"The care, attention and commitment I have received"

I was referred to the Chest Clinic in the City Hospital Belfast in November 2019 following my my concern about my long term cough, shortness of breath and recurring hoarseness. I became concerned after my brother had died in September 2019 of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and as my sister and mother had sarcoidosis and other health problems, I was afraid that there was a family trait. Despite the Covid outbreak I received an appointment in what I considered to be a reasonable space of time considering the circumstances and was seen by a Dr Butler, Consultant Respiratory Physician, City Hospital, Belfast. She arranged a number of tests that day to check my lung function and to check me for asthma. When these tests showed that I did not have asthma and my lung function was good, she told me she thought that post nasal drip and/or acid reflux, all of which I had suffered from for over 30 years, was irritating my voice box and causing the shortness of breath and recurring hoarseness and chronic cough. It was the first time in a very long time that I had heard anyone tell me something about my condition that made sense! Dr. Butler arranged for me to have a CT scan to check my lungs, as my brother's condition had been missed by his GP following his CT scan 4 years prior and Dr. Butler wanted to check and reassure me about my condition. Furthermore, she referred me to ENT to check my nasal problems and throat for irritation caused by chronic post nasal drip, referred me to Speech and Language therapy to help with my chronic cough, referred me for a test to check for silent reflux and following my CT scan results, referred me to Physiotherapy to help me learn how to clear mucus from my lungs. All but one of these referrals have taken place and I am still having speech and language therapy sessions. I am so grateful to Dr. Butler for her diligence and ongoing care and attention. I am so impressed by her thoroughness and desire to help her patients. I am also grateful for the care I am receiving from Laura, Speech and Language therapist, City Hospital, Belfast and Dr. Black and his staff in ENT, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. I have only praise for all of them but especially Dr. Butler who is doing everything in her power to help me. I am waiting for one more test and Dr. Butler has promised to follow up with me later in the year to see how I am getting on in case I need further treatment and I know she will do this as she is so thorough and reliable.