Hi, i too am in England and exactly the same thing has happened to me with the same time scale. I was back and too to the doctors for 2 years and just referred to an asthma nurse. My doctor actually saw me gasping for breath one day and wrote mild asthma on a report. On 2nd November 2009 I was taken into A and E and thats where my referral for ct scans and bronchoscopy came from. Within a week and a half I had had the scan, the bronchoscopy, 2 visits with a chest specialist and my results. If only they would listen. I think there is a lot of ageism goes on the this country. If you are young you cant possibly have emphysema. A doctor told me a few years ago that it was just an old persons illness. Hope you get the help you need now. Hugs, Karen.

I think you should both just pack your bags and move to Florida and live with Dig

Here, here!

But you got to bring ur own nurses!

Doctors aren't much better in Florida! They're all out golfing!

sick of the snow
packing my cases

can i bring the cat ?

you can bring your cat skinny, but, keep your sweets hidden, hmmm, I don't know if that came out right

Quite often, Skinny, COPD is misdiagnosed. Then too, it's possible to have asthma that ends up being asthma/COPD, as COPD is not limited to emphysema.

And don't feel alone, quite often here in the States, it takes a long time to get tests done and referrals to specialists.

Sincerely hope you get the help you need.

Hugs,
Joni

digi wants all that candy and brownies to himself! we'll never get any now! what the heck?
margaret

Skinny, Bring the cat and some smarties! I need a sugar boost! And KK's to grumpy to bring me any!

I agree that sometimes your GP delays referring you to a pulmonologist because they feel that you aren't advanced in the disease to the point that you need a specialist.

I disagree 100% with this theory. First of all, while they may can check your breathing in their office, they usually do not have trained techs to do the testing. I also think there is a factor called ego at play but had I seen a pulmonologist sooner, I would like to think that I would maybe not be in the severe category after only just under two years of official diagnosis.

But I do totally understand that you just don't have a lot of options other than staying proactive in getting to a specialist the minute the requirements let you.

I do wish you the very best.
Anna

hear im getting the spare room ,i'm sure kk will be fine in the cuboard ,we can let her out if she's good ,AFTER we have had our sweets

Why let her out?

can't see her keeping quiet if we dont let her out from time to time ' can you ?
she's already moaning about being demoated to the cuboard as she had her eye on the s/room

Ur right, she does like to babble! Maybe we could keep her in the garage!?!