Face masks/face shields

[Danielle_123s]

Hi all,

As from 24th July in the uk is will be compulsory to wear a face mask in shops. (Fines without wearing a mask. Certain people medically exempt).

I myself have recently gotten Bell’s palsy again for the second time, and I feel extremely uncomfortable with anything touching or on my one side of my face, I find it uncomfortable lying on my effected side and struggle with nerve pain, and also struggle with speech/drooling etc.

I feel that wearing a mask will be very uncomfortable for me, and also as with a face shield the pressure from the band just makes me nerve pain worse.

I’m sure there are people out there that are feeling the same as me on this but also feel “pathetic” to class myself as medically exempt from wearing them.

I was wondering what others thought about this? Would you class this as medically exempt?

Thanks in advance 😊

[Karen-FPUK Partner]

This is a really good point, Danielle. Would it be worth phoning your MP and asking for their advice? They can put this to the health secretary. It will be the nerve pain more than anything I suspect which could make you exempt but the guidance is wishy washy. They need to issue people with some sort of ID to prove they are exempt otherwise how will they police this anyway? I would definitely contact your local MP and explain the problem. They might be able to send you a letter stating you are exempt that you could show to people or support you in getting a letter from your doctor? Could you wear a looser one? I bought this one and it is actually quite loose round my face and not as restrictive. smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/produ... I certainly would not recommend the hospital type disposable ones, they are very uncomfortable. I find they skim my lower eyelid and hurt my non-blinking eye.