Coronavirus - Family question

[gfmet17]

Hi all - I asked this somewhere else a few days ago but haven't received a response and of course things have moved on.

So I'm raising particular question questions in the hope a knowledgable person can help us please. First - my wife 63, is Type 2 Diabetic and has been off work for the last 6 weeks recovering from replacement knee surgery. I believe she is in the "at risk group" but not at the highest level - is this correct? Second - I am 67 and reired, and waiting for Mitral Valve Repair surgery (was going to happen in June ish, but guess it will a longer wait now). I am not taking any medications at all and so I am classed as any other person now, who has no existing medical conditions - is that correct? Third, Our Daughter 40 is a Qualified Nurse in a Nursing home in town. She lives with us as we are her "carers" - she is diagnosed Bi-Polar. She has a marvellous reputation at the Home but a few hours ago, she said they have a suspected case at the home with one of their residents. The last thing we want is for her to get stressed but she is very worried what to do, balancing the needs of herself, Myself and my wife and her Residents at the Home. The person in question has been isolated and a week ago the Main Boss, who again is well regarded around the area, might provide the home as a sanctury for her. She's waiting to find out as I write. If they can't do this, what is her best course of action? She volunteered to be the Nurse to look after the residents if anything like this should happen and was commended for doing so. But she is petrified she might bring the virus home.

I'd be extremely greatful if someone could let us have some advice please and confirm my above categorisation is correct above for the three of us as this is a complex situation for us. We have a large house with the benefit of 3 bathrooms and can easily sleep apart.

Many many thanks in anticipation

Paul

[barniecroft]

From what you have described, I would suggest that you and your wife would be in the 'at risk' category, so should practice social distancing. As far as your daughter is concerned, I would think that if she could cope with staying somewhere else for a while, this would probably be the safest option.

Alternatively, as you have described your house as having 3 bathrooms, that is a big help, but you would still need to agree that you and your wife should stay away physically from your daughter and maybe think about you providing her meals away from you so you are not in the same and she does not need to use the kitchen or living area - a complex situation and I wish you all well.

Take care.

[gfmet17 in reply to barniecroft]

Thanks ever so much for replying @barniecroft - yes ours is a complex situation. Initially our GP practice (nurse) thought my wife was at extremely high risk and would receive an NHS letter advising to self-isolate for 12 weeks. But Diabetes is not listed on the list of conditions which trigger this letter on its own (confirmed through diabetes.org chat line) which leads us now to ask if the GPs' have discretion to send letters out to patients who in their opinion are extremely at risk. We won't know for sure until the letters are known to have been received. An actual GP rang me later yesterday to confirm this but I didn't think to ask the discretion question at the time.

Daughter is now living in at the home where she works (stayed there overnight) and is being treated very well. We should know tomorrow or Thursday if resident is confirmed positive or not, then we will have a family discussion to decide what to do going further forward. She can stay with her sister but this isn't a good solution as whilst her sister, husband and daughter (10) are all at home, I'm not sure the toing and froing along with a 40 mile commute each way is ideal. So we still have some thinking to do.

Then there's me! I have received a really good post from someone on here about Covid-19 and Heart Valve Surgeries, which I haven't digested fully yet. Seems though that the virus can make me suseptible to issues arising out of my dicky valve, so who knows - I might get a letter too?

What a carry on.

Stay safe all and I'll update when I have something concrete to tell, assuming it will help others too.

Paul

[barniecroft in reply to gfmet17]

Glad you’ve got some answers. Take care of each other.

Best wishes

[sims789]

Hi Paul,

Here's the link to the article I forwarded - from a very reliable source and definitely worth a read. Answers many questions about heart valve surgery and covid-19.

Stay safe everyone!

Jan

healthunlocked.com/api/redi...

[gfmet17 in reply to sims789]

Thank you so much Jan. The article was reasonably informative and the heart's pumping capabilities, with someone who has Regurgitating MVP, was something I put to my GP the other day. I mentioned this article but he simply told me to be extremely cautious. I won't be getting a letter he doesn't think but he told me to classify myself the same as my wife who is Type 2 Diabetic.

Our Daughter is now living away with a colleague from her Nursing Home, after 2 nights staying at the home - the Resident was confirmed as Positive with Covid-19 on Tuesday evening. So we cannot take any chances. Worrying times

Paul