Re: doctors.....yuck.........Sandie

[Guest guest]

Are you switching lung docs? I thought you liked him accept he was

in the critical area so much. I am confused.

Sandie

> > > >

> > > > Well it was what i figured the appt was to be. I dont know I

> just

> > > > cant get my hopes up to much with these doctors. I suspect

> > whatever

> > > > I have will sit and drive me miserable for awhile before they

> are

> > > > able to see what it is and do something about. He was a nice

> > > > doctor. Did an exam and said he wanted to check two things,

one

> a

> > > > blood test for emphasyma he said he does it on all his

patients

> > but

> > > > secondly he said your tests show you have the beginning of

> > emphasyma -

> > > > he said did they tell you that, I said no they didnt. So he

> said I

> > > > really quit smoking at the best time possible for me and to

not

> > > > start. he said this blood test will tell him if I have a

> genetic

> > it

> > > > gene for emphasyma if I do he said we want to know this now

and

> > not

> > > > in 20 years. He also ordered the exercise stress test. He

said

> > lets

> > > > see what you can do, lets see if its your heart or lungs or

if

> its

> > > > neither and rule some of this out for you so then you know.

> > > >

> > > > He said unfortunatly with people who have auto-immune issues

he

> > has

> > > > seen it take a few years up to five years before anything of

> > > > signifigance shows up before they know what it is to treat.

> > > >

> > > > So I will go to that test, and see the GI doc at the end of

the

> > month

> > > > and then I will just see my regular GP until something major

> > > > happens. And just document things there really isnt anything

I

> can

> > > > do about it. My GP called last night my other tests were

fine,

> > and I

> > > > told her about the lung appt she said yep this thing is going

> to

> > be

> > > > just like the RA and hide until its beyond miserable and then

> we

> > will

> > > > find it.

> > > >

> > > > So still no diagnosis and I still have to suffer. He did tell

> me

> > to

> > > > do some 40-80 minutes of cardio workout a day he said 9 out

of

> 10

> > > > people are out of shape. I just looked at him. I think I know

> if I

> > > > was out of shape I hardly think I am that out of shape. But

> > whatever

> > > > I will do my best.

> > > >

> > > > Thanks for listening!

> > > >

> > > > Sandie

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

______________________________________________________________________

> __

> > Meet the new AOL.ca. Free radio, music, videos, news &

> entertainment †" with a Canadian perspective.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, my current ones are great except not available to talk to or

when needed unless you're critical at that moment. Its no disrespect

to them, but I need a doctor I can call and get an appointment with.

I'll probably still see them in the ER or hospital but for those

things I need more today, they just can't be available. I should be

seeing one of them as a follow up on my pneumonia. The paperwork from

the hospital says so and they were involved there. But, they can't

schedule me so I'll see my primary tomorrow. But next time I have

pneumonia, I may well see them at the hospital, but I want a

pulmonologist I can see afterwards for the follow up as well. My

existing pulmonologist is at the hospital every day of the week,

almost all day. The practice I'm going to each of the doctors only is

at the hospital 2 days per week.

> > > > >

> > > > > Well it was what i figured the appt was to be. I dont know

I

> > just

> > > > > cant get my hopes up to much with these doctors. I suspect

> > > whatever

> > > > > I have will sit and drive me miserable for awhile before

they

> > are

> > > > > able to see what it is and do something about. He was a nice

> > > > > doctor. Did an exam and said he wanted to check two things,

> one

> > a

> > > > > blood test for emphasyma he said he does it on all his

> patients

> > > but

> > > > > secondly he said your tests show you have the beginning of

> > > emphasyma -

> > > > > he said did they tell you that, I said no they didnt. So he

> > said I

> > > > > really quit smoking at the best time possible for me and to

> not

> > > > > start. he said this blood test will tell him if I have a

> > genetic

> > > it

> > > > > gene for emphasyma if I do he said we want to know this now

> and

> > > not

> > > > > in 20 years. He also ordered the exercise stress test. He

> said

> > > lets

> > > > > see what you can do, lets see if its your heart or lungs or

> if

> > its

> > > > > neither and rule some of this out for you so then you know.

> > > > >

> > > > > He said unfortunatly with people who have auto-immune

issues

> he

> > > has

> > > > > seen it take a few years up to five years before anything of

> > > > > signifigance shows up before they know what it is to treat.

> > > > >

> > > > > So I will go to that test, and see the GI doc at the end of

> the

> > > month

> > > > > and then I will just see my regular GP until something major

> > > > > happens. And just document things there really isnt

anything

> I

> > can

> > > > > do about it. My GP called last night my other tests were

> fine,

> > > and I

> > > > > told her about the lung appt she said yep this thing is

going

> > to

> > > be

> > > > > just like the RA and hide until its beyond miserable and

then

> > we

> > > will

> > > > > find it.

> > > > >

> > > > > So still no diagnosis and I still have to suffer. He did

tell

> > me

> > > to

> > > > > do some 40-80 minutes of cardio workout a day he said 9 out

> of

> > 10

> > > > > people are out of shape. I just looked at him. I think I

know

> > if I

> > > > > was out of shape I hardly think I am that out of shape. But

> > > whatever

> > > > > I will do my best.

> > > > >

> > > > > Thanks for listening!

> > > > >

> > > > > Sandie

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

______________________________________________________________________

> > __

> > > Meet the new AOL.ca. Free radio, music, videos, news &

> > entertainment †" with a Canadian perspective.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

You can get into see your GP (General Practitioner) either that week or following for a 10 minute consult. Generally you wait up to an hour or more to get into your appointment & if anything major crops up it IS dealt with then & there & the patients waiting just get further behind! If you're in an emergency you go to the ER at the big Local Hospital with all its attendant waiting time nightmares!

HOWEVER there is NEVER enough time for CARE & DISCUSSION of ANYTHING...I don't actually know who does that bit! Everytime you go into a GP's room you take with you the full knowledge of the roomful of Patients waiting their turn. I HATE going to the Doctor...it takes up soooooooo much time & I never leave feeling like I'm much further ahead. I got given stacks of pills for Heart Failure which I took for all those months before I got into the Heart Specialist only to be told it wasn't that it was probably IPF......I got left to contemplate what Heart Failure meant only to have to ditch that theory & start AGAIN!

Specialists are a whole other kettle of fish...a 3 month waiting time to get in is totally normal. I got referred to the Heart Specialist in January & my appointment was in May...I saw him in May & he rang the Lung Man to speed things up (my appointment with him was also made in January & it was scheduled for July!) ...... GP's have no clout to speed things up but one Specialist to Another is a different story!

Everything went quite fast after that... my Lung Biopsy was in June & my appointment with the BIG MAN in Brisbane was in August Since then I've not been near a Doctor's Surgery of any kind & won't until March 12th.

After my March appointment I've no idea of what management will happen since I will be refusing Immuno-supressant therapy.... my guess is that I'll jsut go away & get on with it until I suspect I need O2.....even then I've no idea of how I'm going to actually pay for that since I don't qualify for Govt Assitance & my expensive Private Health Insurance only covers treatment given in Hospital. I'm thinking of ditching that & saving the money to spend on O2 when the time comes.

My best support comes from the Hospital Pulmonary Rehab Sister who ran the Exercise Class...she runs a Support Group that meets every month...nearly everyone in it has COPD but they're alll very friendly & cheery. Lyn & I have good discussions & she' trying to come up to speed on my condition. She'll know when I need O2!

I have reservations about doing PFT tests on a regular basis for all the reasons that have been aired on this Board....they're expensive, not covered by my insurance & I have to travel 2 hours each way to get them done. The Lung Doctor never DISCUSSES what they mean but he does give me a Copy (Because I asked) & I talk about them with the Pulmon Rehab Sister! HRCT are incredibly expensive, not covered by Insurance unless you're a patient in Hospital, & perhaps worth being done every year or two to my mind. However I think I'll know that I'm feeling worse because I'll be FEELING WORSE....

LESS IS MORE is my modis operandi at this stage!

Got the gist .....in the cities it IS different I'm told!

Here's to self-management through necessity!

in Oz

> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > Well it was what i figured the appt was to be. I dont know> > > I> > > > > just> > > > > > > > cant get my hopes up to much with these doctors. I suspect> > > > > > whatever> > > > > > > > I have will sit and drive me miserable for awhile before> > > they> > > > > are> > > > > > > > able to see what it is and do something about. He was a nice> > > > > > > > doctor. Did an exam and said he wanted to check two things,> > > > one> > > > > a> > > > > > > > blood test for emphasyma he said he does it on all his> > > > patients> > > > > > but> > > > > > > > secondly he said your tests show you have the beginning of> > > > > > emphasyma -> > > > > > > > he said did they tell you that, I said no they didnt. So he> > > > > said I> > > > > > > > really quit smoking at the best time possible for me and to> > > > not> > > > > > > > start. he said this blood test will tell him if I have a> > > > > genetic> > > > > > it> > > > > > > > gene for emphasyma if I do he said we want to know this now> > > > and> > > > > > not> > > > > > > > in 20 years. He also ordered the exercise stress test. He> > > > said> > > > > > lets> > > > > > > > see what you can do, lets see if its your heart or lungs or> > > > if> > > > > its> > > > > > > > neither and rule some of this out for you so then you know.> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > He said unfortunatly with people who have auto-immune> > > issues> > > > he> > > > > > has> > > > > > > > seen it take a few years up to five years before anything of> > > > > > > > signifigance shows up before they know what it is to treat.> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > So I will go to that test, and see the GI doc at the end of> > > > the> > > > > > month> > > > > > > > and then I will just see my regular GP until something major> > > > > > > > happens. And just document things there really isnt> > > anything> > > > I> > > > > can> > > > > > > > do about it. My GP called last night my other tests were> > > > fine,> > > > > > and I> > > > > > > > told her about the lung appt she said yep this thing is> > > going> > > > > to> > > > > > be> > > > > > > > just like the RA and hide until its beyond miserable and> > > then> > > > > we> > > > > > will> > > > > > > > find it.> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > So still no diagnosis and I still have to suffer. He did> > > tell> > > > > me> > > > > > to> > > > > > > > do some 40-80 minutes of cardio workout a day he said 9 out> > > > of> > > > > 10> > > > > > > > people are out of shape. I just looked at him. I think I> > > know> > > > > if I> > > > > > > > was out of shape I hardly think I am that out of shape. But> > > > > > whatever> > > > > > > > I will do my best.> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > Thanks for listening!> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > Sandie> > > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > > ______________________________________________________________________> > > > > __> > > > > > Meet the new AOL.ca. Free radio, music, videos, news & > > > > > entertainment â?" with a Canadian perspective.> > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

It's never been THAT much of an Issue for me before, Mama-Sher...it HAS been an eye-opener reading about how the rest of you all do the Health Service Dance!

There's a lot of pressure here to help country folk on Kidney Dialysis & receiving Cancer treatments ..all the stats show that our country folk have much worse survival stats than our 'big city' folk (They're among the best in the world!) But NONE of us do as badly as our indigenous people!

Small population, huge distances & uneven wealth distribution between city & country people are all part of the problem. Government Assistance is there & very good IF you qualify through the Income Test...those of us that JUST fall below the cut-off line are the ones that cop the tough end of the deal!

Just as well I'm a tough old Boiler, (Chook in case you dun know!)

in Oz

> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > Well it was what i figured the appt was to be. I dont know> > > > I> > > > > > just> > > > > > > > > cant get my hopes up to much with these doctors. I suspect> > > > > > > whatever> > > > > > > > > I have will sit and drive me miserable for awhile before> > > > they> > > > > > are> > > > > > > > > able to see what it is and do something about. He was a nice> > > > > > > > > doctor. Did an exam and said he wanted to check two things,> > > > > one> > > > > > a> > > > > > > > > blood test for emphasyma he said he does it on all his> > > > > patients> > > > > > > but> > > > > > > > > secondly he said your tests show you have the beginning of> > > > > > > emphasyma -> > > > > > > > > he said did they tell you that, I said no they didnt. So he> > > > > > said I> > > > > > > > > really quit smoking at the best time possible for me and to> > > > > not> > > > > > > > > start. he said this blood test will tell him if I have a> > > > > > genetic> > > > > > > it> > > > > > > > > gene for emphasyma if I do he said we want to know this now> > > > > and> > > > > > > not> > > > > > > > > in 20 years. He also ordered the exercise stress test. He> > > > > said> > > > > > > lets> > > > > > > > > see what you can do, lets see if its your heart or lungs or> > > > > if> > > > > > its> > > > > > > > > neither and rule some of this out for you so then you know.> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > He said unfortunatly with people who have auto-immune> > > > issues> > > > > he> > > > > > > has> > > > > > > > > seen it take a few years up to five years before anything of> > > > > > > > > signifigance shows up before they know what it is to treat.> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > So I will go to that test, and see the GI doc at the end of> > > > > the> > > > > > > month> > > > > > > > > and then I will just see my regular GP until something major> > > > > > > > > happens. And just document things there really isnt> > > > anything> > > > > I> > > > > > can> > > > > > > > > do about it. My GP called last night my other tests were> > > > > fine,> > > > > > > and I> > > > > > > > > told her about the lung appt she said yep this thing is> > > > going> > > > > > to> > > > > > > be> > > > > > > > > just like the RA and hide until its beyond miserable and> > > > then> > > > > > we> > > > > > > will> > > > > > > > > find it.> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > So still no diagnosis and I still have to suffer. He did> > > > tell> > > > > > me> > > > > > > to> > > > > > > > > do some 40-80 minutes of cardio workout a day he said 9 out> > > > > of> > > > > > 10> > > > > > > > > people are out of shape. I just looked at him. I think I> > > > know> > > > > > if I> > > > > > > > > was out of shape I hardly think I am that out of shape. But> > > > > > > whatever> > > > > > > > > I will do my best.> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > Thanks for listening!> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > Sandie> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > > ______________________________________________________________________> > > > > > __> > > > > > > Meet the new AOL.ca. Free radio, music, videos, news & > > > > > > entertainment â?" with a Canadian perspective.> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > >> >>