How confusing!!!: Having been on the shielded list... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

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How confusing!!!

jaycee444 profile image
36 Replies

Having been on the shielded list for the past 3 months have today received a letter from the NHS telling me the new sheilding rules from 6th July and 1st August.

In the same envelope I received a second letter saying that on reviewing my medial record they are pleased to confirm that they DO NOT believe that I am part of this group of people and need no longer shield.

.What have I been doing for the past 12 weeks???

I would have tended to look after myself extra carefully even if I had not been on the shielded list but this now has me totally confused

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jaycee444 profile image
jaycee444
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36 Replies
SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

Basically I think that we are on our own with our common sense at the moment. The very safest place to be. It is all very arbitrary and more about getting us to open our wallets than to actually keep us safe - an illusion of care. 😡

YuliK profile image
YuliK in reply toSheffieldJane

Sheffield Jane. Well said ...they just want to put us out on the ice. 😂

DogAgilityObsessed profile image
DogAgilityObsessed in reply toSheffieldJane

And it will be our fault if we get ill 😉

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane in reply toDogAgilityObsessed

Naturally!

Jan_Noack profile image
Jan_Noack in reply toDogAgilityObsessed

I don't care whose fault but I will be the one to suffer if I get ill, that's enough

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

Left hand, right hand ... Parties in breweries ...

I'd be behaving as if I were shielding as far as possible. It shouldn't be a problem except maybe for getting assistance for shopping. It is all advisory anyway.

YuliK profile image
YuliK in reply toPMRpro

You are completely correct PMRpro.

Every country is on the verge of a second wave of the Covid19 virus, and as you say, follow your own instincts.

Personally I am still very careful, I’m following social distancing and I wear a face mask when leaving home.

YuliK 😷

🌹🌹🌹

Folks on Prednisone or Methotrexate are definitely vulnerable to viruses , as their immune system is compromised.

KellyInTexas profile image
KellyInTexas in reply toYuliK

Texas... dear God. We are in The bowels of absolute hell and stupidity.

We have a saying here, it’s called , “Hold my beer...”

It’s sort of like, you did that? Step aside, ( as you hand your drinking buddy your beer to hold for you) - and you walk in, overly confident and say, here- let me show you how that’s really done...

We are saying in Texas now, As coronavirus cases on the rise in the US and the rest of the world??

Texas: “Hold my beer...”

I’m not sure if that culturally translates... it’s sort of us Texans making fun of ourselves at the moment... at least the smart ones... I’m my opinion 😉😷

YuliK profile image
YuliK in reply toKellyInTexas

Kelly I’m so so sorry .. I know that the US are suffering from covidiots , unfortunately it seems to be the same in so many countries.

Until everyone will abide by the restrictions, you must take care of yourself.

I believe that a vaccine isn’t too far away, 🙏 and we mustn’t give up hope.

Keep a mask on and only go outside if it’s absolutely necessary.

YuliK 😷

🌹🌹🌹

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane in reply toKellyInTexas

😂

Hunter134 profile image
Hunter134 in reply toYuliK

I do the same here in Canada.I figure its good to keep being cautious.Just in case the 2nd wave comes.

KellyInTexas profile image
KellyInTexas

I’d say to you, continue to listen to WHO. They don’t have a vested interest in political agendas, or who’s re elected, etc.

Do that they advise for your day to day living requirements and needs.

Beyond that- depend on your rheumatologist for any forms / documentation additional stipulations you require.

I hear pubs opened up today in the UK.

Let’s see if that has an effect in 8 weeks.

It took Texas 8 weeks to see big effect of all businesses opening. ( May 1 Texas opened.)

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toKellyInTexas

In England - not Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

KellyInTexas profile image
KellyInTexas in reply toPMRpro

Ah! Hmm... riots in the streets in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland...

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toKellyInTexas

I think not - the general opinion appears to be they are as happy to drink at home and not get ill!!!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toPMRpro

PS - I lied! Northern Ireland is open - but their infection rate is very low. Unlike England ...

KellyInTexas profile image
KellyInTexas in reply toPMRpro

England to Nothern Ireland:

“Hold my Beer...”

( they will show him how it’s done!”)

Or they can just watch Texans! We are very good at being idiots! Yeeeee- Ha!

YuliK profile image
YuliK in reply toKellyInTexas

Come on Kelly , there are Covidiots all over the world.

That’s why many countries are having a second wave.

Jan_Noack profile image
Jan_Noack in reply toPMRpro

A friend in Scotland just put up a video cam of the shopping centre and carprk..jammed full of cars and people (crowded tgethr with up to about 15 people ina group), no social distancing at all..they just drove around and glanced at a couple more. So I expect Scotland cases to rise soon

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toJan_Noack

I wonder if NS will say something on Monday ...

YuliK profile image
YuliK in reply toKellyInTexas

Kelly, sorry to say, it was WHO which supposedly got us into this mess in the beginning. Took them far too long to make the pandemic report.

Trust yourself and I think that will keep you safer.

You know the rules. Social distancing, face mask and wash your hands with soap and water all the time...

Remember...”You are not stuck at home, You are safe at home”...

Yulik 😷

Keep safe. 👍

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toYuliK

WHO could only work on the information they were given. It is now emerging that they first got information from their own office in China. But Covid was all over the world before even the Chinese authorities realised there was a new and strange pneumonia in circulation.

Jan_Noack profile image
Jan_Noack in reply toPMRpro

I heard it was in Seattle too, and someone from there visited around Wuhan... I have been waiting for something similar to this to be said:..and as well the US is now saying the 1918 Spanish flu started in China and the US military smuggled contaminated Chinese from China to the US and they infected the US base.

I do suspect the Wuhan wet markets played a large part due to the genetics of the virus being so similar to the Chinese bat in that area ..and pangolin? but apparently not close enough. This has led it to be thought it must have been recombining for years between animals perhaps in various parts of the world, that were kept unnaturally close together, as in wet markets or in deforestation of some rainforest areas, before a mutation that could jump was randomly formed .

But while the SARS- and MERS-originating strains of coronaviruses have been found in civets and dromedary camels, respectively , so far, efforts to identify a similarly close link in the original pathway of SARS-CoV-2 into humans have failed

facebook.com/groups/1620592... for more detail and refs.

The Chinese definitely picked it up first and investigated and studied it first (even though it was perhaps not officially approved to study it and announce it!) Other countries may have found a rise in pneumonia but not investigated; though around the Wuhan region does seem a likely starting place this time.

(this has been edited within one day of posting).

Hoping its not in the stratosphere as yet, so if we get rid of it ..it's gone!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toJan_Noack

They have identified the virus in water samples from December even in rural northern Italy - wonder how many countries keep samples for years ...

Jan_Noack profile image
Jan_Noack in reply toPMRpro

sorry, I edited my reply directly above yours as it wasn't correct how it read when I thought about it! I read they had a water sample from Mar2019 somewhere but it wasn't probably being accepted. edit: found it theconversation.com/was-cor...

Pixix profile image
Pixix

Just a quick one. I read something, and I’m pretty sure it was on gov.uk web site. It said that if shielding has to be re-introduced it may not be quite the same group of people as before. I guess this is because they have more data now on how certain groups of people with underlying conditions ’reacted’ when the got Covid. Obviously, they didn’t say, at this stage, which groups would change, be added, deleted, but perhaps your letter is an indication of that change. Just a thought. But it really is up to each individual, personally I follow what my doctor and I discuss (usually for half an hour) each month on the phone. If I had queries I would phone him. He knows my case, my history etc. I decided not to see a rheumatologist at hospital...I am shielded each winter as I turn a common cold into six weeks of near pneumonia, & visiting hospitals in winter is too risky for me! I read that some of have good consultants, some poor, but they may be better sources of advice than a government letter or edict. Thought for today...struggling to reduce from 10mg to 9mg this month, must go now! Oh, & good luck, Texas (I think Florida May be next?!) take care y’all! S x

Uisce58 profile image
Uisce58

Hi I also got a letter this week from my consultant/PHS saying once I reduce to 10mg of Pred I no longer need to shield, but should adhere to social distancing, hand washing etc.. I was very pleased initially to read the revised advice as my shock diagnosis in April this year resulted in my simultaneous shielding status. I did not have any history of illness before now. However the letter went on to highlight my ongoing vulnerability to the virus-feeling a bit scared ........

Brantuk profile image
Brantuk

So far we've only just had one week, since the middle of March, where the "daily number of new infections" has dropped below 1000. That means there are still nearly 28,000 people per month getting infected! There has been little meaningful change to the statistics that would ever persuade me to go back out into society without a full hazmat suit and independent breathing apparatus. The sole purpose of easing lockdown has been money, "to get the economy going", and as soon as the newly infected start mixing with everyone else there will be fresh spikes everywhere. This is the government playing chicken on the motorway with our lives. Your letter, like mine, easing lockdown, has no basis in science and is estimated purely on the statistical reduction of deaths. I live about 1/2 mile out of the Leicster lockdown area and I won't be going out again untill the monthly total of new infections (nationally) drops well below 1000. I advise you stay safe and do the same. :)

YuliK profile image
YuliK in reply toBrantuk

Good morning Brantuk. Not going out is a very wise move for you at the moment. .

The fact that you have Covid19 on your doorstep, you really have to be extra careful.

Keep safe.

YuliK 😷

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toBrantuk

The whole concept that being at 1000 daily new cases is an acceptable level to relax lockdown is crackers. And then they do it all at once. Here it has been tiny steps, waiting to see if the rates went up each time - they didn't so they moved again. But now we have tourists - and you see the risks from that already: 2 women crossed the Alps on foot from Bavaria to here. On returning home one was unwell and tested positive. One of the B&Bs they stayed in on the way over through Austria now has 5 cases. Austria was almost down to single figures new cases, loosened the regs and now are back to over 100 per day.

pmrkitty profile image
pmrkitty in reply toBrantuk

Stay safe!

Dontwannabesick profile image
Dontwannabesick

I believe that the lifting of lockdown in stages is not done to keep anyone safe(although it may for a while). I think the reality is that the powers that be are trying to control the numbers who get infected at any one time. This way they can ensure the NHS can cope. If I remember this was mentioned as part of the plan in the early days.

Jan_Noack profile image
Jan_Noack in reply toDontwannabesick

yep, it relies on a vaccine being developed with a few years..or else it just drags out the deaths though it may allow to develop partial immunity or full immunity?

This "flattering the curve" does makes everyone feel better in that they are doing something, without becoming too unpopular, at least in the short term and that is all they think of.

! Cracking down hard and fast and quarantining areas I thought since January was the way to go..to eliminate not "flatten the curve"..which just draws it out as you say.

I guess "flattenining the curve" does allow some to be saved with the hospitals not overloaded than otherwise would and build immunity..but it probably has after effects, like PMR maybe! (will we see a surge?) or lung or brain, heart, or kidney damage or...

So even with survival so if they are thinking mainly of the economy that is a dumb move (without considering all those who spend the rest of their lives wishing they could fully recover).

Fifelassieo profile image
Fifelassieo

Where do you live about, l am in Scotland, it would be nice to think l could get out and about soon.

NanJean profile image
NanJean

"Mutated COVID-19 Viral Strain in U.S. and Europe 10 Times More Contagious than Original Strain" biospace.com/article/mutate...

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toNanJean

However - NOT more deadly. Which is something.

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