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Apparently I’m extremely vulnerable...

104 replies

SherlocksDeerstalker · 07/04/2020 14:47

I’ve just received the text message from the government recommending that due to my condition I have to stay inside for 12 weeks. It has completely caught me by surprise, as I have no idea what condition they mean!

I am a currently healthy, fit, active, almost 40-year old regular busy mum of two. I survived stage 4 lymphoma 17 years ago, and have had no further treatment for 15 years and no further follow up for over a decade now. Could it be that? I had assumed comorbidities were about current diagnoses, but would perhaps having had cancer the best part of 20 years ago be an issue?

I’ve had pneumonia twice in my life. Maybe it could be this? I honestly don’t know. I have been trying to get through to my GP surgery to ask them, but as expected the line is constantly busy.

It’s shaken me up a bit if I’m honest. We are very much sticking to the rules here, and I’d taken the children out of school the week before they closed anyway. I’m very risk-adverse in usual life, and the fact that I may have been singled out as somehow ‘more vulnerable’ has really floored me. Or... could it be a mistake? And perhaps there’s someone else with the same name who really is more vulnerable?

I appreciate these are questions nobody here can really answer, and I know there are people up and down the country in far, far worse positions at the minute. I’ll keep trying my GP. I just wanted to write it down i suppose.

OP posts:
BetelgeuseIsOrionsArmpit · 07/04/2020 20:04

I'm guessing that it is because of your past history of pneumonia. Saying that though, I'm expecting my DH to receive a similar letter then.

CutCopyPastedLikeYou · 07/04/2020 20:14

I've had a text tonight too and it's floored me. I have 3 children and I'm a lone parent with no family who can assist. Two of my kids have SEN.

No idea what I'm going to do. It's terrifying.

Sexnotgender · 07/04/2020 20:15

Oddly had no letter regarding my DD who has serious heart and lung conditions and has been hospitalised 10 times with pneumonia.

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Clementine8 · 07/04/2020 20:16

I’m the same, text today. I do have a long term health condition but didn’t think that was covered 🤷🏻‍♀️

bluegrasse · 07/04/2020 20:19

I've had pneumonia and so has my DD but we haven't had a letter or text, neither has my DD who has bad asthma.

Londonborncatty · 07/04/2020 20:23

I have had the same text today and I’m presuming it’s for my child. The letter will clarify. My child has a ‘condition’ but not one that would be affected by Corona so I think the text and letters are going out to anyone who has any sort of condition/disability. Go on to the website and it tells you the conditions that could make you vulnerable. I know my child’s condition doesn’t make her vulnerable so I will be ignoring the letter. Don’t panic. It’s a general text.

underneaththeash · 07/04/2020 20:27

If you have a look here it says that people who have lymphoma at any stage of treatment are considered extremely vulnerable.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

I would call your/previous/an oncologist for clarification.

toptomatoes · 07/04/2020 20:27

I am very thrown as I also got a text today but I don’t know if it is meant for me or my son! It didn’t mention a child so I assume me but I didn’t think I had a health condition that applied, the only thing I’ve had in the past that could apply were some x ray results that the gp thought could be asthma but my spirometry results were all fine. My son is under cardiac review due to congenital heart defects but no medication or symptoms. Has anyone received a text for a child? Was it obvious? I have a phone appointment with my GP tomorrow so I have to be patient until then to learn more but I am not feeling patient!! DH is a key worker so I don’t know how this will work.

picklemewalnuts · 07/04/2020 20:45

Is it the very vulnerable text you had, or the one that went to everyone that gets a flu jab?

BunnyandBee · 07/04/2020 20:48

@toptomatoes I had a text message first, implying it was me, but I knew it would be for my dd who has a condition which falls under the 'rare disease' umbrella. The letter that followed was addressed to her. This is because my.mobile number it attached to her clinical record.
I am no expert but I imagine certain conditions generate certain codes on the clinical record keeping systems. The govt then generate a list of those people from the codes... Maybe someone who knows more could clarify... Is it possible that shoddy record keeping/errors etc. (i.e. not generating the correct code) may result in some people being missed off the list?

forrasee · 07/04/2020 20:48

I can't believe people are only being told today, I thought this was sorted out weeks ago?!

LilacTree1 · 07/04/2020 20:49

I think it’s the lymphoma

Had pneumonia a couple of times myself, have asthma, no letter.

BunnyandBee · 07/04/2020 20:51

@toptomatoes both me and exH are keyworkers (nurses) and it is a constant stress for me. I am lucky I can work from home in my role at the moment, but exh can't and sheilding is tricky, but you can only do your best.

MigGril · 07/04/2020 20:54

DS gets the flu gab as has quite bad asthma, is on three different medications for it. I've hurd nothing from them at all.

Davros · 07/04/2020 21:03

I got the text today and was surprised I hadn't got it a lot sooner. Maybe I can get a supermarket delivery slot now as I genuinely shouldn't, and don't want to, go out.

Lightuptheroom · 07/04/2020 21:04

DH received it today, it's really thrown him and caused a huge row with adult step son who suddenly decided he was in charge of his dad (does absolutely nothing normally) and then chose to put a nasty comment on Facebook about me when I laughed about him suddenly morphing into someone who was going to do all the shopping and housework. We contacted GP who said go on the website,, which then came back with we weren't eligible for assistance with prescriptions or shopping etc. The DH got another text. Thing is, we've been doing the 'normal' self isolation/social distancing for 3 weeks anyway, so as long as we continue being very careful I think it's far better that he goes for a short walk etc rather than sitting indoors fretting

GinWithASplashOfTonic · 07/04/2020 21:07

Same still processing as it's a bit of the blue tbh. I knew I was on the middle list and accepted it. Especially as it's what everyone is suppose to be doing anyway but for your sake not everyone's.

I am now very concerned if not more concerned about my mental concerned than getting the damn thing . The idea of being stuck indoors until June is sending me potty

GinWithASplashOfTonic · 07/04/2020 21:07

Just crack open a window indeed

fleamadonna · 07/04/2020 21:11

My dd is 4 and she got the letter. I was not expecting it at all.

She’s been hospitalised a couple of times with really nasty viral wheeze so I guess that’s why.

It’s scared me quite a bit.

Blueroses99 · 07/04/2020 21:13

@toptomatoes I got a text for my DD today sent to my phone as it’s the number on her medical records. We have been ‘shielding’ for several weeks already because she has history of respiratory issues but wasn’t expecting a text or letter as she hasn’t been diagnosed with anything specific. But she was born with chronic lung disease so it makes sense. The text is written in the second person (“You...”) but it doesn’t mean me, I think it’s just standard wording.

AudTheDeepMinded · 07/04/2020 21:15

I've had asthma-related texts and as I'm not asthmatic and my young DS is am presuming it's for him. I'm the main contact for him so it's obvious any communication by text would come to me. I'm confused though because I thought it was only severe asthma that qualified for extended shielding etc. We've been social distancing and pulled all the kids form school the week prior to the official announcement but I'm not sure if we have to continue for the whole 12 weeks.

MutteringDarkly · 07/04/2020 21:16

I got one unexpectedly today too. Really made me wobble. I had a phone apt with my GP today for something else so I asked about it - she said the central NHS had done a second major sweep of patient data picking out key words, and also patients with more than one condition. I've got two conditions, each separately fairly mild, but it's the combination.

But geez the texts are sobering aren't they? You can open a window but whatever you do, don't put your own bins out GrinShockGrin

MyDcAreMarvel · 07/04/2020 21:17

I had my letter on Saturday and text today , although I had phoned the Gp surgery a while ago to ask them.

Cheeryandmerry · 07/04/2020 21:20

DH got one. History of pneumonia. Bit surprised and not really sure what to do, so I’ve just filled in the form saying we don’t need help right now.

toptomatoes · 07/04/2020 21:23

@BunnyandBee and @Blueroses99, thank you, I think it must be for DS but I guess I’ll find out soon enough. He’s so well, it’s really thrown me. I read that there has been a second wave of texts so that must be why we are all receiving them now.