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!

May I join you? Am feeling very fortunate that I have a WFH job and three DCs to keep me occupied, but really not enjoying being so reliant on others. I wish I could go to Asda to choose what I want to eat.

I have registered my son as vulnerabke but had nothin back at all and no priority delivery or food box so i assume its not worked. Any advice?

Can take a couple of weeks Ledkr.

@Ledkr you could ring the Government Shielding Hotline. 0800 028 8327

It took about 3 weeks from me registering to getting contacted

I'm still massively confused about shielding - one person shielding when the other goes out - how does that work?

DH is officially shielding, DD should be being very careful the dose of her meds is only reason she isn't on the shielding list

I have an AI illness and the GP admitted they have no idea if I should be classed as vulnerable or not

So no-one is going out and no-one is coming in

@KatyMac the government website says this about living with someone who is shielding.

TBH I don't see it as realistic for us - or for anyone where a person that needs care (child, older person, disabled person) needs care

So we are all in - not leaning on any one too hard (except maybe Tesco, FB & MN) I hope and waiting to see what happens

I finally got priority delivery set up. I could have cried with relief seeing actual slots available. @LapsedVeganAcademic could that be an option for you?

Other than that still feeling quite low, it's the lowest I've felt since all this started. Definitely triggered by the call from my GP's office asking the questions about wishes re hospitalisation etc. Just can't shake it and I still haven't moved forward at all with setting up a will/power of attorney either at their recommendation.

Sorry that's all quite miserable. I think being on my period is really getting my pity party started! Both dc are sitting on my legs right now watching TV. Both completely oblivious (I hope) to my fears and that does make me happy.

How is everyone else?

@HGC2 what are your boots like?

Can I join? Have had to move out of home because the risk just couldn’t be Minimised much and is in London. Have been ok mostly, until this afternoon when I read this exit document Nicola sturgeon has published today. First time I’ve seen it said officially that shielding will likely continue in some form. Am clinging to ‘some form’ and the fact that I’m in England. However, wanting not to be shielded is one thing. Managing risk is another entirely. So I want to stay in until a vaccine. And at the same time, want to stop immediately! Hope that makes sense!! Hope you all keeping well. Good to have a thread.

I'm immunosuppressed because of medication, I can't stop taking it because it'll be worse for me to do so, my consultant has already confirmed that. I occasionally think about stopping it as I'm so fed up and so scared of catching it.

Shielding when you have someone in the household who goes out to work is tough. DH worked for the first few days before he was furloughed. He strippped off when he got home, put his clothes in the washing machine and went straight to the shower. We kept apart as much as possible and he slept downstairs. Everything was wiped down after he touched it,Madame for DC.

Now, when DH and DC come back from their walk, they wash hands and change clothes. Keep apart as much as possible.

I think Im perhaps lucky being on my own.
As boring and lonely as it is, it does make shielding easy.

My ds lives in a tiny flat with his gf so staying apartvis not an option. She has given up work and is very careful and hardly goes out as she is also pregnant..
I worry that he hasnt fully grasped how long he may actually have to shield for.

Thanks ks for the advice re being on the vulnerable list.
Will ring tomorrow.

Hi mind if I join, Its my 15 month old that's being shielded. It's just the two of us so I'm confined to the house too. I'm a nurse so feel guilty that I am notworking but obviously my son has got to come first.

My ex comes over at the weekend to spend time with our son. (He's wfh and as far as he tells me taking all precautions). I hate the fact I have to spend so much time with him but at the moment it's the only way.

I am lucky I have a good friend whose been getting me some shopping and I managed to get a couple of delivery slots so I'm fully supplied. I now have access to priority slots should I need them.

Some days I feel fine and others I just want to cry. I've no idea how I'll be able to go back to work.

May I join? We’re all shielding for DH and DS both of whom have letters. We’ve also had the emergency food parcels. This and our door sign caused much gossip amongst our neighbours, especially as everyone looks ‘healthy’ and young.

We’re five weeks in as we started early due to DS being hospitalised at that point and they had a suspected case on the ward so we were promptly sent home and told to stay there.

We’ve got into a comfortable routine but there was a small breakdown from me about week three when children with DS’s condition were being asked about DNR’s. We did suspect that DH wouldn’t be treated if really ill due to his medical history but the thought of DS not being treated threw me into a tailspin!

Luckily after reading up, it appears that they would both be treated as a priority so that has settled me a lot.

Ledkr - I’m so sorry to hear about the difficulties your son is having getting food parcels. We had to ring Sainsbury’s in the end before we could get a slot. I managed to find a number online which rang through quicker than their main number it’s ‭0800 052 5500‬. I hope that helps!

@TooMuchBloodyChoice same here with the gossip! My neighbour has been "well my wife has lymphoma and she's had a mini stroke, why hasn't she had a letter?"
A lot of comments on the posts I've seen on social media too around "my Nan hasn't got one of these and she's 87, why have you" type thing

I've gone from not even being able ti look at the delivery slots ti this once they emailed me.

@ClientQ yes it is slightly ridiculous isn’t it! To be fair DS and DH would struggle to pull through, both have low lung function (amongst other illnesses) so it would be disastrous, but because they look ok people are always rude/ignorant - we get a lot of looks just using our blue badge!

Our direct neighbour has now stopped speaking to us. Like I give a shit, but she quite happily gossips with everyone else.

And no Doris from no. 82 I don’t know why you don’t have a letter - ring the gp yourself.

What I don’t get is that I’d rather neither were on the shielding list and then we could get back to normal when everyone else does. I mean it’s great we’re getting lots of help now - but it won’t be half as fun when the worlds gone back to work and we’re all stick stuck inside

*all still stuck inside

Just getting a second bin for medical waste caused enough glances from neighbours so mind boggles what the curtain twitchers thought when the food box arrived!

too much we get the looks using DS blue badge too.

DH received his letter only on Saturday so our 12 weeks starts much later than everyone else's. I feel way behind the curve on getting access to things, particularly delivery slots as before the letter I had been going to the supermarket.
Please could you advise on how to get the priority slots or delivery pass?
DH is devastated to have the letter. He doesn't have a diagnosis but is now worried that they think he is really ill. We will find it very difficult as he is a dairy farmer so has to go to work, although he doesn't see anyone when there. I also work full time and have to pop in to the office at least twice a week, and we have two children who may have to go back to school. No spare room to sleep in, so think DH will have to move to the caravan.

If you register on the website on the letter then that will set the wheels in motion, you need to be registered with the supermarkets with the email address you register with the government with for them to contact you.

It was about 3 weeks between registering and delivery slots for us

Thanks Sirzy. I think idiot husband has registered with his email address on the website but of course, all supermarket registrations are in my name.

Can you set up new supermarket accounts in his name?

Good idea for a thread thank you.

I received my letter two weeks ago and have registered, heard nothing yet but know this is normal. Like a few people I wasn't actually expecting a letter so it has been a bit of a shock and has made me a bit down. I have lung disease as part of a wider syndrome and ironically recovering from pneumonia. I honestly didn't think I met the criteria as I'm not on immunosuppressants at the moment so it's depressing to have to accept the seriousness of my fucked lungs (that's a technical term )

Also ironically, before I got the letter I had volunteered online for any "at home" support (shopping logistics/befriending) for shielded people. I never heard back from them either but don't think I would really be any support for anyone atm!

However, I actually wondering now, and you are all the people to ask, so any thoughts welcome...if I cheer the fuck up a bit and if you have registered for support, would you like to hear from people in RL in the same position? I actually think I would love someone to call me and say "yes it's shit"...

My DH and DC have been lovely (DH has bought me a breadmaker and new PJs ) and a friend sends a funny meme/joke every morning which is lovely. But DH is a keyworker and we can't physically separate in the home due to a disability I have.

We are taking all the precautions we can but I'm really worried about the schools/colleges/unis going back. One DC is doing GCSEs next year though and needs to be in school ideally.

It's all weighing on me and making me feel really "heavy". Does anyone feel like that?