Letter from work

[Mollieharry]

I received letter from work today.it was an update for their Personal carers.one statement read that guidelines were changing all the time so if you took immune suppressants that were only of moderate risk you could go back to work.now i’ll need to phone my rhuemo nurse back on Monday to see if I now fall into this category.cant keep up with all the different information.

[allanah]

Depends on which guidance they followed. I would defo talk to your nurse or NRAS. Why your employer would allow someone with any increased risk to be in physical contact with others around me though . Do you have a union? If not join one and ask for their advice.

The GOVERNMENT , higher than your employer has said stay home !

[Pippy25]

It's all very confusing and as allanah says give your nurse or the NRAS a ring for some advice. Sending you some supportive wishes, take care x

[Chiboosmamma]

It’s very confusing. I’m in a similar boat, but it’s my partner who a key worker but due to my RD his employer has allowed him to work from home. They are now asking if I have received a shielding letter otherwise he’ll have to return next week.

Spoke to my rheumy nurse and she stated only patients on biologics were being issued with letters. As I am only on Methotrexate then I wouldn’t fall into this category. I’m only on 15mg per week due to have low neutrophil level, and my consultant lowered my level of neutrophil to 1.5 to try and keep my methotrexate consistent as I was off it more than I was on it. I’m still hovering around the 1.5 mark but this concerns me as I know I’m susceptible to picking up infections.

All this in addition to having asthma and when my I do get poorly it tends to head straight for my chest. My rheumy nurse recommends I self isolate due to all of this but still can’t issue me with a letter. Worried beyond belief if he has to return next week.

[Mollieharry in reply to Chiboosmamma]

Yip,agree it’s confusing.nothing seems to be clear cut.i am on biologics with methotrexate and sulfasalazine, +1 mg of prednisalone(weaning off)but still never received a letter,so don’t know if I should now be at work.do other factors come into too eg line of work,how much contact you have with other people.havent got a clue

[Anne_57]

I am on biologic and methotrexate, and have (well- controlled) asthma. I discussed with RA Dr 2 about 10 days ago and he agreed I'm not in the extremely vulnerable group, unless I go back on steroids. So I'm still at work, and still getting essential items from shops.

Seems to be a bit of confusion here and we are getting mixed messages.

[Mollieharry in reply to Anne_57]

Hi Anne,spoke to ra nurse this morning to see if the ra guidance had changed for covid 19.he said they were following advice from British society of rhuemotology and the medicationsI take are stated higher risk, I should not be going to my job as a Personal Carer.he also sent me an email to send to my line manager if they request .it also said guidelines can change and they will inform me if this happens.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Anne_57]

I thought a biologic and Mtx was the higher category?