2nd shielding letters?

[Brushwork]

Happy Sunday

Has anybody else had a follow up shielding letter? My friend had one telling her to shield for a further 12 weeks ie: till end of July.

No big surprise really

[Neonkittie17]

I haven’t even had a first letter!

[Pippy25 in reply to Neonkittie17]

Or any letter, yet my late dad has had three messages on his answer machine offering him help as he is deemed vulnerable, a text to tell him to stay home and countless support leaflets. So while I hate to say this a dead person is receiving more offers of support than his living daughter who is fighting to stay alive. Crazy.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Pippy25]

That must have been very distressing. Sorry dear Pippy. I will have to yell to get anything as my rheumy department are very slow or don’t send letters. The nurses have to do it and hand write things. The clinic appointments come from the main computer in another hospital so I get those. I spoke to one of them amother matter recently and he said they couldn’t identify which RA patients were taking which meds. I’m going to write a letter to my GP. Im not wanting to say .. here I am a vulnerable person ... or anything like that and know you’re not. I’m thinking if one needed to get identified/classified say for the eventual vaccine and you need proof of vulnerability. I’m drafting a letter at the mo. Can you approach your GP or have you tried? If you r told me this on another thread I apologise. I think you have. Hope you get sorted. x

[jane1964 in reply to Neonkittie17]

Hello I had a letter from my consultant in England but not from my GP in Wales and England and Wales have separate lists so for getting help I needed to be on Welsh list I wanted to make sure to be on GP list and Welsh list so I wrote to my GP and sent a copy of Consultant letter my GP added me to Welsh list I think it's definitely worth sorting out if you can Jane

[Pippy25 in reply to Neonkittie17]

I did contact my GP surgery in the early days after my telephone consultation with my GP who strongly told me to shield, however the person I spoke to didn't really seem to know anything and was no committal and I got the impression she wanted me off the line. It was upsetting hearing a man from the council over the Easter weekend leaving those messages for my dad, saying 'we seem to be having trouble contacting you Mr. X etc.' when only a few months earlier I had informed them of his passing and had to fill in countless forms regarding this to the council. I was going to ring my GP this week over a few issues I am having with my health and think as you say it is a good idea to raise this lack of correspondence and recognition because I think you are right in respect of if any offer of a vaccine was available for this virus at some point, having no identification or officially being deemed as 'vulnerable' would we be entitled to or considered as needing it without that bit of paper. I already get the flu vaccine each year but I think in this instance I would as it already appears that I've slipped through the net. Thanks for raising this, take care x

[charisma in reply to Pippy25]

That is not nice. I hate getting letters etc for years after losing a loved one. Just do what is obviously best, and register with NHS/Council shielding team/Gov.

Stay safe.

[Pippy25 in reply to charisma]

It was upsetting hearing these messages as it's only been 7 months since he passed but over the Easter weekend too it was hard. I'm going to speak with my GP and try and find out as to why I appear to have slipped through the net. I don't have a good relationship with my rheumy and my last visit was so bad, he told to ' Come back when you are feeling better!' and to be honest not only given the circumstances I am in currently with my health and other personal things, I was disgusted with him and on receiving his follow up letter feel I don't want to see him again as there were so many things factually incorrect in it. So I will speak with my GP to see if she can cast some light on things. Take care x

[Stayloose]

My OH had 3 initial shielding letters. He's taking it that the guidance stands until told otherwise. Ie maybe past 3 months.

[Mmrr]

I've not received a second letter, but working on the assumption that I will be shielding until advised otherwise.

At the Government update yesterday it was was mentioned that they will be reassessing all in the shielding group in the light of new information becoming available.

It might be that depending upon the type of drugs taken, some people with autoimmune disease may actually be protected from the worst complications of coronavirus (not our chance of getting it). So, shielding might not be necessary.

[Brushwork in reply to Mmrr]

Yes I saw that too... watch and wait?

A familiar thing for us 😂😂

[Stayloose in reply to Mmrr]

Here's hoping release might be round the corner!

[Mmrr in reply to Stayloose]

Whilst I hope so, I don't really think so...sigh

[Stayloose in reply to Mmrr]

Hmm.... seems some countries are getting excited by some drugs but that's not quite the same as evidence....

[Mmrr in reply to Stayloose]

There seems to be growing evidence that some anti inflammatory bDMARDs offer some protection from the cytokine storm that is causing havoc with the lungs of some coronavirus patients. If this turns out to have substance then those of us sheilding and taking these drugs could get out of sheilding sooner than initially thought. Worth pursuing.

[AgedCrone in reply to Mmrr]

Double sigh.......Those who make the final decision have got it stuck in their heads if you are 70+ you’re a feeble old dodderer who is going to mess up their statistics if they let you loose!

They don’t want to read the statistics .....but then why should they?Every scientist appears to have a different projection of how 70+ with or without underlying health issues, will deal with CV19?

I like the answer given by an immunobiologist in Arizona who reckons by 40/50 we have a massive drop in Tcells.

So if that is the case.....well over half the Cabinet will have to Shield!!! Let them try to sort that out!

[Jean-- in reply to Mmrr]

I didn’t see this , biological drugs I’m thinking you mean ? Could you tell me more please

I’m on enbrel injections once a week for ra 🌸

[Mmrr in reply to Jean--]

The information is still emerging, but there has been some encouraging evidence rom China, with tocilizumab and baricitinib, and other biologics (and JAK inhibitors as they all tend to reduce cytokines which cause inflammation). It is the cytokine storms that are creating lung issues and death in many coronavirus patients.

Taking bDMARDs does not prevent people getting the virus but there is growing evidence that they do reduce the most severe effects on the lungs and other organs. They seem to reduce or prevent the cytokine storms.

Yesterday Westminster said if the evidence pans out, it might mean that people with autoimmune health issues who are being treated with these drugs may not need to shield. Ironically, we may actually get some protection from the drugs and may be at less risk that others.

Interesting.

If you google you will find information, all from studies from reputable institutions (not yet replicated/peer reviewed) and being looked at worldwide.

People with autoimmune disease are not being admitted to ICU in high rates. I think I saw we make up 3.4 % of admissions on an NRAS update. Being obese or male or over 50 is a higher risk than autoimmune disease.

[sylvi]

Heavens above i hope not we have a holiday in June. Well i hope we have a holiday in June. I am begining to doubt it will happen. If we can't i will get them to transfer it to next year so we won't have much to pay then. xxx

[Boxerlady in reply to sylvi]

Sorry sylvi, but I doubt that holidays will be back to normal by then. A friend has just had her June holiday cancelled (neither she nor her husband are shielding) The good news is that they've rebooked for the same time next year at the same price and were offered £50 each to do so 😉

[sylvi in reply to Boxerlady]

I think when i ring up i will do the same. Also i am not sure i will be up to travelling to Cornwall just yet.xxxx

[Boxerlady in reply to sylvi]

As hers was a foreign package holiday, I think that they had to offer rebook or money back - hence the incentive. Depending on what/how you've booked I think that your rights might not be the same. 😏Worth checking up on before you contact them, I think. There have various things about it on the radio - You and Yours on Radio 4 for example - and it can help to know where you stand legally so that you can be polite but firm 🙄😂

[sylvi in reply to Boxerlady]

I have no worry about sorting next months holiday out, they will change it very easily especially if they want us to come back next year.xxx

[Boxerlady in reply to sylvi]

That's great - you've obviously got a good relationship with them. Something to look forward to next year 😊

[Pippy25 in reply to Boxerlady]

I had heard some travel companies have been offering vouchers instead of a refund and consumer programmes have said that this could be tricky if the company goes bust and have been advising people insist on a refund.

[Lizard28 in reply to Pippy25]

My flight was cancelled three weeks ago, I should have been on a plane yesterday, I read the airline company's website carefully, only to be told I have to call for a refund, so after calling and waiting ages I was told by the person on phone to go the website again and she gave me the details to claim for a refund. Honestly they don’t make it easy, not only that I can only claim my flight for yesterday, I have to do the same for my return flight after they send me a text cancelling that flight. Bit stupid as I can’t really use the return flight if I’m not there. Needless to say I’m still waiting for my refund three weeks down the line.

[Pippy25 in reply to Lizard28]

I know the consumer programmes are saying similar that companies are dragging their heels when it comes to refunds, so you have my sympathy there as they don't appear to make it easy at the best of times when refunding. So good luck and hope you get things sorted. Take care

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Boxerlady]

I haven’t booked any hols for his year and won’t.

[Lolabridge]

Yes I had one come last week.

[Mollieharry]

Nope,no 2nd letter but a phone call from gp this wk to ask if I had received my letter and to ask if I had text the phone number etc on it so I cld get grocery slots etc.

[charisma]

Oh no! Mine said twelve weeks and we’re six weeks through which takes us into mid June to complete.

I hope I won’t get another letter even though I am shielding till cases are gone.

Social distancing will last at least till the end of this year, I’m expecting.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to charisma]

I agree

[Slotsfan]

I had another one tell me not to go out till 30th of June

[Slotsfan]

I don’t even think I should have a letter i don’t feel vulnerable have mild asthma and was on 10mg of pred now down to 3 mg this week

[JFlay]

A friend of mine had a second letter this week telling her to stay in until the end of July, she's not very happy 😟 but will do it.

[Fra22-57]

No but I do expect I will.its only sensible really. It's best to stay safe to stay alive

[Jacey15]

I received 2 last week. One saying shield for 12 weeks, the other until 30th June.

[TheBoys]

My mum and dad haven't had a first letter.

Wonder why random Health Trusts are doing this.

[singing65]

I received my 3rd Shielding letter on Saturday, so now shielding further down the line. I have "co-morbidities" so have had letters from 2 different departments and now my GP as well.