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.

My DF has got from 28 years old to 80 with no spleen and has been as fit as an ox right up til he was about 73 when he got some funny viruses but fought them all off. Don't worry

Thanks everyone for cheering me up. Also thanks OP for posting this - it is important for us to know about the change in status.

@gatsbylove I know how you feel! When I didn’t have a letter by end of March, I thought I wasn’t classed as high risk. Then it just felt like ‘we’re all in this together’, I was in the same boat as everyone else. Suddenly to be told you can’t go outside (but ‘can open a window!’) for twelve weeks really reinforced how different i was. And as much as three weeks (At the time) of lockdown was a shock to everyone’s system, it felt like the end was at least in sight at that point, whereas potentially being stuck inside til July is a sobering thought.

I saw that article over the weekend and didn't know if it is a reliable source since neither NHS Direct or the government website have been updated to reflect it. I don't have a spleen and neither does my son or my sisters as we all have the same hereditary condition.

We've had no letters or phone calls advising to be shielding although I did think it was odd not to have been on the list right from the start since one of the functions of the spleen is as part of the immune system against encapsulated infections which is what Covid is.

My dad didn't have a spleen either. He developed Pneumonia after something fairly innocuous and died when he was 48 so I'm rigerous about getting all necessary vaccinations and am following the guidance to the letter.

@gatsbylove sorry, I just realised that came out a little more woe is me than intended!
As previous posters have said, it’s just guidance. And I think we just have to use our own judgment. I’ll be honest, I have gone out for a quick walk a couple of times but I do it when it’s quiet and it’s an easy walk where I don’t have to touch anything. I have sciatica which has flared up as a result of not really doing much exercise, so the walking helps. We know our own health better than anybody else and it sounds like you deal with yours without too many adjustments.

I heard a terminally ill person talking on the radio about how he hadn't seen his kids for weeks because he was shielding and didn't know if he'd see them before he died. Fuck that. See your kids! Heartbreaking.

I’ve found there is some confusion with the sit by an open window advice. When you read way down the advice to mental health it does say you should use prove external space like the garden or sitting outside your front door as long as you can stay 2m from the neighbours.

Of course we need the rain to go away for that but I’m so glad I have a garden.

Mental health is so important, I went for a walk in the first week as I thought that was allowed under the guidelines and I think I will again if I get too stir crazy, I’ll go at a quiet time. Plus I had to check a work area on a building site was secure and up to date health and safety wise so my husband drove me in the evening and drove home past the sea as I had been missing it. I wasn’t out for long on either occasion but it has helped. My house is in the middle of a large village but tucked down a private track so I can’t see any day to day stuff going on other than my neighbours who don’t seem to understand guidelines or social distance so I’m trying to ignore them.

*prove, private! It’s early.

Not at all @dizzyupthegirl86 - your response accurately summed up why being included now, after assuming you were clear, is difficult.

I have an young an energetic dog to walk so will just be grateful I live in a village so can do so daily, locally and without bumping into anyone. Plus have a relatively secure job where I can wfh. And a small but pretty garden

I am much, much luckier than lots of people, I realise.

Take care of yourself.