Hospital appointment

[Roxdale]

Finally got my hospital appointment after HD CT Scan and diagnosis of emphysema and early lung scarring. It wasn't the consultant but his registrar who was training another doctor. He said my spirometry results were OK. My FEV1 was 76% and another one - think FVC something was 84%. He said he didn't want this one to drop any lower.The appointment lasted about 30 minutes and he asked a million questions.

He said the scarring wasn't fibrotic but I had 'interstitial abnormalities'. He has ordered blood tests and an echocardiogram (I have angina) after looking at my CT angiogram and said that he will see me in 6 months. He told me to continue with the Anoro Ellipta inhaler and if it doesn't work I may need changing to the one with steroid. He also said the salamol inhaler wouldn't help much - it doesn't .

Still a bit confused what having these abnormalities means. Realised I didn't ask him what this actually means but he never stopped talking for the whole appointment and it wasn't easy to keep up.

Thanks for listening. Feel a bit down as I've just had one of my cataracts operated on and eye is still a bit sore. It's no fun getting old!

[knitter]

try ringing the ALUK helpline tomorrow , they may advise you how to get further information

Best wishes

[Alberta56]

I'm not surprised you're confused- it sounds very confusing. But hopefully, if the doctor wants to see you in 6 months, not sooner, he can't think there is anything too dreadful going on.

[Izb1]

I do agree Roxdale , it really is no fun getting older. It's good that the doctor is sending you for an echocardiogram and doing blood tests for your heart. As Alberta 56 says he can't be too worried otherwise he would be seeing you. You could ring the secretary and explain that your worried and could she clarify x

[Roxdale in reply to Izb1]

Thank you all for your replies. It's great getting support from this forum as I don't really have anyone to share my concerns with. Hopefully will get some dates for the tests this week and will not have too long to wait.

[Germantara]

Sometimes they talk were you don't understand its not helpfull plus you end up worrying more well I do

[Roxdale in reply to Germantara]

The doctor talked very fast and barely paused for breath when I answered his questions. The main reason I feel confused is the letter from his boss - the consultant- said that the "significance" of the CT findings would be discussed yet this didn't happen. Maybe my fault for not directly asking but I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and sidetracked by the barrage of questions he asked.

[jackdup]

most cell phones have a voice recorder on them and I generally record appointments such as this as sometimes when you get home you can’t remember specifically what was said about one thing or another so the recording allows you to go back and listen to what was said.

[Roxdale in reply to jackdup]

Didn't really think about doing that. Sounds a good idea especially when you don't have anyone to go with you as an extra pair of ears!

[jackdup in reply to Roxdale]

I have found it very useful. When I get home and listen to it I’ll often remark, i don’t remember him saying that, or if my wife comes with me sometimes we don’t agree on what the doctor said so can go back and listen to it.