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Original poster

Shielding After The Lockdown

176 replies

Didkdt · 16/04/2020 15:19

As people go back to work and the children to school I suspect our shielding status will remain for quite some time.
I'm just not sure how it will work. I was feeling so twitchy with DH at work and the children at school whether they'd bring it home
Also at some point I want my life back. I want to go back to work.
I've always been careful to avoid people's germs before knowing a cold or chest infection could hospitalize me, it's just now hospital might not be able to fix me

I just wondered if people wanted to chat through how shielding will work when life starts it's new normal and we're stuck shielding.

OP posts:
Menopauseandteensdontmix100 · 23/04/2020 07:47

I am in the same boat OP lock down was a relief for me. We are fortunate that DH and i are able to fairly easily WFH in the short term and as the summer term is much quieter for my work this is easily doable until September but not easily and fully doable beyond this. I work on my own in a small office which will be lucky if it is 2M wide without the oversized desk and office furniture (someone else who isnt the most hygienic shares this with me at the opposite end of the week). I have face to face appointments in the office which i am really not looking forward to going back into the office again.
Also the DC are teenagers who have abided by the government guidelines since the schools closed but whilst it would be ideal for them to get back to normal i am dreading them bringing this home with them.

FourTeaFallOut · 23/04/2020 08:14

The app marries up with my GP online system, Egghead. It also uses it to give reminders about when I am due to order another prescription.

The online warnings about U.K. inhaler shortages look terrifying.

I've dropped the ball on this one. Which inhalers are at risk?

Spamellahamella · 23/04/2020 08:40

I am.worrying about this too. My husband is in remission from lymphoma. He is healthy but he has got the extremely vulnerable letter and we are shielding. It is easy at the moment because we have both been furloughed and the kids are off. I don't know how we will manage to shield him when the lockdown is lifted. He might be able to stay off work but I won't and the kids will be back at school and mixing. We don't live in a house with a spare bedroom or bathroom. It is worrying.

Original poster
Didkdt · 23/04/2020 08:58

@Egghead68 I'm with Boots and they do deliver locally no signing required.
I'd rather stick with them for now as the team in my local store are brilliant

OP posts:
Egghead68 · 23/04/2020 09:28

Thanks everyone. I will try these suggestions.

I don’t know which inhalers but there was a warning on the online pharmacy website.

Original poster
Didkdt · 23/04/2020 10:24

Albuterol Clenil and Fostair are in short supply partly because they are being used in hospitals for treatment of Covid patients and partly because people have stockpiled

OP posts:
kirstinm · 23/04/2020 11:29

So nice to chat to others in the same boat!

@Didkdt yes, my potential supervisor and HOD have both been lovely, it's just so difficult to know what to do. Day to day I get on ok. I'm doing a Masters at the moment so trying to keep working but some days are better than others.

@Tonemeth Yes, it would be a research PhD. Remote start may very well be a possibility - the new uni is far from where I live at the moment so not sure how/when an actual move will be possible. Funding is a big worry as well - almost all funding has been pulled for this year (understandable but really frustrating when I had put weeks of work in to some applications) and I just don't know when it will all start back up again.

I live with my boyfriend who is furloughed at the moment so that's fine for now but I have a lot of worries about how we will manage if and when he goes back to work. Though he is in hospitality so who knows when that will be!?

I'm very up and down - good some days and just awful on others. I'm trying to see if I can cut my medication back a bit as that would help my immune system but that comes with its own problems. It all just feels like a bit of a mess really.

Egghead68 · 23/04/2020 11:36

Oh no - I’m on Fostair...

Tonemeth · 23/04/2020 11:48

I'm sorry kirstinm, this should be such an exciting time for you as well. That's a shame about the funding, absolutely everything has just changed overnight 😔 if only all this had waited till you were writing up, it would have been perfect (I joke obv).

I'm thinking that I might add year to onto my student loan if shielding looks like it will last. At least that way I have something to do and no financial tie as such. I cant afford upfront fees, I'm sure that's not just me!

Do you think people get this isnt just about protecting us yet and theres more to worry about?

Original poster
Didkdt · 23/04/2020 12:01

@Egghead68 it is only some of the Fostair dosed inhalers that are running low, maybe chat to the GP or pharmacist about changing the dose delivery so more of alower dosed inhaler or changing the med (GP/Consultant)
My consultant has said to email anytime

OP posts:
Sharpandshineyteeth · 23/04/2020 12:58

I’m 35. I have stage 4 breast cancer but was living a reasonably ok life before this.

What I have learnt from the uncertainty of my illness is that there is no point in looking too far ahead. It’s not worth it and it just makes the here and now virtually unbearable.

Take it a week at a time fellow shielders

Egghead68 · 23/04/2020 13:20

Thanks @Didkdt. Sounds like you have a good consultant. I have just paid £54 (!) for a spare fostair inhaler to keep in the fridge in case my pharmacy runs out. I have been through all this with HRT shortages too.

BatSegundo · 23/04/2020 15:46

That's advice I shall keep in mind, sharpandshiney, every time my brain goes off on one of it's "what if/oh no!" adventures. Grin

I'm the shielded one in a family of four due to MS/immunosuppression. Mid forties and in the SW. Thankfully, not worried about work at the moment as I can do some work at home (not ideal, but possible) and I'm in a profession where there's shortages so they're less likely to want rid of me! DH has been redeployed and can work from home too. Biggest worry is eldest DC due to transfer to secondary school in September and I can't see how that's going to happen.

Really nervous about the choices some of us are going to have to make Sad

Original poster
Didkdt · 23/04/2020 16:07

@Egghead68 that's awful. Could you talk to your GP about alternatives if needed? They might be able to ring through to the respiralogy team and see if they can suggest something.

OP posts:
Egghead68 · 23/04/2020 19:54

@Sharpandshineyteeth good advice.

@Didkdt my severe asthma is managed by the hospital and my GP stays out of it. I think I am OK for a couple of months but after that I may need to ask my respiratory team about alternatives. Many thanks for your concern.

Original poster
Didkdt · 26/04/2020 02:52

I've been realizing whilst I keep up with a lot of friends and ask how they are et regularly only one has actually said how are you finding things? And sh was prompted by circumstances around her job.
It feels a bit whiny to say so but whilst I know about their ups and downs I suspect they can't tell you about mine

OP posts:
Egghead68 · 26/04/2020 10:12

That’s really rubbish @didkdt. I’m finding some people are phoning to talk at me and then often end by saying “stay well” which infuriated me as until recently I have been very unwell with covid. I have also had a couple of “friends” questioning the need for me to be shielding (I don’t “look” unwell) which makes me think they think I have been exaggerating about my underlying health problems (if only). I also had one imply I was “hysterical” for not coming into work. There are definitely a few friendships I’m disengaging from as a result of this.

Egghead68 · 26/04/2020 10:15

I should say that most people have been lovely and have been phoning and texting regularly to keep my spirits up. I have been doing the same to others I know who are shielding. The experience has brought me closer to some people.

Original poster
Didkdt · 26/04/2020 17:22

Thanks I have to say it's strange I'm just feeling a bit meh but it's not so bad I'm aware of that

OP posts:
Original poster
Didkdt · 01/05/2020 23:12

We have a need for an electrician tomorrow so our family shield will be broken
I'm nervous to say the least

OP posts:
Original poster
Didkdt · 02/05/2020 23:21

There are murmurs of schools reopening on the 1/06 which is really what I thought the time frame was when I started this thread.
I'll be pleased for the nation if it's true but it's scary all the same
So what then as the lockdown ends what will we do

OP posts:
Theodoreb · 03/05/2020 22:31

@Didkdt tbh I'm terrified of schools re opening I'm a single mum with no one to look after dc if worst befalls me really am very frightened.

Original poster
Didkdt · 03/05/2020 22:54

@Theodoreb I'm really sorry. I feel worried enough, I cant imagine how stressful it must be for you.
DS school have got back to me to say they can't finalize plans for families like ours until they know how schools will reopen, but they don't want us to feel we need to separate the family to accommodate schooling I hope there will be something put in place at least short term.

OP posts:
Saffronesque · 05/05/2020 17:56

Please, as and when schools come up with plans for families like OP, can they share?

Schools locally aren't sure what to do & waiting for suggestions from parents.
I have DC in 2 different schools locally & local friends with DC in 2 others. I know we aren't their first concern, being very much in the minority, but I view the relaxation of the lockdown with fear & apprehension.

For context, 3 shielding adults & 2DC.

LWJ70 · 06/05/2020 06:39

5th Vit D3 study from Belgium.

Males showed markedly higher percentage of vitamin D deficiency ..Vit D deficiency is a possible risk factor for severe infection in males. Vit D3 supplementation might be an inexpensive, accessible and safe mitigation for covid

Link :
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.01.20079376v1