Is anyone exempt from wearing a mask but feels that they should try their best to wear one?

[girlbaby85]

I'm asthmatic and take two different coloured asthma pumps making me exempt from wearing a mask. When the mask wearing rule came into effect, I tried so hard to wear a mask even though I could barely breathe. I tried the fabric ones and the medical ones and neither worked for me. I then got pregnant and eventually gave up because I was constantly out of breath😂

When I had my baby I was very cautious of my surroundings so tried to wear my mask again as I didn't want to get ill. Some days were easier than others but I eventually gave up yet again. Fast forward to now and I'm pregnant again and with the new variant I've tried so hard to keep wearing a mask but it's literally hell!

DP says he doesn't know why I keep putting myself in this position of doing this when I know it makes it harder to breathe but I wondered if there's anyone else about that shares my pain? I think the reason why I keep trying to wear the mask is because I want to feel as if I'm doing my bit by keeping myself safe and other people. I find it so annoying that I can't wear one even though there's nothing I can do about it!

(I know there's bigger things to worry about so this is kind of lighthearted)

Well, yes, I could insist on not wearing a mask. But I work in a public-facing job where I come into contact with elderly and vulnerable people, and several of my colleagues had to shield through the first lockdown. I also come into contact with lots of people who don't wear masks. I don't want an exemption. I and everyone around me is safer if I wear a mask. It is uncomfortable and sometimes painful, but still possible. And the more other people don't wear masks, the more important it is that I wear one.

@Plantsandpuddlesuits

Me. I'm deaf and hearing aids plus mask straps make for bleeding ears. I tried going without my hearing aids and with a mask on but it's just so hard to hear. So now I don't wear a mask so I can wear my hearing aids.

But I always feel a bit judged in public, I keep my distance as much as I can though. Feel stuck between a rock and a hard place either I have bleeding ears or get looked at for not wearing a mask, can't win really!

If it's any help @Plantsandpuddlesuits, there are masks whose straps don't go round the ears. If you have a look at breathe-happy.com/collections/breathe-happy-masks/products/everyday, I've been using this one for over a year. The two straps go one over your ears and one under, all the way round the back of the neck/skull. A bit of a faff to go on/take off, but a lot more comfortable to wear.

Of course not. The last thing the NHS needs is you coming into a covid-packed with asthma complications triggered by a mask.

Just get a lanyard.

@DaisyWaldron

Well, yes, I could insist on not wearing a mask. But I work in a public-facing job where I come into contact with elderly and vulnerable people, and several of my colleagues had to shield through the first lockdown. I also come into contact with lots of people who don't wear masks. I don't want an exemption. I and everyone around me is safer if I wear a mask. It is uncomfortable and sometimes painful, but still possible. And the more other people don't wear masks, the more important it is that I wear one.

I see.

I find sore face from mask wearing annoying so if you get actual bleeding eczema that must be awful. I'm debating getting a silk one to see if it helps. I will post here if it does help.

Yes, I have severe asthma. I do try as much as I can. Ive tried loads of different types to see which suits me best. If I'm outdoors Im fine, in fact at my asthma review the nurse recommended wearing one outside in winter to warm the air as its breathed in.
Sitting still is fine, did 4 hours on a train no problem. I really find walking around indoor places such as shopping centres hard though, there's no air. I try to keep my trips as short as possible after having to sit on the floor in primark as I was getting dizzy.

@girlbaby85

Well it's a good thing you didn't write the exemption list then isn't it! The exemptions aren't just based on whether someone can physically wear a mask but it's also based on how wearing a mask may affect them if they already have certain conditions.

I think you have picked my post up wrong. I know I'm bad at explaining things but it being about how it affects people is my whole point. I agree with that.

There's actually an exemption on Gov which says, 'people for whom putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause severe distress' so even if you had extreme anxiety regarding wearing a mask for whatever reason, that's reason enough not to wear one.

Exactly my point though. It doesn't say if you have x condition you don't have to wear a mask.

For me it makes it 100x harder to breathe so I'm not 'hiding behind my diagnosis.' I'm also no longer going to force myself to wear one but thanks for your input

I would suggest that you read my post again. If it makes it harder for you to breathe then you are exempt. Someone else with your condition who doesn't struggle to breathe when wearing the mask should not be exempt based on condition, because they can wear the mask.

You do know it’s not necessary to wear a lanyard?

Nobody is actually allowed to challenge you being exempt.

I’m a triple jabbed NHS employee, married to hospital consultant who was frontline in the pandemic. I have neurological difficulties that exempt me from mask wearing.

I try to wear one if I can.

I’m not wearing a lanyard just to prevent people being abusive.

@Luredbyapomegranate

Of course not. The last thing the NHS needs is you coming into a covid-packed with asthma complications triggered by a mask.

Just get a lanyard.

Masks don't cause asthma complications...

I have tried multiple times, I actually did OK wearing one with my asthma until I got covid and long covid but my breathlessness can be extreme at points ontop of now worse asthma and lung capacity.

The reason I try sometimes is because people feel the right to be abusive on occasions even if I have the landyard on as apparently being young means I can't have issues......

The more people get scared about case numbers etc the worse the comments get I have found. I've had everything from I'm selfish, should be arrested, I'm killing people to I'm a liar.

It's not pleasant!
I now limit when I will try, I do try if I have to go into a medical setting last time within a few minutes the nurse told me to take it off though as she could see the difficulty I was having.

I think many people who struggle and are exempt still wear one because they have been on the receiving end of abusive comments.

I too am asthmatic and feel guilty not wearing a mask on a small place on particular. I keep my asthma pump in my car and take two deep breathes before o go into ship or chemist. I am ok in chemist as only about 2 or 3 minutes. Harder in supermarket. I gasp and cough, then people look at me. My dh says not to wear in supermarket. I sometimes wear it for about half way round then have to take it off to be able to breathe.

@OpalOwl

Yes, I have severe asthma. I do try as much as I can. Ive tried loads of different types to see which suits me best. If I'm outdoors Im fine, in fact at my asthma review the nurse recommended wearing one outside in winter to warm the air as its breathed in. Sitting still is fine, did 4 hours on a train no problem. I really find walking around indoor places such as shopping centres hard though, there's no air. I try to keep my trips as short as possible after having to sit on the floor in primark as I was getting dizzy.

Hot, humid days are definitely more difficult. But masks are definitely the solution to the asthma nurse nagging me for years to wear a scarf pulled up over my nose and mouth during winter.

OP, I think you might have misread santasmuma’s post. I think she was responding to something you’d written that either wasn’t clear or wasn’t quite what the guidelines say. It isn’t the condition that exempts you from the mask wearing it’s how the condition affects you wearing a mask personally. So you might be exempt on 2 inhalers and tablets but I’m not because I can wear a mask with that. It’s not the inhalers or the condition per se that exempt you.

I have brittle asthma, I don't wear a mask and I don't feel guilty.
I wear an exemption lanyard when I remember and I've had no bother at all.

I have long covid and mild asthma and wear a mask whenever I can but I have good days and bad days. Sometimes I just don’t have the breath power to breathe enough through the fabric so I feel faint, get hot & start to panic. Sometimes it triggers coughing. Generally it happens due to exertion such as pushing a trolley on a big shop or in warm shops, or if walking distances at pace like in shopping centres. I’ll then take off one ear loop and stand away from people to get my breath back before continuing.
So, although I’ve never gone for the exemption I guess I would be able to get it. Unless I’m ever challenged getting my breathe back, I wouldn’t bother trying to formalise it or wear a lanyard.

Several heart issues but wear it anyway. Better than a vent I am guessing

Me I have autism and hearing difficulties but still try my best to wear one at all times and get so infuriated when people are refusing to and being a-holes about it

@santasmuma

I think if you can wear a mask, irrespective of your condition, then you are not exempt at all. Exemption applies to those who cannot wear a mask, not those who are diagnosed with x/y/z conditions. I could claim exemption based on being autistic, or my respiratory condition, but I can wear a mask so I do. Many many people can also wear a mask, they are just hiding behind their diagnosis.

Bingo! There's always one.

Some people have no concept that the severity of some medical conditions can also vary day to day. So some days I might be comfortable (ish) and able to tolerate the mask for the odd few minutes, and on other days not at all.

I've found a breezy, pleasant "I'm exempt" with a smile, and making it obvious that I'm not leaning in towards people and am giving them as much space as is feasible in the situation, has worked very well almost all of the time. Plus guiding people towards solutions (earlier in the pandemic, most customer facing people now know what's what). I don't do this on the bus or train though, mostly. People can think what they think.

If you mention it first, it heads off a lot of people before they've decided whether to ask you, whether to tut, in fact before they've decided what they think. And they look bad in front of others if they give aggro back. Peer pressure is a wonderful thing.

But of course you are not obliged to say anything before being asked, or answer any questions about your medical reasons. Mine is just one solution of many. Lanyards or badges work for some people, not others. (In fact most of my difficult conversations have been about whether it's required to wear a lanyard, rather than the exemption itself.)

Whatever you do, make your decision based on your own circumstances and then don't worry about it further. IMO.

I’m not wearing a lanyard just to prevent people being abusive

Believe me, wearing a lanyard doesn't stop the abuse.

Bingo! There's always one.

Always one what?

Some people have no concept that the severity of some medical conditions can also vary day to day. So some days I might be comfortable (ish) and able to tolerate the mask for the odd few minutes, and on other days not at all.

I'm not saying conditions don't vary, of course I know that - I'm not against you. I would consider you exempt. I'm talking about the people who simply say 'I have x' and don't wear a mask, when really they probably could wear one.

My dr has told me I am exempt, I’m still wearing one to the best of my ability. At work I don’t wear one out the back as there’s just 3 of us, when I’m out front I wear one, when I get overwhelmed I pull it down for 5 mins or so...

My daughter is asthmatic and although she tried st one stage to wear one, it really makes her unable to breathe

She gets challenged a lot when she’s not with an adult (she’s 13) so now wears a badge but I think it’s shitty people always quiz teenagers- she’s never once been challenged when with me - I must have a “fuck off face” (although I’ll be wearing a mask at these times, so maybe fuck off eyes!)

When I was in the UK I judged people. Nobody gave a shit. Most of the mask less people I saw were clearly just twats. My sister tells everyone she is exempt in a loud voice when she's out and about. She wears a mask for 8 hours a day at work and can sit through 3 hours at the theatre but lives being exempt. The same way she lives for someone without a kid to park in the parent and child spaces. I made sure I did both regularly when with her and thoroughly enjoyed it. Here you get a fine. If you are not able to wear one for medical reasons, they waive it. Not that that has ever happened

@Draggondragon

When I was in the UK I judged people. Nobody gave a shit. Most of the mask less people I saw were clearly just twats. My sister tells everyone she is exempt in a loud voice when she's out and about. She wears a mask for 8 hours a day at work and can sit through 3 hours at the theatre but lives being exempt. The same way she lives for someone without a kid to park in the parent and child spaces. I made sure I did both regularly when with her and thoroughly enjoyed it. Here you get a fine. If you are not able to wear one for medical reasons, they waive it. Not that that has ever happened

Oh my god, where to start.

What's your criteria for people looking 'like twats'? How do you differentiate? Is it something to do with hair colour? Height? Eyes too close together?

And how do you know nobody where you are has had their fine revoked? Have you asked them all?

At least you admit you're judgemental, I suppose. Now you've done that, maybe you can work on a bit of self improvement.

The irony is the most aggressive and left wing British people are so bloody British empire. You genuinely think you are more civilised and superior to other countries, and that's only when you remember your leafy suburb isn't the only place on earth. Pretty much every country I have ever lived in is more civilised, manages not to kill people with its Healthcare and child cruelty and also had access to education. Such hypocrisy

Yes I am judgemental. Travelling the world opens your eyes to how corrupt and pathetic the UK is. And all the chattering classes acting like Queen Victoria make me giggle. Its what this forum was created for