When to talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist

There is never a wrong time to talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. They are there to help you, so don’t be afraid to book an appointment if you would like to speak to someone.

You might want to talk to your healthcare team for a variety of reasons:

  • You want to find out what support might be available to you for your COPD1
  • You have persistent symptoms of COPD, particularly if you are over 35 and smoke, or used to smoke, as you will have a higher likelihood of developing COPD2,3
  • You’ve decided you’d like to cut down or stop smoking4
  • You’re not sure about using your inhaler or inhalers, or when to take some medication, or how much to take5
  • You want to know more about pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) and if it’s right for you6
  • You’ve been feeling anxious or down recently1
  • You’d like to talk about your future with COPD and what to expect1

There are so many reasons why you might want to talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist and all of them are valid. Use your handy discussion list to guide the conversation.

Want to discuss this topic in your next appointment?

Add this to your discussion list as a handy reminder to discuss this with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist at your next appointment.

Physical symptoms that people with COPD can experience are things like:2

Getting short of breath easily when you do everyday activities

Having a cough that lasts a long time

Wheezing

Coughing up more phlegm (mucus) than usual

You might get these symptoms all the time, or they might appear or get worse when you have an infection, or when you breathe in smoke or fumes.2

COPD can lead to feelings of anxiety, low mood, frustration, or fear. You might find that you:1

Are scared of having a flare-up or not being able to breathe

Have stopped socialising due to your symptoms and worry about managing your condition

Don’t sleep as well as you used to

Can feel frustrated that other people don’t understand your condition

Dislike needing regular treatment and support from others

You can use your discussion list to help remind you to talk about how you are with your COPD when you go to see your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Topic added to your list

Talking to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about how you’re feeling

You might feel embarrassed or a little shy about opening up and talking about your COPD. Unfortunately, studies show that shame can be a strong emotion for people who live with COPD, especially if you think you might be judged by others.7 But remember that if you have COPD you deserve the best care, just the same as anyone else who is unwell.

Feelings of low mood can be common for those with COPD and if this sounds like you, remember you are not alone and your medical team is there to support you. It is crucial that you ask for help because stress, anxiety or depression can affect all areas of your daily life, including how you manage your COPD.1

To help the conversation, use your handy discussion list.

Topic added to your list

The specialist may also want to get a better picture of your condition and how it affects you, including:9

 

  • Tests to find out how well your lungs are functioning
  • Tests to see if the oxygen level in your blood is significantly reduced
  • Carrying out general tests, including measuring heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature
  • Asking how often you have symptom flare-ups or chest infections
  • Finding out how short of breath you feel during everyday activities

 

They’ll also ask you things about your medical history such as:9

 

  • Whether you cough
  • If you have a lot of phlegm (mucus)
  • How your daily life is affected by your breathlessness
  • If your breathlessness is brought on by anything
  • If you smoke or if you’ve ever smoked
  • Your work history, and if you’ve been exposed to dust, fumes or chemicals
  • If you had any childhood chest problems
  • Your general health and medical problems you have had in the past

If you already have a diagnosis for COPD then a specialist will be able to help you manage the condition as well as possible, including treatments and other support.9

You may be feeling nervous about meeting with your respiratory specialist, especially for the first time. To help you feel more at ease, think about what you want to get out of your meeting. You can use your helpful discussion list to help you feel prepared and to remind you of some of the things you want to talk about.

Want to discuss this topic in your next appointment?

References

  1. Asthma + Lung UK. Looking after your mental health and well-being. Available at: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/living-with/mental-health/looking-after
  2. Asthma + Lung UK. What is COPD? Available at: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/copd-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/what-copd
  3. NHS. Living with COPD. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd/living-with/
  4. Asthma + Lung UK. How can I quit smoking. Available at: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/living-with/stop-smoking/quit
  5. Asthma + Lung UK. Medications for COPD. Available at: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/copd-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/medications-copd
  6. Asthma + Lung UK. Pulmonary rehabilitation. Available at: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/living-with/keeping-active/pulmonary-rehabilitation
  7. WebMD. Talking to your family and friends about COPD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/copd-family-friends
  8. Cambridge Dictionary. Pulmonologist. Available at: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/pulmonologist
  9. Asthma + Lung UK. How is COPD diagnosed? Available at: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/copd-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/how-copd-diagnosed