Crohns disease, on immune suppressants but otherwise extremely healthy-do I really need to shield?

[happydappy2]

Hi, any other crohns sufferers out there? I'm 45, female, slim, fit and healthy but have been told by our gov't that I'm extremely clinically vulnerable & should shield....this doesn't make sense to me.....I've been extremely careful from the start of the pandemic but am now not convinced I should be shielding....just wondered if any others in a similar position?

I suppose no one can force you to shield but if it’s advisable then it might be risky not to. Are you able to speak to your consultant / GP re your personal situation & your risk?

s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/files.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/decision_tree.pdf

www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/news/advice-for-people-with-crohns-and-colitis-self-isolation-social-distancing

The British Society of Gastroenterology have developed a 15minute questionnaire which will tell you definitively which risk group you fall into. You can access it here ibdregistry.org.uk/covid-19/

The gov letters re shielding haven't been accurate for everyone and your risk can change over time.

You're on immune suppressants. It doesn't matter that you're otherwise healthy if your immune system is being switched off.

My DH is in the same situation and discussed it with his consultant. His consultant obviously can’t say don’t shield but he was adamant that he needs to continue to shield.

There’s a really good flow chart for IBD as to whether you need to shield, loads of people got put on the list who don’t need to be. Check the flowchart and act according to that. With IBD it’s often the combination of disease state and immune compromised status that leads to shielding

A friend of mine is in the very same position OP (five years older), including medication, and is not shielding, but is just being very careful in her movements, ie mask everywhere, meeting up only outside, etc. (Not in UK) She hasn't been advised to strictly shield, just to be very careful and vigilant.

Thanks for this info-will read further

How well controlled is it? I'm on immunosuppressants for another condition (arthritis) and it doesn't automatically mean you need to shield especially if they meds are doing their job. There is a school of thought that you're actually at less risk given the danger with covid is your immune system going into overdrive - two new treatments have been approved today for seriously ill patients and I think they're both immunosuppressants traditionally used for stuff like arthritis, UC etc.

Oh sorry, forgot to add that I never shielded and have, eg, been on holiday, taken public transport, been to busy shops, take DS to nursery etc during the pandemic

My daughter (18) has UC and is on adalimumab. She has had several govt shielding letters, but her consultant is very clear that the adalimumab works in a very specific way, and that she has no need to be more concerned than anyone else like her but without UC. It's not the case that her immune system has just been "switched off" like a PP said!

I keep going back to Crohn's and Colitis UK, who have really clear guidance on how to assess your risk, based on medication and level of active disease. But asking your consultant (or do you have an IBD nurse you can contact?) will give you prompt, individual and accurate advice.

They have been trialling adalimumab as a treatment, so that was really encouraging as well!

My friend’s DH had Crohns- was incredibly careful but still caught COVID- he has been incredibly ill and still is weeks later.He was extremely fit and able and Crohns was well controlled A he has always been super fit and he is in early forties.I’m apparently ECV too due to having radiotherapy before for Breast cancer- which can damage the lungs- having seen a lady on mumsnet in hospital with COVID and unable to breathe without CPAP ,I am now taking my own risk to COVID more seriously.