West Lothian COPD advice form

[audrey2543]

I recently saw info sheet recommended for use by COPD sufferers and their GPs. I think it was from West Lothian Health. Having been ill since before Xmas, totally unprepared and unsupported and still coughing green sputum after late delivery of amoxicillin I was going to copy to GP but was interrupted and lost it.

Can someone please send me the reference again. It needs to be general knowledge.

[stone-UK]

Hi was this the one

lothianrespiratorymcn.scot....

Your GP should be able to discuss and give a management plan to suit you and your condition.

[audrey2543 in reply to stone-UK]

Thank you yes it is. I'm wondering whether it would be too provocative to copy it to my GP who did not offer rescue pack. Only discovered I should have had one through this forum. Still suffering as antibiotics delayed because of Xmas closures.

Thanks again.

[stone-UK in reply to audrey2543]

Hi

No reason you can not use, it is freely available on internet, you can also mention NICE guidelines.

The NICE guideline for COPD recommends: Patients at risk of having an exacerbation of COPD should be given a course of antibiotic and corticosteroid tablets to keep at home for use as part of a self-management strategy.This reflects good evidence that prompt therapy in exacerbations results in less lung damage, faster recovery and fewer admissions (and subsequent readmissions) to hospital.

Please note, it is acknowledged that not all patients will be eligible or appropriate for the provision of antibiotic and corticosteroid for self-treatment at home

[Sjf129903]

I'm on my 3rd set of antibiotics since November and still coughing yellow. I'm on amoxicillin 500mg 3 times a day and not seeing or feeling any different

[audrey2543 in reply to Sjf129903]

Same experience over the Xmas / New Year break. Still coughing and feeling awful. GP has decided to prescribe doxycycline. Fingers crossed !

[Sparkywoo]

Surely your GP should be taking a sputum sample to ascertain what the bug is as it doesnt seem to be clearing with Amoxycillin. I would ask for this as you don’t want to be taking antibiotics if they aren’t doing anything. I struggle to clear any infection with Amoxycillin and invariably need something else.

[audrey2543 in reply to Sparkywoo]

GP said they don't offer sputum tests but I will raise this again with her if the doxy doesn't work. Different surgeries seem to have such different policies despite NICE advice.