No surprise about the subject of this question...

[Bon1]

Has anyone had a straight answer from their consultant about whether we (ie those of us on a cocktail of immunosuppressant drugs) should be working from home?

I mean I’m a teacher so tricky when the schools are open but I’m getting so rattled by my colleagues saying “are you sure you should be here” !!!

Both my kids go to the school anyway so there’s another complicating factor.

I’m ina state of genuine confusion, no reply from Rheum nurses and as we all know, gps sometimes lack detailed knowledge about all this shenanigans.

Thank god for chocolate

[JulezH]

I have not got an answer but I am also a teacher and my school is not shutting. I went to see HR today and they said I could work from home. Have you asked your school to work from home?

[Hodc in reply to JulezH]

But how can we teachers work from home?

[JulezH in reply to Hodc]

We have been told we have to set work, send emails to students and use the Teams app

[Hidden]

My dr told me to quarantine myself...

[Stowe]

I went to the hospital Tuesday and they didn't say anything to me about working from home or not. My work are abit annoying, as we are waiting for the official, yes work from home, but I don't know if I should be pushing to work from home now? Sigh 😣

[Hidden]

My medic friends ( Gp and nurses) said I need to stop work I too work in a school because my drugs make vulnerable. I asked for how long? They said indefinitely until it’s all over. As children are carriers I’m putting myself at risk.

[Oshgosh]

Problem is I don’t think anyone has all the answers.

[Tillydancer]

I’m wondering the same thing too. I’m a teacher and would rather be off right now! Not wait for cases to show up. I might try a call to my GP and see what they recommend. Surely schools have to be flexible for more vulnerable staff members like us?

[lucymead in reply to Tillydancer]

My daughter is a teacher and working with lots of local schools daily. Last week she was at a school where the teacher was sent home because a friends child had the C virus. My daughter was her replacement !!!!!!!!

[lilyak]

The fact is that there is no data. No one knows for sure. There are a few preliminary studies, but there is not enough data. The safe thing to do is to stay away from work, especially if you're a teacher. If I were in your shoes, I would be asking to work from home. I'm quite certain your rheum team would support that course of action.

Best,

Lily

[Hidden]

My son said he would drive his bus a few times around the living room if told everyone is to work from home. Lol. Not everyone has the opportunity.

[Shalf in reply to Hidden]

😆

[HappykindaGal]

I did speak to my Doc and she said to carry on as usual. Saying that, my company has always been set up to have home working contingency and my team are now working from home. I’m not though and still doing much as before. My cruise has been cancelled though booooo. Going to Cornwall instead yay!

It’s probably a personal choice about balancing risk. I intend to carry on as usual generally. I am giving a convention a miss next week though.

[Cheylann]

How are they supposed to know? We are all a bit in the dark. Its difficult for you being a teacher with kids in the school. I wouldn't want to be in or around any schools at the moment. I guess at this point whilst schools are legally open its your call.

[Ali_H]

Hi,

Off the back of this thread I’ve emailed our local teacher union rep to ask if the local authority has issued advice re employees who are immunosuppressed or are making decisions to further protect vulnerable employees at these unprecedented times. I am teaching full time in a special school and am ‘happily’ turning into work each day. But if things get more intense locally I want my employer to make an executive decision and be proactive about their health and safety responsibilities rather than be seen as the one to be scare mongering!

We will see what happens on Monday!!

Meantime my students have been fab at hand washing and using our class gel 👍🏼👍🏼

I’ve family in NZ and they have their own take on things - according to one NZ news provider the sales of lubricants, sex toys and batteries have gone up.... they know how to approach a coming possible crisis😅😱😅

[mads1]

Sorry late coming to this. I decided to stop my biologics, this was my decision. I could not get through to rheumy nurse to let her know. I would have liked another opinion but in the absence of one, I decided at end of feb to stop taking them. I had only taken one injection from sept 19 as had surgery. I am in a flare up though so do reckon that most of the biologics are out of my body.

[widgie in reply to mads1]

I've been deciding upon when to take my meds myself. The response from my rheumatologist was unhelpful and I was chastised for bothering her secretary. I was told the nurses were particularly well informed but I did not find them very helpful although extremely pleasant

Pneumonia in February ( no raised temperature) ensued . I asked several medically qualified people as to what I chould do. 6 responses, giving me 5 different suggestions!( of a medical nature)

I stopped the meds, evenually stopped coughing and now I have resumed the drugs, I have a flare

I told the relevant doctors/ consultants what I had done. The responses were 1) I give you my blessings and 2) ok so long as you let me know if you decide to increase the dose. This leads me to the conclusion that I may well be more aware of how these potent drugs are affecting MY body