Shielding chat continues - thread 2

[AuntieSocia1]

Shiny new thread for anyone shielding.

You can vent/moan/cry/chat/lurk whatever you need.

@Pebble21uk I read a thread about someone having symptoms, or something similar, people where saying it was too hard to isolate for 2 weeks just because of a cough! It was too life disrupting and how would they organise things and get food etc. I quietly left the thread! I thought the mantra for this was Vulnerable, just stay at home, its not that hard, so we can have our life. Doesn't apply if you might be spreading the bloody virus though, then it becomes too difficult to manage.

By the way, they just had a Q and A session about shielding on BBC news channel. It appears the most asked questions GPs are getting are about returning to work.

@finished31 completely, it is thanks to them that we have here at all. It’s such a gift.

@ Pebble21uk there was a similar thread a few weeks ago! It made my blood boil especially as someone suggested not shielding and then lying about it. People are so selfish.

I hope they address shielding today. I can’t cope with the uncertainty.

@OrganTransplant123 word from BLT said shielding until 31st July. It got deleted pretty quickly.

Makes me wonder Boris and his cranks leak things so they don't have to do a big announcement.

@iVampire and @Redcherries, I just watched/listened to Hancock and he said ‘such as’ then mentioned over 50s etcetera. It was just careless talk. I really don’t think he was excluding younger people who at high risk at all. I also cannot see an obstacle to younger people getting the immunisation if it becomes available - I noticed he said IF which had my heart sink somewhat. Though it is more realistic than saying when - we won’t have a vaccine till the scientists do the work and we know it’s doing the job but I need to feel hopeful.

Well today I woke with a sore throat and feeling a bit achy. This happens a couple of times a month - my white cells must be slightly low. And I can feel some leg muscles after my walk yesterday - this is a good thing. However I need to rest up today - it’s wet this morning so I’m glad I had my outing yesterday. Have a good day, everyone.

@AuntieSocia1, I hope you feel a bit better today. It’s a huge slog for sure. In a sense I find the NI use of the word pausing more useful, more realistic. The virus will be dangerous for a while. Even if the restrictions ease more soon, the chances are we’ll be asked to shield again. Sorry if that upsets anyone. I’m another ‘lucky’ one as I don’t have an employer to keep happy either - I know it’s really tough for those of you in paid work.

@OrganTransplant123, can I ask the name of your immunosuppressants? Mine is Mycophenolate Mofetil. It’s the third one I tried - the first two caused a very bad adverse reaction so I’m a bit uneasy about possibly changing again if my kidney function gets worse. Apparently the next one on my list is Cyclophosphamide which is a step up and might make me more immunocompromised. And I’m worried it might give me a bad reaction again. The MMF is doing a good job otherwise. Oh well.

These selfish idiot threads are awful, so dispiriting.

@Teaistheanswer, welcome to the group. Like you I began lockdown early though I was still taking some outdoor exercise. I wasn’t sure the letter wasn’t a mistake (I like to think I’m not very vulnerable just a little vulnerable!) but once I had the phone call from the GP I shielded in earnest. I hope those of you in England will get more detail soon.

Just popping in to wave at you all, old and new. I've been for my daily walk and will now think of something to fill the rest of my day! Yesterday I cleaned out a cupboard. What a treat!! 😁
Auntie I love your "rainbow in someone's cloud"...thank you.

I keep getting an advert, only on this thread, about "counselling services in A Town Near You". Do you think they know something I don't!

@UnholyStramash thank you I dont know about all of you but I really don't like the word vulnerable or the phrase 'underlying conditions' especially after hearing them so much!
I really hope we hear something soon. It's very difficult to concentrate on anything else at the moment.
Saying that I'm off to help DD sort out her room so that should keep me distracted for a while! Have a good day all

The GP referred to me as "high risk" today
Which made me wonder.. they have always said extremely vulnerable before so wondering if it's going to a low/high risk kind of thing

@rugbymummy Interesting a call booked in. Are all your ‘vulnerable staff’ in or to return? Most of our vulnerable ( asthma, BMI over 40, type 2 diabetes etc) staff are not in - so it would be strange if a I am expected back and vulnerable are still at home? Staff who are not CVF or V but love with shielding people are not in either.

@Teaistheanswer I hope the call goes well.

I have had no call from my Headteacher yet - maybe I will next week? I had to send my shielding letter electronically to prove I was on the shielded list.

It has been announced that the Level has dropped from 4 to 3 .

@Cloudburstagain There’s 5 of us not in - 2 shielding, 3 vulnerable. Staff with shielding people at home are back in with individual RAs. Which to me is bonkers but I suppose, as we keep saying, you have to do your own risk assessment. Some of the 5 are now saying they’d like to go in for maybe the last week of term. Don’t know if that’s even ok RA wise, but it gives me the absolute fear. I’d feel even more awful if they did and I didn’t. We’ve already had 2 bubbles shut down with suspected cases (both turned out negative but can you imagine the panic that would give you). No idea what the HT wants, maybe just a box ticking hello?
@QueenCT My GP has referred to me as high risk from day 1 - wouldn’t read too much into that.
The thing is, it really is an individual thing. I know I am very high risk because a normal little virus takes me months and months to get over with many asthma attacks along the way. Someone else with severe asthma may not get triggered by viruses and so they may be slightly lower risk. I wonder roughly how many shielded patients each GP practise have? Wouldn’t it be possible for them to review their own patients?
I’m all rambly. My brain is shot to pieces today. I need solid news.

QueenCT high/moderate/low risk are the flags on medical records. High corresponds to extremely vulnerable. Moderate to vulnerable. And low to everyone else.

See this link.

Makes me wonder Boris and his cranks leak things so they don't have to do a big announcement

They leak it themselves but I think it’s so that (a) they can test the waters a bit and (b) there isn’t so much of an outcry/emotional response when they make the official announcement.

Thanks for the links they were helpful

So annoying to have the less carefully worded versions getting the greater attention

Though if it’s a live attenuated vaccine, I might not be able to have it for medical reasons (can’t have any others in that category) but if it’s killed or some clever fragment then it might be OK. Wait and see I suppose.

The summer pause language is interesting. It suggests a ‘make the most of it, because the winter virus season might be rough’ sort of thinking. Which I hope can be averted, but I’m guessing the plan includes the scenario that it isn’t

That’s enough gloom for today! Does anyone have anything nice planned, or to look forward to at the weekend?

My poor foot seems rather better this morning, so I am thinking I might try going out for a walk on Sat or Sun

Not sure if anyone has seen this x

www.gponline.com/government-unveil-shielding-rules-update-early-next-week/article/1687078

That’s interesting about additional cohorts being added to the flu jab this year. I wonder how much extra stick is being ordered? Might it even extend to everyone being offered it?

If so, it would be a damned good dress rehearsal for getting everyone Covid jabbed if/when a viable vaccine becomes available.

I really hope this years flu strain prediction is a good one, because assuming Covid still circulating, it could break the NHS if there was a bad flu season too

@UnholyStramash I’ve just started on mycophenolate mofetil - that has to be the most eye popping patient information booklet I’ve ever read. I thought the prograf one was bad!

I was on prograf tacrolimus but now I’m on advagraf slow release tacrolimus. There was some mention of going onto steroids again but I want to avoid that.

@ FuzzyPuffling I washed my hoover filters the other day. Living on the edge!!

I didn't have my flu vaccine til late this year as I had flu, I wonder how they'd logistically go about giving it to large numbers of shielding people...?

I'm hoping they sort out the supply of flu vaccine this year. Last year I had 4 appointments for it cancelled as they couldn't get hold of any. By the 5th appointment it was well into November.

Yeah it was put back to November for me too, is - then in November I was ill anyway! Then with being shut for Xmas, it was mid-January before I could get it done

Best to go to boots for the free nhs jab you can book appointments from early September for later dates.