UK GOV, NHS message informing me I'm in the high risk group and letter to follow.

[Boudica1]

Something in me was hoping that I didn't full into the group to get the letter.

Is it odd to feel gutted? I sort of guessed that I could with having a number of health problems and yet was hoping.

Apart from shopping once a week being very very careful I haven't been out of the house for 2 weeks already and the thought that I now have to do another 12 weeks and not even get out to do the weekly shop, it's hard to describe.

I know that I should be grateful (?) But .

I don't know. I think I need some time to get to grips with it and calm down.

Take care and keep well.

♥️

[Jesse040501]

Yes surprisingly i also received a text about an hour ago so i would be staying home from now. Didn't think i would qualify. Take care n stay safe

[Boudica1 in reply to Jesse040501]

I feel like a naughtie child being grounded. Take care and keep well. ♥️

[Hidden in reply to Boudica1]

Ha, ha. 😆😂🤣

[Jesse040501 in reply to Boudica1]

Hi, just checking if you have received ur letter yet as my employers are demanding to see it.

Kind regards

[Boudica1 in reply to Jesse040501]

Yes it came today so hopefully if you have had the text/email you should have it soon. Also the postal service are having to self distance so there may be a delay in getting the letter in the post. One problem is that they can not send out 2 postmen in the same van because it breaks the 2 metres rule.

If you have the text or email can you copy it to show your employer and tell them about the problems that the postal service are having due to the social distancing rule and the health and safety reasons.

♥️

[Jesse040501 in reply to Boudica1]

Many thanks

[JodieBelll]

Same! Just got a letter yesterday. I read on BBC news that the shielded group was increased from 1.5 to 2.5 million due to the high number of volunteers, so that could be why we were added in the second wave.

[Ceri-NorthWales in reply to JodieBelll]

Is this NHS England only, by any chance?

[Boudica1 in reply to Ceri-NorthWales]

The text doesn't say I will take a close look at the letter when it arrives and let you know.

What I can say is that it's a UK. GOV. NHS notice and does not state England and that I'm in the high risk group and not the extremely high risk group who have to be shielded in the home and who along with the others in the house are needing to take some very high levels of precautions between themselves.

It also appears that they are working their way down a list of groups starting with the Extremely High Risk then onto the High Risk.

Have you had a text message/video yet explaining the process of groupings? Mine was sent from my Rhuematolgy department and it appears to be not only a list of diseases but what symptoms whether they deal with it or not and what drugs you are on. The symptoms and drugs seem to have a point awarded and these points seems to be which group you should be in.

I found the video confusing and difficult to follow as the eyes and ears aren't that good anymore.

Is your health services doing the same as I would find it strange if they are not. I know that all four of the country's health services are devolved but surely they are following the same systems.

I have a cousin in Wales who is a nurse of 30 years there I will try and contact her and ask her if she knows anything about it as she lives and works in Wrexham.

Please bear with me on this as I don't know what shifts she is on and as you can imagine will be busy.

Take care and keep well.

♥️

[Boudica1 in reply to Ceri-NorthWales]

As promised I'm back.

According to my cousin the Welsh NHS are doing their own list's along the same type of lines. In her words "they are doing their own Welshy thing". Have you tried contacting your Rheumy or GP to find out whats going on in your area and if that fails the local MP. Sorry I haven't been much help for you and those in Wales but I would have thought in times like these that all the devolved NHS's would be singing from the same song sheet.

But there again maybe like England they are trying to work their way down a list. I know I was surprised to be getting a letter but if they are doing the Extreme Risk group first and then the next one down and so on at least hopefully this means you are not extreme risk and only time will show if you are in the next group or not.

But I do understand how you are feeling.

Please keep me informed of what you can find out and please take care.

X

[Nadwana in reply to JodieBelll]

Hi everyone! I also received the letter and I understand the feelings. Before the pandemic, I had already been offsick for 4 months unable to go out shopping. I was looking foesrd to the UK warm weather but now I am locked inside again. I received a message today thzt I can open a window but not supposed to even go out to throw rubbish in the bin. Fortunately my husband does all that. It is hard. Please do stay home and safe.

[Boudica1 in reply to Nadwana]

Do you live in a house with your own garden? I really hope you do as we can still go into the garden as long as we keep well away from the fence and people next door.

Whats getting to me mainly is not being able to have my adult children visit me which does make me sad and I know there are many others in the same position, you can't beat a cuddle from them a photo or video call is not the same especially when they are having problems themselves.

I'm keeping busy and count myself lucky that I have hobbies I can do like sewing and that I'm able to buy the material from an online supplier. Although they are taking the extra care needed for their own health and safety during these times so it may take a little longer than normal. I really appreciate everything they are doing from a customer point of view. Plus I will take this extra time to paint my bedroom walls, luckily I had already got the paint I'd just been putting it off until the weather warmed up so I could open the windows whilst doing it.

Take care and keep well.

X

[Nadwana in reply to Boudica1]

Unfortunately I live in a flat. Today the NHS message said I can open a window but definitely no going out. It makes one wonder whether this virus is not flying around😳

[Barbara17]

Hi Boudica. I was surprised to learn I had to Shield too. Seemingly it’s steroids that cause the biggest problem. I’m feeling fine and I do go out into the garden for some fresh air. My house has never been so clean and tidy!

I’m also on a WhatsApp group of eight good friends, five of whom live alone, so we ‘chat’ all day and time passes. Good luck!

[Boudica1 in reply to Barbara17]

Hi. Yes it is a bit of a surprise especially when most of the time apart from some symptoms that are always there but otherwise under control you feel fit and well for how you normally feel. Maybe it's because we are so used to whatever health conditions we have some may not realise just how at risk we are. I have multiple health things I can't call them problems or concerns as some I've had for some for so long and on the whole under control I've got use to them and to me and others like me it's "normal" and my "healthy".

The steroids I'm on are inhalers and rarely need to take prednisolone so I can only think it's because of my multiple lung issues and the arrhythmias which are putting me on the list.

Take care and keep well.

X

[DaftCat]

I feel the same! I hadn’t got a letter but then had a telephone consultation with my GP who felt that I should have one (which I received by email from them) and to also register with the government. I had my first cry over this whole thing which feels self indulgent really but it I was gutted over it. It just all feels very strange.

[Boudica1]

I've never thought of myself as ill/poorly really and then to find you are vulnerable is a very strange thing to comprehend. I still feel as if I'm a naughty child thats been grounded and sent to my room and it's taking a while to come to terms with it.

But at least for me I have a garden that I can go into I dread to think how those who live in flats are feeling as to me that would be a complete nightmare.

It's not self indulgent to cry and is more than likely a good release and better than bottling things up which can then have an adverse effect on health.

Keep safe and take care.

X

[butterfly1964]

Hi I know exactly how frustrating this all is, I too am feeling so helpless.

Also this morning I have received a message from GOV. UK saying I cannot even go into my garden, only put my head out of window 😩🏡..

Take care everyone jx

[flo_IarFachYrHaf in reply to butterfly1964]

gosh that's a bit rigid - do they worry that some gardens are very close to others and you can't keep a really good distance away?

Our garden is far from anyone - but being extremely photosensitive I only go out early (if up!) or bit before sundown.

[butterfly1964 in reply to flo_IarFachYrHaf]

H Boudica1,

Yes, I am surprised how stringent the rules are..

All of us here, I expect know we have to be careful and I certainly are and I haven't been out for 5 weeks.

Although now I can't even go in the garden, I am so shocked..

Thank you for your reply jx

[Boudica1 in reply to butterfly1964]

That's a bit rigid. I have been advised not to take bins out but have been told by my GP and Rheumy that I can go in the garden but to stay away from the fence if my neighbours are out in their garden and close to the fence. I too am photosensitive so have to be careful otherwise my skin oddities go into overdrive. I just go in the garden early morning and once the sun is down.

♥️

[Krazykat26]

Hi Boudicca 🤗

I got my letter last week n it made me very upset..so I had a bit of a MELTDOWN!! Snot n bubbles all last Thursday..i knew I was vulnerable..but extremely vulnerable I didn't expect!! Tbh I felt useless n a burden on society!!

So I had a good cry..didn't even know I could cry that much!! Then later I went outside to drum for all the NHS staff n networkers..drivers..etc..n it helped me to work through it!!

I think that's it's natural to feel out of it..if I was well enough I'd have joined the volunteer army but unfortunately it can't be done!!

Maybe we should all pop our heads out of our windows at a certain time in the evening n just shout hello to each other!!! 😜😹🌈😽😽Xx

[Boudica1 in reply to Krazykat26]

Shouting out of the window at night sounds like a great idea, all Lupies and Sjogren's people baying at the moon at the same time.

Not sure what the neighbour's would think though. 🤔😂🌔🐺🐺🐺🌙💞

[flo_IarFachYrHaf in reply to Boudica1]

a complete garden ban seems very stringent - careful use of garden when no neighbours would probably help sanity.

yes baying to the moon to let off steam! tho round here the nearest person I know with lupus is 2/3 miles away - and don't know anyone else!

such beautiful videos from Wuhan at the start of close down of people calling, singing from their windows, the desire to be communal. And since then singing from Italy

[butterfly1964]

Great idea, we need to let off some steam 😩😩!!!! X

[heda123]

I find it bizarre that they're saying not to go in the garden. My husband is paranoid with the 5g stuff and doesn't allow me to go into the garden. But if the government is saying not to go in the garden then something is not quite right! 🤔

[Hidden]

Boudica, I know this isn’t ideal. But, I find you to be a very strong woman 💪. You will get through this!!

The funny thing is, there will! come a time in the very near future when we will be back out, running (with SPF 70 or above 😆) in the sun! We will look back and realize that all this has been just a blip in time, yet, hopefully it will give us all a new perspective and appreciation for the lives we’ve been given. 🙏 my best to you.

[Boudica1 in reply to Hidden]

I'd describe myself as stubborn 😂😈 I don't know about running but will definitely be out and about doing my normal thing when I this is over.

Running me? I would love to. 🏃🏃🏃🏃🤸🤸🚶🛌🛌🛌🛌🛌🛌🛌🛌🛌.

♥️💞💕

[Hidden in reply to Boudica1]

Ha, ha. You get what I mean though. Running, playing, lounging...

[Boudica1 in reply to Hidden]

Sitting on the dock of the Bay. ⛵⛴️🛶⛴️🎆🎆🎉😘

[Hidden in reply to Boudica1]

Yes! I love watching the tide! There you go. Let us all sit on the dock of the bay!! 🙏

[Jesse040501]

Has anyone else received their letters from text messages received this week as i haven't received mine n my employers are demanding to see it.

Kind regards

[butterfly1964 in reply to Jesse040501]

No I haven't had a letter, only text messages from GOV. UK🤔..

The last one saying to only put my head out of the window 😩🏡!! Best wishes jx

[Jesse040501 in reply to butterfly1964]

Many thanks. Hopefully we will receive next week