Hi, Although I've been a member for a number of months this is my first post but from reading all of your posts and wonderful replies I have gained more knowledge of managing my COPD then any health professional has ever given me.
I was diagnosed with COPD nearly two years ago and its been a downhill ever since. Last year 3 really bad chest infections and this year so far I'm on my second one! I lost January to that really bad virus that did the rounds with a chest infection from hell. Breathing was really bad but thanks to my requesting a rescue pack (knowledge from you guys) I had the antibiotics to hand, although another course was needed to zap the infection.
Last weekend breathing started to deteriorate so managed to get a GP appointment yesterday. Infection diagnosed so my GP's standard response? More antibiotics and steroids. I am so fed up with constant chest infections and thanks to the knowledge gained from this site I asked to be referred to a pulmonary consultant - response? " what did I hope to gain from that? " and " she my GP can manage my COPD just as well". My response was that if she refused to refer me then I would go privately. I explained very nicely that I would like to know exactly what lung disease I had, not just this umbrella term COPD and that I want to be examined by an expert in lung disease.
Outcome - she said she would make a referral to the respiratory clinic (which I assume a consultant will be attached?) then booked me in for an x-ray (never had a one previously) and asked me to provide a sputum sample (1st one!). What bugs me is I had to qualify why I wanted the referral and would she have requested the x ray and sputum sample if I hadn't been adamant on my consultant referral. Just feel really let down at the moment as I feel my GP practice has not been offering me what should be standard medical tests.
One question I do have for you knowledgeable people, where would I have got a list of pulmonary consultants if I had to go privately? Once again without the responses from this community I would not have had the knowledge to challenge my GP yesterday. 5 stars to everyone who posts on this site, give yourselves a pat on the back.
Written by
Marymary13
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Hi Marymary13 welcome and so glad you have posted. I find to get what you want, as you did, you have to fight for it now days. I’m glad you are now seeing a consultant, unfortunately, our GP’s just don’t know enough about the lung diseases we might have.
I was told there is a good one at Barts in London can’t remember his name, mine is a local one. I expect others can tell you of good ones.
HI Patsy164, thank you for your reply. Unfortunately I'm up north outside of Newcastle so hoping some other members can suggest a consultant closer to home. Having my X Ray tomorrow and after that await eagerly for my clinic appointment. x
You don’t need to go privately. The NHS is very capable of diagnosing your lung condition and your ongoing management. You are entitled to it. Private tests are very expensive, ins companies will not pay for ongoing treatment and management and you would still have the problem of getting under the ongoing care of an NHS consultant.
The REAL reason that you need a referral to a consultant is that your GP is NOT managing it succesfully and she needs to be told that. The attitude that she took to your request to see a consultant is disgraceful. She is not there to put you on the back foot by asking stupid and obvious questions, to which the answer is ‘to get better treatment than you are giving me!’
GPs are there to act as conduits between the patient and the expertise which they need to deal with their condition. Too few of them have the humility to accept that.
At least you managed to get an xray and a sputum test out of it but you really need specialised interpretation of these, not simply the opinion of a lab tecnitian and the GP.
Look on the internet for the best respiratory consultants at hospitals in your area ( a teaching hospital if possible). Take the name to the GP and insist on a referral. Don’t take no for an answer. If she refuses she is failing in her duty of care towards you, then go to the practice manager and tell them that you wish to begin the complaints procedure. That usually concentrates minds.
It is your health that is at stake here, not the GPs ego. We really do have to be very pro active in our own interests and vociferous in sourcing the right care.
Littlepom thank you for your advise. I am reluctant to go privately as I don't have private insurance and not a lot of money but also for the reasons you have mentioned. I will search out consultants attached to my local hospitals here in Newcastle and then go back to my GP. I never see the same GP twice so hopefully next appointment I will see someone who has my best interests as their focus.
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update : I saw the respiratory consultant today 
Respiratory Therapy Student
First visit to restpertery clinic 
Copious amounts of sputum
unsure about diagnosis.
