I have severe refractory eosinophilic asthma and CPTSD. I've tried out some different types of masks, different layers, shapes, styles etc, but it is something that I am really struggling with, perhaps because I also have CPTSD. My SREA is made worse by stress and the two conditions can interact. So I get very breathless and anxious even if i am only wearing a mask for a minute or two. My breathing and stress levels are exacerbated.
I live in Wales and recently, since the new regulations came in place last week, I have been refused entry to shops, despite showing the graphic I downloaded from Asthma UK and explaining that I have SREA and CPTSD.
The shops which have refused entry haven't offered an alternative way of accessing the service like, for example, asking if there's something a member of staff could get for me without me having to go inside.
Has this happened to anyone else? I feel like it is a form of discrimination.
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Joan_Public
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I usually can wear my mask for a bit but have a sunflower 🌻 lanyard and got the card from hiddendisabilities... they seem to be quite recognised down here in the south. I’ll try attach the link
Thank you for the link. I have a similar one that is on asthma uk main website which I downloaded on my phone. I have shown in the past without problems. I think its since the regulations changed hear in Wales ( a bit later than other parts of the uk) that shop owners / staff have been more hostile.
Could you wear a sunflower lanyard with a mask on entry then maybe move the mask down once in the shop? And if you are approached explain you are trying but need to take short breathers? I think there’s been so many people (that I’ve seen) shouting about being exempt (when some clearly aren’t and are just being idiots) that genuine people are really being judged and discriminated against. I’m not saying it’s right that people are shunning those who can’t wear masks - not at all - but I think fear is a huge overriding factor (along with ignorance to CPTSD especially (fellow survivor here x)
Maybe it won’t work for you, only you can decide - just trying to think of ways to make your life easier x
Hi, thank you for your reply. I'ts a really good suggestion to just slip the mask down once inside. As you already know, being a fellow sufferer of CPTSD, its hard enough some days just to get out of the house, let alone go to busy, noisy spaces. Then to be treated like some kind of treacherous selfish plague rat when I finally make it to the shops ...!
I wish some more thought had gone into these measures so that people with genuine health conditions are not having to be the targets for other people's fear and hostility.
Stength to you too and thanks again for your suggestion.
Its a terrible situation for us all. You should be exempt and they can't refuse you entry its discrimination but they will and will embarrass you in the process its not worth it take your money elsewhere. Just get a priority reoccurring slot in asda, its free delivery and they will put it in your house for you if you wish you can purchase most items. Tesco charge £4.50.I would really love to go in a shop I've tried several masks and can wear them for a short while but become very breathless and wheeze its probably the anxiety too so I dont bother... A prisoner for now like many. Take care many idiots about be safe.
Hi, no Asda around here I'm afraid and the Tesco driver wouldn't even help me carry the shopping up the steps to the door and was obviously in a hurry to go the next delivery, so I got really breathless having to do this without assistance.
I definitely feel this is a form of discrimination and, yes, its like being a prisoner in my own home. I watched a video of a man with asthma on easyjet flight who was forced to wear a mask or get off the plane despite his asthma, showing an exemption card and his explaining the legal position. Many of the other passengers were cheering when they made him get off.
People acting so hostile towards disabled people right now. It would be an outrcy if these actions were based on another protected characteristic, like race or gender, instead of disability.
What about the coop im not in a delivery area for them but you maybe and m&s are supposed to be delivering possibly October. Local shops and fruit shops will sometimes help and voluntary people are there to help in some areas. I hope you are getting enough food you have worried me. On the face covering note my friend has ordered me a face covering which is like a visor goes over your glasses and fits more around your face than normal ones... Not a good description sorry. Shes a hospital worker and struggling with masks for 12 hours and they seem to think ok so will see and keep you posted. What a plight were in... Please don't struggle there's help. I would really love to go in a shop and wander to pick what I want but a luxury I cant have for now its awful. xx
I have, thank you for the suggedtion. But again, due to cptsd it made me very agitated. Also because I have keratoconus I wear scleral contac lenses and it felt like my vision was distorted by the plastic visor. I also need to frequently take on and off glasses, which I need as well as scleral contacts.
As I also have a vestibular disorder, I rely more on my vision for keeping balance than someone without such a condition.
'Busy' visual places, like patterned floors, high shelving in aisles, slopes and stairs already distorts my vision, so with the added distortion from the plastic visor and having to constantly lift this to put on and take off my specs ... visors just not working for me.
Hi Joan, like many of us here, standard masks cause us breathing problems.
I use successfully a smart mask, it has a recognised filtration system but also an internal fan.
It can be charged like any battery operated item. There are plenty on offer on online, with reviews and videos on social media.
To me it’s a safety option rather than just expecting shops to maintain virus free air quality, which in the colder months is less likely to happen.
Working as a key worker, after being shielded, I have always worn a mask and now other frontline staff in other work places such as in shops, must by government mandate also wear them.
In my workplace visors are not regarded as sufficient indoors in many circumstances, but can be worn for added protected with a mask.
As circumstances constantly change it is a awful challenge for us all and I wish you well.
Hope you are able to continue to shop without further issue.
Thank you for your reply. I will definitely have a look into trying this type of mask. I hadn't heard of a smart mask before.
I'm working from home, but when I did have to go on site, I was given a lanyard and badge. Not really all that happy about having to openly declare my status as a disabled person to all and sundry. Again, I feel there would be an outcry if people were forced to openly declare another protected characteristic before being allowed access to services.
The current system is open to exploitation by those who could wear masks but are not wearing them and claiming it is because of health reasons, leaving genuine disabled people the targets for discrimination and hostility.
The thing is I’m no way trying to be rude but a lot of people are trying to say they are exempt due to medical conditions without showing hard evidence like something from a medical profession it’s spoiling it for people who really need to be !except I’m noticing it a lot where I am and truth is people don’t even want to wear a mask so say they are excempt .tbh if you are that bad I think you should go back to online shopping I’m no way saying you shouldn’t feel like having a bit of normality but that is what online services are there for there are other ways to get fresh air
Police bit o t t they’ve got better things to do than tell a shop keeper off from doing their job.she should of had medical evidence like a doctors note
You are not required to provide a medical note. That’s an invasion of privacy as we should be able to keep our medical history confidential and this could be an invasion of privacy as the shop do not need to know your medical history (and potentially creating a GDPR issue)
So long as the shop offers an alternative option/service (like fetching stuff etc) it is not technically discrimination.
Most shops are happy if you attempt, even if you only last 5 secs, and have a recognised lanyard (like the hidden disabilities sunflower lanyard).
Just to clear up the point that a medical note is not required
The lady stated she showed something online about her condition that means nothing!Its clearly description of what’s wrong with her .no shop is going to offer a fetching service unless you have kind staff which are willing to do it for you .that’s what online is for and these kind volunteers !you are saying most shops are happy it’s not really the case they just don’t want you to kick up a fuss requesting for management I actually work in the retail sector and people try and push it with the I can’t wear a mask business like I said if people were honest in the first place ladies who really need it wouldn’t have to suffer like this lady
I know. Most shops are happier with the recognisable ‘hidden disabilities’ charity lanyard as a physical thing rather than a picture in a phone what anyone can easily access. Having a physical item usually implies a genuine issue as you’ve gone out of your way to get something rather than something that’s just a screen shot (at least the various shop workers I’ve talked to have said similar things).
And yes some people are happy saying they have asthma and can’t wear it. Others aren’t happy. Personally I don’t mind telling people but some people don’t want everyone to know what’s wrong with them, esp if the issue is a MH issue, due to the stigma that can be associated with it. Shop workers have no rules around gossip like docs/nurses do, which is why people don’t always want to disclose their medical history if they just want to grab a pack of paracetamol etc.
Online shopping is an alternative so if the shop has that available then they are providing the service so it’s not discrimination. If they don’t have that possibility (like in my area where they often don’t have a website or even a FB page), some shops (around me) have a ‘vulnerable’ shop 30mins at the end/beginning of the day, where you can call and ‘book’ the chance to come round when the stores emptier. Others do online ‘store tours’ so you can choose an item and someone else can come in and buy it. But the majority in my area accept the sunflower lanyard, so that people don’t feel the need to utilise these services (in fact once shielder were ‘let out’ they started winding them down)
Yes it’s irritating that people take the mick, but Im pretty sure it’s technically illegal to ‘demand proof’ of a medical exemption and with the resp depts all stupidly over run atm and the GPs also dealing with full clinics again, getting a letter can be very difficult and costly (my old surgery would charge up to £50 for a letter, meaning poorer people can’t access it and even then you wouldn’t ‘prove’ the need, they would just read history and say ‘yes exempt’ without seeing if they can’t wear a mask or just don’t want to).
For me it depends on my level of control. On good days I can wear my single layer mask for 30mins so long as no real walking needed (ie pottering around an off license etc), but on bad days I can’t do 2 mins before I’m coughing and PF is dropping dangerously.
It’s stressful for the workers, it’s stressful for those who can’t wear it, and it’s all because of a small number who just don’t want to wear masks, rather than can’t. However you can’t demand a medical note to let someone in to a shop without a mask, you might ask what the exemption is but again they don’t need to tell you as it’s private.
People with gastrointestinal/urinary issues or people who may need the loo urgently etc carry a card that say shops need to let them use the loo if they ask, which gives no details as to why, which I think are provided by the NHS. Atm there is no official thing like this for mask exemptions (although the gov have produced generic downloadable things anyone can access), and until there is there’s going to be a small amount of people saying they can’t when they can. And whilst that’s the case those who genuinely can’t suffer and those who work in shops also suffer.
It sucks but it is what it is. If a shop doesn’t have an alternative means of letting people who can’t wear masks shop then it is discrimination to not let them in, but if they do have an alternative then it isn’t.
As I said, it sucks for everyone involved, and it’s the few who are causing issues for the many.
I really think they should introduce the cards as we accept those in our shop description online is not enough I guess this is something the government will discuss hopefully sooner rather than later
Yes, this is what I mean. Some people are spoiling it for others as the system is open to abuse. I don't know what the ideal is. I just wanted to dhare my experience and see if this is something other people are also experienceing.
I think that, because I have CPTSD, the anxiety around whether I will be confronted about it or have to be assertive makes the situation even worse. The not being believed, people thinking you are a liar or just selfish and don't care about other people's wellbeing and safety.
Even if I say asthma people look at me funny because a lot of people with asthma can.manage to wear a mask. But everyone's asthma is different and severe asthma is so poorly understood.
I just want some of my independence and autonomy back, same as all of us after the lockdown. But ironically since shops etc reopened, I've felt much more excluded and isolated.
I’m afraid this is the way it is. Shops have gone from being really slack with the rules to being over zealous.
I’m afraid there is little I can say in the way of suggestions to make things better for you.
You could look on your local authority website. Many still have a Covid 19 support service, even though shielding has ended. (Volunteers who will do your shopping for you.)
I suppose it so many people claiming to be exempt when they aren’t that is causing the problems.
It is high time the government got round to issuing cards to those who are truly exempt. A bit like the blue badge scheme.
Yes, this is exactly the problem. The current system is open to people who don't have health conditions downloading / printing off something which says they are exempt.
Some places that have been fine and let me in after I showed them the asthma uk exemption saying I have breathing problems and then once inside, I have had members of the public confronting me inside shops for not having a mask!
I have very mixed feelings regarding this issue. I have to wear a medical one for 9hrs a day (taking off for breathers whenever possible). I struggle a great deal. Even though I would be ‘exempt’ in a shop, I still wear one albeit a thinner cotton one. To be honest I am shopping very little at the moment (mostly online). I find the whole experience of going anywhere just hideous and I hate it frankly.
I have just read an article by a doctor regarding it being unhealthy to wear them constantly, for long periods of time. (Not talking about 10-20 mins in a shop). I do feel my asthma symptoms are worse (peak flows back this up) and I’m starting to feel a bit resentful to be honest. It really pee’s me off when a lot of staff in supermarkets STILL are not wearing them (at least in my local supermarket) but have the nerve to question others.
No problems with anyone genuinely exempt etc (problem is how do you know, as others have said) Why should I suffer a detriment to my health and well-being to protect those who just don’t give a toss. Sorry, it’s all wearing very thin for me at the moment. I feel exhausted all the time and my tolerance levels are pretty low right now.
I really do sympathise with your position. The difficulty is, as you say, how to tell who might be genuinely exempt and who just doesn't give a toss.
It's absolutely wrong that you should continue to suffer and experience worsening of your asthma. No wonder you feel exhausted and fed up. Your employer shouldn't make you wear something that is detrimental to your health. They are obliged to make reasonable adjustments to your working conditions. I don't know what your role is or where you are working (am assuming a medical setting from what you describe) but surely they can work with you to find some kind of compromise so that your health is not put at risk.
I've resorted to not going out again. Shopping online.
I hope you can find a solution that works for you.
I would want to speak to the manager this is covered under the disability discrimination act and is a form of discrimination and potentially treated as a hate crime
However in the defence of the shop there are so many people that are saying they are exempt/won't be muzzled etc etc that I think they must have a hard time knowing who to believe and who not to believe .... however there is the issue of it being unfair if you really can't wear a mask
I have the sunflower disability lanyard and the image from asthmauk and at the minute I'm suffering because of the changing weather... i suspect dust is somehow involved somewhere and also wearing a mask for long periods.... however I'm still trying to wear a mask its better for me if I can but I understand that some people just won't be able to
Thanks for your reply. Yes, this is exactly the problem in that the system as it stands can easily be exploited by people without a genuine health issue. We have contacted customer services of one major high street retailer about this, if only so they can give some staff training / guidance. I've now made a laminated version of the asthma uk exemption ad it seems to carry more 'weight' than just having it downloaded on my phone.
Hope you feel better soon. Changing weather is nearly always a trigger for me too. I would say don't force yourself to wear a mask if it is making your symptoms worse, but I appreciate how hard it is to strike the right balance with looking after yourself and protecting others ...
I’m really late to respond to this, so I apologise. I have severe refractory eosinophilic asthma as well. I have to wear a mask for 8 hours a day in work in an NHS hospital (I can only use certain brands because some cause my PEF to crash and have to take ‘mask breaks’ regularly), I live in Wales and work in England. I find it crazy how different places are so strict on the having to wear a mask. I’m pretty sure the rules are you have to wear a mask unless under a certain age of medically exempt. I was having a really bad day and needed extra nebs for my home nebuliser so went to the chemist to collect them, and when I walked in the pharmacist told me to not worry about the mask and to take it off, I was struggling so bad
Hope you managed to get into a shop for your new shoes already x
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