Short of breath and change of doctor

Bit of an odd one, but not sure if I should be worried or not.

I have noticed that I have started to get very short of breath which I assumed was because I was getting old and unfit. So I got an appointment to see my Doctor, unfortunately I have moved recently so went to see my old doctor (who is quite senior and has always been great) and he informed me I have to switch to a closer practice 5 mins drive away rather than 20 mins drive.

Thing is; before he asked me to switch he quickly checked my breathing/chest and did a blow test and noted its ~55% lower than it should be; and he mentioned that I needed a load of tests (xray, chest scan & spirometry) and I need to get an appointment with a new doctor today to schedule this as this needs investigating.

So off I went to my new Doctors (he’s in his twenty looks like he hasn’t long been out of medical school) and basically got told, he didn’t have the time to do this now, I should come back in a week and he didn’t think I would need anything other than a spirometry test, even though he noticed I was wheezing just talking to him and he didn’t do anything other than look stuff up on the computer when I was there.

So my question is…… can you bin your Doctor after one visit? Or should I wait a week and see what happens as I have only seen him once and perhaps I am biased because he is recently qualified.

Is there another doctor at the practise? You could always ask to see them and see what they say.

I wouldn’t be too impressed with his comment that he doesn’t have time for this!

I walked into town yesterday afternoon, and by the time I got to the bank I was breathless, wheezing, coughing, none of which are usual for me.
Today I’m much better, the difference being today the atmosphere is clear, whereas yesterday it was thick and murky, full of particulates from the Sahara and Europe.
It could just be the smog.

Could be the smog, as its much worse than normal.

I can keep doing things (I did my 44 mile commute on Tuesday) its just that at times I feel like I am gasping for air, and I wheeze walking up a single set of stairs and having a sustained conversation is difficult at times as I run out of breath. He noted this as I talked to him, but didn’t seem concerned; unlike my old Doctor who actually got me worried about it as he seemed quite alarmed.

Not sure if I should bin him now or wait a week for my next appointment and see what happens……

What was the time between visiting your old and new Dr?

24 hours, so it was pretty quick. Basically left one doctors went to the other filled the forms in and got an appointment for the next day.

If you’re fit enough to ride 44 miles you shouldn’t be wheezing. Perhaps your new doc just thinks you’re another old unfit wreck and thinks it’s normal.

Which is probably why he suggested waiting a week as you had tests done the day before and I take it hadn’t got any worse in those 24 hours.

I take it hadn’t got any worse in those 24 hours.

I don’t think so, thing is now its been pointed out to me you start to get worried and notice *everything*. Hence my concern I am over reacting.

Oh and you didn’t need to switch Dr you can use what ever GP you chose.

Oh and you didn’t need to switch Dr you can use what ever GP you chose.

Apparently not, they have catchment areas and I am now ~ 3 miles outside of there boundary

Oh and you didn’t need to switch Dr you can use what ever GP you chose.
Apparently not, they have catchment areas and I am now ~ 3 miles outside of there boundary

When I moved I wanted to join a surgery 10 miles away as they have a Dr with specialist knowledge of snowsports injury and a better physio. I was told No as there was a surgery 5 miles away and I was in their catchment area. Whatever happened to the choice we were promised.

Guess they have that set then as the choices allows to chose unless they have a valid reason set up.