Page 2 | Anxiety rising about return to school (shielder)

AldiAisleofCrap · 01/08/2020 19:42

@Littlemiss74 yes be good if you can give your rheumatologist a call.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 01/08/2020 20:09

[quote Littlemiss74]@Hearhoovesthinkzebras what foods are we meant to avoid? I’ve never known about this😳[/quote]
The list I was given was essentially the same as for pregnant women so basically soft cheeses, unpasteurised dairy, anything containing raw eggs, pate etc. Anything that could cause listeria or salmonella.

NewCatMummy · 01/08/2020 20:13

See also those who have been shielding and are due to go back to working in a school- especially a secondary school- and can’t work from home. Nightmare but what are we supposed to do?

SheepandCow · 02/08/2020 06:19

It might reassure you to know there's evidence immunosuppressants help. Some are part of clinical trials as potential treatment. They could increase your risk of catching it but protect against you developing serious illness or death.

It would be interesting to know the death rate for people taking biologics or immunosuppressants. I suspect it's relatively low. Even if we say that's down to shielding in the UK, the worldwide figures would give a good indication.

labyrinthloafer · 02/08/2020 07:21

Hi, I would really echo those above suggesting you seek advice.

It is not ethically acceptable that you would be fined. I do wonder when the first legal challenge will come to the fines.

I have no underlying condition and am still very concerned about schools reopening.

Have you seen latest discussion today? There is more concern from teaching unions and scientists.

for you

SoloMummy · 02/08/2020 08:55

@nellodee

How old are your children? Do you feel capable of working from home and guiding their learning for a short period of time? Are good schools in your area over subscribed?

There are pieces of research which show that not all immuno-suppressants place you at greater risk. Apparently, those taken for arthritis don't affect risk. www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2020/jun/immunosuppressants-do-not-increase-covid-19-risk-people-rheumatic-diseases

It is possible that you may not be at as much increased risk as was initially thought, but I can't offer you blanket reassurance. You need to do a bit of research and balance up your pros and cons. You sound as though you are in a fortunate position to be able to make some choices and not have them completely forced upon you.

This is a study of 600 covid patients who took different meds. So fairly inconclusive in terms of the numbers of each med and dosages etc. To then quote, Less than half (46%) of the patients studied required hospitalisation, while 55 fatalities (9% of patients) occurred. is hardly reassuring to those of us on such meds. The study recognises its limitations : It is necessary, however, to gather more knowledge about the course of an infection with the novel coronavirus in patients with inflammatory rheumatic conditions

SoloMummy · 02/08/2020 08:59

@Littlemiss74

I had a shielding letter due to taking immunosuppressant meds. I was very anxious at the start & was relieved that the dc’s were not going to school & I could wfh. I have relaxed a little and have been going out but taking all the necessary precautions. We are trying to enjoy the summer by being outdoors as much as possible and keeping our distance.

But, as the return to school comes closer my anxiety is increasing again. It just seems such a jump to go from keeping ourselves to ourselves for months to exposing my dc’s to classes of 30 children from 30 other families. Part of me is thinking is it inevitable that they will come into contact with the virus at some point if they are mixing closely with this number of people. I know that children don’t tend to get too poorly with it but I am worried about them passing it to me.

It just seems a bit odd that for months shielders were made to feel so vulnerable and now suddenly it’s all ok and children of shielders can freely go and mix with a full class at school.

I am trying not to think about it but I am anxious about the return to school and what the winter will bring.

Does anyone else feel similar? Just looking for some reassurance I suppose if that is possible.

I totally understand your feelings op. I don't think that "counselling" is the solution as many suggest of those who have been shielding. I think that the situation needs a proper review. And indeed the failings of home learning lie with the schools and the fsct this hasn't been addressed is imo one of the reasons that our shielding families are in effect being ignored.

I'm considering taking the fine tbh.

Regulus · 02/08/2020 09:17

I can not see how an arbitrary date to end shielding changes anything. The shielded would have been safer in July then they are now in August.

Original poster

Littlemiss74 · 02/08/2020 09:17

The thing is my dc’s mental wellbeing is being affected by not being at school. I just don’t think I could keep them off any longer when they know all their friends will be back. I just keep telling myself, they wouldn’t be saying it’s ok to go back if it wasn’t. It’s just the latest concern over increasing cases and local lockdowns has fuelled my anxiety again. In particular I am worried about the winter months as I feel like every time someone coughs or sneezes I’m going to be paranoid!

OP posts:

AnIckabog · 02/08/2020 09:28

@Littlemiss74 sorry no advice but sending sympathy and . It sucks. All us clinically vulnerable and shielding teachers will be back in those classrooms too with no space to social distance and moving between bubbles (of 300 anyway so scarcely 'bubbles'). Some of us will be seriously ill and die. Viruses spread in schools.
It is so difficult and no, it can't be made safe. When teachers point this out we get shot down. Crossing my fingers and praying. All we can do.

Original poster

Littlemiss74 · 02/08/2020 09:38

@Anlckabog that sounds hard for you. It must be so worrying. Teachers have done an amazing job through this whole time, thank you.

OP posts:

Jourdain11 · 02/08/2020 09:52

@Littlemiss74 I completely understand that it's confusing and anxiety provoking. I don't know if it is any reassurance, but my three kids went back to their primary school in June, while I was having chemo for leukaemia. We were very nervous about it, but there was no practical alternative for us as a family. However, it all worked out fine! My immune system has been really shot and I was worried about catching any school German they'd picked up, not just Covid. But we put in place some safety things (extra handwashing, change clothes when they get in) and everything has, so far, been okay!

Schuyler · 02/08/2020 22:33

@AldiAisleofCrap

Apparently, those taken for arthritis don't affect risk that article doesn’t refer to biologics.

@AldiAisleofCrap

It does include biologics (of which anti TNFs are obviously only one type).

“ The researchers found that the intake of conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) – such as anti-malarial drugs or methotrexate – alone or in combination with biologics (e.g. TNF-alpha inhibitors), or the intake of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was not associated with hospitalisation. The intake of TNF-alpha inhibitors was associated with a reduced probability of hospitalisation.”

It’s fine if you feel vulnerable due to your own health and want to continue. However, I think it’s important to recognise the risk of these drugs is not as high as initially thought which is positive for those who are trying to get out more. We all make our own decisions and risk assessments. The information coming is more reassuring than it was. Initially, the concern had been much higher.

AldiAisleofCrap · 02/08/2020 22:43

@Schuyler It’s fine if you feel vulnerable due to your own health and want to continue
I don’t feel vulnerable , I am vulnerable my consultant told me to continue to shield , Humiria is one of many reasons I am shielding. I have multiple health conditions.

Schuyler · 02/08/2020 22:55

[quote AldiAisleofCrap]**@Schuyler* It’s fine if you feel vulnerable due to your own health and want to continue*
I don’t feel vulnerable , I am vulnerable my consultant told me to continue to shield , Humiria is one of many reasons I am shielding. I have multiple health conditions.[/quote]
@AldiAisleofCrap

That’s why I said we make our own risk assessments. Wrong use of the word “feel”, my apologies. If you’re shielded - like me - when we are obviously vulnerable. I don’t feel vulnerable but I accept it came across badly, I am just doing what I can to help my own mental health. I didn’t mean any offence by it. Anyway, simply wanted to highlight that biologics were found to be a protective factor. Some people “only” (ha!) are on biologics and don’t have other risk factors so hopefully this will bring a small amount of reassurance.

labyrinthloafer · 03/08/2020 07:52

I just keep telling myself, they wouldn’t be saying it’s ok to go back if it wasn’t

This is the root of all my concerns really, because I don't think I can bring myself to think this about the current government, sorry. They know full well that no SD in secondary will result in the virus spreading.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 03/08/2020 08:02

@labyrinthloafer

I just keep telling myself, they wouldn’t be saying it’s ok to go back if it wasn’t

This is the root of all my concerns really, because I don't think I can bring myself to think this about the current government, sorry. They know full well that no SD in secondary will result in the virus spreading.

I think that's the only logical conclusion given what Chris Whitty said about having to close other things in order for schools to open. Why? If schools won't cause an increase in cases then why do they have to shut eg pubs in order for schools to open? If school pupils won't catch and transmit Covid then there will be no increase in the spread of it so everything else can stay open, right? You'd surely only have to close eg pubs if you think that rates will rise even higher due to outbreaks in schools.

labyrinthloafer · 03/08/2020 08:09

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras

Quite, that is what Whitty was getting at.

AldiAisleofCrap · 03/08/2020 14:50

@Schuyler thanks for explaining, I guess I am just sensitive as I have read comments for other posters stating that parents who don’t send their dc back to school are selfish, have health anxiety , there is no risk at all etc. You didn’t say anything wrong.
Having read that article in more detail it is more positive than I initially thought.

gallbladderpain · 03/08/2020 15:07

[quote AldiAisleofCrap]@Schuyler thanks for explaining, I guess I am just sensitive as I have read comments for other posters stating that parents who don’t send their dc back to school are selfish, have health anxiety , there is no risk at all etc. You didn’t say anything wrong.
Having read that article in more detail it is more positive than I initially thought.[/quote]
Don't feel like that at all. Everyone has to make their own risk assessments based on their own families circumstances and vunerbilities.
These Same posters are the ones who don't want to wear masks because they are uncomfortable....well I don't want to send my child back to school because it's pretty uncomfortable for them when they are having IV's put in their scalp, blood drawn from their groin, on oxygen, having feeding tubes inserted etc....the risk is that covid could well put them in that situation again and that is something I personally would rather avoid putting them through if at all possible and I'm pretty sure if a lot of these people had these experiences they would also feel the same and not so dismissive