Appointmenting

Appointment with specialist this afternoon. I have peed in a jar & written him a little history of how we got here. Hoping for some answers...

History of problems

• I am allergic to penicillin.
• Diagnosed with asthma in childhood at approximately 8 years old.
• Susceptible to chest infections throughout childhood, usually once or twice a year. These became more frequent & debilitating in adulthood.
• Repeated chest infections in 2008 & increase in pain experienced led to diagnosis of pleurisy September 2008 by GP.
• Dec 2008-March 2009 ear infection led to labyrinthitis causing dizziness & nausea for a prolonged period.
• June 2009 realised severity of exposure to contaminants from pigeon faeces & dead matter in work environment; maggots fell through ceiling of office, found to be many pigeons nesting on top of rotting pigeon carcasses in roof space above office.
• Working in prison was generally filthy environment with pigeons, excrement & feathers in most areas. Constant irritation to eyes & runny nose.
• September 2009 to June 2011 experienced repeated chest infections causing absence from work for increasingly prolonged periods.
• June 2011 chest & throat infection; very painful very intense symptoms.
• July 2011 left prison to work in community.
• September 2011 chest infection very painful. Repeated visits to GP. GP's stated that they could not hear any noises in lungs that would suggest infection despite persistence of cough, pain & breathlessness.
• November 2011 admission to A&E diagnosed pneumonia.
• Pain, feeling breathless, dizziness, feeling excessively tired, difficulty exerting self pretty much constant since.
• Regular trips to GP since then have resulted in regular prescriptions of antibiotics .
• Last spirometry test shows age of lungs is 72 years old.
• June & September 2012 without antibiotics however still experiencing some symptoms but not severe. Requested referral to chest specialist as I felt that antibiotics were not resolving my problem.
• July 2012 HIV test taken at request of GP prior to referral to chest specialist. Result negative.
• September 2012, symptoms more severe. Return to GP & antibiotics prescribed.
• October 2012 attended HRI for chest x ray.
• October 2012, symptoms & pain increase. Attend A&E at HRI. Diagnosed pleurisy. Prescribed more antibiotics. Seen by Dr Naeck who recommended discuss fully exposure to pollutants in prison environment with specialist & advised might be necessary to undergo broncoscopy to assess cause of problem.
• Symptoms have continued since. While less severe still experiencing chest pain, breathlessness & dizziness when active. Absent form work currently.
• Physical health is limiting my ability to function; I have been absent form work & when at work unable to function to the best of my abilities due to feeling unwell. I have been experiencing anxiety & depression also, (I am currently attending sessions with counsellor & CBT to address this.) My poor physical health has been a significant contributory factor to the severity of the symptoms of my anxiety & depression.