Severe Respiratory Issues: Finding it hard to get help

Hello Christianbabe410, and welcome to Connect. Have you tested for Covid? That is something to consider if your symptoms have gotten worse. You can always go to a walk-in immediate or urgent care, and a lot of pharmacies have Covid testing.

I have allergic asthma and I need to make sure my environment is free of mold spores. If there could be a possible moisture issue causing mold growth in your environment, that could be a reason for ongoing issues. I have to treat my allergies, but also find that if there is something causing mold in the kitchen, it overwhelms my ability to control it. One culprit has been the garbage disposal because food particles get stuck on the inside walls and evidently grow some mold. What helps is to fill the sink with soapy water, and pull the stopper while running the disposal to clean it. Sometimes I use a brush with a long handle to try to clean what I can reach in the disposal when it's not running of course.

I did also consult a pulmonologist and he prescribed a preventative asthma inhaler. Have you been diagnosed with asthma or allergies?

What kind of breathing problems?

@christianbabe410, it can be a challenge to get an appointment these days as most hospitals are stretched beyond their maximum. If you are referring to Mayo Clinic, you may appreciate the tips shared by members in this discussion:
- Can't get an appointment: Any tips on what to do? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cant-get-an-appointment/

Do you have a diagnosis? Or are you still in the investigatory phases of trying to figure out the cause of your respiratory issues?

I have a diagnosis of a severe uncontrolled respiratory disease and am seen there for my cancer diagnosis. No reason I should not get an appt. even the receptionist said that it was
An inappropriate denial. Told me to take it to my cancer specialist which I am doing next week.

I have both anc have tried and failed all normal options. Hence needing the referral. Thanks.

And I’ve already had covid several times and healed fine from
That. These are conditions I had well before covid. And yes I’m covid negative now. I do not have any mold or a disposal. Thanks though.

Thanks I have reviewed this previously.

It sounds like you are doing the right thing - checking with your cancer specialist. From my experience at Mayo if you are already a patient there the best way to see another specialist is to get an internal referral from one of your doctors you already see. I eventually got into see pulmonary (I am a patient at Moffitt already for Lynch syndrome in the neoplasia clinic) because one of my other doctors put in a request. Be aware some of the specialties will want you do to certain tests before you see them which I thought was a bit over the top at first, but it is more so they can get as much info before so they can maybe have at least a direction to go in. And sometimes they will only see you once for a consultation depending on the speciality. I have a complex auto immune issue we can't figure out in addition to my asthma/allergies and Lynch so I have had to jump through some hoops to get into other specialists but I eventually did. For my breathing issues, it took me a long time for the doctors to figure out that I had severe eosinophilic asthma and I am now on bimonthly injections for it so you just have to be persistent. Do you know if they ever checked your eosinophils in your blood and if it was ever high? Usually that is part of a routine blood panel which - sometimes it is listed by count or percent - might also say EOS. That can sometimes cause respiratory problems. I know it can be very frustrating when going through other health problems too I hope you get your appointment and answers!

See your oncologist and have him refer you