Chat for those who are shielding

[AuntieSocia1]

Apologies for the very unsnazzy title but as it suggests a place to chat for those who have to shield at the moment. A few of us have been talking on the the Shielding after lockdown thread in the coronavirus topic.

Thought I'd put this in chat as some days I'm guessing we'll want to chat about anything other than coronavirus!

I know all of our circumstances are quite different as well as the reason we need to shield but it's a pretty big thing to have in common. Despite my username I look forward to interacting with you and as my username suggests I might also slink off from time to time!

@AuntieSocia1, my first letter came on 31st March, then a letter from the Scottish gov but it’s been mislaid - DH ‘s been doing some filing! I’ve had no second letter. I can’t see how this shielding won’t be extended though - if anything, with all the confusion over rules being reduced or not, I expect places to get busier and the disease to peak again in a few weeks. I should add I’m not a scientist or a doctor.

They’ve already hinted it’s going to be extended. What do people reckon - another 12 weeks?

i said right from the start i thought they would extend it but now the thought is making me feel sick and awful. i don't know if i can do it without my mental health going totally to shit and its fragile at the best of times normally. i just want to feel 'normal' again

I can’t see my employer furloughing me for a further 12 wks from end of June!

I’ve had 3 texts this wk from NHS!

My letter did come about a wk after lockdown though. Dp back at work fully from next wk! As I haven’t got a left and right wing in my house and two bathrooms, spare bedroom there’s no way we can keep social distancing. I’m more likely to catch anything from Dp than having a walk outside and then once ds goes back to secondary school (whenever that might be) that’s double the amount of contact!

I'm the same @SweetMarmalade..it's all fine and well just now when my boyfriend is furloughed (we've been lucky enough to be able to order food online so haven't been out) but what do we do after that? Our house is small so I can't stay away from him...and to be honest I think I would really start to struggle mentally if that happened anyway - being on my own all day. I'm already been pretty conditioned into feeling afraid to go out/see anyone else so I'm aware I am going to have to ease myself back into that mindset. I think at the point he had to go back to work I would probably begin to take my chances and go out, in a measured way.

Feeling depressed about the whole situation more than usual today. It's seeing all the pictures of idiots going about as usual- congas ffs, drinking in the parks, coastguard call outs at normal level... and reports the Police can't cope with the numbers breaking lockdown... just feel as though because of this we're never going to see an end to it.

If the lockdown had been swift and harder or even if people had kept to to the rules, we could all relax earlier than we'll be able to now. As it is - I see a second wave on a couple of weeks and contunuing sky high death rates. Why is there a section of British society that thinks it's so bloody special and can do what it likes!

@kirstinm it’s so hard isn’t it. Feel that the cocoon Bubble we’ve been able to wrap ourselves in is just going to peel away! Dp’s employers had a copy of my letter (he has quite a good HR dept, I don’t, tiny company) but they’ve still said he can go back!

@Pebble21uk tbh I’ve felt the same everytime I’ve seen crowds gather on Westminster Bridge!

I also feel like the Furlough arrangement should be enforced (don’t know how that would happen) for at least the shielded! The whole furlough scheme is just open to interpretation and certain employers can take advantage of the fact that they don’t have to actually furlough us! What happens then?!

If the information coming through at the moment is correct, then isn't the aim to gradually relax 'the healthy' from lockdown but offer greater support to the shielded and their carers / those they live with? If they pull the plug on furlough for the shielded etc then that's hardly giving greater support!

I suppose we've got to see what's said tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath!

Please may I join the thread. I received my letter last Monday. I have mild asthma but take Fostair which I see is on the list of medication. I also have an irregular heart beat for which I take medication. I guess that they put the 2 together and have decided to put me in the shielded group. The letter says 12 weeks from the date of letter -29.04 but I have already done 8 weeks without the letter confirmation as felt vulnerable and I went to pick up a prescription and the pharmacist came out and told me I should not be out.
Do you think I should do another 4 weeks or start again? Not had any other correspondence or texts. Tried the Drs on Thursday and I was caller number 12 in the queue. 2 hours later I was cut off as the surgery was closing . I obviously will try again on Monday. Just wondered what your thoughts might be?

I'd like to know what they mean by "greater support". Money, more food? What can they offer, especially to fend off thre loveliness, feelings of isolation and the feeling that the shielded are being somehow ounished, while the rest of the world is allowed to get back to a semblance of normal.

So far, we have the weekly Borisbox (but can't get vegetarian version - we tried) and access to priority deliver slots (but only been able to get one of those every 2 weeks minimum, so we are always running out of fresh food). One phone call from our GP.

Honestly, I don't know what they could give us that would make it any better. (Free wine? Endless supplies of chocolate? A free holiday to a safe space? Access to a Rolls Royce instead of public transport?)

I am sick of having to ask people for help!

@FuzzyPuffling the deliveries seem so hit and miss
For me (despite ringing them all)
Ocado - not priority
Tesco - not priority
Sainsburys - priority and loads of slots
Asda - not priority
Morrison's - not priority

Posted too soon!
I did go 25 days with no delivery or box as I didn't get a letter for ages
It must be a lot harder if you are veggie. Basically I used up all the soft fruit and veg and salad. Batch cooked and froze a load of meals. Saved potatoes, root veg and apples etc. Then left the tinned stuff until last and made sure I had tinned fruit and veg in plus UHT milk. Wasn't the most nutritious but I also had multivitamins and greens powder in as I suspected lockdown before it happened

I just worry about my job

I should be more worried about my health but there you go.

I'm actually pescatarian (so can eat the can of tuna) but if they can't cope with veggie, pescie will be a step too far! Like the corned beef!

I want them to send me cheese and fresh tomatoes.

@Cornishmendoitdrekkly welcome to the club you don’t want to join.
I would shield until June 30th as that’s when it’s been extended to so far.

@Aldiaisle thank you for the reply. I was thinking the 30th too. My DH works as an IT consultant for the NHS and it is going to be difficult when he has to go back into the hospital. Guess we will just have to figure it out when he can't work at home any longer.
I have been walking the dog late at night and early in the morning when no one has been around and we are semi rural. I would be really struggling if I couldn't do this. Thanks once again

Where did you find out it has been extended to June 30th please? My letter just says 12 weeks (from March 23rd which I think makes the end-date June 15th).

Also shielding here; I've had to break it due a crisis and I went out for a walk at 4am yesterday morning (N99 mask on and no people around), but I am feeling immensely guilty.

@Egghead68 I had a text and it's on the Asthma UK website as well which was updated earlier this week (or late last week).