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Covid

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Original poster

Are people still shielding?

96 replies

ApolloandDaphne · 18/02/2023 08:25

Or still being extra cautious about going out?

I ask because I have a friend who still is (for a number of health related reasons) and I wondered if others were still doing this?

I'm seeing her next week ( I have to test before I'm allowed near her) and I wanted to get a feel for whether it's time to start persuading her to get out a little bit more. I am concerned the solitude has affected her mental health and sense of proportion regarding Covid.

OP posts:

chachachachachanges · 18/02/2023 08:28

I suppose it depends on their health issues and vaccination status.
The people I know who shielded don't any more.
One is in a care home and you have to test to visit. But most care homes don't even do that any more.
One shielded at home and now goes out to the shops etc when her health permits. She's fully vaccinated and boosted.

FatSealSmugSoup · 18/02/2023 08:29

A colleague is. Literally hasn’t left the house for 3 years. He’s currently got covid and I hope it gives him a wake-up call in terms of what a waste of a life!

Oblomov23 · 18/02/2023 08:32

Is it still recommended? Is there any grounds or reasoning as to why you should?

WiltingLobelia · 18/02/2023 08:33

I think your friend knows her health issues well and might not be too cautious. You might want to gently explore with her- but ultimately it is up to her how she manages her health.

greenspaces4peace · 18/02/2023 08:36

I assume cancer treatment patients and their close family might still be extremely cautious.

Original poster

ApolloandDaphne · 18/02/2023 08:36

Yes it's her choice but I know she will want to talk about it so I'm just gauging what others are doing before I see her.

OP posts:

Kazzyhoward · 18/02/2023 08:37

Is she ECV? Lots of ECV's are still at least partially shielding and still trying to take precautions. My OH has cancer and is on life long chemotherapy and remains at very high risk due to impaired immunity caused by the chemo. He's fully vaccinated. He managed to avoid covid until last December when he caught it in the hospital pharmacy when collecting his chemo drugs (it was heaving with people (none wearing masks other then DH) and they were running painfully slow so he was in there longer than he was comfortable with. It very badly affected him, not just the "usual" symptoms of the cough, lack of breath, etc., but it's also sent his blood levels crazy and affected the way the chemo drugs work, so he's now in constant pain (bone marrow cancer) and feeling lethargic, etc. His oncologist "hopes" that the cancer drugs will start to be effective again but at the moment, they're not, and his "bad" blood markers are very high.

So, if your friend is an ECV due to a serious medical condition, they're not being unreasonable at all to take precautions themselves and expect friends/visitors etc to also take pretty easy/simple precautions!

Dammitthisisshit · 18/02/2023 08:37

I do. I’m vulnerable due to cancer treatment. I have weekly blood tests to check my white blood and neutrophil level. They’re being controlled by injections to stimulate my bone marrow which are working fine at the moment, but I got a cold a few weeks ago and it floored me and caused my neutrophils to crash.

If I run a temperature then I’ll probably be admitted to hospital. Again. it’s happened twice in recent months. I’ve spent too much time in hospital so keen to avoid any admissions I can. Also depending on where I am with treatment it could affect appointments.

If you saw me walking around on a good day you’d think I’m just being paranoid, but I’m not.

I’d say let your friend come back out in her own time and space. Summer is much easier as everyone is outside anyway.

tonystarksrighthand · 18/02/2023 08:39

No and never did. Unvaccinated.

Had Covid, zero symptoms.

Live your life, it's too short.

Original poster

ApolloandDaphne · 18/02/2023 08:40

She is EVC. I have another friend in the same situation but she enjoys walking and cycling in the countryside so gets out a fair a bit. The friend I'm going to see doesn't really go out. Im not going to try and make her do anything she doesn't feel happy with doing, I am just trying to be well informed.

OP posts:

Kazzyhoward · 18/02/2023 08:41

@Dammitthisisshit

I’d say let your friend come back out in her own time and space.

I agree with this. Be guided by what she wants to do. She'll have her reasons for wanting to continue to take precautions, that she may not want to share with people. My OH hasn't told anyone he has cancer - when he's out and about, you wouldn't really notice any difference (except he wears a mask and won't go in any busy places such as shops etc) and when he's not well, he stays indoors and avoids people.

Kazzyhoward · 18/02/2023 08:43

ApolloandDaphne · 18/02/2023 08:40

Well if she's ECV, there's your answer. Her doctor/consultant has probably warned her to stay vigilant and take precautions. Even a "minor" dose of covid can badly affect people with serious health conditions. The treatment she is having may well reduce the effect of the vaccinations or render them useless meaning she has little or no protection.

plumduck · 18/02/2023 08:46

Maybe suggest if she wants to that you and they go for a walk in the country side. That will get them used to being outside again.

tulips27 · 18/02/2023 08:46

I've a friend who only stopped these past couple of weeks. I suspect there are many and maybe people who know them but aren't close have gone on with their lives and forgotten about them.

Original poster

ApolloandDaphne · 18/02/2023 08:48

Thank you for your responses. It seems that others in her position are still being very cautious. That's just what I needed to know.

OP posts:

JanusTheFirst · 18/02/2023 08:49

I am.

Visitors test and we go out less and less because people aren't wearing masks in crowded places, even when asked to.

We go out early morning to parks and gardens.

It's a lonely life but better than the alternative.

A close relative died from Covid last month. It's still with us.

Abraxan · 18/02/2023 08:50

I'm not shielding and haven't really done since the initial few weeks, even then only partially.

However, I've recently been getting emails and texts from government sources, energy companies and the nhs (all checked out as legit sources) regarding it's prevalence again, keeping tests in the house, how to access treatment if I catch covid, how to ensure I have emergency energy cover in case of blackouts/storm damage (most recent of these yesterday re Storm Otto)

So I can imagine if you're already still feeling cautious these texts/emails might make you feel even more likely to stay in.

berksandbeyond · 18/02/2023 08:54

I don’t get it though, will they just stay hidden away at home forever? What’s the point in even being alive then? If they’re one of the people who will always be vulnerable and it’s not just a short term thing?

if someone told me I could live to 100 but I’d have to spend the last 30 years stuck in my house I would say no thanks!

AggieTop · 18/02/2023 08:55

I am ECV and haven't been shielding for ages. Had 6 jabs but still managed to get Covid a couple of weeks ago from my DD who picked it up at college.

I was given antiviral medication (which I assume many ECV people are eligible for). Having spent so long shielding (and avoiding DH who is front line NHS) before vaccine was available, I made a decision to take a calculated risk in going out and about. I am middle aged and unprepared to spend the rest of my life at home (I have a disability and spend at least 75% of my life at home anyway tbh).

I was lucky in that Covid hasn't been too bad and the antivirals and the 6 jabs have probably helped.

AutumnCrow · 18/02/2023 08:55

I'm ECV, @Kazzyhoward, and the packed and maskless hospital pharmacy situation does my head in.

The 'work around' we came up with is to use a much quieter pharmacy at a smaller hospital that's part of the same NHS Hospitals Trust (a prescription from one hospital is valid across the trust, we found out).

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 18/02/2023 08:58

I had to have an op recently so worked from home for a week before and didn't go out. I couldn't risk a positive test before my op and then having it cancelled

Skyeheather · 18/02/2023 09:04

I'm still seeing plenty of people out shopping wearing masks and one or two wearing gloves to touch things so people are still being careful, those with underlying health issues I guess as they're all mixed ages.

SweetSakura · 18/02/2023 09:08

I'm ECV and immune suppressed but not shielding and nor are most people I know who are similar.

I have four children in school though so it never made sense for me to shield once they were back at school - the last thing I would want is them worrying they had to be the person who brought COVID home .

But also, life needs to be lived.

loobylou10 · 18/02/2023 09:09

@tonystarksrighthand Good for you but read the room! It's not the same for everyone who gets it - not a difficult concept to grasp.
OP - I would gently explore and try to understand their fears. It does seem excessive to still have this level of fear doesn't it.

bakewellbride · 18/02/2023 09:09

Some people are and probably will be forever more and it's so sad. Too afraid to live.

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