Running out of positivity....beginn ing to struggle.

Katek; do ask about Singulair if you've never used it. I think your Dr must have been the duty doctor today and Fridays are always horrendous..the duty doctor still has to leave the surgery straight away if there is an emergency .

Katek I do hope you can get this sorted out soon - no advice to offer, but a shoulder to lean on.

Pahahaha!! Thought you meant I should take steam inhalation with me to prove a point!!
Brain is addled obviously.

Finally....results inconclusive. What does that mean?? Clearing infection? Threatening infection? It's been but gone infection? I got hold of nurse practitioner who has booked me in for appointment on Monday with new locum covering maternity leave as I'm still wheezing

Shoot me now.

It was your ears I was thinking of Katek - certainly no other orifice!

Steam out of ears more like!

Good idea.

Just keep on ringing! - a pain I know, but what else can you do? Can you go round and sit there - if you fill the waiting room with steam they might notice you!!

Just called again....still hasn't looked at them. My bp has gone through top of my head.

It's appalling that someone who is unwell has to go through all this. Well done for persevering.

Yes, we understand that GPs are overstretched, but this cannot be allowed to interfere with the well being of their patients - for which service they are paid handsomely.

There is a good argument that certain routine GP duties could be passed on to experienced nurse practitioners to alleviate the pressure.

It sounds as though your GP practice is stretched to its limits. If the results are there, it should be possible for someone to ring back with them - even if it is to ask the receptionist to say it is all clear - and if it is not, the GP should be initiating treatment today. I am afraid that you will just have to continue badgering them today. It is an impossible situation, as I am sure your realise their pressures - but the bottom line is that you need treatment for something that has been going on a long time now.

I am surprised that the GP is going out to emergencies - I thought that those were all dealt with via 111 and finished up blocking corridors in A &E!

This is getting beyond a bloody joke!! Still have wheeze and rattle so doc decides last Fri to do sputum sample to check for infection. Sample went in on Mon. Results back today. Phoned at 12....doc hasn't looked at them, call back later. Called back 5 mins ago....doc just back from emergency and still hasn't looked at results. I suggest calling back at 5 'oh no, she says, it will be Monday now, doctor has so many emergencies to deal with' I point out that I've been waiting/suffering for a week so I'm actually at front of the queue (apart from life threatening illness) and what are they going to do about it. We are now off to see if she can chase doc up. What do I do in the face of this? Register as temp patient elsewhere? Go to private GP? At wits end.

*need

Just called for routine appointment to request referral........9th September! Email to practice manager sent-I don't actually need to see doctor for referral so have asked for it to be processed anyway as they have all info they beed. Outwith their norm so will see what happens now.

I'm shocked and saddened by your trials and tribulations Katek, the lack of consistency and care is appalling.
If it's possible I'd demand an urgent referral to a Respiratory consultant and, if you feel poorly to go to your nearest A+E, as clearly you're not getting the best treatment from your surgery.

I do hope things improve quickly, you must be so fed up with it all.

katek your surgery should have an asthma nurse. Ask if you can have an urgent appointment as you are seriously worried about your difficulty breathing. If you get to see a GP ask if you can have a referral to a chest specialist as you don't seem to be getting any better. Make a nuisance of yourself until you get the sort of service you need. Be more pushy (I work in a GP surgery and we would not let someone like you pass through the system untreated).

Hmm. Was sideways in preview

Sorry it's sideways-it's right way round on my phone.

Our lovely beach today-balm to the soul.

I'm pleased to read you're feeling more positive, Katek, and couldn't agree more about you taking charge of your health in the manner you describe. Go to it!

Have you ever tried taking Singulair tablets? [apologies if you have mentioned it before and I've forgotten].

Katek, my asthma seems to have been worse this year. The asthma nurse seemed quite happy with my tests but when I said I felt worse, she mentioned that one of the GPs specialises in respiratory problems. I made an appointment to see her and she said my chest is clear. I am coughing frequently and cough up a clear froth (sorry, tmi) and then feel better for a while. The GP wasn't worried about me at all.

I don't feel at all well today and don't know what is causing it. Maybe there is some pollution or pollen. I don't know. I hope you feel better soon.

Katek you are entitled to NHS care and you do not have to pay privately but this would get you seen much faster and the consultant can easily put you on his/her NHS list if you stay local. Good luck with it- if you assert when at the GP don't get upset just keep saying I think its time I saw the specialist - they cant refuse you.

Thank you all so very, very much for your kind thoughts and words. This is the strength of Gransnet-being able to support one another in difficult times. I feel much better psychologically for having been able to tell my story and reassured that it's not just me being overdemanding. I'm always concerned I'm just going to be a nuisance.

There have been lots of good suggestions proferred and I'm certainly going to examine them. My practice is failing me so it's time I took matters into my own hands. I have neither an asthma nurse/plan or respiratory consultant so I think that will be my first port of call. I'm going to dig into the savings and ask for private referral to chest specialist. Our local BMI hospital also offers private GP care and I'm wondering about that-not on any permanent basis but just for a few appointments until this is sorted out. I know I shouldn't have to go privately but it appears that I may have to in this instance. No-not may, will!

I've also decided to backtrack on all medications to where I was before this started. (Apart from steroids-can't just stop those) They're not helping so I'm just filling myself full of drugs to no avail. Back to basics and increase nebuliser use until I see someone and get test results. I'm also going to investigate changing practices to somewhere that's a bit more stable. It may not be as convenient, but no point in convenience if the practice isn't helping.

I have had bloods done and apparently I'm actually quite healthy (!), all functions are normal, low cholesterol etc. Chest X-ray clear and I also had MRI few months ago for other reasons but as it was full body I presume any other areas of concern would have shown up.

I'm sitting on our lovely beach with dd1, dh, dgs and dgd-hoping all that sea air will help!

Thank you all. x

Has anyone suggested phoning NHS 24 on 111?

The website www.nhs24.com/contactus/ says
"The helpline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
When to phone

You should only phone the NHS 24 helpline:

- if you or someone you know is unwell
- when your doctor’s surgery is closed and you feel it can’t wait until it re-opens."
so perhaps do it after hours.