Some advice please

hi John

Only just coming to terms myself with diagnosis, my gp has not offered me flu injection either, or any form of support, I have never smoked in my life so i'm abit up set at diagnosis, but I do suffer from Hiatus hernia, and reflux I have medication for that, so my diet isn't to resricted, I'd just put your self forward or get it done at the local chemist. Thats what I shall do. I take vitamin c d and e and Astragalus a natrual herb, anything worth a try, keep active ride a bike swim.

Sounds like the same things I'm going through. I've been trying to tell my doctors for years and years about how tired I get & so short of breath but they never seemed to care much.  It was always, "You're overweight, you need to exercise more, it's your depression and anxiety, it's your sleep apnea, it's your acid reflux and on and on...."  I kept going to the ER and my Primary Care Doctor and then started seeing a cardiologist for EKG's and echo and stress tests. Finally my cardiologist flat out told me I needed to see a Phychiatrist and get on medication - as all of my so called symptoms were in my head!  I finally just insisted that my Sleep Medicine Doctor do more testing and after almost 10 years with this doctor x-rays and a spirometer test was done & out of the blue he states that I have COPD! It's so sad that most doctors seem to have so little regard for their patients and that they dismiss their symptoms so easily. I for one am very frustrated as I should have been diagnosed years earlier and started treatment before things began to progress to the point where I have such a difficult time breathing.  I was a smoker for almost 20 years and had the doctors told me the damage that was being done to my lungs (through chest x-rays and other testing) I would have quit years sooner instead of just 5 months ago when I got this diagnosis. So now I've taken it upon myself to try and eat healthier, I avoid spicy, heavy meals to help my acid reflux and eat very small meals & never late in the day.  I also avoid any alcohol and avoid citrus and acidy drinks and colas and am trying to get out and walk maybe a mile or so 3-4 times a week.  All of this is helping but if I'd started being more proactive years ago maybe I would be breathing better now and have more energy and less anxiety.  So don't depend 100% on the doctors - take matters into your own hands, read up on the internet about changes you can make to help your acid reflux and lungs and if you smoke please quit! I hope things get better for you soon and that things for you haven't progressed as much as they have for me.  You haven't said what, if any, kind of lung problems you have and whether you're seeing a Pulmonologist or an ENT or Gastroenterologist for your acid reflux.  Don't let them put you off; always insist on answers and if you may need more testing, medication or treatment of any kind. Sorry about my lengthy reply, I just feel for others like myself who sometimes don't have the answers or don't know where to turn to help themselves. 

All the best to you!

The Pneumonia jab is a bit different. It is once every 10 years, but has not been recognised to be effective, and in the UK it is only being given to a single year range of ages at the moment, and may fall by the wayside anyway.  But if you can get it, why not do so?

FYI....there are two different types of pneumonia shots.  1 shot for pneumonia is only given every 10 years, the Pneumoccal Pneumonia shot is given each year and helps with over 415 different strains of pneumonia.  The Flu shot is not given here in the states until beginning in October.  If you have COPD or Pneumonia or any compromised health condition.  This is a no brainer, your doctor should know that you need these injections and it should be on your records.  If you are on some cholesterol medications that is one reason that some COPD patients cannot take certain nebulizer and inhaler medications.  You need to demand these to keep from becoming incapacitated..due to negligence of your doctor.  If you are in the US you can go to Walgreens, CVS, or most pharmacies and recieve these injections.  I prefer to stay with my Internal Medicine doctors because it's just too important for every one to be on the same page.  As I have told each of you before, keep copies of everything (tests included) appointments, the notes, and medications, so that you have a complete file of everything that has happened during each course of your health.  Stay strong.  Don't forget your phone has a video on it.  Take it to the physicians offices and just hold it in their faces and get the words right out of their mouths so you can repeat play them back for yourself, and also take them to your next physicians office.  God Speed....Keep on breathing...do what you have to do to stay healthy.  I also take Tumeric, you can order it from the health food stores.  It's a long time centuries old remedy for lung conditions....So far, I am doing fine....Breathless.

John you won't get offered these unless you have a diagnosis of COPD, you mentioned in one of your other comments you don't have a diagnosis of COPD.

You can ask your doctor for an annual flu shot a pneumonia shot and your doctor will advise you under what circumstances these are recommended and prescribed on the NHS.