Update from me re shortness of breath

[Bartie123]

Hi everybody!

So I went to see the chest consultant at vast expense who said I have an interesting wheeze! It might be asthma but he didn’t think so because of my great age(86). He’s given me- given???? Ha! Twenty odd quid - for an inhalant to be taken night and morning for a month plus he wants an x ray and a blood test. A week in I feel no different but I guess it all takes time. Next appointment 1st March. To be continued!

Jane.

[gilreid1]

You do realise a pharmacist would have told you the same free ?

[Bartie123 in reply to gilreid1]

???????? Explain please!!

[gilreid1 in reply to Bartie123]

Had you gone to a pharmacist and explained what you have just posted they would have came to the same conclusion. Why spend money? Have you consulted your GP ?

[Bartie123 in reply to gilreid1]

Cardiologist referred me via G P x went private due to long delay at NH S. not an easy decision I assure you!

[Hidden]

Hello

Sorry because of the waiting list times you had to pay and go private

I hope though that now blood tests and xrays have been requested you can get a diagnosis what is wrong and get it sorted

I have known people go private and once they know what is wrong if it has not been to serious then they have decided to wait on the NHS list to get treatment

I hope this will be the case for you to

Let us know how you get on x

[Spetses]

I’m assuming the inhaler is a blue one called a rescue inhaler to open airways ? If so you should feel relief instantly ,but if a steroid based inhaler can take longer.Did you ask what the blood tests where ?Good luck the GP system atm in UK is terrible

[Bartie123 in reply to Spetses]

Thank you! It’s the steroid one! Very grateful for your reply. Yes UK - hopeless at the moment!

[LSCE]

Hi Bartie123,

Sorry I don't agree with Gilreid but I'm assuming you are in UK. You did the right thing consulting a physician. pharmacist can deal with minor illness and a prescribing pharmacist might prescribe inhalers for those with a diagnosis. A steroid based inhaler takes time to reverse airflow obstruction, weeks. Blood tests may be for full blood count to check for anaemia and raised eosinophils which can be an indication of inflammation in the airways 'atopic asthma' or testing for other stuff. I hope this helps. Good luck.

[Bartie123 in reply to LSCE]

Thank you for this. I was feeling stupid because of the previous comment you mention! I am trying to stay positive.

Jane.

[bee2 in reply to Bartie123]

Do what feels right for you, I hope you get answers soon. Good luck

[MoyB]

I would probably have paid up too! 6 yrs ago, after having repeated chest infections, I asked my GP to refer me to a specialist. He said there was a long waiting list so I asked to go privately. The consultant was expensive but amazing! I told him I could only afford the one consultation and he immediately transferred me to his NHS list and got a very speedy CT scan arranged. When he saw me in clinic he gave me the same ammount of time as when I saw him privately (over an hour!) and has been wonderful ever since.

If I had waited for NHS I would have become seriously ill as my GP was lacking the specialist knowlege required to treat me.

You made the best decision. I'm only sorry you're having to pay so much. Re the private prescription, it may be worth asking your GP if it is something they can prescribe for you. Nothing lost by trying!

All the best with your 'interesting wheeze'. I hope you get some answers on 1st March.

xx Moy

[Davidc1075 in reply to MoyB]

I had the same when I presented the pharmacist with my private prescription he took me to the side and said it would cost a lot of money. I managed to convince my gp to write an NHS prescription after arguing that I saved the NHS by getting the consultation private. I am far from rich and had to raid the rainy day fund.

[Qualipop]

As well as what you've done, do keep going to your GP and demand further tests, no matter how long the wait. Do NOT let him fob you off with "It's your age". Demand investigations. I suffered breathlessness for two years; kept going to my GP who kept insisting it was either muscular or some sort of allergy and I was just given an inhaler and ointments for my spine. Then one day it was so bad I rang 111 and saw the on call young doctor who intermediately asked for my family history of heart disease; something my GP had never done and he told my GP tos end me for urgent tests at the heart clinic. Before that appointment came through I had a mild heart attack. My GP apologised profusely! Although he had ignored me, it has prevented him from doing the same to anyone else. You may only need the inhaler but if its' not working, go back and demand. Make a nuisance of yourself.

[MoyB in reply to Qualipop]

I am right with you on that one! I always think, 'There's only one of me, and I matter!' I have been fobbed off in the past (once when it eventually transpired I had an overactive thyroid) but now, I make myself a nuisance if that's what it takes.Xx Moy

[Heather1957 in reply to MoyB]

I agree, no-one knows your body as intimately as you do and sometimes you just have to insist and stick to your guns.

[Qualipop in reply to MoyB]

Well said. I have an 83 yr old friend whose husband is 87 with a heart condition. 2 years ago he was referred for a monitor. It never happened and his response is "I don't like to pester them" despite having had numerous "funny turns" and two obvious TIA attacks in the meantime. Finally his new GP has diagnosed AF and insisted he gets an appointment this week. He was brought up to believe doctors are gods and you don't question them or make a fuss but these days you MUST.