Another infection

[Sherlock11]

I visited the surgery to have my Gp lung function test as arranged weeks ago. These weren't done as the hospital had beaten them to it. In stead I gave the nurse a present of another yeuky specimen, she checked my FeNo as they didn't at the hospital and it was now 88, up from 43 in January. The rates are less than 25 is normal. The nurse is a bit confused as she thinks I may have asthma and possibly something else , but I already have prednisolone orally(5mgs). She wants me to chase my follow up appointment as she feels I am progressing in whatever is wrong. I can never be normal and straight forward, it's so annoying!!

[Swizzy]

The fact that you keep parrots, your FeNO is very raised and you keep getting infections seems to indicate a problem with asthma due to the exposure to the avian precipitins. Like exposure to aspergilla, this can cause varying problems from an allergic reaction to problems with the organism invading the lungs. You need to see an asthma specialist who needs to be given all of the facts in order to diagnose your problem properly and decide how to manage it.

[Sherlock11 in reply to Swizzy]

Thankyou for your response, I will follow your advise and see the correct people.

[Alberta56]

Best wishes. I'm afraid one nasty piggybacks upon another, making it hard to get to the root of the problem. Hope they get it sorted soon. xxx

[Sherlock11 in reply to Alberta56]

Thankyou.

[PaperQueen]

Have you had yor lung function test results from the hospital yet? Hopefully they will shine some light so that you can get a proper diagnosis. Good luck. xx

[Sherlock11 in reply to PaperQueen]

The only thing that was abnormal was the DLCO, air transfer which was 4.24 litres, 62.9%. I'm still waiting for the scan result.

[Carnut]

Oh dear Sherlock11, my experience with Pred was very good, your condition sounds more of a challenge. I could not say any asthmatic inhaler helped me at all. I have be told sufferers with Bronchectasis often do not benefit from inhalers. I wish you all the very best for the future. Kind regards Carnut

[Sherlock11 in reply to Carnut]

Thankyou for your kind words.

[Sherlock11 in reply to Carnut]

I visited my Gp today, still coughing and specimen not back yet. He prescribed a salbutamol inhaler to help with the coughing and sputum and I must say it's helping bring it up. I can't understand how the Dr says my chest is clear and I'm bringing up all this stuff. Oh well, I'll just carry on.

[Carnut in reply to Sherlock11]

I am the same as you, in that I just trust the Dr and go with their suggestion for example I was prescribed 3 different inhalers which did absolutely no help to me. I am currently trying one of those little gadgets that vibrate on exhaling to help bring up the mucus.

I hope you find a system that works for you and that you feel a lot better soon.

Best wishes, Carnut

[Stewiecat]

'Jack of all trades, master of none' is how I'd sum up gp's, I was made to feel like a crazy woman by them all, until I finally got infront of a Respiratory Consultant, who diagnosed me immediately, after I'd been through 18 months of hell 🤷‍♀️ I think it's really important to ask, then insist to be referred, once you know you've jumped through enough gp hoops and aren't getting the help you need xx N

[Sherlock11 in reply to Stewiecat]

The Gp I saw didn't know my complicated medical history except what he read at that time. I did try to ask for one who knows me well but I was sent to a "respiratory hub" designed for winter. I was surprised he didn't hear any rattles as I have been coughing quite a bit of thick discoloured sputum. Later in the day the nurse I've been seeing called me to discuss what we are planning on doing. So it's just a waiting game at the moment.

[Stewiecat]

I really hope you start to get some help and answers, it sounds like the salbutamol inhaler is helping with the sputum, so that's good, any gunk needs to come out. I'm relatively young and was fit and healthy until 2021, fighting to be seen and diagnosed whilst really unwell has been exhausting and I don't have any additional health problems, I can only imagine how difficult it must be for you to be in a never ending wait for help when your condition is complicated, I can only offer my support and encourage you to keep on at the right people, I think as suggested above you probably need to see an asthma specialist x N

[Sherlock11 in reply to Stewiecat]

Thankyou, don't worry , I'll be like a "dog with a bone" until I find out what's going on and I have the correct treatment.

[Stewiecat]

Good 😊 it's a sad state of affairs the state of the system, but I'm glad you are driven to push for yourself, sending lots of good wishes x Nicola

[Sherlock11 in reply to Stewiecat]

Thankyou, it's true , you have to fend for yourself otherwise if you don't you end up being forgotten about. In my mum's days she would just wait and wait and would assume everything was fine because she hadn't heard anything.

[Stewiecat]

Yes, definitely, we lost my mum to a blood clot in 2019, she was immobilised during a hospital stay and discharged home without blood thinners, we didn't know she would need them, until she died without them, it shouldn't happen, but it does. We are taught not to question or push things, it would be impolite we think, but we must, because the system doesn't work like it used to, when it could be relied on it to be there to do the best for the patient.Keep pushing the medics around you, i really hope you get the proper diagnosis, support and treatment you need as soon as possible 🤞x N

[Sherlock11 in reply to Stewiecat]

I had a phone call this evening regarding my last sputum specimen, guess what? Good old friend pseudomonas again ,third time since November. Doctor has given me 750mgs cipro again, she is going to contact my respiratory consultant as she feels it needs sorting possibly with a nebulised antibiotic. We shall see how long this takes.

[Stewiecat]

At last the sample results back, it seems like your doctor is helpful which is good, definitely sounds like you need a longer or stronger form of antibiotic, I'm sorry I have severe eosinophilic asthma, so live with very different symptoms to yourself, I tend to lean on prednisolone rather than antibiotics, but can empathise totally with the frustration and endless wait for everything 🤦‍♀️ 🤞 the consultant is on his toes and gets back to you in good time with a plan for nebulised antibiotics

[Sherlock11 in reply to Stewiecat]

Thankyou.