I'm wondering what types of medical conditions prevent people from wearing masks

[lovelemoncurd]

I'm trying to understand the rationale for not wearing masks. Patients with respiratory conditions routinely wear masks in hospital and it's not a problem so what are the conditions that are prohibiting mask use. After all coronavirus must surely trump them?

I read a post on Mn about a poster who had been orally raped and due to ptsd couldn't wear a mask.

In all circumstances pp have noted I say, fair enough.

They were protesting because they don't want to wear one. So technically, as not actually exempt, they can't enter shops and use public transport unless they wear a mask, which they won't.

Apart from at that point in time, where shops, public transport etc. could potentially know they were protesting, when they go about their normal daily lives how would anyone know they are not exempt?

I have absolutely nothing official to say I am exempt, because it doesn't exist.

How does anyone know I am telling the truth when I say I physically can't wear one? Their freedom to go to the same places as you is exactly the same.

And as I am exempt from wearing a mask, I can also go into shops as much as I like.

Which is fine until the masses decide they won't wear one either if it's not mandatory.

OH has epilepsy. He does a sharp intake of breath immediately before convulsions start. If he was wearing a cloth face covering it would be sucked into his mouth just as his jaws clamp shut meaning the vomit and spittle will have no-where to go except down his throat resulting in possibly chocking to death. He can't wear a visor (before anyone suggests it), as the convulsions will cause it to buckle resulting in injuries to his head by repeatedly smashing it. In a hospital the masks are ridged and held away from his airways so that, for him, is the difference.

*chocking? Choking

"You can’t go in a hospital not wearing one but every one seems to manage that one and has done whey before they were made to wear them in shops ."

You can go into a hospital without one. It's on my son's hospital passport that he doesn't wear one and also that we can remove ours if necessary to calm him and communicate with him.

Everyone can't manage that one. Only people who don't think severely disabled people exist would think that.

@PickAChew

If you can't think of any reasons then be thankful they don't apply to you and go about your day, minding your own business.

So much this.

It's bad enough having the ordeal of walking around the shops being reminded of the whole nightmare of COVID19 every moment, but the nasty judgemental attitudes of some is on a new scale of vile.

DH and I have stayed at home far more than ever because it removes stress and complexity of worrying about all this stuff. I feel for people who have a medical or psychological condition, because they get the brunt of all the nastiness as well as their health challenges. I initially found material round my face very uncomfortable and claustrophobic but the medical-looking masks you get from the supermarkets are definitely more wearable, I can cope with them.

to all who have been struggling with this, let's hope a vx solution won't be too far away.

People really don’t seem to get the point of public health measures. It’s not so I, as an individual, don’t get the virus off you, as an individual. It’s just to lower transmission overall. If enough people wear them, it’s enough.

I’m currently in Devon and compliance seems fine. In the supermarket everyone had them on including many children under 11. My son took his off as he said it was scratching his face (it wasn’t, but he has sensory issues) so took his off and popped his lanyard on.

@Dinosauratemydaffodils have the GP surgery specifically told you that you cannot go without a mask?
I work in the NHS and we would def find a way around this for you!
Could your husband advocate for you if you feel unable and contact the practice manager? Adequate sleep would help with your MH.
We’re all having to work differently I can’t see why your GPs are being so unhelpful.

Ds has complex needs including severe respiratory conditions, autism and anxiety. We have tried many different types of masks but he simply can’t manage it.

He struggles enough with other people wearing them (we do obviously) because he can’t recognise people and he can’t read them properly when he can’t see their mouth.

"So what do hospitals do about people who can’t/won’t wear masks."

People who can't wear masks will go straight through to where they will be seen. You won't see them in waiting rooms. Some like ds will have done this before coronavirus.
Staff can wear more protective ppe if necessary.

Hospitals aren't actually the Gotcha! moment that some posters think it is.

And when they are, that's actually an indication of lack of organisation,training and protocol, which is a failure of the hospital, not the service users.

Just a thought... but masks do slow down air flow, which is why people with COPD or sarcoidosis or Cystic fibrosis can be exempt.

I associate being in hospitals with sitting around, mostly.
I associate shopping (or museums) with walking around, mostly.

You need more air flow when walking around than when sitting around.

For those with compromised lungs, I can see why it would be a lot easier to wear a face cover at hospital than when out shopping.

have the GP surgery specifically told you that you cannot go without a mask?

Yes. Apparently in the room it's between me and the GP but masks gave to be worn in all public areas. Short of climbing through the window...

What's really annoying me is that my psychiatrist asked for them to be prescribed and it's the GP saying I have to see her first. Fair enough I have attempted suicide in the past but all pills go to dh to hand them out one by one. I've also never attempted to overdose. It's the blase way they seem to expect me to manage...like it's nothing at all. If I could do it, I probably wouldn't need sleeping pills.

My son is autistic and has Tourette Syndrome but can wear a fabric mask (not disposable ones, he chews them).

Many in both these communities cannot wear a mask safely or appropriately.

I have Trigeminal Neuralgia. Extremely painful condition affecting the nerves in the face. I can't wear a mask much of the time but do try to wear a multi-use headband as a covering.

Around 30% of people weren't wearing them on the train, mostly youngsters but also older people who had printed something and wrapped in cling film. Considering one of the mask refusers (with cling film exemption) had cycled to the station (saw him lock his bike) I don't believe he has copd severe enough to prevent wearing a mask for 20 minutes seated!).

@stuckinarutwithyou

I have Trigeminal Neuralgia. Extremely painful condition affecting the nerves in the face. I can't wear a mask much of the time but do try to wear a multi-use headband as a covering.

Does the pressure on your temple not kick it off? If I get any pressure on my right temple, off it goes.

@PhilCornwall1 the headband that I use isn't very tight, so I have it round my neck and pull it up to cover my nose and mouth. I'm fairly well controlled with meds just now though. I mainly get pain in my teeth or with light breezes/air con.

I know a man in his 80s who can't wear a mask. If you saw him you would probably assume it was because of a disability or illness purely on account of his age. But that isn't the reason, physically he could wear a mask. It's because he was gagged and raped as a 9yo. Now just think, that same reason could just as easily apply to the fit young man in his 20s or 30s you're assuming is just selfish.

Not as ignorant as your post @CatandtheFiddle which I have reported.

"probably wit a co-morbid condition of "Ignorance."

Looked in the mirror lately?

Patients with respiratory conditions routinely wear masks in hospital and it's not a problem so what are the conditions that are prohibiting mask use. After all coronavirus must surely trump them?

Wow. You do realise that people with respiratory conditions wear masks in hospital to give oxygen or take meds through a nebuliser, right? How that can any way be compared to a face mask that cuts off air I cannot comprehend. Have some empathy.

See, this is why I don't think I'll go into shops for a long time yet. I simply don't have the energy to take being abused because I cannot wear a mask due to severe lung disease. I bought one - a breathable one - and I have tried but couldn't even walk round the house without getting into distress.

Sad to see how disabled people are being ever more othered through this whole thing.