Shielding and splenectomy

[Jellybean27]

Posting for traffic!

Just a heads up for any others with no spleen!

I was contacted by my GP today to advise that as I have had a splenectomy, I should now be shielding. (And by the looks of it, from recently updated info online, I should have been weeks ago)
Although I am not predisposed to Covid 19, I am more at risk of developing bacterial infections which could cause big problems.

Coincidentally, I have been tested for Covid at a drive to test centre today after hitting a temp of 37.8 yesterday. My husband is a key worker and was able to book us in to be tested this afternoon.

I contacted the 111 Coronavirus service to let them know about my temperature and was called back by a doctor. He has said that my biggest concern without a spleen is septicaemia and should make this very clear to anyone I speak to in regards to Covid symptoms and/or if having to be admitted to hospital.

Hope this is of some use to anyone who has been searching for splenectomy advice. Definitely worth contacting your gp if you are yet to hear about shielding advice.

Can you link to the new advice? I don’t have a spleen but have had a liver transplant too. Selfishly, I don’t want my risk to have been doubled!!

Hope it doesn’t turn out to be covid.

I hope that’s not the case 😕

Here’s one from 3 days ago -

www.gponline.com/u-turn-splenectomy-patients-added-covid-19-shielding-list/article/1681307

Thanks for that. I suppose it makes no difference to me really as I was already shielding. It’s just a little alarming in terms of overall risk. I’ve got a hospital appointment coming up so I’ll see what the consultant thinks.

Do you take daily penicillin? I’ve never met anyone else without a spleen before!

I’m another one!
Though I’ve had not one but two letters telling me I need to shield (albeit after the March deadline) and a phone call from my doctors and my local council making sure that I am.

Thanks for that. My dad doesn’t have a spleen and was actually pleasantly surprised to be told he wasn’t in the shielding group initially (made him feel healthier). He’s not heard anything from his GP so I’ll tell him to get in touch.

Haha, same!

I do, twice daily @OrganTransplant123 - phenoxymethylpenecillin

I was pretty disappointed to get the call, was just getting used to vulnerable status @Pinktornado

@OrganTransplant123 I take erythomycin, penicillin just didn’t work for me - despite me having used it for years before my op for infections and being fine with it!

Me too, my dr had told me weeks ago to shield so I had been but with no letter or texts and the conflicting nhs advice I was starting to think they were wrong, my dr reconfirmed on Friday. Still no text or letter but after six weeks trying everyday to get shopping I finally have a priority slot for home delivery!

I’m taking erythromycin too @dizzyupthegirl86, allergic to penicillin but don’t tolerate erythromycin that well tbh.

If your on Facebook there are a couple of private group if you search for spleen/splenectomy

*you’re

For sure. It makes a huge difference. A spleen cleans the bloods. It's very clever

I had a splenetic infarct. My spleen is very scarred. But fortunately was able to save some of it so I didn't spend my life on antibiotics.

X

Mine was a spontaneous rupture, so had no time to prepare before. I was taken in with major shoulder pain and they suspected pulmonary embolism and discharged. The following day I deteriorated, rushed in again. I had severe internal bleeding and it was removed via emergency open surgery.

Had all my vaccinations after and penicillin twice daily since.

Any of you shielding with children/family?

My daughter had her spleen removed at age 11yrs along with her gall bladder.
She takes amoxicillin twice a day.
She had her shielding letter at the very start of lock down.
Had all her vaccinations before the operation.

My DF has no spleen. This is specifically mentioned on the vulnerable list but not shielding. It dies seem odd that they should suddenly add people after all this time.

He is in Scotland so different rules but has been staying in anyway as an ultra fit 80 year old. He has had some awful illnesses in recent years that he found hard to fight off so is being very cautious.

My spleen was removed when I was about 12.

I do not take daily antibiotics - mainly because I don't really find I am sick more often or more severely than "normal" people so I don't see the need. However, I do make sure I am prompt to get them if I have an infection and always assumed I would need to start as I got older (am now 40).

Other than that GP link I cannot find any more confirmation about being on the shielded list and, tbh, I really do not want to get on that list

He is in Scotland so different rules

That’s where my DF is too. I’ve written to his GP and our local MP as I think it’s important that Scotland updates its shielding list in line with England so those without spleens are also in the first group to get vaccines if/when one becomes available. I have no idea why Scotland is dragging its feet over this.

I thought it was odd @Piggywaspushed, I’m guessing they’ve just needed more time than they initially had to compile the list and get letters out and call people? Or maybe they’re going over the vulnerable list now and reconsidering the risks?

No clue, but I’d have been happier to not have been bumped up!

@gatsbylove

And there’s a link up top. But can’t see that the advice has been updated on Gov.uk

Yeah, this list

www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-physical-distancing

Same in all UK, as splenectomy on vulnerable but not extremely so.

@Jellybean27 oh did you have itp too? Had mine from 4 years old til my splenectomy at 16.

@gatsbylove you don't have to shield if you don't want to. It's a personal choice, acknowledged as such by the government's own website.

Yeah, I know. It's just psychologically something I find hard. I guess I don't really think of myself as vulnerable and so to suddenly find myself recommended to hide away because I am extremely vulnerable makes me feel bad.

I'll get over myself soon enough