Bronchiectasis since 2007

[Perrythomas]

Amazing I am still here! Just had a bout of pneumonia- they mixed it up with a COPD exacerbation - and I’ve been really ill since last December - you know Zombie- the movie- I could have starred in that with no make up - luckily saw an out of hours doctor who prescribed the right antibiotics. She recommended I have a chest X-RAY and my Regular GP refused!!!

So will be seeing a specialist ASAP!

Doctors get used to you and seem to think it’s the same old

Make a fuss people - only way sometimes!

💕💕💕

[Izb1]

Sorry to hear you have been so poorly and glad to hear you are now on the correct antibiotics. How awful that your gp is so against sending your for an x ray. It sounds like you are doing the right thing going to see your specialist. I think we have to be pushy sometimes and you know your body better than anybody else. Hope you get better soon x

[Perrythomas in reply to Izb1]

Thank you- never give in when health “professionals “ bully you- you know your body! 👍

[B0xermad]

Hi it's a very common occurrence not being taken seriously enough, I have also had 2 pneumonia episodes and was borderline sepsis last time each one in hospital for 2 days .when will they realise that we know our own bodies

[Bella395]

You are correct Perrythomas. Similar thing occurred here - OH becoming more ill daily. Taken to A&E, had GP/care practitioner/community matron visits - nobody bothered to x-ray. I knew there was something badly wrong but nobody would listen. Eventually sent for doctor and insisted on admission. Within a few hours was x-rayed and diagnosed with pneumonia. At that point he had probably had it for about two/three weeks. He was in hospital for almost seven weeks and it will take a long time to recover. I look back and think the outcome might have been better had it been treated earlier.

[Perrythomas in reply to Bella395]

Sorry you’ve been through that. I’ve now decided to do my own research, alongside presenting my symptoms- and I write it all down - time, dates, doctors reactions if I can get to see one! Often fobbed off with nurse who is very good but has to get everything thing rubber stamped by GP! Trouble is they don’t often listen and think it’s an exacerbation - well other things are possible and pneumonia is one of them! I will be asking for a second opinion! Good luck 👍

[Beth1949]

In the past, Bronchiectasis was quite rare due to mis-diagnoses (they always put you in with COPD and/or asthma).

Specialists are now becoming more and more aware of people with Bx.

So, as this forum confirms, talk to your specialist and if he/she doesn't have the answer, go to another one. My specialist was not familiar with Bx, so he had me go the Mayo Clinic for answers (I live in the states, and the Mayo Clinic has the best of the best doctors).

Good luck, Beth

[Perrythomas in reply to Beth1949]

Thank you - I’ll just keep fighting 👍💕