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!

I think I'm meant to be shielding. I started chemo and radio therapy last week.

I guess I may get a letter in a few weeks.

DH is still working though, public transport, so it seems silly for me to not go for my little morning dog walk still.

I'm definitely giving Tesco a miss mind.

6 weeks in, I really want to go for a walk. Live opposite a big park, but not sure I won't see anyone as it's usually busy with people walking through to the local shops. Isn't it awful fearing going outside.

I don't think I can do this for a few more months.

I have been battling toothache for over a month. Have risked a few trips to dentist and several antibiotics but no change. I am going to my own dentist in the morning and it is a worry going out but I can't go on like this. It is pulling me down. I can't sleep and I can barely eat. I am very worried about going out but I am worried more about the amount of antibiotics I have had in recent weeks. It's like Sophie's choice!

@ALemonyPea I don’t know if I can either as it will mean losing at least one of my jobs. Some hard decisions to make.

@outnumberedwoman you are doing the right thing by going. I had to go for scheduled hospital treatment about a week after lockdown and like you felt terrified but I was pleasantly surprised by the distancing and set up. My nerves were all over the place and I was glad to get home but felt like I too all the precautions I could.

Hope you feel better soon, toothache is really miserable

has anyone heard anything else about whether they are extending the shielding period? Ive not heard anything but wondered if anyone else has

They indicated that it was likely in the Saturday briefing but I don’t think there’s been any update since. Some people are getting extension letters though.

Had to venture out to the chemist, felt very strange to be walking!

Yes - I had to go to A&E last week (masked and gloves up). I was shocked how busy the streets were compared to my previous A&E trip on March 23.

My son’s letter has just arrived, mine hasn’t yet but we were both called by the practice nurse last week to inform us that we should now be shielding. His letter, which is directly from the GP surgery, states that he should shield ‘for at least 12 weeks from letter date’ which is April 29th which takes us at least until late July.

I started with a UTI on Friday night (perfect timing) so didn't want to leave it any longer before i got antibiotics

@AuntieSocia1 I went and they took the tooth out. The other tooth is sore because of an abscess so I got yet more antibiotics and hope these ones will work. Only I could get toothache in three teeth during a pandemic! Still thats two of them that have been extracted. I am thinking of phoning next week and asking if they will take the 3rd out once the antibiotics have been finished. The dentist did say i have had to have too many appointments and i need to limit my visits but unfortunately not possible with toothache and broken teeth. I cant do that on my own at home! I am not exactly doing it for pleasure!

@MadisonAvenue I only got my letter last week which said 12 weeks and dated end of April so that takes me to July aswell.

@outnumberedwoman All of these different dates make no sense at all. When I last looked on the government website over the weekend it said the end of June and in the Facebook group I’m in for my condition a member from Scotland has today received a letter and it tells her to shield until June 8th.

I've been hearing elsewhere the shielding has been "extended" but not seen any actual letters. I still have a theory it hasn't been formally extended, it's just that letters are coming from different departments with different dates on (although that might just be me, I got three separate letters ).

The uncertainty is awful isn't it? Everyone was so kind about my worries about DH's work, so an update, it seems they will furlough him for a couple of weeks while they decide what to do. Bit of a stay of execution I think, but we are grateful as it's better than it was....

I WANT TO GO OUT. The irony is that if I hadn't been told not to go out, I'm sure I wouldn't actually want to. Sigh.

Going outside is so weird, isn’t it? Had wild urge on return home to go for a walk not into the house, but resisted. My haematologist actually came & met me in the carpark & took me right back to the car himself which was v sweet of him.

Thought of doing this again next month is a wee bit stressful really. Although also “outdoors! other people! conversation!”

Hope your teeth behave outnumberedwoman

Sorryoo I think/hope you could be right about the dates on the letters.

I’m still going out to walk my dog, we live next to a large area of woodland and common so it’s easy to walk for an hour or more early in the morning and see no one.

I’ve just called my Mom and told her the situation. I hate that I can’t spend time with her and my Dad. They’re well into their 80s and without wanting to sound morbid I can’t help but wonder just how much longer they’ll be around for, I get why I can’t see them but I feel like very precious time is being stolen from me.

@MadisonAvenue
@MarieVanGoethem
@Sorryoo
@outnumberedwoman
@ClientQ
@Egghead68
@OneNightTimeMenaceStrikesBack
@ALemonyPea
@Chesneyhawkes1
@BatSegundo
@UnholyStramash
@Redcherries
@OneEndStreet
@Ulysses
@JustStayHome
@plus3
@JimmyTheWeed
@Sirzy
@NervousInYorkshire
@AldiAisleOfCrap
@Amichelle84
@Anewuser
@Bagelsandbrie
@Bearlyclearly
@Blueroses99
@craddock287
@DollysDrawers
@Ferfecksackmammy
@FuzzyPuffling
@Gilead
@Glittercandle
@Gottobefree
@Helpisathand13
@HGC2
@Ifonlywecouldwishuponastar
@IHaveBrilloHair
@InOtterNews
@Katinski
@KatyMac
@Ladyflip
@KatyMac
@Ladyflip
@LapsedVeganAcademic
@Ledkr
@mrsbyers
@mrsbyers
@ofwarren
@Pinkywoo
@Purpleorange1
@ringletsandtwiglets
@Skybluepink123
@SleepymummyZzz
@SorryDidISayThatOutLoud
@TooMuchBloodyChoice
@TVandwine
@WilburIsSomePig

And to any shielding lurkers

Thought I would do a bit of a roll call. It's so strange I don't know anyone shielding in real life. It's made me think I should be more active in the community of my condition but to be honest I try and play it down a lot, it's part of my non acceptance which a lot of the time does me more harm than good. Anyway enough about me that was just a clumsy way of saying I'm glad I have somewhere to come and chat to fellow shielders.

Oh have no idea why some people are in bold and some not? Time for bed I think!

@AuntieSocia1 The reason I am shielding is because I am severely asthmatic and I always play it down. However my asthma can be annoying and troublesome but its not the worst. I also have fibromyalgia and back problems and psoriatic arthritis. Yet to look at me most people probably wouldnt guess. I think we are naturally programmed to play things down and not create a fuss. And I also think women especially do it a lot more and just tend to try and get on with things without complaining.

At least I managed to get my teeth sorted out!

I'm shielding due to cancer, finished chemo in Feb, just had surgery a few weeks ago and due for radiotherapy soon. Because of all the treatment, I haven't been out much since the Autumn so stir crazy doesn't really cover it as a description.

The whole household (my husband and 10 year old) are shielding with me, I can't see how it can work otherwise. But last week we cracked. We now have the odd walk outside to keep us sane. We were all suffering mentally. Still avoiding contact with people other than me going to the hospital, we are getting online deliveries etc.

I can't see that the risk we are taking in going for a walk is greater there than having people in the household being out in the world not shielding and trying to separate the home. That seems impossible to manage. If the schools go back soon as is rumoured, my boy will stay at home and be home schooled.

I feel pretty anxious about all of this, like others I suspect we are in for a long haul, we could be shielding until there is a vaccine.

@cantarina we are in the same boat RE schooling. My 4 and 6 year olds will not be going back if/when the schools open. We live in a tiny 2 bed flat. No way to separate from them and I think the emotional distress from isolating from their mum for possibly months would do more harm in the long run even if it was possible.

I hope your treatment is a success.

Thanks for the shoutout @AuntieSocia1! I only know one other person shielding in real life so it’s great to have other people to chat to.

I’ve found there’s a disappointing lack of official support for shielded people in practice but local volunteers have been very helpful.

I had some good news yesterday. One of my jobs is going to be made fully online for the foreseeable future so I can do it from home and have an income. That is a huge weight off my mind.

I hope everyone has a good day. I am post-probable-covid (contracted just before lockdown) and have to do small bits of activity alternating with a lot of rest. I am usually fit and active (despite my long term condition) so it’s frustrating.

@Egghead68 that’s great news! I hope you feel back to 100% very soon.

I agree about the lack of support, I’ve had no texts, no phone calls nothing other than the letter which only arrive at the end of the week before last. Dr confirmed inMarch to shield, then chased up the system end of April to try and get some support, shopping help for me. Yes gave me slots but I did need to phone them.

I don’t know anyone in RL shielding either. I’m shielded because I don’t have a spleen, so I’m not unwell nor do I often get unwell so I feel a bit odd about it. From what we can see initially our very high risk for secondary infection seemed to be the concern (I can fight virus, not bacterial infection, we're at risk of complete organ failure from many infections). Now there is discussion in our groups about the blood clot issues that they are seeing in very poorly (sorry to this who don’t like that one 😂) Covid patients, which would be a spleen concern as we are high risk to this and stroke.

I have decided I much prefer the Republic of Ireland’s term, the shielded there are referred to as cocooning!

Tesco gave me slots, I’ll ignore all the other typos! It’s too early.