Not Happy With My Doctor

By sunnyme

1 min read

I also have been diagnosed with COPD. No stage has been given to me yet, but it's been six years.

I am having a CT scan in January to determine where my lungs are. I am not oxygen, and I pray it doesn't come to that.

I am not very happy with my Dr. I almost feel like he's gaslighting me about my issues because I still smoke.

Please, no bad thoughts. I am on Theophylline and albuterol and Symbicort. I have been on this routine forever.

Every day I am inspired and sometimes saddened by everyone'ss stories. I keep on smiling and breathing to be so thankful for each day.

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Jill.Brodie Community Admin
Hi <inline-mention username="sunnyme" user-id="2471384"/>, I can hear how frustrated you are! I can understand why you are not happy with your doctor. Many of our community members have had to go through a few doctors to find one that they thought listened to them. Would you consider trying to find someone new? This is a safe community with only positive thoughts! I am really glad you are here and wish you all the best with your appointment in January. Jill, <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a>, team member 
1. sunnyme Member
 <inline-mention username="Jill.Brodie" user-id="4603105"/>thank you, after this next visit in January I will see. My other Dr. retired and that how I got this one...
Melissa.Arnold Community Admin
<inline-mention username="sunnyme" user-id="2471384"/> Hi there. Your experience with your doctor is interesting to me. Typically, your doctor would give you a stage at the time of your initial diagnosis ... did you have pulmonary function tests done 6 years ago, or at any point since then? Just curious to know more about what happened prior to this point. And try not to beat yourself up about smoking. Quitting is HARD work and we have members here in all different stages of that journey. We certainly encourage quitting, but we will always support our members no matter what their circumstances are. If we can help you in any way or even if you just want to vent, we're here for you. Sending a hug today. -Melissa, <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>copd.net</a> team
1. sunnyme Member
 <inline-mention username="Melissa.Arnold" user-id="4698523"/> thank you so much! I go back in January after a c.t. of my lungs so maybe I will know more, Hope you have a wonderful holiday
sunnyme Member
Thank you, I feel so comfortable on this site and the help is wonderful. I really get so much form the others with their day to day, love all of you 
1. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 <inline-mention username="sunnyme" user-id="2471384"/> Hi sunnyme, and thanks so much for your kind words. This is a large part of what our online community is all about. We make every effort to provide a safe and stable environment where folks feel at ease and are relaxed enough to speak their minds. We entertain all comments, suggestions, and concerns related to all aspects of this insidious disease, COPD. Please know that you are always welcome here in our online community. If there is anything we can do to assist you, please let me or any other moderator / team member know. Warm regards, Leon (site moderator <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a>)
Wheezy1940 Member
I got off cigarettes by stepping down "vaping". I went to Vaping after having smoked 62 years. When the light bulb went off when I removed a canula from my nose and reached for a cigarette and lighter that act was one of the most ignorant acts of my life. Brilliantly I KNEW that the oxygen and the lighter were dangerous! So, why didn't I see smoking was way more dangerous? At least it pointed out to me there was something I needed to change. It took me about 8 weeks to kick everything. I stepped down the vape from 3% to .05%, to 0%. After the "need" went away just getting the vape was too inconvenient, so, lazy me I QUIT!
1. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 <inline-mention username="Wheezy1940" user-id="4610046"/> Hi Wheezy, and congratulations on being smoke-free after all this time. Your internal strength and desire to quit this habit finally won our for you! Nice work!! I guess for many of us, there is that "a ha!" moment. We appreciate your candor sharing yours with the community. This is an accomplishment that you can truly be proud of - keep up the good work! All the best, Leon (site moderator <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a>)
2. Melissa.Arnold Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="Wheezy1940" user-id="4610046"/> this is a great story. We all have our own journey and I'm glad the gradual approach was successful for you. Keep moving forward and thanks for sharing your experience with us! -Melissa, <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>copd.net</a> team
Spinbob Member
I’m in the process of establishing a new relationship with a pulmonologist. My existing pulmonologist had nothing to offer to help alleviate my wet cough and repeated infections. He said I didn’t need pulmonary rehab, ANY drugs, home therapy or even an albuterol inhaler! He kept saying my ongoing pleural effusion would resolve on its own. After a year and a half of it, I’d had enough! I found The Breather and Aerobika online. I bought both and began using them daily. In less than a month’s time my wet cough was gone. I had opened my lungs up, strengthened my respiratory muscles and coughed up all the gunk! Most of your COPD management is up to you. Ten minutes in the doctors office isn’t going to change your circumstances anywhere near as much as what you do for yourself. The more you know about your illness, the better you’ll be able to evaluate the medical care you’re receiving. I focus on education, exercise and home therapy. It works! Good luck!
1. Spinbob Member
 <inline-mention username="Leon Lebowitz, BA, RRT" user-id="2445532"/> Thanks for the encouragement Leon! The PEP devices are the core of my COPD management. I really believe virtually every person with COPD would benefit immensely from daily usage of devices like The Breather or Aerobika. I’m not surprised that a lot of COPD sufferers have never heard of these tools. My former doctor never mentioned anything to me about them, I found them on my own.
2. Leon Lebowitz, RRT Member
 <inline-mention username="Spinbob" user-id="6614821"/> It's my pleasure, SpinBob! It is a big reason for why our community philosophy - to lend support to all of our members as best we can. I am not surprised either - being aware of these types of adjunct therapies is not something the general physician is familiar with. In my facility, we all learn from one another - our Division of Critical Care and Pulmonary Medicine has some outstanding specialists who spread the word to the rest of us and we do the same! A doctor with that scope of specialized knowledge is invaluable towards managing this disease successfully. I am going to tag one of our community members, <inline-mention username="Dminor9" user-id="4727063"/>, since, like you, he incorporates this type of therapy into his own regimen of treatment. He has also been very good about sharing this therapy which works so well for him here with the community. Enjoy the upcoming weekend! Leon (site moderator <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>COPD.net</a>)