So far I've had chest xray and ct scan in the early part of this year, then finally got to see a resp consultant 4th Sept who ordered bloods for allergies and put me on 250mcg preventative inhaler up from my 50mcg one, saying he suspects it's asthma or allergy driven. I am just in the middle of my 7th chest infection since Covid in Oct, which i got after having flu for 10 days.
In between all these infections have a constant crackly/bubbly noise as I breathe with low energy (ie can't stand for long in a queue) I'm at my wits' end, and feel instinctively that this is not asthma or allergies but something like COPD, bronchiecstasis or maybe a lung infection. Over the year I've had 5,7 and 10 day courses of amoxcillin and it's always the same, I see some improvement then I go downhill and get infected again.
The consultant said he'd see me again once all the blood tests and repeat CT scan were back- this isn't until 16th Oct for the actual scan, but my asthma nurse said on the screen it shows he said 3 months until the next appointment- giving me time to have at least 2 if not 3 chest infections in the meantime which is what's started happening.
I'm after a few bits of advice- how much is a private resp consultant appointment? can PALS do anything re this past year basically fire fighting this with antibiotics, with only recently seeing a resp specialist?
I didn't mention to the consultant what I thought it was as I'm afraid he didn't seem open to my point of view and decided it was asthma/allergies, he didn't seem the type to take the patient's view into account. Surely since being put on much stronger inhaler and not long after that getting a chest infection that disproves asthma as a cause? He also mentioned possibly getting an injection for people who are susceptible to chest infections, but didn't request that be put in place. I have flu and covid jab booked end of Oct but am scared I will get Covid before then.