Atrial Fibrillation and "shielding"

[Ceret]

This is a question I can't seem to get a straight answer on.... My partner has permanent AF and is on Verapamil and Warfarin. No other health conditions and otherwise healthy. He is 72. He hasn't had a letter re being "shielded" but would be more affected than others if he did get infected with Covid-19. Some advice he received was that he should be "shielded", ie not go out for 12 weeks, not even for exercise but, firstly, he hasn't had a GP letter advising this and secondly, his hour of daily walking is absolutely essential to his overall mental and physical well-being - he can avoid other people and keep to the 2-metre rule. He has no other contact apart from people in the household (me) as he doesn't go into shops.

I'd be interested to get an idea from the BHF community out there as to what others with this condition are doing.

Many thanks.

[Ceret]

Thanks so much for the response which makes total sense. He will be going for his INR check this week and can speak to the practice nurse. We're both mindful of what we touch when out and it's becoming to second nature to carry round - sanitiser, tissues, glove, mask - who would ever have thought. !! Thanks again.

[ellj in reply to Ceret]

My husband is almost identical, he has been diagnosed with AF about 15yrs. Is on same meds as yours is 73 yrs old and has been told by text from medical centre to shield at home for 12 weeks.

However no letter so far but that doesn't mean he won't get one az I only got mine yesterday.

I believe from what you say that it is OK to go out for walks. Especially as you can avoid places where you might find it hard to distance from.

Sounds like you have put in place necessary essentials like sanitiser so your hubby should be fine.

Enjoy the walks.

Ellie

[Ceret in reply to ellj]

Thanks for that. The walks are so important and also add some structure to the day. I realise that all people with AF may be advised differently - which means there is no blanket answer to the question. Meantime, we just follow common-sense and do our version of "shielding"!

[Frenchbulldogsx]

I totally concur with thatwasunexpected, I have heart disease and asthma and I fall into the highly likely category not the extremely likely! So I am self isolating with my husband, and going for daily walks. We wear gloves and carry sanitiser. We obviously avoid people and buy online shopping and wipe that down with a bleach solution before putting it away.

I have the option to work from home at the moment.

We facetime family and have a daily quiz to promote our wellbeing.

Avoid the news/social media, we know what is going on we just don't want to be scared out of our minds!

Positive note... My best friend has just recovered from covid after 2 weeks, I kept in touch daily and thankfully she was not admitted. Daily breathing exercises and inhalers helped her. ❤️