SHIELDING

As someone with CLL who is shielding can I now go out for a drive, provided I don't get out of my car and I keep the journey local.

[Justasheet1]

Why not, just bring a mask just in case and enjoy life a little.

[Hidden in reply to Justasheet1]

I wear a mask all the time when I leave my flat. I live in sheltered housing and apart from going to the post box I have left the complex since March 11th.

[Ghounds]

I don't see why not, you aren't at risk if you don't have close contact with anyone or touch anything which might be contaminated. Pop a mask in your pocket and take wipes or sanitiser just in case, wash when you get home and enjoy!

[Hidden in reply to Ghounds]

Thanks. I think I will give it a try tomorrow.

[Senecio]

Like you, I was treated with FCR (in 2017) and am now in remission. I think you are the one who is best placed to judge the extent of the risks you are willing to take. I have certainly been out for a drive on three or four occasions now. Frankly, I think my sanity is also a consideration, and sitting at home indefinitely is not improving that. The only way the virus is spread is from one person to another - mostly by droplets in the air, and while you are in the car, that can't happen. If you go out, just keep away from others as much as you can.

Best wishes,

John

[Hidden in reply to Senecio]

Many thanks. I am just a bit nervous and just wanted to make sure that I was OK.

[PaulaS Volunteer]

Holly,

The UK shielding advice changed a couple of weeks ago to include not just drives out in the car, but walks outdoors – always keeping social distancing of course.

If you choose the right place and time (eg early morning, late evening, open countryside), then you should be able to keep a good distance from other people. Transmission is much less in the open air than indoors. It’s good for us to get out and walk in the fresh air. Good for physical, mental and emotional health.

Nothing is completely without risk, and if your car broke down you might need to call rescue services, but you have to weigh up the risk/reward factors of everything. For me, it has been a restorer of my sanity to go out for evening walks in the countryside. As others have said, keep masks and hand sanitiser available should you need them.

Best wishes,

Paula

[Hidden in reply to PaulaS]

Thanks Paula. I will certainly give it a go tomorrow.

[PaulaS Volunteer in reply to Hidden]

Good for you, Holly. I hope you enjoy your outing tomorrow.

I felt strange the first time I went out after shielding, but I soon got used to it. I still haven't been into any enclosed spaces though (no shops, hospitals etc). I know I'll feel very strange and nervous the first time I do that.

[AnneHill]

Hi, You can go out. We have been for a drive and walked in the countryside. Nobody was around. I will always take a mask and hand gel when I leave the house.

The main thing is to social distance. If you dont get close to anyone and use hand gel after touching anything you will be safer. Be careful not to touch your face until you have washed your hands.

It does feel strange going outside after all this time. Im not confident enough to go where there are people. A drive is a good start and if you want to, there is no reason why you cant get out of your car somewhere without too many people. Anne uk

[Hidden in reply to AnneHill]

Thanks Anne. Great advice and most helpful. I think I just needed to be sure it was ok and perhaps needed a confidence boost.

[Poodle2]

Go out early as there will be a lot of rain tomorrow afternoon - the weather forecast said. Enjoy it! It's unbelievable how much a little walk can lift up your spirits and mood.

[Hidden in reply to Poodle2]

Slept in today so couldn't go out due to the rain, but will go out tomorrow, weather permitting.

[opal11uk]

My hubby has now had a letter from the Govt. informing him that he is no longer categorised, apart from being 80 and having no other underlying conditions, as shielding advising caution but his lockdown in effect is over. He can't undertand that was classed as shielding whats changed, I explained that it was the lowering of risk now to him. Today I have to go to hospital and he WILL wear a mask, he doesn't know that yet!

[Hidden in reply to opal11uk]

Hope it went well.

[opal11uk in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, we will have to wait and see but he did wear his mask, sanitised and was a good boy hehehe

[Hidden in reply to opal11uk]

Great.

[RZ8983DV]

Don't see why not. I take the car out every few days. If you don't use the car the battery will go flat. Can't wait to no longer shield

[pati23]

Hi Holly53

I have driven my car over last 4 weeks just around 2/3 local roads to keep it going.

I too live in a flat and have had some early morning walks .

As i was starting to feel emotionally flat, i have driven, last weekend, to a recreation ground in the village 7 mins mins away.

i walk around there as has very few people, obviously no toilets

i wear my mask, and gloves , in case the car should break down.

It wont, but just to feel safer!

it made such a difference, as a bonus it leads to some corn fields where I did a walk, the pleasure of being out in the middle of a field on a beautiful sunny day was breath taking

I hope you enjoy your trip, trips.

Pat

[Hidden in reply to pati23]

Thank you. Your remarks have really helped me and I feel alot more confident about going out.

[GSBS1954]

Not sure of your circumstances regarding your CLL, but I'm on a watch and wait regime and have been good with shielding. But now, I am following a common sense approach now and getting out for walks once a day, but avoiding any contact. I don't go into shops or any enclosed places. Go and enjoy life but be careful 😊

[Hidden in reply to GSBS1954]

Thank you. I am in remission,but still getting lots of cold etc. so my immune system is still low. Wearing a maks every time I leave the flat and keeping away from everyone.

[FairweatherSailor]

I agree fully with comments above. Of course we all need to do what we are personally comfortable with but I see no reason why you shouldn’t go out. On the advice of my consultant we have been exercising every day for the last 6 or 7 weeks and all has been well so far. I particularly like cycling and have been doing that for an hour or two every other day. It really lifts both mine and my wife’s spirits. Good luck and enjoy getting out !

[Hidden in reply to FairweatherSailor]

Many thanks for your help and advice. I have received over 20 replies to my enquiry and everyone has been very positive and supporting. Great.

[Middlewich]

Holly, I am in the middle of FCR treatment, it’s all about risk management. I see the car as an extension to my house bubble but never leave without masks and gel, just in case. I have also been exercising for my own sanity all the way through this, just observing at least 2M if I see another person. As everyone else said you pick your places and times to go to avoid other people. What I don’t do is go into any enclosed spaces apart from my house and hospital. Just be sensible, you will find getting out a real tonic whatever the weather.

[Hidden in reply to Middlewich]

Thank you, a real help.

[Gsxjax]

You can go out in the car, we are also allowed out for one walk aday. I drive to a local woods and walk in there. Rarely see anyone and if I do it's easy to maintain a good distance away

[jaypax]

My wife & I had our first walk yesterday in our 14th (yes 14th!) week of shielding. We met a few people but kept well away from them. We had masks and sanitiser with us just in case. We were planning on a longer walk today but guess what??!! Rain, rain and more rain!!!

Well, it is flaming June!!! What do we expect!!!😊 Enjoy yourself. Jeff

[mrsjsmith in reply to jaypax]

Just checked my diary and OMG it’s 14 weeks for me as well ! Empty diary except for food deliveries and various telephone consultations. I am amazed I am not climbing the walls. A small garden and 🐈🐈 are a huge help.

Colette

[Newdawn Administrator in reply to mrsjsmith]

I’ve just been for my first socially distanced walk with members of household only. We have a lovely park with a huge duck pond nearby and it was nice to see nature and life again! Unfortunately it started to rain and my joints were very painful but I couldn’t get over how friendly everybody was. Virtually everyone we passed (at 2 metres) spoke to us. It’s like the experience is bringing the community together in adversity 😊

Like you, I’m onto my 14th week too.

Certainly no problem going out in the car Holly.

Newdawn

[Hidden in reply to Newdawn]

Many thanks. A great help. I have been walking to my local postbox most days and I always wear my mask and everyone moves to give me space. I always say hello and nearly always get a reply. Someone actually stopped to ask how I was and we had a nice chat. Many of us who have been inside for so long, especially us older ones have become somewhat afraid of the great outdoors, but I am finding it most enjoyable.

[Hidden in reply to mrsjsmith]

Yes it was 14 weeks for me and my wife yesterday. We don't have a garden of our own, but we can sit in the communal garden with some of our neighbours. It has been some of these chats that have got us through lockdown. The highlight of our week is when Sainsbury's delivery our food. Isn't it sad.

[Hidden in reply to jaypax]

Yes my wife and I had everything planned for a short drive today, but the weather put an end to that. Better luck tomorrow. Talking about beautiful June, I do remember many years ago that it actually snowed in June. Hope it doesn't again. Thanks for your answer.

[BSMI]

Hope your car is OK. I discovered mine had a flat battery after not driving for 3 months

[PaulaS Volunteer in reply to BSMI]

Same happened to me... Battery flat after weeks of not going anywhere. Had to bump start our car - good thing we live on a hill and were pointing downwards!

[Hidden in reply to BSMI]

I have been going out each week and starting it and moving it in and out of the parking space. So far no problem.

[wizzard166]

Holly driving in a car is one of the safe ways to get out and pretend life is back to normal. You won't get the virus from the inside of your car, and you won't get exposed to the virus at all; especially, if you keep the windows closed. If you wanted to be extra secure, keep the air conditioning on MAX. That keeps air flow entirely from the air within the car.

In my opinion walking outside is extremely safe too; especially, if you purposely move to the side as you approach anyone else who is walking. I don't even bother anymore putting on a mask when I take outside walks. The way you would get the virus is if you stopped and talked to someone else who isn't wearing a mask; otherwise, it is near impossible. First of all when you walk you create an air vacuum directly in front of you, because the force of your body pushing the air space in front of you pushes the air to the side. Second of all the virus is highly unlikely to still be in the air, even if someone else with the virus breathed into that air space before you got there. The virus cells are in saliva droplets that are microscopic, and those droplets fall rapidly to the ground. You might want to take your sneakers off at the end of the walk, and leave them outside.

One of the things I have read, and I read a lot, indicated that the vast majority of cases occurred from those indoors. In fact I read that it is safer to be outdoors than indoors. This to a good degree is why the largest number of single incident or event cases, are in Nursing Homes and Hospitals and indoor large gatherings.

So go enjoy a nice drive along a scenic path, like the ocean or the mountains, and start walking in areas that are not crowded.

Carl

[Hidden in reply to wizzard166]

Thank you Carl. Very helpful and supportive. Going out tomorrow, weather permitting.

[kathymac52]

Let us hear how your car ride went.....my hubby and I went to a State Park early in the morning....walked along a groomed path, enjoyed the water and the breeze and saw no one!! The sun was shining and the drive to the park very therapeutic. It is good to get a little vitamin D and feel normal!! Best wishes!!

[Hidden in reply to kathymac52]

Will do. Many thanks for your remarks.

[MikeyGB]

My first venture out was to an appointment in Southampton Hospital 2 weeks ago. That entailed much more risk than I would have expected, but the drive there and back felt like a road trip! On Wednesday just gone, I took my wife (who has voluntarily been shielding with me since March) on a small round trip in the car. It was great seeing the countryside again. There were daffodils on the verges last time we went out. We took face coverings just in case - and raincoats just in case - and kept strictly to speed limits to avoid being pulled over.

Once a week now I think . . .

[Hidden in reply to MikeyGB]

Sounds lovely. We are going out today as soon as the people going to work have gone. Looks like being a nice day.

[mrsjsmith in reply to Hidden]

Enjoy your trip out and hope the weather stays good for you both. Everything looks better when the sky is blue.

Colette ☀️

[Hidden in reply to mrsjsmith]

Will let you all know how it goes.