Well after having pneumonia and in critical care over Christmas I know have had a CT Lung scan and have been informed I have Emphysema, COPD, and hardening of the arteries as well as my usual asthma, Thyroid and Depression. The letter states its not urgent and the GP will be in touch..
I finally got an appointment with my GP Friday he asked do I smoke I said yes down to 5 rollups a day, he said well he cant do anything until I stop smoking. I do understand that is the reason I have these things and I know I have to give up but I needed to see if I need different medication and said I am still struggling with pneumonia. I said 'If you cant help me Sorry for your time' and I walked out.
To cut along story short I did an e-consultation form and stated I need to speak to someone but not that dr. I had a call back from COPD nurse and have an appointment in the middle of May.
I know they are all stretched at this moment in time and I cant praise the hospital and ambulance staff enough they were amazing and usually my GP Surgery and very good but I didnt expect that!
Sorry I needed a rant.
Apart from that it is lovely to see the sunshine today and sit in the garden just what I need. xx
Written by
Winnie00
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Hi Winnie - shocking that your GP said he couldnt help you while you are still smoking. Smoking is an addiction for heaven's sake - its hard to give up and I assume you have been trying for a while since you say you are now down to 5 roll-ups a day. That attitude is really punitive and not designed to help you build a trusting relationship with your GP. Well done that you persisted with the e-consultation and have now got an appointment.
Thank you, I was just so shocked it is an addiction. Ive been smoking since I was 15 and with the other problems I have its not going to happen overnight but he wouldnt listen. Im usually very calm but its tough when you have a lot of things going on in your life and you feel your not getting the help you need. I must say its the only Doctor that has ever been like that in my life so I have been lucky.
Hi Winnie, I'm sorry that you are faced with all that and have a less than helpful GP. Unfortunately some doctors still have that attitude. It is really hard to give up and I made many attempts before I finally quit. At one time, patches helped me but the second time I used them I had an allergic reaction. Finally nicotine lozenges helped me to stop completely and eventually I stopped the lozenges too. My husband used e cigs and still does, having found it impossible to give those up completely. Keep trying and eventually you will succeed. I hope the COPD nurse is more understanding and helpful. Good luck in your endeavours and best wishes for dealing with all your diagnoses. Carole xx
Thank you CDPO16 I did give up years ago for a year them went back on them. Silly but I will do it. Im sure the nurse will be fine, she was lovely on the phone xx
I started giving up by looking at all the pictures of damage caused to the lungs and blood vessels in people who smoked (offputting). I looked at all the times I liked a cigarette - like after my evening meal watching the news or with a cup of coffee - and changed my behaviour - like doing the washing up straight away, and only drinking tea instead.
When I started to give up smoking, I gave up during mornings and only smoked after 12 noon. That gave me practice in saying No to myself. If I felt tempted, I ate sunflower seeds singly, to replace the hand to mouth movement.
Once I was comfortable with not smoking during the morning, I moved the time from midday to 6 pm. So I didn't smoke during the day, just in the evenings. I kept myself busy doing things like cooking and playing piano, so that my mind was distracted.
Then finally I set my non-smoker date: 1st August 1985, and I haven't smoked since.
6 months later I was upended for a day-case medical procedure, and all the gunge in my lungs from smoking got coughed up after in the recovery room. The nurses caring for me explained that's what it was and reassured me nothing else was wrong.
My partner gave up with me but sadly started smoking again 3 years later, so I ended up with COPD from secondary smoke inhalation. It would have been so much worse by now if I had not given up then.
This is a fantastically helpful account of how to stop smoking, Ergendl - brilliant strategies. I particularly liked the single sunflowers to replace the hand to mouth movement of smoking a cigarette. May I suggest one alteration which I have read about online? I read that it's best to say 'stop' instead of 'give up'. It has more agency and gets away from the deprivation that giving up suggests. But otherwise I dont think Ive ever seen such a great model for stopping smoking.
That's a great suggestion O2Trees. I had failed several times before, but I had worked hard coming off prescribed drugs like antidepressants and tranquillisers, and I used the techniques I had learned then to control my mind and overcome my own particular issues around stopping smoking. I was spurred on by seeing my uncle die of cancer 3 years beforehand, and realising what an awful death it can be.
I hope the Copd nurse will give you some sensible support. I've watched a couple of people trying to stop smoking (neither completely successful so far. ) It's hard to give up your little bit of comfort when you're feeling rough. I hope the sun stayed out so you could enjoy your garden for a nice long time.🌼🌷🌻 xxx
Thank you for your kind words, it is one of the hardest things to do and one of my biggest regrets it starting but all my family smoke and smoked and it was the thing in them days.
I tried and failed so many times Winnie but dont give up, you will succeed. Nicotine is a drug and so addictive. I stopped eventually after reading Alan Carrs Easy way To Stop Smoking book, you can get one from the second hand book sellers cheaply. Good luck x
Morning Winnie 😊 lovely sunny day and I hope you're feeling more positive with your appointment with nurse. I'm sure she will be helpful and adjust your treatments if necessary. Your doctors attitude was appalling, no care or compassion after you'd been extremely ill! 🤨 Forget about your experience with gp, should never have happened.
Smoking is an addictive disease and your respiratory nurse will suggest ways to help with that too.
Look after YOU pet and keep yourself safe and well.
Any way we can help, just let us know. Best wishes. Dawn.xx 🥰
Thank you for your kind words. I am feeling more positive today. I take each day as it comes, I try to be positive every day. Even though life is tough at times. I lost my Dad and my cat last year and also got made redundant so its been tough but every day is a new day. Take Care xx
Oh Winnie, life is so unfair 😢 at times. Heart felt condolences for the loss of your dad and your cat 🐈 I am not surprised your body gave up on you and you were so poorly. Early days yet so look after yourself and thinking about you, that you regain your strength and life becomes easier for you. Take care. Dawn.xx 🥰
Thats why I was so angry and upset as the Dr knew from my records what a tough time I had, I wasnt expecting sympathy from the Doctor or from anyone it is life but I did expect understanding and help.
I would have thought your GP would have been more help if he asked you if you wanted to give up and do you need help giving up. Good luck with the respiratory nurse. Do ask her for suggestions on giving up.
I've never been a smoker but I AM a chocoholic and if I want some I'll go through hell and high water to get it! So I understand the power of addiction even though my body doesn't crave chocolate in the way that your body will need nicotine at the moment.
If my GP spoke to me about chocolate the way yours spoke to you about smoking I'd be really upset and probably quite angry.
What we need is support, not a telling off! How does your GP think you're going to give up if you don't have someone by your side seeing you through it? He needs shooting (metaphorically, not literally!)
It will take you time to come to terms with your new diagnosis and you may well need to have some changes to your medication. If you think it might help you, ask the nurse if you can be referred for pulmonary rehab as, in my experience, you'll get more support there than you will from your GP.
There have been smokers in the two PR groups I've attended and they have been well received and encouraged on their journey to reduce or give up smoking. They have certainly not been told that nothing can be done until they give up. At a PR group, you would be with others who have various lung conditions and you would receive a lot of valuable information about emphysema and COPD, how they affect you and how to manage the conditions. I was a wreck before I went but came away stronger physically, due to the gentle exercise we did and mentally due to the positive attitude of the physios and the information we were given.
I also wonder what you are being offered to help deal with your depression. It's not all about medication. There is a service here called 'Health in Mind' and people can be referred to it. I've not experienced it myself, but it's info we were told about at PR and we were encouraged to access it if we were struggling mentally in any way.
If you know all this already, I'm sorry to have said it all again to you.
I wish you all the best in your recovery from pneumonia ,which can take a long time but you'll get there in the end. Also good luck for your appointment in May. Write down your questions and have them there to remind you what you want to know.
Thank you for your reply and information. Funny enough I was reading about the PR groups and am going to do an e-consult to see if I can take part. I do have counselling for my depression and have been given help for my smoking. Its tough to do much to be honest as im still getting over pneumonia. It has really been tough as im not used to resting and forget but my body is saying I have to. Best Wishes xx
Stopping smoking asap is the single most important thing u can do - as its the most common cause of copd and heart disease.theres help out there - I think most chemists will give u advice and help if u struggle, on various aids..now is the best time,to aid yr recovery Winnie & prevent more damage.but, its your choice, after all.all the best x
hi. I’m really struggling to stop smoking. But my consultant knows this 3 a day I take as it’s only normal thing I do , that I had done before. (.if that makes sense). I really do try. You need to see another GP. As you need inhalers I presume stronger ones. I hope it helps.
Willpower comes into this, i stopped immediately when i got pneumonia and pleurity and had smoked for 25 years. To me it was a no brainer, did i want to give my lungs hell, or continue with the brown leaves burning in my mouth.
My husband has COPD leading to his heart failure, been snoking since 11, people like him should be taken around schools, i guarantee most kids would not start smoking if saw how he now struggles for every breath, cant do anything, and his life is one long drudge. Sadly he didnt give up until it gave him up.
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