I started this for the simple reason that when I was first diagnosed with COPD I was not given a rescue pack automatically, it actually took many flare ups and exasperations later, so 2 years later a friend in the admin department asked me are you using your rescue pack when I was looking and feeling not so good, I then asked her about it was that what lead me onto getting and asking for correct medications from the doctor, which I should've been on automatically.
Just after Covid lockdown there was still a lot of people going around in masks and getting Covid, I started back working again and was finding it hard to breathe, it was also difficult walking upstairs and walking around 100 meters, this was happening to me when I also had a runny nose so I thought I had a cold.
A friend from work suggested I go the town hall to get a Covid test just to rule it out or to confirm I had it and stay off work, test results were negative and as I was being told I looked really unwell I was told/ persuaded to go to the walk in centre where I was informed I may have COPD as-well as a severe cold or the flu, I was given antibiotics and steroids to help me recover as I also needed a week off work.
After I recovered I went to see the doctor and hospital for chest X-rays, then as soon as they had the results in I was given an appointment with the hospital COPD consultant. There began my journey down the COPD road of learning about my disease and also learning about how the hospital and my doctors and their staff treat support and care and inform their patients.
Unfortunately I found to my disappointment that the road I was on was a difficult path and the information I needed and should of had from the start was in fact something I needed to fight for constantly, this is why I started this website, so I hope you enjoy it and find it helpful on your own journey of discovery.