I've been coughing up mucus for about a week now. I was advised by NHS Direct to see my doctor today so I went to see him. He's prescribed me some steroid tablets and antibiotics. He also says I have Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease?
Now, I know I'm not a doctor but all he did was listen to my chest and ask me about the colour of my mucus. Just from looking on the NHS's own website I can see that this can be indicative of other conditions (bronchitis, asthma). I previously had asthma when I was a child and this seems more likely to me.
From researching the thing he's told me I've got, I dunno.. I just don't find it likely. It says that it mostly appears when people are older. I'm 20. I smoked approximately 5 a day for about 5 years. (I've quit before anyone makes that point). He also said the antibiotics and steroids would take it away.. But on the NHS site it says that it can't be cured.
Have I been diagnosed correctly do you think? Should I be concerned? And should I get a second opinion on this?
Given that I need to fill in a self-certification sickness form when I go back to work, I don't really wanna be putting down something that I may not have. Health is taken into account in my occupation and a permanent lung disease might not be acceptable!
Suggestion:
His diagnosis is a dubious one. Even if he had used the diagnosis of acute bronchitis, which is not one of my favourites, it might have been better. The older definitions of COAD/COPD are no longer used, but usefully they required a chesty episode every winter.
Clearly at 20 this is an unlikely diagnosis, unless perhaps you had been working with some toxic materials as well as smoking your 5 a day.
Why not just put chest infection on your self certificate, it covers a multitude of sins.
Word to the wise though, STOP SMOKING, or this diagnosis could be you in 20 years time.
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