Consultant appointment

[Coughingalltheway]

I finally had my appointment with the Respiratory Consultant yesterday and it was certainly an eye opener.

Apparently I have adult onset asthma and not COPD. She said that she can't rule out 'a touch' of COPD as I used to smoke years ago but all my test results show that I now have asthma.

She has changed my inhaler from Trimbow to Fostair 200/6 and she says that should help me far more so fingers crossed.

I can't help but wonder... I've had 3 lung function tests at my GP surgery (including a reversability one this year) since 2018 and each time, I have been told that I've got COPD yet the much more in depth lung function test that I had at the hospital shows asthma. It makes me wonder about the level of clinical experience at the GPs as each test that I had was very rushed. It's almost as if they decide in advance that it's COPD because I used to smoke but not all smokers go on to get COPD.

Anyway, that's my news and I now have to research asthma as I only know about COPD!

Take care my fellow huffers and puffers.

[knitter]

I have been diagnosed with asthma , COPD , asthma and COPD ….told by one GP that it was a grey area to diagnose .

Last spirometer test , with no reversibility , said COPD / asthma .

One of the reasons given ….i used to smoke …albeit 45 years ago and I never inhaled. And never when pregnant 3 times .

It’s a question always asked …do you , did you smoke , at one time at flu vax clinic we were always asked in front of everyone .

Forgetting tobacco smoke was everywhere , pubs , public transport , cinema , homes , hospitals even .

My neighbour has COPD / asthma , never smoked but her father did as did mine . Permanent pipe in mouth .

[Coughingalltheway in reply to knitter]

At my PR classes they state that 80% of smokers will get COPD but American studies show that it's probably only 20%. The respiatory physio wouldn't listen to me when I pointed that out. I can't help but wonder how many other people are being misdiagnosed as having COPD just because they smoked during the past? If I hadn't collasped with respiratory failure, I'd still be none the wiser.

[Dottie11]

My mother had Bronch and sometimes one nurse would say you have COPD too but we just uses it as a blanket term. She would reject that opinion as her main condition was Bronch quite severe and also asthma. Never smoked and stuck to her guns. I agree as a Bronch also and not once have I been told or written that its COPD. xx

[Coughingalltheway in reply to Dottie11]

Yes, I don't really agree with the blanket term of COPD, there are so many different diseases that need various different treatments plus in people's eyes COPD equals smoker which isn't always true.

[Dottie11]

Yes that is it exactly. Take care. xx