GOLD guidelines. Blog removed. - Lung Conditions C...

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GOLD guidelines. Blog removed.

12 years ago•16 Replies

I removed my " GOLD guidelines " blog as it is apparently not relevant to us in the UK and we should use the NICE guidelines. Sorry about that but I thought some of you may of found it interesting.

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Puffthemagicdragon

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16 Replies

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scrobbitty12 years ago

I did read it Puff before you deleted it and did find it interesting - thanks

Puffthemagicdragon12 years ago

Ok.Good.

There should be one international code for the stages of COPD. It would save all this palaver.

Puffthemagicdragon12 years ago

Rather than argue with management I thought it best I just got rid of it. Sorry to all the members who replied but COPD is a worldwide disease and any new developments throughout the world I feel are relevant to us in the UK even though some medicines may not be, as yet, approved over here they may be in the future.

• in reply toPuffthemagicdragon12 years ago

S'ok Puff,

I bookmarked it anyway! I is not stupid...now, now, please don't argue about it! lol

Not always anyway!

Puffthemagicdragon• in reply to12 years ago

I rarely argue. It takes too much away from being happy !

Dasis12 years ago

Read and Saved thanks

richardcrossroads12 years ago

the Gold guidelines are used through out europe

Puffthemagicdragon12 years ago

This is what was posted on my blog so I thought I may as well delete it. As a matter of interest. The NICE stages were updated in 2010 to the GOLD stages.

tinypic.com/r/11liufk/6

" Hi.

In the UK it is the NICE guidelines that are followed - not the GOLD - so look at the NICE guidelines if you want any more in depth information - it is also much more relevant to the service and care provided in the UK.

Thanks

Mark. "

12 years ago

Any health care professional in the UK will by default follow the NICE guidelines for COPD. As you pointed out the NICE guidelines were updated to include the GOLD. But it is still the NICE guidelines that are followed. most doctors etc wouldn't know what GOLD is.

NICE is much more relevant to the day to day care of COPD.

I didn't expect you, or want you, to remove your blog. I was just adding to the discussion.

Thanks again

Mark

Puffthemagicdragon12 years ago

Thank you for the explanation. I doubt most doctors know what the NICE guidelines are either !

12 years ago

All doctors know what NICE guidelines are. It was the NICE guidelines that saved me from incompetence when my GP didn't know anything about pulmonary rehab , pneumonia jab, x-ray recommendations etc for COPD. I read and printed them and printed them out - the whole thing - and they steered me through my first year post diagnosis. I would suggest that every newly diagnosed COPD patient takes a look at them. Not only will that tell you whether your GP is working to the standards set out, but it is a good first introduction and overview of the disease. In half an hour I went from knowing nothing of the condition I had been diagnosed with, to a basic knowledge of the stages, medication required, possible need for 02 etc. It was the publication of the guidelines that began the increase in diagnosis and treatment of COPD. Prior to that, most GP's simply prescribed anti biotics, gave you a ventolin inhaler, and sent you home thinking you just had a bit of a bad chest.

In June the NICE guidelines for the diagnosis and management of suspected Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is due for publication. Bring it on!

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• in reply to12 years ago

Sorry to disagree Parvati, but not ALL doctors are aware of or use the NICE guidelines and there are still people being given antibiotics and a ventolin inhaler whilst given no idea what they may be suffering from! How do I know? I was one of them. It was a nurse at a stop-smoking clinic who told me what my disease was called and I then looked it up and went back to tell my GP what I had. And people still come on here telling the same story.

• in reply to12 years ago

Precisely! That is my point. My experience mirrored yours, so I checked the guidelines to see just what my treatment should be. Then I went back and said that according to the guidelines I should at least have an x-ray, pneumonia jab, referral to Pulmonary Rehab etc. I actually took the pages I had printed out in with me so there could be no argument - but I didn't need them. As soon as I said the words 'NICE Guidelines', everyone jumped to attention. The guidelines, flow charts showing what treatments or investigations should be offered at each stage etc. are all there in the doctors computer - they only have to look at it if they have forgotten their training or (heaven forbid) have never heard of COPD before. So, to recap, anyone treated (or untreated) as poorly as you or I were should familiarise themselves with the guidelines and alert their GP to the fact that they expect the appropriate treatment.

Puffthemagicdragon12 years ago

My previous doctor just done a peak flow test and gave me 2 inhalers and that was it. I could hardly breath and called the BLF Helpline. They said I had an infection and tell my doctor. I did. All he did was give me a prescription for an inhaler I already had. He didn't even use his stethoscope to check my chest ! After having to go to A&E, as I could hardly breath, I changed my doctor. The new one is excellent. I doubt if the first doctor knew anything about COPD guidelines or if he did he didn't bother using them. Idiot could have killed me.

• in reply toPuffthemagicdragon12 years ago

Every doctor is aware of the guidelines. They may not bother with them, but they know about them and they will be on their computer or there will be a paper copy in the office.

Puffthemagicdragon12 years ago

They may as well not be aware of them if they don't use them.

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