Emphysema

disabledkenny

Hi I was diagnosed in February with severe emphysema, I am still learning about it & slowly trying to give up smoking I have cut down to 8 a day from 30, I need to give up completely so that I will live longer. I have left 5 messages in 3 weeks to the Oldham NHS stop smoking number but just an answer phone & left messages but did not get back to me.

I have had a lung test 6 weeks ago & a follow up 2 weeks ago with a nurse at the GP's surgery, the only time seen my GP is about the chest infection I had in March.
Does any one know which specialist or consultant I should ask my GP to be referred to.

Sandy_123

Hi @disabledkenny1 loving the hello banner, nice and cheerful. Sorry to read about your diagnosis
I would make an appointment with your gp as he or she will know the best person to refer you to. 
Well done for cutting smoking down as its not an easy thing to do.  

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @disabledkenny Well done on getting down to 8! As Sandy said, I would ask your GP and it may be worth asking your local pharmacy too! 

Just wondering if it was this website you had gotten the number from? As they have a text service too.

disabledkenny

Hi Sandy & Hannah, thanks I will contact my GP & see what he says.

Sandy_123

Good luck @disabledkenny1 let us know how you get on. Meanwhile join in with the conversations on the forum and games

MW123

Hello disabledkenny

I assume you want your GP to refer you to a private specialist.  To receive treatment for lung-related conditions, it is advisable to consult a pulmonologist. While it is possible to seek private treatment from a specialist without a referral from a GP, it is preferable for the GP to refer you as they have access to your medical history and recent test results. They can forward this information to the specialist prior to your appointment. You can visit the website of your local private hospital and look for consultants who also hold clinics at your local NHS hospital. This is beneficial because if you require further treatment, they will likely refer you to their NHS clinic, especially if you are self-funding. If you have private medical insurance, it is important to inform them promptly to initiate the claim process. 

Allow me to share a personal experience that explains why I took the private approach. Six years ago, just before Christmas, I underwent blood tests. The surgery contacted me upon receiving the results and asked me to see my GP that same day. During the appointment, my GP informed me that the results were abnormal and offered little hope or reassurance. It was clear that I needed to see an oncologist, and an urgent referral would be arranged. However, due to the Christmas holidays, I was told that my appointment would be scheduled for the new year. Unfortunately, the urgent appointment I received was for May, five months later. When I contacted the hospital, they had no earlier availability. In response, I decided to book a private consultation. 

During the private consultation, I met a compassionate consultant who was puzzled as to why I had been told there were no appointments available with him on the NHS.  He provided me with blood forms and instructed me to undergo blood tests at the local hospital the following morning. Within a week, I had my first NHS appointment with him. Over the course of three months, numerous tests and scans were conducted, leading to the diagnosis of a very rare bone marrow cancer. The cost of the initial private consultation was £350.00, with subsequent follow-up visits priced at £120.00. However, when I received the invoice, I discovered that he had only charged me £120.00 for the first appointment.   

Disabledkenny, I want to acknowledge your efforts in reducing your smoking habit. It's a significant step towards improving your health, and I commend you for it. In case you are looking for additional support, you might consider exploring nicotine patches available at the supermarket. They could be a helpful tool in further reducing your smoking. 

Please know that I genuinely wish you all the best on your journey, perhaps you would keep us posted on  your progress. Take care of yourself. MW123

disabledkenny

Hi MW123, thank you I will request to see a pulmonologist, sorry to hear of your problems I hope that they manged to sort out your bone cancer, take care Kenny