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Original poster

Just received a shielding letter but no one knows why!!

602 replies

theviewfromhalfwaydown · 18/02/2021 11:01

I’m freaking out a bit that there’s something wrong with me I don’t know about. I received a shielding letter but have no idea why I have it. I’m slightly overweight but haven’t been weighed by a dr in 10years and that was just after I’d given birth to my youngest. I have no underlying health conditions I know about and I’m only 38. All I can think of is that I had gestational diabetes but that was years ago. I’ve already had the first jab as I work in healthcare but I’m worried they know something I don’t. I’m not going to shield as I don’t think I need to and I want to work but it’s still thrown me quite a bit.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
17
idontlikealdi · 18/02/2021 11:02

Call the doctor and ask?

FourTeaFallOut · 18/02/2021 11:04

Just phone your gp. It's easily fixed if it's a mistake.

Beforethetakingoftoastandtea · 18/02/2021 11:04

How overweight? What is your bmi?

Original poster
theviewfromhalfwaydown · 18/02/2021 11:04

I did and the receptionist said it’s not sent by them so they don’t know the reason. She said they have had a few similar calls.

OP posts:
Char2015 · 18/02/2021 11:06

Interesting. I have literally just received a shielding email. All seems official - full name, NHS number, full address. Email advising to shield. I have asthma - been on brown inhaler for a year. But I also had gestational diabetes a few years ago - same as you OP. I go for yearly bloods and form always says pre-diabetes.

FourTeaFallOut · 18/02/2021 11:07

Well, if the surgery has no concerns about your health then just ignore it.

Pleasenomoreglitter · 18/02/2021 11:08

Could be an error on your records? I once got called for a flu vaccine, having never previously qualified. I called up to ask why and the dr told me it was due to my rare autoimmune disease (can't remember the name, I'd never heard of it). I said that was interesting as it was the first I knew of any such thing. Turns out it had been mistakenly typed onto my records. Made me wonder whose records were missing this rather important detail!

Original poster
theviewfromhalfwaydown · 18/02/2021 11:08

My bmi is 30. They stopped my diabetes checks years ago as they said there was no need. If it’s just being overweight I’m sure most of the people I work with will be shielding too. As I say the last time I was weighed at the drs I was a healthy weight so I don’t get it.

OP posts:
Veuvestar · 18/02/2021 11:09

You are the third person this morning I’ve seen with gd who has received a letter

FourTeaFallOut · 18/02/2021 11:09

The shielding threshold is a BMI of 40, op.

Original poster
theviewfromhalfwaydown · 18/02/2021 11:09

I got called for a flu jab this year too which I never had before. The only reason they gave me was because I was a carer of my son.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 18/02/2021 11:11

Is it not bmi >40 that would put you into the sheilding category?
Maybe its the gestational diabetes

Char2015 · 18/02/2021 11:12

Could there be some underlying link between those who have had GD and covid? I've not heard of anything...

TankGirl97 · 18/02/2021 11:12

I've seen two other people on here saying they'd had GD and now have a shielding letter.

Char2015 · 18/02/2021 11:13

All I know is GD gives your higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.

CeibaTree · 18/02/2021 11:14

@FourTeaFallOut

Just phone your gp. It's easily fixed if it's a mistake.
I got the email too. I called my GP and they had no idea why I'm now on this list. They said that they have had lots of confused people phoning this morning. They are going to look into it and call me back - so the solution isn't as simple as phoning your GP!

OP I had GD four years ago too - that's the only thing I can think of.

Bells3032 · 18/02/2021 11:15

I doubt there is anything they are aware of that you aren't. it may be the gestational diabetes and the pregnancy BMI were wrongly recorded as being current. if you're concerned ring and ask

CoffeeRunner · 18/02/2021 11:15

It won’t be your BMI as a PP has said. Interesting to see that others with GD have had letters. If that’s the reason why then the NHS will be asking a very large number of generally very healthy women to shield!

Your GP genuinely won’t know why you’ve had this letter unless the practice has been told that everyone who previously had GD is now on the list (for example). The shielding group covers pretty serious illnesses OP. You wouldn’t have one without knowing about it, please don’t worry.

Layladylay234 · 18/02/2021 11:16

Ok,this is really weird. I just put up thread saying the same thing. I also had GD back before I had the baby at the end of May. But I had my blood done to check my sugars had gone back down in July and they had. I'm thinking that must be it

Dowermouse · 18/02/2021 11:17

A BMI of 30 isn't slightly overweight. My BMI is 30, I'm classed as obese.

CoffeeRunner · 18/02/2021 11:21

Could I just reiterate - please do not phone your GP! The GP practices do not send out the letters & do not have any information on why you have received one above that which you would know yourself.

All this does is clog the phone lines & stop people in need of medical appointments or urgent advice getting through.

On one particular day in the height of people calling re Covid vaccines (even though the recorded message gave all the info we had), 27 same day appointments went unused as ill people could not get through to book them.

Anon778833 · 18/02/2021 11:25

@theviewfromhalfwaydown

I’ve had the same email this morning. I’m 40 and I had gestational diabetes like you did. I’m also on the autistic spectrum so I’m wondering if it’s that?

I don’t have any other health problems at all and I’m not overweight either.

pinklemonade84 · 18/02/2021 11:30

I've had an email as well and I had gestational diabetes with dd too

Rachie1973 · 18/02/2021 11:31

I got one too. Assume because of my weight and being 48. I’ve been vaccinated as well lol

I won’t be stopping work anytime soon. I’m a carer and I can’t really do it from home lol

Rachie1973 · 18/02/2021 11:32

@CoffeeRunner

Could I just reiterate - please do not phone your GP! The GP practices do not send out the letters & do not have any information on why you have received one above that which you would know yourself.

All this does is clog the phone lines & stop people in need of medical appointments or urgent advice getting through.

On one particular day in the height of people calling re Covid vaccines (even though the recorded message gave all the info we had), 27 same day appointments went unused as ill people could not get through to book them.

The letter actually says phone your GP for clarification and gives the number. My practice were fantastic