Should I go to work?

[Suzanne1970]

Hi all,

I’m sure everyone is confused about the UK government announcement yesterday.

I am unsure whether to continue going to work or not.

I have been been watch and wait for nearly 9 years and I am 50 years old. My consultant describes my CLL as ‘clinically stable’.

My numbers were checked in January:

WBC 145, Platelets 98, haemaglobin 117, neutrophils 4.4.

I work part time in a GP surgery, although in an admin office, not front line.

I am going to social distance, but should I be staying home completely as per Bloodwise advice?

Any advice or thoughts will he gratefully received.

Stay strong everyone!

[Jm954 Administrator]

Have you asked your doctor if you're not sure? I would take their advice.

Jackie

[Suzanne1970 in reply to Jm954]

Hi Jackie,

thanks for your reply - my GP told me to ask my employer (also GP) for guidance, so I am awaiting their reply.

Suzanne

[Jm954 Administrator in reply to Suzanne1970]

I think that's naughty of your Dr as he knows your health situation best. Just my thoughts but I think in this situation I would be quite assertive and take the safest approach by asking him to sign you off work as sick.

Jackie

[Suzanne1970 in reply to Jm954]

Yes Jackie, I thought that was a bit of ‘passing the buck’ from my GP! Suzanne

[cajunjeff]

Suzanne, as often with announcements like this, the devil is in the details. The actual announcement reads that you should stay home if you have a blood cancer AND if you have a compromised immune system (emphasis added). It goes to say that you should contact your doctor if you are not sure if you have a compromised immune system.

So how does one quantify a compromised immune system? If we have a 95 % intact immune system, are we compromised to the point where our response to covid would be much different than anyone else’s?

I don’t know if even your doctor knows the answer to that. My guess would be with you being 50 years old and in watch and wait you are probably on the healthier side of Cll.

That said, it’s almost certain you have some compromise of your immune system. The safest course for you is to isolate. You know that already. I assume you are trying to figure out if isolating is overkill for you and no one really knows that. I would err on the safe side and stay home.

Being safe is not always the right answer. It would be safer for the doctors and nurses treating covid to stay home. Some people are breadwinners in their families and have employers who might replace them or dock their pay. There are always variables and we all have to factor them in. Your doctor can best advice you on the state of your immune system.

[Suzanne1970 in reply to cajunjeff]

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for your reply. No clear cut answers I guess!

Suzanne

[cajunjeff in reply to Suzanne1970]

Suzanne, I think for those people in non essential jobs who can afford an interruption in pay, or who will continue to be paid, and are not worried about losing their jobs, it’s kind of clear cut.

What work is essential? I think people keeping food in supermarkets have essential jobs. Certainly people in the manufacturing and supply chain of my medicines have essential jobs to me.

Some people just want to answer these questions with the easy “stay home”. It’s just not that simple. I still think you err on the safe side. With your platelets below 100 I would guess Cll has had some impact on your immune system, I just don’t know. If it were me in your situation I would be thinking hard about staying home.

[Suzanne1970 in reply to cajunjeff]

Thanks Jeff, that helps.

[Newdawn Administrator]

News on at the moment is suggesting there are measures in the pipeline to issue even stronger advice to the most vulnerable groups regardless of age. I can understand your utter confusion over this because the practicalities haven’t been factored in and the peak isn’t anticipated for about 3 months.

We still need our key services to operate and people like you contribute to that. I’ve been unable to even get through to my GP surgery (over another issue related to infection) and the haematology day unit are said to be under intense pressure.

I don’t suppose working from home is a possibility at all?

Newdawn