I have a breathing problem I discussed with my RN when she came for a normal visit today which resulted in a phone appointment with the VA Lung Clinic next Monday. Hoping they have something that will help and not get something that will make my situation more difficult.
I hope the discussion with the lung specialist will provide some help for you, Bill. As for sharing, I think it's nice that we have a place to share what's going on with us. Sometimes it helps to just put it out there, and maybe have a little discussion/sympathy/input on our situation. We are all of an age where there are going to be physical problems and "misery loves company!" ETA--oops; I see you edited your post so now this doesn't make much sense. But since most of my posts don't make sense, I'll just leave it.
@Beth Gallagher No, I did leave you hanging out with my edit. I apologize for that. My original post made me appear to have diarrhea of-the mouth. I was going to delete my post but you had already posted and I could no longer delete. So I edited and all I did was make it worse. Sorry.
Mr. Boggs, there is no reason to apologize. I enjoyed your longer version as I enjoy most of your posts, so keep it up! I sincerely hope there is further treatment for your lung issues, Bill.
I hope they make your life easier, Bill. I'm glad I'm not the only one who starts out writing War and Peace and then does the Reader's Digest version. As often as not, I'll just leave the wall of text as it is.
Bill since this is a phone appointment just be honest with the doctor and let him know exactly what's going on between what you tell him and what the nurse reports he should be able to help you. I'm wishing you the best and you will be in my thoughts and prayers. I'm not trying to pry but do you have an inhaler 4 your breathing problem.
I answered all those questions in my original post but thought it too much, that I was running off at the mouth. To be fair I have enjoyed the best the VA has to offer in medication and treatments for many years, and only after they told me there was nothing else they could do for me but to keep doing what I was doing that I quit going to the VA hospital, telling them it was not necessary only to be told that each time, that it was a real hassle to get up to the hospital and those getting me up to OKC didn’t need the hassle either. I do have some serious lung and heart problems but many of us have serious problems. Of course I take albuterol, that's a rescue puffer. I take Budesonide 160/ Fomoter, I'm taking the latest Tiotropium/Actuatt oral inhalation, that a new Spivira. I take metforumm for diabetes, And I take a 5MG Predisone daily. I carry Nitro tablets around in my pockets. When I move around, say go to the bathroom, or in the kitchen to wash dishes or get a glass of water and pick something off the floor I sometime get so short of breath my vision closes in. I feel there is no breath to get, I'm going to fall and grab the bathroom lavatory, the kitchen cabinet and hug it because I'm about to pass out. When I stand up from a sitting position my blood pressure drops thirty or more points immediately. It used to be 20 points but has worsened the last few months. What that means is my heart muscle is not pumping enough blood that carries oxygen to my vital organs i.e. brain, heart lungs and kidneys. These are some of my problems.I know all of you have yours. My NP was trying to find out if there was anything new that she didn't know about and she consulted the lung people again, hense the telephone appointment. I guess that's new sinse the pandemioc or new because I will not go to the VA hospital, lung clinic because the hassle and pain to get there is too much. I apoogize again to Beth for deleting my original post and leaving her comment to hang out there without full meaning. Maybe this will clear it up a little. My thoughts at first was how often do we get a telephone appointment from a doctor, then later I thought it's the pandemic, stupid, not because you won't come to the hospital. Sometime my thinking cap is misplaced and I run off at the mouth and talk too much.
Don’t worry about writing too much Bill. Most of the time what we think is too much information is actually helping others from having to fill in the blanks with what could be totally incorrect stuff. That all said, my prayers are that they find something much better for you so you can live a better and easier life.
Since you are on Medicare too I assume. Have you considered going to a Non VA doctor specialist? I only use the VA for my hearing.
Hey, Lon, Yes I have used civilian doctors, back in Lubbock, went regularly to a pulmonologist before moving to Oklahoma , then the my daughter who is a nurse recommended a regular MD she worked with at the hospital. He had been a Respiratory Therapist for years then went on to become a MD. He got me on the medicaftion that has done me moree good thanany other. He was a young doctor but helped me the most.. I did go to one after I moved to Norman but didn't jive with him. Had doctor studing to be a Pulmonologist. He was good I thought and he was frank with me but he hellped knock a long term inflammation I had for a long time. Right now it is too big a hassle to go anywhere, too much coorination to arrange transportion, etc. And I gueesss it has been mor or less my opinion the more you can stay away from hospital and fro doctors the better off you might be. Iwant to see if they can hellp me without too much endeavor on myt part. Have a good one, Lon.,
Thanks, Bobby. One of my minor fears is due to the isolation, being home bound as it were, when I get an opportunity to converse as on this forum, I'll spout off at the mouth so much I'll show my ignorance. Sort of take advantage of someone's sympathetic ear and become the forum's bore. Forget how to behave out in public.