Do Doctors really understand

6 weeks ago I got my final diagnosis of Bilateral Bronchiectasis and Emphysema, and my medication was changed.

The only problem was that the clinic was running one and a half hours late, so there was little time to discuss medication changes.

As well as my normal ventolin and Symbicort 400, I was put on a Spiriva inhaler once a day and mucus capsules which break the stuff free of my lungs each day

When we went to see a family doctor, I felt as if I was wasting my time, as she really did not want to discuss my medication changes because, in her words, the hospital consultant should have done it.

She also got rattled that she was expected to do my prescription, because she said the hospital should have done it.

I asked what order I had to take the extra inhalers, but she did not say, and did not even look them up.

In passing she said that once the new spiriva inhaler and mucus  tablets started working, I would not need to use my ventolin inhaler as much, and in all possibility I should be able to cut it out.

In the end we had a long talk with our local chemist, who was disgusted,  and said that the ventolin was the most important inhaler, because it opened the lungs, and allowed the Spiriva and Symbicort inhaler medication to get right inside the lungs.

I always had two ventolin inhalers, one left at home, and one in my coat pocket where ever I went, but this has now been cut down to one.

Yesterday the weather was heavy and I felt terrible, as if my chest was being crushed by a large belt.

This left me wondering whether to use the ventolin at lunch time as I was originally told, or try to do without it. 

Originally I was told to use the ventolin 4 times a day, when I was struggling, so I guess I need to ask the specialist when I see him next.

I am really looking forward to discussing this with the chest consultant early next month, in the hope of getting somewhere.