[roads]

I'll be 67 soon, I'm less & less able to breathe,
Dozens of tests, getting nowhere.
I'm alone, so depression is worsening but I don't want to up to meds.
I need a rush in tests. Medics drag tests, to maximize insurance costs.

What can I do to speed this up? I want answers NOW!!
Please, any ideas.
Roadie

[roads]

flu/asthma symptoms for two months--not responding, now X-rays
I'll be 67 soon, I'm less & less able to breathe,
Dozens of tests, getting nowhere.
I'm alone, so depression is worsening but I don't want to up to meds.
I need a rush in tests. Medics drag tests, to maximize insurance costs.

What can I do to speed this up? I want answers NOW!!
Please, any ideas.
Roadie

[shezbut]

Are you working with a regular Joe MD or a pulmonary doctor?

Maybe you can check out this link to see if it provides you with information that might help you. I hope that you're able to find the cause and relief of your misery soon!

What Is a Pulmonologist/Pulmonary Specialist? - COPD - HealthCommunities.com

[roads]

PCP + pulmonary, and they seem to work well together.

[shezbut]

What's your Oxygen level in your blood? When they put that oximeter tester on your forefinger. (Normal level is right up around 97-100. If around 89 or lower, some oxygen assistance is needed.) Some people are okay with an oxygen tank for 20 minutes a few times per day. Other people require an oxygen tank all throughout the day and night to keep their oxygen levels healthy.

[Jan1212]

Any new allergens in your house? Did you move? New pets - are they shedding? Were you near smoke(rs) in the past?
Are you coughing up anything?
I'm curious to know what kind of tests they ran (bloodwork, spit test, MRI, biopsy)

[ECHOES]

The respiratory part of this flu can really linger for a long time. And now it's allergy season.
I'm sure your docs are taking that into consideration.
Testing doesn't help you feel any better, when it doesn't provide answers.
But I think they are testing in an organized manner. I think that has to be done, to rule out this, then focus on that and rule out that, etc. Like a person with pain in their arm could have the pain due to anything from bone cancer to fracture to heart attack to... So the docs triage and do tests to rule out one thing, then go on to the next thing.

That said, I do think there is at least one particular physician's group here that seems to send patients through as many of their specialist as possible, all located in the same group and building.

I hope you get some answers soon and they can help you feel better and leave you alone!

[Perna]

I'm 62 and know it can be frustrating when doctors are dealing with something they don't understand. I have adult-onset, non-allergenic asthma but I still have odd sensitivities, like weather patterns and my husband smokes and I have a couple cats, a dusty/all carpet house, etc. Every couple of years my breathing goes out of control and trying to figure out "why" at that moment, is impossible!

In January of 2012 I got bronchitis, didn't realize it (started as a cold) and ended up going to the ER in an ambulance, they'd get my oxygen level up but after the breathing treatment, it would immediately plummet again. It took 2-3 days before I felt like I wasn't perhaps going to die and was very scary/depressing to me, literally not to be able to move without losing my breath. Prednisone finally helped after a couple days.

[unaluna]

Any answers from the xrays? PM me anytime. my vision is much improved, I can come take care of you. Not only am I an excellent driver, I'm a very good nurse. Altho I do like taking temperatures a little too much...

(((Roadie))) It all sounds so frustrating, I don't know how the system works over there but it doesn't sound too good, I am thinking of you and I hope that you start to feel better soon