunate experiences at a large hospital after the clinic I was being treated at at our local hospital transferred to the bigger hospital -supposedly super duper -but simple error like insisting I was Mrs X when in fact he had the wrong patient altogether.

Your post has given me the courage to quietly but firmly stand up for myself bless you.

[katieoxo60]

Hello Debs4 thank you for the info I have often found varied drugs that make my cough worse. I do have a lung condition confirmed by scan, xray , and breathing tests on a new machine at the hospital. Your post shows we need to delve more into our health before saying one thing is causing the problem , sometimes it takes time and some doctors need to accept that medics make mistakes too. Glad you have resolved your issue

[Otto11]

So pleased you have managed to sort things out & to change GP’s. Both myself & my daughter are doing the same as ours are appalling. Interestingly I was diagnosed with COPD at my yearly Asthma review by a nurse several years ago. It really worried me & I was upset but never had any follow on from GP. The following year a different nurse doing my review said your notes say you have COPD but I only see Asthma so I was undiagnosed! That was a relief. I must remember to get that removed from my notes for insurance purposes. X

[Ern007]

Hi - I took Ramipril to help with breathing although a BP medication. I have never had problems with it bar LOW BP - but am aware Ramipril can cause a nasty lasting cough. Lots of drugs are like that - I take Amiodarone first for VT and now AF - Amiodarone can affect lungs and other organs. Some nasty meds but some are essential.

I used to be on Amlodipine which is used for BP and no problems at all..