Letter to shield

[Nanales]

After 7 weeks of social distancing I receive a letter today telling me I’m vulnerable and need to stay in till the end of June. I have asthma and copd, both mild and I’m confused as to why I get this letter now. I rang my surgery and was told, by the receptionist, that it’s probably because of the type of inhalers I’m on that’s flagged me up. Has anyone else just got this letter?

[sassy59]

Pete had his letter a few weeks back now and I’m shielding with him. We only go as far as the garden. Xxxxx

[Comino2]

I have recently received a second shielding letter stating that I must stay in for another 12 wks till the 28th July I hope it's not just me,I don't know if anyone else has had a similiar one ? xx

[skischool in reply to Comino2]

No only southern softies have to extend,we are back down t'pit tomorrow but the pit ponies have already been eaten so i'm taking me whippet to haul out the black stuff.

xx

[Comino2 in reply to skischool]

You get donkeys in your government food box ? I do hope not xx

[skischool in reply to Comino2]

My food boxes are now officially cancelled and i have a govt e,mail to prove it,thankfully.

But shock horror Mr Tesco has substituted my red wine for white,breathed over me from 3 feet away and left me for dead.

xx

[Comino2 in reply to skischool]

At least it wasn't a fruit juice substitute xx

[skischool in reply to Comino2]

Thats what white wine at 11% abv is,bloody grape juice yukk!

xx

[Kristicats in reply to skischool]

Oh stop showing off!

Whilst us mortals are making do with home made grog and government gruel🥺

[skischool in reply to Kristicats]

3 ltrs of zingy?with a hint of lemons? whinging it's way to you as i type,mix it with your home made grog in a suitable demi john Chris,i may even pay the postage just to free up my wine cellar.

[Kristicats in reply to skischool]

Yes I dare say you will need the room to store your Harrods hampers,Fennel dusted beluga and truffles!

Ne mind luv I’ll stick tu pek pork tin n long life white loaf outa box😒

[skischool in reply to Kristicats]

Even Scruff's now thinks that eating Sheba is for the proletariate prefering Encore .

[Hellodolly in reply to Kristicats]

Even tho I’ve managed to stop the food boxes, I hear from a friend that the 3 tins of Pek Pork I have are delicious treats! I’m saving them for a special occasion.

[Angelagone in reply to Comino2]

They say that tin of meat is chopped pork....

[COPD123491 in reply to Comino2]

Surely you mean government donkeys in the food box. I have NEVER had nor have I ever been OFFERED a food box - thank goodness!!!

Stay safe

Kevin

ps: I have 30 cans of lager in the car boot which I am unable, because of severe COPD, to carry into the house. So, if any of you want to hop on a plane to N.Ireland and carry them in for me I would be eternally (well, for a while anyway) grateful

[Comino2 in reply to COPD123491]

No donkeys in any form in the food boxes just huge amounts of tomato soup,baked beans and dried pasta.I hope you are able to access some support in N Ireland.

There are a few on here who would gladly help you consume your lager but like you ,I fear would also struggle to carry it.

Maybe back the car up to an open window and lean out and get one as needed xx

[Kristicats in reply to skischool]

Mm I notice scruffs is being spared the hard graft. Or have you eaten him too?

[skischool in reply to Kristicats]

Scruff's is a lady and as such unsuitable for work at the coal face,she does have supervisory qualities though and may well volunteer herself for charity work in an upmarket cat rescue centre somewhere?

[Kristicats in reply to skischool]

So sorry I misgendered you scruffs. I will think of you as Scruffeater so I remember your a lady cat.

[Oshgosh in reply to skischool]

Are these the same supervisory qualities she uses on you? Or has she developed new skills.

[Oshgosh in reply to skischool]

Am having a bad day. Not well myself with all my health issues.

Fourteen and 3/4 cat not well, lump on side. Vets tomrrow

[skischool in reply to Oshgosh]

Sorry to hear your kitty is not well,hope that lump turns out to be something benign and simple to deal with?wasn't sure if you had 14 and 3/4 cats or you cat is 14 3/4 yrs ols. good luck kitty says Scruff's x

[Oshgosh in reply to skischool]

She would be 15 in July.couldnt cope with 14cats f I had 3/4 cat I would get the end that required Catsan.no,I think her time is coming. She had a good run,has been on renal food for 2years.thank. You x

[skischool in reply to Oshgosh]

As long as they can make her comfortable and pain free thats all we can ask really x

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to Oshgosh]

thinking of you and your kitty 🐈

[Oshgosh in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

Thank you.

[Hidden in reply to Comino2]

I’ve just got one extending the shielding period by another 12 weeks. I’m not in the least surprised, it was obvious this would happen

[hypercat54]

Not me with mild/moderate copd and asthma.

[Nanales in reply to hypercat54]

Which inhalers do you take?

[hypercat54 in reply to Nanales]

My preventer is Oxis. My nurse did say that she wants me back on Symbicort. What do you use?

[Nanales in reply to hypercat54]

Trimbow and salbutamol if needed

[Kristicats]

I believe it’s a points system re what type of meds, other health procedures and treatments,hospital admissions in past year etc.

[DaisyEric in reply to Kristicats]

I totally agree I know a lady who had a hip replacement in January no other health condition had a letter,

[Hidden]

You don’t have to shield, it’s not compulsory. The NHS did say they were being very cautious & some people would be surprised to be included. It’s up to you. If you work, the letter operates as a sick certificate for your employer (section 5, Support with Daily Living”). It also means you can get priority slots for online shopping

[skischool]

Nanales,because you previously where undergoing treatment for cancer and also that your inhalers may contain corticosteroids you now appear to have been badged within the vulnerable group,don't be alarmed as records are continually being updated but it is advisory and you are not compelled to follow the guidelines though for the time being a degree of shielding just makes good common sense for you.

Best wishes Ski's and Scruff's

[Greyeyes]

Can I ask which inhalers you are on please? I have mild COPD, have been self isolating for 9 weeks now, yet haven’t received a letter. Thanks.

[Nanales in reply to Greyeyes]

I’m on Trimbow with salbutamol if needed , which I hardly ever use. I have never had an exacerbation and no chest infections for a good few years. If I had got the letter in March I could have understood it, but to just receive it now seems like an afterthought at my doctors. I’ve been social distancing and keeping to all the so called rules so I haven’t put myself in harms way.

Stay safe.

[Greyeyes in reply to Nanales]

Thanks for your reply. I’ve had two chest infections a year for the past three years and one exacerbation. I have an Incruse inhaler (1x daily) & Salbutamol as and when needed. Bit baffled about these letters! I’m in self isolation like you, take care of yourself.

[hypercat54 in reply to Greyeyes]

I have mild copd and asthma and haven't had a letter either. I am not self isolating but am of course obeying lockdown.

[Nanales in reply to hypercat54]

Exactly what I’ve been doing. What inhalers does you take ?

[hypercat54 in reply to Nanales]

Oxis and salbutomal.

[Kristicats in reply to Greyeyes]

Hi some people with mild copd have had letters but usually have other conditions or past serious ones or cancer treatments etc that bump their points up. I think I got a letter more to do with my ischemic heart disease ( past heart attack) rather than my moderate copd. But of course you still need to take great care especially if your prone to picking up infections. I will be staying home letter or not until it’s safer.

[claracola]

I have mild Copd. My doc told me I am on severe list as I am on 3 different inhalers. I'm on seretide braltus (spiriva) and ventolin.

[esmarelda]

Yes, I got a letter, back in March saying I had to stay in until 27th, of June. I have asthma and got some sort of virus two years ago and my health deteriorated quite fast. The practice nurse said she thought it had crossed to COPD. During this time I was referred to a specialist who after various tests said it was chronic asthma. Then I got a lot better and now have no problems except going up steep hills or steps. They left me on the same medication. I was reading the NHS website and it had two high risk categories high and very high risk. From the description I should be high as I don't have COPD and my asthma is not severe. Only very high got letters. Don't know how they work out who does and doesn't get letters. While acknowledging that I would not have much chance if I got the covid 19 virus, I don't think I should have got the letter. There are people I know in much poorer health who have not received one. It seems to be a bit of a lottery. After June 27th I anticipate being told to stay in for another three months and I don't think I can stand it. I live in a small island and all my family and friends live on the mainland. I find it confusing as the specialist told me to keep up my fitness level. The nurse, who originally thought I had COPD phoned me to see how I was doing. I told her that I was cycling every day for exercise and she said that was good. She didn't say you are meant to stay in. Our island is so quiet that at the moment I can cycle round it and see no one. I think they are all trying hard to keep e eryone safe but the blanket letter is confusing. Mine advised me to stay in for 12 weeks. Then I got another letter offering free food, that I didn't need. In this letter it said "you will have received a previous letter saying you must stay at home for 12 weeks" there was no must in it.

What you were told makes sense, perhaps it's because they never changed my inhalers when I got better that I got the letter.

[Bingo88]

Hello Nanales. I have severe copd, kidney disease, and a pacemaker and have had nothing at all. Luckily my wife has been doing all the shopping and i have stayed in for 7 weeks. Just had a drive out in my car for fresh air. And change of scenery. Hope you are keeping well. Brian

[Angelgoth]

I got my first letter on 21st March and another one on 15th April saying to sheild for 12 weeks so that takes it into end of July. I'm not going back to work until September anyway so it okay for me

[ssafa]

l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...

This should be the link relating to the new guidance which includes shielding which seems to work if you follow it through. Hope it helps.

[DeborahBlythe]

Nanales, I have mild chronic asthma and hay fever. I have had no communication from GP or the NHS. As I understand, from Asthma UK advice, there are three criteria before you are deemed vulnerable enough to advise shielding 1. You have asthma, 2. You are on one of a range of inhalers including prevention inhalers. 3. You take oral steroids.

I fit the first two criteria but don’t take oral steroids. I think that’s why I haven’t been contacted.

If you have got that letter now, at least you can benefit from priority shopping slots/deliveries. That would be very useful. I can’t bear going into shops because despite my rating as ‘not vulnerable’ I feel vulnerable and worried. Use the advantages of your new status and just carry on being sensible.

[Nanales in reply to DeborahBlythe]

Hi. I only fit the first 2 as well. I don’t take oral steroids either. Just seems strange.

[Landylover]

Yes I had the same. 😷

[Elsie1930]

Hi i had to ask for mine as I am on fostair 200/6 and on montelukast tablets which is usually for severe asthma so only then gave me a 12 week isolate which was 3-4 weeks late apparently dr are slower at different centres

[Ramy22]

I got a text telling me that I now have to stay in til the end of June.