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!

@OculusThrift I was actually looking at zorbs the other day, but sooooo expensive and they don't look tough enough.

so glad its a little bit cooler today than yesterday, i felt like i was melting all day yesterday! i dont fair well in heat at all, it sets my asthma off plus im milk coloured type pale so if i even think about going outside, i get burned! much better today for me personally

I just need to vent to people that understand.
Please bear with me. Like @UnholyStramash I miss my eldest son so much. It’s my birthday in a couple of weeks and I’d give anything to see him and give him a hug, but that’s not going to happen.

Meanwhile I’ve been reading about people going to beaches and beauty spots then complaining when the toilets aren’t open. Well welcome to our world. My 18 year old is in a wheelchair and doubly incontinent so changing him in public toilets are impossible. Over the years we’ve bought a mobile hoist so hoist him back into the van to lie on the floor, but it’s a killer for my back not to mention his dignity.
Why can’t people just be grateful that they can go out.
We’ve been in so long I’m starting to forget what our town looks like. I’d love to walk to Tesco, get an ice cream then sit by the river - heaven. I can’t see that happening for months.
Sorry, thank for reading, rant over.

Hurrah! Just (literally just, was writing post & email appeared) been told that my Blue Badge application has been approved & I should have new badge within 10 days. Haven’t bothered to have one for a couple of years as I don’t drive myself & am rarely in a car going into congestion charge zone or to somewhere parking is an issue so the £10/year seemed a bit of a waste (& the form another faff I didn’t need). 10 days leaves heaps of time to beat the TFhelL website into submission before next trip to hospital, so things seem dangerously close to working.

Speaking of travel, is anyone else i. in London & ii. a TaxiCard holder? Struck me that as I got my letter about provision changes INSANELY late (over a month after the late on it) some people might not have had anything at all. It might vary by Borough (plus ça change...) but worth checking, as here they’re allowing you to let others use your card to carry out errands for you; & you can also use it to have drivers collect shopping & prescriptions for you if you’ve not anyone to send - with the caveat that they’ve to be paid for in advance. But knowing the cabbies who work round here, for some of their regular fares they’d absolutely get their messages with a list & some cash, not just collect an order, if someone was stuck & had no other help. I mean, we’ve volunteers coming out of our ears, the National Mutual Aid scheme started here & there are umpteen smaller ones, but lots of people are - understandably - wary of strangers &/or don’t want any kind of official help as they’ve a fear of being seen as generally unable to cope & finding themselves whisked away to a home against their will. Am actually really glad we’ve so many community projects going to mind them. It’s frustrating that we’re going so unseen, but I don’t want in on the Sunshine Project’s jigsaws & books. Now if the Bia Project moved from vegetarian to vegan I’d want in. Food cooked by the Oxo Tower restaurant’s chef is rather out of my price range. And I hate cooking, it is boring. (Reminds me, really need to sort my citizenship. Not that I can go anywhere at the moment... [And yes, not having been put on register of foreign births at birth is indeed irksome.])

Anyway, @Babysharkdoodoodood & @OculusThrift, I don’t think Zorbs would really work in an urban environment, though they must be more robust than their bubblewrapesque appearance suggests Wouldn’t fancy cleaning one after a trip out mind (Not. Envy.)

@OneNightTimeMenaceStrikesBack
At least there’s no need to worry about sunburn while shielding. I was in hospital for all of last summer’s heatwave & it was slightly surreal as between the way the wing faced, all the fans on the ward, & having the blinds closed at set times (literally doctors’ orders!) on the very hottest days there was no real sense of just how hot it was outside. They gave everyone ice lollies, too (but I couldn’t have one because even though they were water ices they might’ve had traces of milk in; & it was too hot for anyone to come in to see me so I couldn’t even get my own from the shop [by that point visitors were allowed to take me off the ward in a wheelchair]). I mean, I wasn’t as hot as everyone else (still not on for a visitor to steal my fan so their daughter could have two) but it is a sad thing to miss out on ice lolly joy.

Great news about your blue badge @MarieVanGoethem!

great news about your blue badge marie i just got mine a few months ago, hardly used right now as in shielding but it will be so useful for me. I dont drive myself, im not allowed to because my vision doesnt meet the requirements but i driven by other people a lot and having a blue badge means we can get my wheelchair out without being squashed into a small space and its easier for to get out of the car if i can open the door fully instead of trying to squeeze in and out of a tiny gap

Thanks @Egghead68 huge relief it coming straight through - was worried the photo might be an issue...
They’re really useful aren’t they @OneNightTimeMenaceStrikesBack? I let mine lapse as I’m so rarely in a private car somewhere parking’s a pain (pretty much only go to-from church) but if I’ve to be going up into congestion charge zone every month for the foreseeable (& I’d rather go in my daddy’s car than a cab or hospital transport) it’s worth it.

Am sorry you’re having such a tough time just now @Anewuser - I cross-posted with you earlier. The lack of accessible toilets in the C21 really is shocking. It’s crazy Changing Places has been going for so long & doing so much awesome work (my niece can actually stay at whole football matches when she goes to watch with her daddy) & there are still so many people who manage to be blissfully ignorant of them. People’s attitudes to spaces for people with disabilities/additional needs are weird though. (CF the Utter. Bloody. Madness. over wheelchair spaces on buses.) Have you any chance of getting an individual care budget for your 18yo? (Fact Carer’s Allowance is so low really is criminal, but that’s a side issue that I need to not think about right now because I cannot go for a feelings-relieving STOMP.) Am sorry you can’t see your oldest - it’s tough being split apart so. Be gentle with yourself

they are definitely worth having if youre entitled to one marie i realyl had to fight for mine but it will be so worth it for me. Sometimes ive not been able to go places because i havent been able to use the disabled spaced without the blue badge and because of that, certain places have been inaccessable for me. Now ive got one, it opens up a lot of places and spaces to me that i havent been able to use before. Hope when its due for renewal its not such a fight as it was this time though, the pain i suffered phsyically fighting to get it was horrendous. the first time i applied i was turned down because they said i could walk too far but im in a wheelchair a lot of the time now so i think thats why i got it this time

Feel like I've no fight in me at the moment, sorry I have no chat...I hope you are all doing well.

I just read on another thread about someone's GP telling them that they would be surprised if (as a shielder) they were back to work this year, I just can't stay in that long. I'll have to just take my chances.

this year?! i cant imagien it, i just cant, i dont want to. i want my life back such as it was. limited yes but better than this. i said i didnt know if i could do it if it was til september, i definitely dont know if i can do it if its the rest of the year :(

@MarieVanGoethem, thanks for your comment earlier about the medical centre needing to communicate with me in the way that meets MY needs. It’s sometimes hard to believe I used to get paid for encouraging other service users to assert themselves and get their needs met! I think I just needed someone to remind me. I’m planning to email the practice before I go to bed and ask for them to sort it out for me. I did intend to sort it earlier but life got in the way. I’m glad to see you got your blue badge. I’ll say Bon Voyage even though I know none of us is going very far for a while. Just before the lockdown I was about to renew my bus pass - now I fear the GP (long story, but I need her autograph) will just laugh at me!

@Anewuser, I’m sorry you’re missing your son so much too. I can’t think what else to say, I’m missing both of mine a lot too.

In fact we have a wee crisis tonight as we found out a few hours ago that the eldest has had to go to hospital tonight. Severe headache - he’s there now. His brother waiting outside. No news, good or otherwise.

It seems they think he has ‘a virus’ - remember when these words didn’t fill you with dread? They can’t test for covid as it’s not a testing centre. They’ve done various tests, blood and ECG, they’re the ones I know about. Once they have blood results, they’re going home, according to his brother who’s now been let into the building. It’s quite a chilly night now. I think most hospitals at present send people home ASAP - if he hasn’t got covid, then best to keep away from it. I’m glad NHS24 or whatever they are sent him in to get checked over. I bloody hope it’s not covid.

@kirstinm
I know it’s easy to say, but not to get ahead of yourself worrying. The GP will have been trying to prepare that poster for one potential scenario & were offering a guess. They’ve not had any more information than we’ve been given. It’s possible there will be a vaccine <a class="break-all" href="//www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52751661?intlink_from_url=www.bbc.co.uk/news/health&link_location=live-reporting-story" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">available in September. Be gentle with yourself

@UnholyStramash
Glad I was helpful. It can be much harder to advocate for yourself than to help other people do so - especially if you struggle to believe you [really] need the help/you “don’t want to be a bother”. Hope you can get things sorted with the GP surgery - including getting your bus pass sorted. If renewing it is easier than doing a “new” application, can you push it at your GP from that angle?
Am so sorry your eldest has had to go to hospital - presumably with a severe headache they were wanting to check for meningitis. Excellent he’s able to go home so quickly, even in current circs they must be confident he’s safe. Hope that he feels better soon (& of course that it isn’t COVID-19). Must be v worrying for you not to be able to be there - is lovely he’s his brother with him & able to mind him & let you know what’s going on: hopefully helps reassure you a wee bit, at least? Very much hope you’re asleep now not reading this; & that the morning brings you better news & everyone feeling better in all ways.

My energy is at an all time low. Mood isn't great either. GP has recommended anti depressants. In normal circumstances I wouldn't like to take extra medication on top of everything I take for my condition but these are not normal circumstances so I'm going to give them a go. You'd think with everything we need to deal with I would know better than to apply stigmas to certain medication but there you go, something else to feel guilty about!

Sorry I don't have anything cheerier to say and I'm so sorry to everyone who is struggling.

@kirstinm I'm trying not to think so far into the future as so much could change

@UnholyStramash thinking of your son, hope he's ok and you get answers soon

Does anyone have any hint of a Friday feeling?

Morning :)

@UnholyStramash Thinking of you and your son, I hope he feels better soon.

In various shielding groups online people have been receiving texts today saying they are no longer to shield, that their Drs have removed them from the list. Quite a few have spoken to their Drs and have been advised to disregard the text and continue to shield. If you do receive one please check with the Dr/ hospital just in case.

Some more confusion to add to the mental load!

@AuntieSocia1. I forgot its Friday!

@Redcherries that sounds very worrying and even more confusing. I havent received any contact other than the initial letter which I had to chase up myself. It seems there is no consistency at all and this just adds to the confusion. I hope people are given clarity soon but I can see thats probably a pipe dream!

I now think i have another kidney infection. (Fairly common occurence here) Been running to the loo (well hobbling!) and have such a pain in my lower back and i feel all shivery and achy. Phoned GP to say i think i needed another antibiotic and receptionist said i was to phone back before lunch. Just called and they havent had a chamce to look at my request yet. Hope they do soon. I hate kidney infections. They make me so ill so quickly. I never just get a UTI its always kidney. So i may have to leave the house if GP wants to see me!! Or maybe not. Not sure which id prefer at the minute- the thought of seeing the outside world is tempting but i also feel dreadful and want to curl up in bed and pull the duvet over my head and tell the world to bugger off!

But dc1 still needs to do some homeschooling and dc2 needs to do play therapy and there is stuff needing doing in the house so at least i will not be able to sit and dwell on things!

Hope you are all doing ok. Very stormy weather here today. Weather warnings for wind and rain and to be honest if you looked out the window you'd be forgiven for thinking it was november! Maybe staying in shielding wont be such a big ask today!

I hope the antidepressants really do help @AuntieSocia1 - dont think about any stigmas. If they help then thats all that matters. No one needs to know your personal medical history. These are definitely strange times and whatever gets us through them is all that matters.

had my asthma review and the nurse asked if i was adhering to the shielding rules, i said yes and she said she couldn't say for how long but in her view its likely to be extended past the end of june. i guess we'll see when its properly reviewed, if they dont forget about us like they keep on doing every time theres a briefing

Thanks for the messages regarding my son. He’s okay, was asleep when his dad spoke to his brother, and the latter sent mean email. I think he had a worried time as he didn’t know, most of the time while he was waiting, what was happening. I feel a bit concerned still but it is reassuring they found nothing definite and sent him home. People always got viruses before covid and just because there’s a true nasty one out there now doesn’t make other ones any worse. IYSWIM! I need to get dressed - had a late night .... and the machine needs recharging.

All the best to all of you. I was listening to the Scottish FM there, and all the inane journalist questions. I’m not sure I understand anything any better really.

Sorry i missed your post about your son unholy im super tired a si woke up at 4am and couldnt get back to sleep. Glad its not the rona and whatever it is, i hope hes on the mend soon.

fighting the urge to belt down the street screaming freedom this afternoon, im tired and snappy and i dont like it when im like this

Had a haematology letter today for my July appointment. Still going to be a telephone one

@AuntieSocia1, maybe just give the ADs a try out? You’d need to give it a few months as the levels build up gradually. You might find you feel brighter and the side effects not too bad? Sometimes a person just needs the buffering you can get from ADs. If you don’t feel better in 2 or 3 months, then by all means stop (with support from your GP obviously). It’s up to you though. I’m sorry you’re feeling like this. This is a horrible episode in all our lives.

@OneNightTimeMenaceStrikesBack, as long as you observe the rules and guidance, do what you fancy ...

We’re all weary here today - DH has gone for a kip, so I’m supervising the household. Ha ha. I’ll try to keep going till evening though. I’ve been sleeping badly in the last 10 days or so, wakening after really weird and detailed dreams. Often it’s hard to get back to sleep or work out what is real. It must just be all this staying in that’s getting to me.

Getting bored now. Irritating myself. I even took the throws and arm caps off the sofas and washed them yesterday. Also working my way through the PJ Tracy Twin Cities thrillers.

Family zoom tonight so actually just put some makeup on today. Still nothing from work but still got my shift allowance this month and extra bank holiday pay.

Also got another huge food box delivered. The guy from Brakes has said he'll cross me off his list as I keep trying to cancel it. DH took it to the foodbank again and I threw in some bleach, flash, soap and extra tins as well, as we have plenty.

Pain is getting bad again. Typical for Friday afternoon/evening. UTI rearing its' head when the gp has shut. Can't have cymalon or similar as it has sugar in. I'll try and flush it with green tea.

But I did treat myself to a lovely bunch of tulips from Bloom & Wild as I got a voucher, and they came today, all with bulbs attached still, so I've snipped them off and popped them in a bag in the cupboard to plant out in November. Lovely idea.

Also going to have a takeaway tonight as it's payday. Lovely mixed meat kebab with a pile of salad and ditch the pita. Bored with meal planning and cooking all the time. DH is very appreciative though and always cleans up my mess. He offers to cook, but I'd really rather not suffer

Hope everyone has a lovely non-eventful weekend. Going to try to sleep for a full night tonight, so no napping today.

@Babysharkdoodoodooddoo im in the same boat only mine isnt just a UTI it always spreads to my kidneys. Habe been feeling weak and shivery all day and pain in my right kidney. Chemist just delivered an antibiotic but in typical fashion the GP hasnt read my notes properly. They only prescribed a 3 day course which is what is recommended for UTI. For kidney involvement it should be 7 days. So i am going to have to go back to the doctor on tuesday when they reopen. I find flushing is sometimes the best though. But if you need an antibiotic call 111. They would probably arrange a prescription based on your symptoms and wouldnt want to see you.