Hi everyone, I been told to stay home and shield until end of June because of CLL and other health problems, but never once had I received any advice what I have to do after end of June
Just been home for three months and I am so anxious when all this comes to an end how will I be when I go out to mix with others
Does any one have these feelings as well as me or am I going paranoid thinking about it all the time . Just like to get your views on this matter thank you
We are very directly affected by the confusion over the rules for the next stage. Since lockdown I have ventured out for a daily walk in fairly quiet streets and footpaths and almost all of the few I see have kept a very safe distance. Only exceptions are cyclists who think nothing of racing up behind, giving little chance to step aside.
I have already noticed more people out in groups taking less precautions and being fairly casual. For them this may not be a problem but for those of us in the vulnerable, shielding group it may mean we can't go out at all.
People want to be reasonable and keep safe, but the lack of clear rules are going to make our lives more difficult and I predict many more deaths among the shielding group.
When I asked what the basis of the government guide lines for shielding came from in a post a while ago, I wasn't so much needing an explanation about CLL but whether covid is much more contagious than generally implied?
When I had a conversation with a friend about this subject she suggested that maybe why the shielded are to stay in doors and not go out in public is that you can not guarantee that members of the public will stay 2 meters away, which sadly over the last couple of weeks seems to be shown to be true.
I think a lot of us are concerned about this. UK government have not been forthcoming on any of it. Scottish government are saying they will provide information in the next couple of weeks. Both admit that COVID-19 is highly infectious.
Research by various of our members bears this out but is not in a position to say what will come next for us . . .
I think quite a few of us feel as you do and this has been recognised as one of the consequences of COVID and the changes to our daily lives.
There are some resources to help with anxiety specific to the COVID pandemic and here are a few websites that may help you to get back to normal, as and when we can.
nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-ma...
mind.org.uk/information-sup...
mentalhealth.org.uk/coronav...
centreformentalhealth.org.u...
I hope these help you, all the best
Jackie
What appears to be happening now, based on a BBC News article, is that some vulnerables are getting letters telling them they are no longer in the category and will no longer get the free food parcels. Some others are apparently being told to shield for longer. Those being taken off are because their medication is no longer classed as being a risk. So, what happens to W&Wers? We wait to see, but I'll tell you what I'm doing - carrying on as I have been. I go out, but only on my bike and only on the roads to avoid crowded cycle paths. I don't go to any shop, or on a bus or a train.
Like other replies, I don't trust the public and I think that behaviour is only going to get worse now, as the indication has been given that the brakes are coming off - although the scientists aren't so keen.
On a more lighthearted note, there's another BBC News article titled "A guide to how to socialise now". It's very tongue in cheek, but it does indicate how ludicrous the new government "rules" are - unworkable.
I plan on continueing to be careful. Wearing a mask is acceptable now so shouldn't be a big deal. I have been careful prior to Covid although didn't wear a mask.
In USA I'll continue to wear a mask and gloves and avoid crowds and distance as much as possible if I go to a store. One new thing I'll watch for is the possibility of a rare few extremists who boast they'd go out of their way to ridicule people who wear masks (I'm reading comments online of some people who won't wear masks and decided they'd take pleasure in insulting a mask wearer and refuse to distance). I wore masks and gloves before the covid-19 and I'll continue long after.
I was told that with my condition CLL plus COPD... if I get Cootie-19 I am pretty much toast. So yeah.. with CLL I would say darn tootin… be careful. That does not mean you have to live like a hermit.. just have some common sense.
For UK readers, the end of June date just means"for the time being" because beyond that, nobody knows what the risks will be out there. The risks will depend on how this current stage of unlocking pans out - quiescence or resurgence of infection rates - and how far hm gov decides to go with the next stage of unlocking. The hard reality is that economic and political pressures trump scientific advice, should there be a conflict.
The reasons for our collective uncertainty are 1 this virus continues to spring surprises, 2 what other countries have experienced before us is largely ignored, 3 we are lamentably behind the curve on both testing and track & trace.
Consequently, we don't know enough about true infection rates to date or how that might change as people come into closer contact, for longer periods, and intermix more frequently with a wider social group.
If you have CLL, for goodness sake don't assume you can safely mingle from 1 July, or even 1 November. Talk to your haematologist then make your own plan (within the rules of course) for how you are going to preserve your health and sanity, look after your family and put food on the table. Don't think that hm gov is going to do that for you.
Shielding letter from NHE
GOV.CO.UK LATEST SHIELDING ADVICE
Hives after coming off ibrutinib 
Shielding finishes end of July - UK
FLAIR trial. What comes next?
