Consultant

[jeanielee]

Just Wondering ,most of you peeps refer to your consultant...I have never been seen by a consultant ,I was told at my GP that it was usually dealt with the nurse at the surgery.

[redted]

I have only ever seen a nurse,she is there whenever I need her,and go for tests once a year,all ok at the moment,fingers crossed this will continue.

[jeanielee in reply to redted]

Everything crossed LoL

[O2Trees]

May depend on where you live Jeannie - some areas you may not get to see a consultant if you are mild stage. But after that you should definitely see one once a year at least. I'll try to find this in the N.I.C.E. guidelines. Personally i think everyone who is diagnosed should see a consultant at diagnosis, even if mild.

[O2Trees in reply to O2Trees]

nice.org.uk/guidance/cg101/...

These are huge - and everything is qualified by something like "depending on local protocols"

Here you go: 1.1.8 Referral for specialist advice. It does say at the end that its not automatic that you need specialist advice and that copd teams can manage it too.

[jeanielee in reply to O2Trees]

Thanks 02Trees will do some research and maybe ask the question next time I see the nurse..I'm not too worried I seem to be managing with my meds and Yoga x

[Colours23]

U got to be joking ,anyway my results from echo heart scan are still sitting on his computer, a lot of good they are there when I still can't breathe everyday ,and for another month I have to put up with it,,oh no I am hoping to go private now so I can get them to me where they belong. So that's less anxiety ,it is about time I got what I need .

[Hidden]

Yep I was told exactly the same. The doctor insisted I didn't need to see a consultant and only needed to if my surgery could no longer handle my care. I am at the high end of the moderate stage. I too hear people at mild and moderate levels being referred to a consultant so can't understand why this only applies to some people and not others. x

[Puffthemagicdragon]

I think everyone should see a consultant at diagnosis at least. They have specialised equipment for testing and can prescribe the correct medicines for your particular needs, As we all know, we are all different and need different medicines, not just a general prescription for breathing problems.

[jeanielee]

Thankyou all for your replies...as I am managing my copd not to worried at this stage if I deteriorate at all I will certainly ask the ?

[Sokrackers]

Hi jeanielee

My experience was very different. I experienced low 02 on several occasions which took me to A & E which my GP did nothing about??? Sorry they gave me an inhaler (brown one) for asthma but it made no difference (the consultant told me later it wasn't strong enough to make a difference on copd)

Then at one A & E visit the Dr suggested I ask my GP to refer me to a respiratory consultant to find out why this was happening. Good advice.

3 months later when the apt came around the consultant diagnosed chronic asthma and sever copd out of the blue and to return in 6 months time. At my next apt. my results were so improved he then discharged me back to the care under the GP's surgery which I was happy with as the problem was so much better.

[jeanielee in reply to Sokrackers]

It beggars belief sometimes how these GPs can be so nonchalant ...it is a reminder to us all to be on our toes.

[Sokrackers]

I would like to ask how GPs diagnose COPD?

If I won the lottery I would make sure GPs have the Tardis like machines that are used by consultants.

I could have been diagnosed about 18 months earlier if things had been different.

[Hidden]

If i had just been left to see my gp i may not even be here today...my consultant found things my gp didnt know i had because he put everything down to copd and i blame the gp for me getting so ill

[jeanielee in reply to Hidden]

Hi Mandy so sorry you weren't diagnosed properly,you have certainly given me food for thought ...Take Care

[Sokrackers in reply to Hidden]

Oh Mandy (Barry Manilow) Sorry just trying to get as many songs and lyrics into my posts.

Where have you been I have missed you.

[Hidden in reply to Sokrackers]

oh ive been hiding i was getting in a terrible rut over this operation and just couldnt face anything to do with it so avoided everything and everyone but i dont feel so bad now.....

hows things x x x

[jeanielee in reply to Sokrackers]

What about me jean jeanie(David Bowie)

[Sokrackers in reply to jeanielee]

Oh you pretty thing.....Hope everything is Hunky Dorey with you. Owch. you see I don't need much encouragement!

Have a great day.

[CornishBrian]

I've been lucky lately. Not seen a consultant for 12 years or so. Three years ago, I found the local Respiratory team who are brilliant. Things went downhill for me a few weeks ago, not breathing related, but I ended up with a community nurse coming to see me a couple of times. She then arranged for a community Matron to come to see me. This she did on Saturday. What a result. She went through my notes, made arrangements for five different hospital appointments for my heart and COPD, blood tests for everything. She was alarmed that even though I have Severe COPD and had 3 types of cancer treatment last year including 4 weeks of radio, that no one had bothered to have a blood count done. This was arranged for the Monday, today..Wednesday, the matron has phoned to say that my blood count wasn't too good but not to worry as it can be corrected in a very short while. She has more power than the doctors, she can prescribe and best of all, she doesn't have a surgery...she comes to you. Shes told me that if I am in trouble, phone the number and she guarantees someone will be out that day. Brilliant.

[jeanielee in reply to CornishBrian]

That's a fantastic result for you..I hope all goes well for your other appointments..I'm going to google resp teams in my area.Thank you

[Pantani]

I see the practice nurse at the GPS for my bloods and annual meds check up. I also used to see the respiratory nurse at the hospital every 4 months. Following a spell in hospital I was taken over be the consultant. Though if I put a sputum sample in I ring the respiratory nurse as they can get the results quicker than the gp would. They ring me back to let me know the results.