It’s good to hear you are all being strong . I live in Goa, India where docs are not used to being asked questions and find the patient ‘tiresome’.

I was diagnosed via CT scan in the 3rd week of April after two years of a dry cough. I sought treatment from a Pulmologist in Goa who was so busy with COVID patients and getting media attention for his work in this pandemic that he could not spare me time after the first consultation. He passed me on to a Rheumotologist doctor friend after blood tests detected that I had Connective tissue disease and also early Rheumatoid arthritis apart from ILD with fibrosis . Apparently the tests detected that I also had contracted COVID sometime earlier ( and did not know it) which further worsened my lungs.
The Pulmologist informed me that he would decide my treatment jointly with the Rheumotologist and after the Rheumotologist had seen and treated me I was to return to the Pulmologist for further treatment. However, sadly he could not spare me time for an appointment later and I was stuck with just the Rheumotologist treatment for suppressing my immune system which he said would work ‘just fine’ to treat my lungs as well.

But I was not convinced & especially got anxious when my cough worsened over the past month.
In desperation I sought a virtual consultation with a reputed Mumbai Pulmologist doctor who suggested I start treatment with Nintedanib . He sent me a prescription, but told me to use it only after he has seen my PFT and 6 min walk test reports and given me the go ahead.

It makes me angry that I lost 4 months waiting for my lungs to get the targeted treatment they needed to throttle the progress of the fibrosis. With so many people dying here with COVID I suppose my high profile Goa Pulmologist didn’t find my needs as critically in need of attention. I am 70 , there were younger patients to attend to needing urgent medical help.

The PFT and 6 min walk test reports were sent to the Mumbai Pulmologist doctor by email yesterday. I expect a reply will come by Monday whether I should start Nintedanib.

It’s v tough here in India. I had to also push my doctor to prescribe one of two injections for my osteoporosis which was expected to be negatively impacted by the heavy steroids I was prescribed by him.

It’s been a battle, but now that my lung fibrosis treatment is just around the corner finally I am now hopeful, and decided I am going to do all that needs to be done to fight this. Lung exercises, walking, yoga, - the works.

Yes, we need a good doctor and our own determination to fight this. .

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