If you are immunosuppressed will you be going to work tomorrow?

[Littlemiss74]

I take immunosuppressants and seeing the governments plans for the over 70's am wondering if there will be any specific advice for younger people who are vulnerable and go to work.

I work in an office, around 80 people in the building. I don't use public transport.
I have a laptop so can work from home but I also attend meetings with colleagues.

I was happy to continue going to work but as things get worse I am getting more and more anxious.

Anyone in similar situation, are you planning to go into work tomorrow? I'm really not sure what to do.

Just bumping in case anyone in similar situation? Basically i think I need to have an honest chat with my boss but not sure if should I go in and do it or just call her in the morning. Or I could message her today. She is generally very supportive but I am worried about what she is going to think as we don't know how long this could go on for..

I'm not immunosuppressed but my partner is and I worry about passing something to him, especially as I commute on public transport. I have emailed my boss today asking to WFH so we'll see what he says.. I'm not due in tomorrow anyway so he has a bit of time to think about it.

I’m immunosuppressed and will go to work (NHS) on the tube tomorrow.
I plan to e-mail the hospital where I’m treated, I’m on an injectable biologic, and ask for their opinion. I’m already fired up to challenge any ‘do what you feel comfortable with’ replies, I can do that without them telling me to. I can wfh and want an e-mail trail to forward to my manager/occupational health.

@Wiglio thank you I am also on injections. Do you mean that you want the email from your hospital so that you can show it to your manager to justify your wfh request?

I did email my consultant about 2 weeks ago and his response was the risk of being at work is low but the risk of isolating is even lower. I'm not being disrespectful but I could have told him that!
This was 2 weeks ago and things have moved on from then.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do, injected yesterday so feel rough today anyway (biologic drug).

I commute on public transport and can't wfh.

It's a conundrum that lots of us are going to have to work out.

I know it's difficult to know what to do isn't it. I wish the government would give more definite guidance for people with underlying conditions. I'm feeling stressed by not knowing what to do for the best.

Pleased to have found this. I'm on anti-TNF and also have asthma. I'm worried! I work in a large school but in the office and have limited contact with pupils. I could technically WFH but it's quite uncommon and I feel would be frowned upon! However, I also have a 1 year old at a Childminder's and a 5 year old at school, so even if I stay at home my two little germ monsters will still be out and about! Husband is currently WFH so he should be relatively low risk. I really don't know what we should be doing and how vulnerable we are! x

I am luckily unemployed since I had to leave my last job due to constant RA flare ups but I really feel for all of you having to think about this. I am genuinely starting to get angry about the lack of acknowledgement that some young people are vulnerable too.

I have seen conflicting reports as to whether isolation will be ordered for just 70 plus or also people who are immune comprised. How that would work is anyone's guess though since most work or have kids.

@BarbedBloom I agree. Every sad case where someone has sadly died they say oh but they were elderly with underlying conditions. What about the young with underlying conditions? This is so scary to keep hearing and it's portrayed in the media like oh no need to panic if you're youngish and generally healthy. However if you' e got underlying conditions you've had it!!
I've not felt anxiety like this in a long time.
I just want some proper advice NOW to protect us all, not in a few weeks!!!! Why is that not happening?!

I am on these but luckily wfh mostly, with occAsional meetings in London. I am pulling out of London meetings with support of my boss and have also withdrawn the DC from school. DH is ex teacher so relatively confident with home schooling (they’re only little)

Littlemiss yep and reading a lot of the dialogue on here of "stop being a drama lama" "you only need to worry if you're old or immuno suppressed and have other conditions".

It appears we are expendable and in the healthy populations minds, that's ok, we are just collateral damage.

It's really making me rethink my attitude towards my fellow neighbours.

My partner has cancer and is on chemo. I'm 62 and mild asthmatic, only carer for partner and 86 yr old mil who lives with us. On zero hours cleaning contract so no sick pay. Should I go to work?

I feel like that too. Have seen some terrible things written recently about the elderly and the immuno suppressed. As though we don't matter. Some of these people are on my FB, or were.

What I am struggling with too is my doctors don't know what to advise. My rheumatologist admitted he has no idea what to tell me. He suggested I isolate as likely to have serious problems with being is and asthmatic, but my husband is still working and financially I need to get something else soon.

The lack of advice is awful. I am glad I am not in my old job as I would have been expected to be there in a public facing role.

I'm lucky to be WFH already and have been self isolating as much as possible for a few weeks.
I've covered three office based staff while they get WFH set up today and tomorrow five more.
I knew when my employer, who I never knowingly say a kind word about (think huge gov contractor, Jack of all master of none, greedy pigs) allowed us permission to volunteer to help in admin roles for certain agencies and prep for that instead of pimping us for profit, now they have bent over backwards to enable anyone with health issues and primary children to get their setup done asap.
Very worrying.

Just to update, I couldn't bear it any longer so
have messaged to say I would like to work from
home until I get further advice. Manager replied straight away to say that's fine and sensible and that there will probably be others at work following soon. Feel slightly relieved although of course it doesn't stop DH bringing it home from work or DC's from school but at least I'm limiting my exposure a bit.

Great news op

That's good news.
Honestly it will take the pressure off a touch.

Yes I think so @TheQueef. I hope we all get the advice and guidance we deserve soon.

I'm in this boat. On methotrexate so immunosuppressed. No advice given from either hospital or GP and can't get through to my GP surgery. WFH is not an option for me and I work in a customer facing role so I am worried.

Why on earth can't they issue guidelines to cover people like us?

Really glad LittleMiss

I'm in a similar boat too - not immunosuppressed but I have asthma and chronic kidney disease. I feel like we're being left out to the wolves if I'm honest - collateral damage is exactly it. Disappointing since I work for the government holding down quite a responsible job and bringing up two young children who will be in school / day care bringing home all and sundry.

I had a slight meltdown at work on Friday.. and having had my boss say I could either come in later and leave earlier, or wfh, I explained that as I had a little cough, I would work from home this week. However, I cannot make my mind up what to do! I think as both myself and my husband are both in our 50s, with underlying health conditions - he has diabetes and high blood pressures, and I have psoriasis which is an autoimmune disease (overactive immune system which means it attacks one's own body and thereby weakening the system) - even though I take every precaution I can when using the tube etc., I am still worried about contracting it and passing it on to my husband.

I wish the government would make the decision for all employers to demand people work from home if they can, for the foreseeable future, especially those who may be at risk. And with no stigma attached to doing so. I spoke to a couple of companies on Friday - both told me all staff were now working from home, with one boss saying, 'it's for the safety of my staff.. I must ensure my staff are safe'.

I'm wondering whether to go tomorrow because a) I just want normalcy, b) Other staff are going in c) Don't want to be seen as a drama lama and d) Not sure how long I would have to wfh.

Hubby says to go, just taking normal precautions as I have been doing. Friends, whose companies have told them to now wfh, are telling me to stay home. I just don't know what to do.

DH is immunocompromised and is amazed he's not received any kind of information from his consultant. He is self employed which makes it a hard decision as no work, no pay.

@FelineUk I think if you've already had the conversation with your boss and said you will wfh this week you should do that. It buys you some time to think, takes the immense stress and pressure off and hopefully this week there will be further developments and guidance.

I worry that people will wonder why I am off as very few people know at work about my condition but I'm getting to the point where I don't care what the gossips think. I've got 2 children to think about and I need to protect myself from all the bloody coughers and sneezers that always seem to 'struggle' into the office. My boss seems to understand and that's all that matter to me now.

I have a 10 year old boy who is immunosuppressed being on Azathioprine and infliximab. I too am so frustrated with the lack of advice about what to do. I'm tempted to keep him indoors for the forseeable. Also nothing from his consultant. I just think nobody knows what to say