To ask you to help me with a risk assessment

[Livinginashoe]

I’m really struggling to put things into perspective for myself and I could really use some opinions of others.

I’m 34 year old
Female
5ft 5”
16st 6lb
BMI 38.3
Asthma (mild)
Psoriasis (treated with topical creams)

I had my first baby back in February, 5 weeks before lockdown.

In March I was diagnosed with post natal depression, anxiety and OCD.

I really, really struggled with the pandemic.
I wasn’t able to leave my house, couldn’t bring myself to go for walks.
I was obsessed with symptoms, took my temperature every hour, washed my hands until they bled, constantly cleaned my house.
It was a very difficult time for me and for my husband.
I gained 3 stone in weight through comfort and stress eating (more than I gained during pregnancy!! 🙁)

I had 20 weeks of CBT and I feel like I’ve really improved.

Over the last month I’ve met up with several friends, we’ve been for walks, taken our babies to the farm, we’ve been to two zoos.
I’ve also been to 3 coffee shops and sat inside, and, I’ve taken dc to an face to face baby class.

I’ve felt like a new person for getting back around friends, I’m such a social person and being stuck at home really took its toll on me.
My marriage is healthier and I feel like such a better mum.

Now the cases are rising I can feel myself slipping back into negative thinking and it’s scaring me. 😞
I have a learned a lot of techniques in CBT so I will be using them to help.

I really don’t want to to stop going out and seeing friends, and I really don’t want to stop going to the baby class, dc really enjoys it!!
But the weather is staring to get cooler and we have rain forecast for the next week which means outdoor meetings will be off the cards.

I just can’t seem to determine how “at risk” I am(personal details above) and I just feel like I’m putting myself at further risk by doing all of these things.

I wasn’t a sheilder but know I fall into vulnerable category because of asthma; I know my weight doesn’t help things, but I am an online member with a slimming group and an definitely making healthy changes.

I know we take risks everyday, but this all feels very different with Covid.
It’s so very scary hearing that fit and healthy people are hospitalised and it just makes me think I don’t stand a chance against the virus.

Since having poor mental health I feel like my decision making and my perspective on risks haven't been that great.

I’ve asked my husband and he keeps telling me to still go out and just keep being careful.
He says “you’ll be fine if you get it”
but I think that’s unfair of him to say that as I don’t think he’s really taking my risk factors into consideration and he’s thinking more about my mental health.

What does everyone else think? Should I try to stay in now? Cancel the baby class?

Has anyone with similar risk factors to me had the virus?

Just do what you feel comfortable with!

I am not a medical doctor, so this is the advice of some random on the internet and may be wrong. A chat to your GP might be a good place to get the best advice. I would say your weight is probably the biggest risk factor (see above - I'm not a medical doctor) in general terms. However, if staying in sends your mental health downwards and causes you to eat more, I would suggest that getting outside, safely, is probably a good plan (I'm not a medical doctor). Make sure your asthma is well managed too, by which I mean taking your inhaled steroid preventers religiously. check with your GP if you are due an asthma plan review to make sure you're taking the right things. Best wishes!

Have a look at the BMA covid calculator. You are protected by age and sex. Mild asthma isn't a big risk factor - it is compounded if you use/ have recently needed steroids. And while bmi is a factor, again it's compounded if you have diabetes. I don't know your race but check out the calculator but I wouldn't be hibernating if I fall in the low risk category.

Use this alama.org.uk/covid-19-medical-risk-assessment/

I am no expert, and not in the vulnerable group so feel free to completely ignore me. I would agree to doing what your comfortable with, but with regards to the weather unless it's torrential rain or blowing a gale I would still continue to meet up outside. Just wrap up well, good for you good for baby. Plenty of coffee shops have covered outdoor seating, or take a flask with you and just go for a good walk and meet a friend even if it on a park bench.