Shielding - just me?

[Maz2]

I have no intention of shielding. I realise I'm in a fortunate position, retired, and not being pressured to go back to a job where social distancing is difficult. But I've been carrying on grocery shopping, walking, I observe social distancing, wash my hands when I’ve been out, and gel them if I’m going into different shops etc. My riding stables has just opened up again, so I’m riding, on a one to one basis.
My husband is ten years older than I am, so in the over 70s bracket. The thought of us not being allowed to do anything that we are supposed to be enjoying our retirement by doing, would fill me with dread.

To be fair I was only pre-diabetic and had a normal result last year. I have to have another one this year to keep an eye on things but I spoke to my GP last week and said I would prefer to wait until this COVID business is more settled before I go to the surgery which she was happy with and told me to call the surgery when I want her to complete a form.

I am very glad I have not had to be shielded but I can understand why those with the complaints referred to have been. Like you, I have been shopping, walking and generally going about my business following the guidelines. What I miss most is meeting and lunching with friends but that will come back as all this has to be done gradually. We went to a garden centre last week and took a trip out locally a couple of weeks ago as we were allowed to go a bit further, within reason. I met a friend of mine in the park last week and it was lovely to see someone at last. No disrespect to my OH but I do need to see others too.

 

[Maz2]

I have 3 shielding letters and have chosen to ignore them. Stay safe and keep your social distance and you will be fine.
If diabetes is uncontrolled and you are over weight then then perhaps have a think about things.

With all this shielding I do wonder what the heck is going to happen when people start to surface again............ as isolated like they are there would be no immunity to just ordinary bugs going around so would all the isolated pople then be hit very hard by something simple like an ordinary cold?

Pumper sue -this is exactly what a doctor in the US has said. This concerns me greatly. Everyone treats the common cold as "nothing" which it is to most of us. however, all the people being shielded now are in a lot of danger from a common cold virus, some of which are coronaviruses. There is no medication, no vaccine, no cure and for those with compromised immune systems and lots of medical conditions it could be quite dangerous.

I have a friend who suffers from SADS and every Autumn she tells everyone how much she hates dark nights and the Autumn. I am up and down on public transport (I do drive but prefer public transport as it is more relaxing although cannot use it at the moment as our Mayor has requested we leave it for those with no alternative), a member of lots of groups and have loads of friends I socialise with and, in the winter, I very rarely have colds. My friend is ill almost non stop during the Autumn and Winter as she only goes out with her OH in the car and, in my view, does not subject herself to enough "germs." Just a theory and maybe I would be laughed "out of court" by medics but it is what I think.

 

[eggyg]

Thanks Elaine, that's helpful. I had looked at the Haematology website as well and read it exactly as you have. It seems NHS England is more specific about the reasons for the lack of spleen, whereas NHS Scotland appear to have just lumped everyone together. Like you I feel pretty well but was getting spooked by some of the stuff I was reading. I do understand the additional risk but I have decided to manage it myself, otherwise I'll be stuck in the house and garden which would drive me crazy. When I do go out I purposely try to avoid other people. I'm in East Lothian so fairly rural here and I can stay clear of other people. Scotland is obviously a bit behind England in terms of the lockdown but expect we will fairly closely follow what happens South of the Border. Thanks again, Adrian

You’re welcome. I was going nuts stuck in the house, I love walking in the countryside and the Lakeland fells, but steering clear of those at the moment at the moment, and am also lucky it’s on my doorstep. I’m bird mad and love to take photos of them. My hubby is vulnerable too, chronic heart disease but also fit and well otherwise. We walked into town today and ventured into Boots for some toiletries. Two of our daughters are back at work now and the third will be going back next month so we need to be more independent hence the trip into the unknown! It did feel strange but also a bit normal which was nice as I’ve never thought of myself as vulnerable in the slightest and I don’t like it! 🙂

 

[brisr949]

Probably another example of the media wanting to do their best to frighten everyone. There will be more people with mental health problems than COVID at this rate.

I imagine the rate is way way higher than covid.
I have felt a little agraphobic at times and before lockdown i was never in and friends i speak to quite a few of them have felt this has affected their mental health in some way.

Adam

 

[Maz2]

Good to know it's not just me. I totally get why people think Diabetes should be covered in the shielding category, but it would be incredibly harmful to my mental health. If there is no vaccine, then shielding could be a possibilty for a while to come.

You are right Lizzy. I am very concerned about a minority of people who are not "going out" or "going abroad" (we cannot go abroad at present as FCO are advising against it but they will lift it at some stage) until the virus has disappeared or there is a vaccine. I hope the virus does go away but I feel it is likely to "stay in the system" so to speak like seasonal flu and the common cold. A vaccine hopefully could be here by next Winter but may not be and people are going to be not going out or going abroad for a long time. I don't like this virus anymore than anyone else but I do think we have to be realistic. Life is not without risk. I risk mine every time I go out in my car with the idiots near where I live thinking it is fine to drive at 50 mph in a 20mph limit, shoot traffic lights on red and forget junctions and give way lines exist. sorry, do not mean to be frivolous but do believe that everyday has dangers too.

 

[Maz2]

It probably depends which area you're in. I've found you've to do a serious job of keep checking. Every day, a couple of times a day or more.
I suspect both Morrisons and Tesco have been holding slots back. As, even though the websites have been saying it's been filled up for weeks, slots will appear. Maybe a day or so away, sometimes closer to a week. They may all disappear quickly. Then later, a couple more slots show at a different time or day.
Morrisons kept having a "quite/waiting time" just to use the site. This could be half an hour of more. This might happen at any time. It's particulaly annoying when you've just seen a slot free, try to book, then have to wait 35 minutes. By which time it's gone.
'Cause of the difficulty in getting slots, and things not being available (this is still happening, chicken soup has completly dissapears of a couple of sites), I've been alternating between Tescos and Morrisons.
Unfortuneatly, the last time I tried to log into the Tesco site to get my basket ready, it said I'd been locked out. So there goes using them. Fortuneatly I'd had a delivery not too long before. (I was going to get my items selected ready, not actually looking to book a slot then.)

I have not been able to get any Tesco slots either. I go to my local one and the staff are excellent with the social distancing so I am not concerned about going. Also I like to have a "social distance" chat to the staff as I miss being able to see my friends.

 

[Maz2]

Tesco do certain times when those in receipt of state pension can shop, also key workers. It is on the website and depends on the store as to what days and times. May be useful to some here.

 

[Austin Mini]

I am shielded, today is my sixty-third day. My surgery wants me to have a blood test and asked me to attend a hospital. I told them I was shielded, they are arranging a District Nurse to attend me, two weeks and counting.
On the other hand I am building model aircraft, I am now on the second model.

 

[trophywench]

Gosh District Nurses! Pete had to pay a s/e Phlebotomist his oncologist's secretary told him about to get his PSA test done a few weeks ago. £11.

 

[Austin Mini]

Gosh District Nurses! Pete had to pay a s/e Phlebotomist his oncologist's secretary told him about to get his PSA test done a few weeks ago. £11.

Yeh butt, I’m a pensioner plus get everything free as I’m type 1.

 

[trophywench]

Well had it been the GP surgery who wanted the bloodtest, maybe they'd have sent a - think they're called Community Nurses now? But the hospitals don't have same. I'm supposing when my D clinic gets near, I'll be able to make an appt at the hospital Phleb clinic for mine - it's entirely separate from the hosp with it's own parking etc, along the same bit of separate 'hospital site road' as the decompression tank building and other things.

 

[Becka]

Rather than adding new shielding conditions, according to the Guardian the government are texting people with cancer, liver disease, and severe asthma to tell them they no longer need to shield and will no longer receive any support.

Text message tells vulnerable people in UK they are dropped from shielding list

Outcry after some in England told they would lose government support without doctors being able to talk to them first

www.theguardian.com

I have not seen any change to the official guidance, though. That was last updated on May 18th simply to add anosmia as a covid-19 symptom.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I told them I was shielded, they are arranging a District Nurse to attend me, two weeks and counting.

My GP practice has got fed up with shielded people expecting the community nurses to come and do bloods etc when the shielded patient has been seen out and about. So The solved the problem by having a separate entrance and a room only for the shielded to use when needing medical attention.

Saves the nurses time and worry about being infected and the culprits can not complain about it in any way or form.

 

[Amigo]

I‘m in the clinically vulnerable shielding group and needed a blood test yesterday which I did at the GP surgery with all precautions in place. It’s by appointment only, no others in the waiting room and masks worn. This was only my second time out in 10 weeks and the other time was for a blood test.

Biggest problem was getting used to wearing shoes again! 😳

 

[Jodee]

I'm already shielding but then I am not just dealing with diabetes, but with a combo of health issues yes shielding is advisable. My diabetes and other health checks have been delayed revised again in June. I was supposed to have them done in April. Guess because I was am pretty stable they are not too worried.

 

[Beck S]

I got a shielding letter from my GP at the beginning of April, and another about 2 weeks ago. I'm less concerned about myself, but I share a house with my friend who had Cystic Fibrosis, so I'm very happy to shield, I don't want to put her at risk. We both work from home, so have a good routine going, and the garden looks great! We're really missing our normal walking spots tho.

It took a lot of effort at the start, but we got registered with Sainsburys and with vigilance, we can get weekly slots. Also found some great local companies who deliver. The only problem I'm having is that shielding seems to be amplifying the metformin side effects.

I think we're a really difficult group to give guidance to as a whole, as we all suffer from our diabetes at different levels, have different extra conditions. I'd rather the government erred on the side of caution to allow those at the worse end to shield if they need, but those who feel less in danger can feel comfortable to live more normal as they want.