ok, so on monday i called my doc to ask about this sheilding carryon, i take methotrexate by injection weekly, i work for the NHS, so he emailed me a 14 day sick line/?? but put a comment on saying, i wasnt high risk, so was self isolating ,for my own piece of mind, just looked at my eroster and im now off 2 weeks sick leave, instead of sheilding leave? sick leave isint good on your employment record, do you think this is fair? or do i just suck it up and deal with it?
sheilding: ok, so on monday i called my doc to ask... - NRAS
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she100
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If it was me I would contact work and say that I wasn’t sick but was available for work. However due to being in the vulnerable group that you could only work from home. It’s then up to management to try and find you work. I would also copy in HR.
Definitely not sick leave . The government do not allow this. Contact personnel.
Methotrexate alone doesn’t put you in the high risk group, so it is your decision to self isolate. Personally I think if you are in a frontline job that exposes you to covid patients then you could raise this with HR, otherwise you have to accept that the doctor was right.
Have you been working up to now?
My reading of the BSR risk stratification guide would put you in the middle column rheumatology.org.uk/Portals...
So it's saying self isolate or social distance, at your discretion. Personally, if you would be in a high-risk situation regarding exposure at work, I would think 'self-isolating' would be wise.
Hello
Methotrexate does put you in a high risk group if you are in Wales. I am only on methotrexate and received a letter from Welsh Government that I have to shield for 12 weeks. I did not expect a letter at all. Before I received this letter I rang my GP to ask for guidance regarding attending work I am NHS in a clerical role, and was told by my GP am I NOT to go to work, only work from home if able. I am working from home now 5 days a week.
Why are we all treated differently. You should not be expected to take sick leave I would not accept that whatsoever!
I have a colleague who’s mother has been told to shield and they are now not having to work for 12 weeks and on medical suspension and they don’t have a health condition. Yet I have a health condition and are working 5 days a week from home in a flat with no garden. In this lovely weather it is hard. However I am grateful I’m still being paid and am able to be kept safe.
God only knows why we're different! RA is the same everywhere, I've sent an email to HR.. So I'll wait and see what they say..
They should not treat it as sick leave and if they say they have to because of your Fit note, then you contact GP and request it to be changed. Or the sickness should not be a trigger anyway due to Covid-19. Its up to you but either way you should be fine!
And as we all know stress can cause RA flare ups and we have to pick our battles carefully. HR will sort this!
Stay safe and well 👍x
Except that RA isn’t the same for everyone. We are all quite different, and affected differently by it. For some who respond well to treatment it is little more than a minor nuisance, for others it is devastating.
If I were you I would be more concerned about your asthma and this virus than the methotrexate.
Hello,
I’m intrigued that you’ve received the shielding letter if you only take methotrexate. I’ve got RA and take 7.5mg methotrexate and tablets for high blood pressure and haven’t heard anything.
May I ask, what dose you take and do you have any underlying conditions?
Hi
I’m on 22.5mg injections. I know someone else only on Methotrexate and they also have received a letter. I don’t have any other underlying apart from RA.
It’s the Methotrexate it is a immunosuppressed drug regardless of what people think.
Maybe Wales are erring on the side of caution, which I am extremely grateful for.
None of us know what are immune system’s are capable of do we? It is a killer virus and if your immune system is only slightly compromised then that could be enough for you not to be able to fight the virus.
It is killing young healthy people as well with no underlying anything.
Hello,
All of the tables I’ve seen mention methotrexate as an immunosuppressant - who is saying that it isn’t?
The Leeds NHS flowchart seem to put you, on just methotrexate, in the Standard Social Distancing. category. How bizarre to have such a difference. That flowchart doesn’t take account of dosage (except prednisone) which I would have thought was important... but logic seems to fly out of the window where this virus is concerned. As you say, it can take down healthy young people, so us with RA have to be extremely careful and cautious.
Stay safe
I have read some posts saying that because we have over active immune systems due to RA that methotrexate only brings it down to a normal level. But what level is that? we don’t know what is really going on with our immune systems.
I attend NRAS meetings and people there tell me Methotrexate makes us more vulnerable to infection, so should be careful around people anyway, not including this Virus that is killing many people.
For me it is common sense when I was in work before lockdown I always cleaned my equipment, don’t touch door handles, use lots of anti bacterial products and I don’t shake hands because I don’t want to be ill thank you!
It is a bit too much for some people and a bit over the top, but I hate colds for example they are so meaningless, and make you feel so rough! So I try not to catch them in the first place.
And so far so good!
Stay well x
I don’t want to tempt fate, but I've been on MTX for 10 years now, and now with a biologic, and haven’t had a single infection. And that’s despite living for much of that time in a big city, using public transport and having contact with sick children. So I do think that each person’s general health and natural level of immunity is very different.
Thank you Helix it is reassuring to hear that.
I love your posts always so strong and helpful. I feel you look after yourself properly and I think that contributes towards staying well more than we realise, even if we are around a lot of people.
I take 22.5 mg methotrexate injections and my bloods are good, my white blood cells are a good level strong enough to fight infection. I feel as if my body desperately needed methotrexate because it has changed my life. My Rheumatolgy nurse said this shielding is a shame because I have been doing so well.
I remain strong and grateful.
Keep well Helix ☀️
you are so lucky, been on 25mg injection for years and I get pneumonia nearly every year, down with it for 10 weeks just before this crazy time kicked off x
What is so weird is that pre-RA and these drugs I have a bad history of lung problems. TB and endless bronchitis as a kid, pneumonia as an adult including one stint of double pneumonia that landed me up in hospital. And then I get RA and nothing!
I do look after myself now, and I didn’t before, but even so its a bit odd.
I am amazed. I live in Wales I am over 70 I am on Benapali injections, I am diabetic and have a heart murmur. I have not had a letter from the Wales Government. I have spoken to my GP and they say they cannot do anything about it.
Hello Tim
I was told the letters come from your GP Surgery through the Government so maybe time for a chat with your GP?
Thanks for your reply. I was told by my GP that the names do not come from them but through the hospital consultants. I have tried to contact my Rheumo consultant but no luck so far. I am, obviously, self isolating and have been since the 14 March.
My initial problem of not getting a letter was trying to get a supermarket slot. Spent many hours stalking the internet. I have no family living in Wales and although there is some community help it is still difficult to get some extras that is needed. Otherwise coping OK.
Oh Tim you need a letter! The council told me the letters come from GP so that’s strange.
My Rheumatolgy Department (the nurse) said stick to the advice of your GP ie I cannot go to work.
Do you have a Rheumatolgy advice line you could ring and leave them a message, if they don’t answer. They should ring you back and you can explain your situation.
Ring your local Council as well as I know where I am they are using volunteers to help with delivering food and medicines.
It is worth a try Tim!
You are very kind Azzure and thank you for your concern. I must have slipped through the net somewhere. There are volunteers and they are helpful but it means asking all the time and I would really like to be a bit more self sufficient.
I am aware that I am going to be quarantined for some time and I am very fortunate that I have a large garden and plenty to do (if I want to). I will get intouch with my local council. Thank You.
That’s good to hear!
But as you say this could be for a few more months so keep with your GP to get you on the list for a letter as this will help you to do your online shopping etc!
I’m in a flat no garden and Rheumatolgy told me no walks as the communal entrance could be a risk. I can put my head out the window it isn’t all bad.
I hope you get a letter as it sounds like you have slipped through the net. Good luck and please let me know how you get on!
It is strange because I did have a telephone call originally from my Rheumo Consultant to stay in. I also had a letter from the Rheumo Department saying I was not to go to work - no problem there. Not to go out to exercise or shopping.
Maybe I was considered very vulnerable but not shielding. Apparently this was covered by the England Government but not by Wales. I am very glad you got a letter. I still consider myself in a better position than you.
I am able to walk around my garden and the weather has been beautiful.
Please look after yourself and keep safe. I will get back to you with any update.
That's daft!! You should be no1 in the queue for extra help! I know things are different in Wales, but make a bit of a fuss. You deserve it.
i also have high blood pressure, and asthma, and had sepsis a year ago, i really didthink id get a letter,
I would suggest have a candid chat with your GP and maybe you will get a letter?!
Just because they are GP’s so was Harold Shipman!
she100 - I’m with Azzure here - see if you can have a chat with your GP. They have your full medical history.
Azzure - reading about your cleaning etc. I can see I’ve cavalier in the past and generally have gone through life adapting and forgetting that I’ve got RA. It’s why I’ve never felt the need to join a forum before. Things are very different now and it’s good to share with fellow RA folk
x
The NRAS meetings are valuable and I’ve met up with a woman outside for coffee and we are friends. Maybe you could get to one in the future, as you can really relax and learn more about RA. People there listen to how it really can affect us. I don’t expect people to understand who don’t have the condition, as not all people are sympathetic to it.
All I know is I am grateful for Methotrexate as it has given me my life back and I hope that continues.
Yeah I think id like that..how do i find out about meetings?
If it easier give them a call and they will explain more I would do that. Or I’m not sure on the NRAS website you can look for your area where meetings are held. And then you contact them and they can add you to the area emailing list to confirm dates of meetings and where too. It is a very good website.
I’m in no way affiliated to them But at the moment with the pandemic they are struggling, as they are a charity. I just donated £10, not a huge figure but it is something. They have been so good to me in the past I wanted to give back.
Good luck x
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