"Their kindness & experience shone through"

Today I accompanied my friend to an appointment she had with the Rushcliffe Community Respiratory Team. She has had COPD for many years & I have just been diagnosed with it. In fact it was her that first spotted the signs & told me that’s how she started.

So after the coughing fits, chest infections, bronchitis, breathing difficulties & all the other things that were going on with me I had blood, breathing & various other tests. She was right, unfortunately I also have COPD. This diagnosis has devastated & to some extent, traumatised me. I know that might sound dramatic, but having little knowledge on the subject except for the awful experiences of my friend, it frightened & panicked me beyond words & left me full of dread & feeling very morbid.

Getting back to today, this was her second appointment with them & I was there just to support her really.

I was apprehensive about what I was going into, but tried not to show it because I knew this appointment would be upsetting for my friend & I wanted to be there for her.

The two nurses we saw, Elizabeth & Claire, were two of the nicest & understanding nurses I have ever met. They were very knowledgeable & informative, clear, calm, caring & encouraging. They listened without prejudice or judgement & really gave my friend the human touch she so deserves. We both felt that she finally had someone who she could rely on for help & support & who had her best overall interests at heart.

They covered a lot of things to help her, & inadvertently me, to manage & live with this awful deliberating disease. They pointed her in the right direction to get further, much needed help & guidance on a variety of subjects that she is trying to deal with. They really know their onions & gave us both a reassurance & hopefulness we didn’t have before the appointment, they understood, acknowledged & advised on every aspect & the affects of learning to adapt to living with COPD. We were both educated & had lots of concerns answered.

To anyone who is nervous & anxious, they were a godsend, their kindness & experience shone through.

If any of you are ever privileged enough to get an appointment with Elizabeth & Claire, you will be in safe hands, they were wonderful & are a credit to Rushcliffe Community Respiratory Team.