How do I get the doctor to listen to me?

Question

I have had breathing difficulties for the past four years. Every time I go to the doctor, they tell me it's asthma. I know it's not. They give me some medication, inhalers or steroids. They make no difference. I go back, they give me the same stuff again.

This is the NHS, and they want you out the door in 5 minutes, they don't want to treat anything tricky, I understand that, but I'm getting desperate.

What can I do to get some appropriate treatment?

Answer 1

I used to live in N.H.S. world myself, but I never experienced that problem because so many doctors were personal friends. But it was a long time ago, so it sounds like things may have changed a lot. I tell people all the time that they truly do need to sign up with a doctor with the right "manner" and then stick with that same one so that you and he (or she) develop a relationship. I know this isn't something that happens overnight, and you may have to "fire" a few docs before you find yours. I know in the N.H.S. there's a bit of rigmarole involved when you change doctors (at least there used to be), but ya gotta do it.
Next thing you need to do is sit down and write up the whole history of this condition that is troubling you. Everything, when it started, what kind of symptons you had, how it developed, and everything that you are experiencing now. Next thing, get on the old Internet, and research absolutely everything you can find on asthma. It has only just come to me sitting here, you might start by typing in pseudo-asthma -pertaining to symptoms that appear to be, but are not asthma - related.I seem to remember there are a few that masquerade like asthma but have other origins.
You also have to write down everything you know, or believe you know, that makes you believe so strongly that your symptoms are, in fact, not asthma. In other words "go to war" and then go to your doctor armed with INFORMATION. So that doctor knows you are no ordinary "dumbcluck" patient , but somebody who has done their homework. My own physician, with whom I have been for about 20 years now, once joked with me when I went to see her about something.... "Ahh, I guess you want a second opinion" LOLOL she knows me well enough, that when I go to her for something, I've already done some serious homework, and I'm going to say "OK, now here's what I think I've got. If you don't agree, tell me what YOU think it is and why. I have always found, over the years, that you get a doctor's best help when you get his attention. When you get his attention, you get his respect. Doctors ARE human, of course, and they come in all shapes, sizes and attitudes, just like the rest of us. But when you go and sit in his office, you are not there as an inferior, any more than you feel inferior to the plumber, or the carpenter you hire to do something that you can't do and he can because that's his trade. So (always nicely of course) you go and present yourself as somebody who is hiring this particular expert to take care of your problem... ."This is what the problem is, this is how I feel, this is what I want you to do about it -- and HERE is what I already know" - at which point you hand the doctor the results of your research - or you make him listen to you telling it.
What IS important, in your case, of course, is that you HAVE to be able to explain to the doctor exactly why you do not believe you are being... or have been... diagnosed correctly, and what it is that makes you believe that this is NOT asthma, and then invite the doctor to discuss it with you.
I assure you, that the right kind of doctor will, at this point, be all ears. They don't want to DO "conveyor belt doctoring" and your own demeanor when you walk in there and start talking, will quickly tell that physician that this time he is NOT dealing with just another "lame duck" gliding by on the conveyor belt .

Answer 2

If it isn't asthma, what do you think it is? My husband had been seeing a doctor about 3 times a year for tightness in his chest - thinking heart attack - they would tell him it was respiratory congestion and he too was given an inhaler - but asthma was never mentioned. It was finally diagnosed as asthma and now that he is on a maintenance program he is fine - but he has to stay on a maintenance program - and there are times that he needs emergency treatment - like when he gets around smoke. Could this be the case with you? Maybe the meds aren't the right ones or you are still being exposed to the allergen/trigger so you do not experience relief. You may have to research on your own and bring the information showing what you think you really have. Doctors are not gods and don't always pay attention to the less obvious diseases.

Answer 3

I have got no faith in doctors nowadays. I don't think these younger doctors know much at all. Seems like any 'jack the lad' can become a doctor easily these days. They all learnt it from text books. Give me an older gentleman doctor any day, they will take their time and they actually know whats wrong with you. The younger ones nowadays know nothing. You need to see a distinguished doctor. Change practices if you have a lot of young ones there. Other than that, i would pop to your local A&E when its really bad, maybe they will be able to help you. Good Luck. P.S. You can thank Mr B-liar for the 5 minute appointments. The more they 'herd' in and out, the better it looks for him.

Answer 4

Hi there !
why dont you ask your family members to accompany you and let them do the talking to the doctor ?
if unhappy with the present doctor, register with some other doctor..
tell your nearest and dearest member in your family that you are unhappy with the present doctor..okay ?
Contact a GOOD physiotherapist and try to learn some breathing exercises..or learn some "yoga" and "pranayana", which has been found to be helping the dyspnoeic patients in a big way..??
But ..first of all , are you right in the fact that "you are right and the doctor is wrong "..??
"are you sure that you dont have asthma" ??
anyway, wishing you a speedy recovery,
best wishes..

Answer 5

You may have allergies as well. Have you been tested for allergens? Also, you should see a pulminary specialist. As for the NHS, be persistent. The squeeky wheel gets the oil!

Dairy allergies can mimic breathing difficulties, including asthma. I too was put on several medications. Later it turned out I didn't need them.

Answer 6

Hello Banwa I don't know your symptoms or that but whatever you have it is settled on your chest my dear and has developed into a chronic condition - because you have been neglected by your physcian.

I suggest you make a statment of complaint asap to the Practice Manager of your medical centre stating clearly that you are disatidified with your primary health care and request a meeting bewteen your Doctor practice manager and you to discuss further how you feel your health condition has been misdiaginoed bla bla bla and that you wish to be treated by another Doctor and be referred to a Lung Specialits as an urgent referral case.

One thing I want to say here is that if you do find you need to make a noise and speak up and not be trampled then you stand the chance of being struck of by your Doctor. In this instance you would be better to stand your ground and have this complaint invesgatated in accordance with NHS complaint procedures you will be registered with a new Doctor by central agency

This is your body don't be bluffed off because your Doctor cant be bother he has plenty of health patients that are on his register to pay his wages.

My mum has Ashma and also Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) it is characterized by chronic obstruction of airflow out of the lungs.

(COPD) is comprised primarily of two related diseases - chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

In chronic bronchitis there is inflammation and swelling of the lining of the airways that leads to their narrowing and obstruction.

In emphysema there is permanent enlargement of the alveoli due to the destruction of the walls between alveoli.
(COPD) causes poor gas exchange in the lungs leading to decreased oxygen levels in the blood, increased carbon dioxide levels, and shortness of breath.

The major cause of (COPD) is smoking I am not necessarily suggesting that this is always the case however as my mum never smoked in her life. Other less common causes include air pollution, repeated lung damage from infections, and inherited disease (alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency).

Treatment consists of cessation of smoking, medications to open the airways and decrease inflammation, prevention of lung infections, oxygen supplementation, and pulmonary rehabilitation.

I asked my mums Physcian for a drug called Mucodyne capsules 375 mg which I got prescribed and recommended by the NHS as the best mediation for this condition. This has helped mum 81 years old and she now requirs less steriods and antibiotics for her chest she still uses the neblizer but not the inhalers. Mum doesnt take an influenza injection it made her condition worse.

What is asthma their is a lot of differeces !!!

Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (airways) that causes swelling and narrowing (constriction) of the airways. The result is difficulty breathing. The bronchial narrowing is usually either totally or at least partially reversible with treatments.

Bronchial tubes that are chronically inflamed may become overly sensitive to allergens (specific triggers) or irritants (non-specific triggers). The airways may become "twitchy" and remain in a state of heightened sensitivity. This is called "Bronchial Hyperreactivity" (BHR). It is likely that there is a spectrum of bronchial hyperreactivity in all individuals. However, it is clear that asthmatics and allergic individuals (without apparent asthma) have a greater degree of bronchial hyperreactivity than non-asthmatic and non-allergic people. In sensitive individuals, the bronchial tubes are more likely to swell and constrict when exposed to triggers such as allergens, tobacco smoke, or exercise. Amongst asthmatics, some may have mild BHR and no symptoms while others may have severe BHR and chronic symptoms

Hope this helps and you get your self sorted your too young for this stuff girl LOL.

Answer 7

Hi Banwa

Keep searching for answers by looking outside of the medical field. They are hundreds of methods to heal the body of any issue and drugs only surpress the issue (not heal it). Most disease issues are internal because the blood has toxins. The system needs to be cleansed (colon and liver especially). I know Lobelia (herb) is a wonderful healer for breathing issues. I could go on and on here, but educating yourself on self-healing is a freedom I cant explain.

Here are some sites I recommend for educating:
herbdoc.com
naturalcures.com

Best of health to you

Answer 8

Stick to your guns - don't let the doctors fool you into believing that they know better! It's your body.

Go in and say that your breathing problems have been going on for 4 years now and you'd like referred for further investigations. It may take a few months for your appointment to come through.

Good luck

Answer 9

If you're not having any luck with your current doctor, switch doctors. In addition, try researching your problem and see if you can find a cause. Also, don't be afraid to confront your doctor with your concerns. Tell him/her that the medication is not working. It's your well-being that is on the line.

Answer 10

You sound desperate!

I suggest that you write to the practice manager and state that you are unhappy with the treatment to date and it appears to be making no difference. As such, you would like to see a different doctor for a second opinion or be referred to a specialist hospital unit where they can take a closer look at you. That is your right as a patient and as a human being.

Nothing happens unless you make yourself heard.