Shielding

[JaneI_1]

Hi I am shielding as I’m sure many of you are and it’s challenging hope you are all well. I wanted to ask I am 23 and a nurse with lupus. I was wondering if anyone has ideas when they think we will be allowed to return to normality as normal as it can be I suppose. I do have a feeling it will be a while. I’ve been trying to check the news I live in Scotland so there is a discussion on 18th of June about people who are shielding. I don’t know if it will be longer for myself as I work in a hospital but unsure just wanted to ask for advice.

[Cathyan]

Hi Oakley-isaac I don’t have any answers but just wanted to send best wishes - what a difficult position you are in. I really hope you can resist pressure to return early. The NHS is none too good at supporting their staff when they’ve got shortages on the rotas!

I’m on a forum for HCPs and those shielding post the same questions about what will happen when, so if any come up with answers I’ll post here. A lot were saying to talk to Human Resources at your hospital about it. I’m illhealth retired thankfully, but I was put back on my professional register and told I would be called on to work remotely if I didn’t respond within 3 days, all without being asked. Had to say I was cognitively impaired on top of shielding before they took me off again!

[JaneI_1 in reply to Cathyan]

Thank you! Really appreciate that! X

[happytulip in reply to JaneI_1]

Are you a member of the RCN? They should be able to help you.

[JaneI_1 in reply to happytulip]

I am yeah I never thought of them actually thank you x

[happytulip in reply to JaneI_1]

They will help you. That's your first point of call. Let them do the leg work and take the strain off you.

That's what you pay them for x

[CarolMcl]

Hi

I'm also a nurse in Scotland. The FM announced that they will be giving more information by the 18th regarding shielding, she also said that they will no longer be taking a blanket approach. From reading other comments it appears that in England, people are getting taken off the shielding list which also includes lupus and on 2 immunosuppressants!! As for Lupus sufferers who will be returning to the front line, I honestly don't know. I posted a couple of days ago about the Scottish announcement, maybe you could read other members comments?

[Hatelupus in reply to CarolMcl]

I work for the NHS in a pathology lab where we test covid samples. Currently I am sheilding due to lupus however the thought of returning to work and handling samples/swabs makes me slightly uncomfortable.

I am missing my friends and the job itself but I'm not willing to take any risks. I really hope there is a way we can return to work in safe environment. My colleagues (more like a second family) have been wonderful as have my managers, I really hope there is a risk assessment done for our safe return to our role in the workplace.

Stay safe x

[CarolMcl in reply to Hatelupus]

First of all it's fantastic that you have such good support, I've had one phonecall from manager. I'm very worried at the prospect of returning to work. To be truthful, if not taking a blanket approach means that I'll no longer be shielding, I honestly don't think I will be returning anytime soon

[JaneI_1 in reply to Hatelupus]

Yeah it’s not been easy time it’s a long time ☹️ yeah I am nervous as well to go back! Yeah I don’t want to take any risks either cause it’s scary the thought of developing it x

[JaneI_1 in reply to CarolMcl]

Hi, aw that’s good it’s difficult time not being able to work ☹️ yeah my lupus is really bad at the moment having a lot of flare ups and a lot of infections, waiting to get put on azithiprine due to struggling to find other medications that work. I had a look at your post was helpful seems to be one extreme to other can’t understand. I don’t understand how they can just take us off shielding list and expect us not to be at any risk at all and go out around the public but maybe I’m wrong maybe we would be okay. X

[CarolMcl in reply to JaneI_1]

No, I don't think you are wrong at all, I don't understand how you can be shielding one day then get taken off the list and back to work on the front line the next. I've tried azathioprine twice but unfortunately on both occasions it attacked my liver. I really hope you have better success as I've heard lots of good reports from other people x

[JaneI_1 in reply to CarolMcl]

Yeah it is all very weird. Oh really I had that with methotrexate for bit but it became okay then I just couldn’t tolerate that was sick all time then had mycophenolate. I wonder what FM will say on 18th June still long way away well feels like it anyway. I think it’s hard cause so much speculation around sheilding and it is such an unknown virus. X

[CarolMcl in reply to JaneI_1]

It is a hard and difficult situation to be in. I've just read about an announcement in England that the shielded can go for a walk. Apparently it was a comment thrown in after a lengthy football discussion and doesn't appear to have happened from scientific evidence. Does the left hand know what the right is doing?? 🤔🥺 X

[leannehowis in reply to CarolMcl]

Hi, I totally agree about the change in England, I'm shielding and live in Cornwall, and the 1st I heard about was on the news yesterday morning I couldn't believe that they made such a change! Unfortunately English government are more interested in getting the economy back up and running when it is clear the infection rate is far too high!! As far as I am aware shielded are now aloud to go for a walk with their household or meet 1 person outside observing social distancing (they have been taking a lot of pressure from people who feel isolated, which I understand but all these changes should be staggered so they can watch and assess the impact on the r rate rather than opening the flood gates. They also said yesterday that the changes for shielding were because they are probably going to have to shield for longer than the original 12 weeks although as we also heard they are looking at the list and will be removing some categories as they have discovered that some are less risk (again I think this is based economically not on the health and safety, so much for wrapping their arms around us and keeping us safe!) In Cornwall we have one of the highest r rates and since the changes to ability to go out anywhere we have been flooded with visitors from everywhere (many of whom are staying which is still against the law) it is terrifying!

Good luck to you all and stay safe xoxo

[CarolMcl in reply to leannehowis]

Good morning. Yes it does seem rather abrupt and like yourself I think it's for all the wrong reasons. No doubt we will be following on in a couple of weeks. All we can do is keep ourselves safe as best as we can. Stay the distance and stay safe x

[Sezvic]

Hi Oakley_isaac, I’m also a nurse but in England. I had a few issues with HR at my trust. I did called RCN, they were not that helpful. They just check the GOV.UK and give you the info. Myself, I feel like in limbo atm.

[smck002]

Hi

I am currently shielding and also work as a nurse too.

Last I heard was that here in England that we are to shield until at least 30th June. They are relaxing some of the restriction though before that date to ease people back into normal life.

Honestly I am very anxious about the whole thing. Hearing that there are 100s of people still dying daily and 1000s still testing positive each day makes me worry about shielding ending.

On other hand though I feel like I am going stir crazy.

[Sara_A]

Hasnt there been something to suggest that people with weakened immune systems may actually end up being better off as they say that corona virus seems to cause an over reaction with the immune system??? It was just a snippet I heard as I'm trying to to listen to the news too much! Which I think is why they are looking at and changing the vulnerable lists etc as they are learning new things and as evidence becomes available.

I too am a nurse, I work in general practice specialising in respiratory so asthma and copd. Like a lot of u I have no clue when I will be able to go back to work either. I'm on methotrexate and daily steroids which I've been on for well over 10 yrs. I have sle and aps.

I am going to be going out today for the 1st time for a walk to the woods with my family and dog mainly because I need to as it's doing me no good being stuck in the house for so long.

I did half think before just go out and crack on with it because I'm pretty sure that once I do go back out into the real world I'm probably going to end up catching it straight away anyway!! So I'll have ended up staying in for 3 months and caught it anyway!!

X