Am I a vulnerable person to coronavirous

[Rk89]

Hi, I have one kidney and am currently at stage 4 am I at risk and should I of received a shielding letter? Thankyou.

[Hidden]

If I were you, i would be self isolating. Whilst doing so can you email your doctor and ask for clarity?

Stay safe. 🤔

[Rk89 in reply to Hidden]

Didn't think about that, I'll email them now but as I'm classed as a key worker my self I thought being off for 12 weeks wouldn't be achieve able, thanks for your reply

[Hidden in reply to Rk89]

I dont think it matters whether you are a key worker or not. I am a retired nurse and no way am I volunteering. I value myself too much and although that might seem selfish, I dont care to be honest. Time to put yourself first and do what's right for you. I get annual flu and pnuemonia jabs and have not had a text or letter either. So that's not a criteria according to the government however, with ckd stage 3 arthritis and

Early stages of copd I wouldnt qualify for a ventilator and am not ready yet to have a dnar order on my notes.

The only reason I go out is to allow my dog to go to the toilet as we live in a flat.

Hope you find the answers you need. Let us know how you get on....

[Rene23]

I would advise you to speak with your GP and discuss your health concerns. CKD puts you at high riskills so it also depends on whether you havr any other health issues, medication and many other factors. I would also advise you to check out Govuk and read through the criteria for extremely vulnerable. Hope this helps.

[Rk89 in reply to Rene23]

Thankyou for your reply I will check the gov website.

[Rene23 in reply to Rk89]

I first checked the Govuk website to check out the extremely vulnerable criteria knowing I fell under the high risk with CKD Stage 3 but I also have other health issues which compromise my immune system and make me extremely susceptible to infection. I met that criteria also so was expecting a letter from the NHS but did not get it - so I spoke to my Doctor and realised they were under pressure to write to me but were behind with paperwork. NHS were sending 900,000 letters direct to individuals and then leaving the other 600,000 to the GPs to send. Fortunately I have been with my employer for a good amount of time who are aware of my health issues and they approached me to work from home even though we supply essential cleaning products to NHS / Food industry etc so are classed as essential to continue providing. I guess my message is check out whether you should be shielding for 12 weeks because essential worker or not your health / life is more important during this pandemic and must be No 1 priority.

[Hollyminou]

I would think so, do you have annual flu injection as that is one of the criteria factors in determining your vulnerability.

[Rk89 in reply to Hollyminou]

I do have an annual flu jab aswell as a pneumonia jab, thanks for your reply

[Celtic]

“Vulnerable”- yes, but unlikely to be considered “Extremely Vulnerable”. It is those whose condition come under the latter heading who are receiving the confirmatory letter from the Government.

I also have just a sole kidney, albeit a slightly higher stage than you at CKD3 with an eGFR that has ranged between 38 to 44 in the last year or so, with a dip to 28 at one stage due to an antibiotic. I also have a moderate to severe leaking heart valve and resistant very high blood pressure. However, I am not considered as “extremely” vulnerable.

However, my husband has received a letter due to advanced cancer and coming under the heading of “immunosuppressed” which puts him in the “extremely” vulnerable stage.

If in doubt, you can try registering yourself with Gov.uk.

You definitely come into the “vulnerable” stage so self-isolation would be very wise. I have not left the house for 3 weeks.

[SamLab]

I am in similar position solitary kidney and egfr around 33% I am not in high risk group. I rang renal unit said only dialysis and transplant patients who are on immunosuppressants are on the very high risk group and will have received letter to isolate for 12 weeks. I have been in touch with local council and now have details of a local group who will deliver weekly shop of fresh food, bread, milk, veggies etc and after weeks of trying finally got a supermarket delivery slot for 16th April. That allows me to stay home for the foreseeable. You will likely be as I am on the elderly vulnerable section of people who are told to self isolate and stay away from others as much as possible. My husband is in the care sector he has had to take unpaid leave to protect us both from contracting the disease.

[RickHow]

Remember what vulnerable means. You are NOT at a higher risk of catching the virus. The virus attacks everyone equally. I lands on your body (eyes, nose, mouth) just like it does a person with no other negative health conditions. The vulnerable part means that those with the defined conditions (certain stages of CKD for example) are more likely to have severe adverse effects from the virus. More life threatening effects. Remember the vast majority of those who get the virus recover fully. This thing just spreads so easily that the number who catch it and the unfortunate number who die from it, is large. So there is no such thing as being too safe.