On medication, but no letter received....

CitizenErased

Hi all,

Just wondering how many people might be in the same boat as me in that you're on medication for your arthritis but not received any instruction or guidance to shield? I have fairly severe PsA and have been on Cimzia since February (which has been my miracle drug in truth) but when I spoke to my rheumy a while ago, she said i was at "moderate" risk and that I could basically decide for myself what I felt comfortable with doing.

Yet a girl I know is on the same drug and has been told to shield.

A lot of the discussion on here is about shielding but just wondering if any others are like me and thus, how you might be choosing to live your life!

Mike1

It could well be that the person you know on the same drug has another condition requiring her to shield, check out the following which has a link to advise on who should be shielding - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Irrespective of the Government advice many of us are self-shielding anyway as we do not trust the advice or simply do not want to get the virus.

frogmorton

Totally with Mike1

Many of us haven't had letters (and I personally know of at least one who has no idea why she is 'on the list' she has no health conditions, but was in hospital in January due to Osteoarthritis).

I also have one friend who is supposed to be shielding who goes out masked and gloved-up.

So I think if people have had the letter you should behave, but if they haven't they should still only do what they are comfortable with.

Personally I have stayed in except for 'walks' and more recently drives out with my husband.

dreamdaisy

I take two immuno-suppressants for PsA and inhalers for asthma. I began shielding on March 05 when the advice was to do so if you received a free flu jab, a simple decision as I am retired. Letters arrived in April but I will continue to shield until there is a vaccine. I am not worried about catching the virus but to do so almost deliberately by blithely going out and about as normal seems to me irresponsible and selfish. As usual some are at the mercy of the docs individual opinions but to me it was and remains a no-brainer. My main concern is the asymptomatic, if we were to socialise (even with restrictions) and I was to peg it thanks to an asymptomatic friend what a pointless way to go, what a waste of valuable NHS resources as I peter out. Nah, can't be done.

Mind you I might feel differently come November. Shielding in winter will be a very different kettle of rotting fish. DD

=I am on two immuno-suppressants and also inhalers for asthma. I have been shielding since March 5th when the guideline was if you received a free flu jab then you should, have received letters since, and will carry on shielding until there is a vaccine. I'm not bothered about catching it but to do so almost deliberately by behaving irresponsibly is both inexcusable and selfish. The asymptomatic are a concern, if we were to see friends and I peg it thanks to one of them . . . Mind you, I am at the right end of life what with being mortgage-free and retired, albeit diseased-ridden.

CitizenErased

Thanks all.

I do think I've become a bit complacent maybe - I play golf with two other lads albeit, one of them has definitely had it (front line worker who has anti-body test) and the other is convinced he had as he was badly ill with it at the end of March with all the typical symptoms. We still maintain our distance at least but I am comfortable that the risk is massively reduced.

Added layer of complexity as my wife and I move to Dublin in August - still, Ireland has dealt with it better than the UK it would seem.

I think I need to cop on to myself a bit - there's a surprise party being organised at the end of July for a friend that a few (not huge amounts) are attending that maybe I should miss! That being said, the wife and I are heading for a couple of nights away in a couple of weeks as well - need to escape the house from time to time.

I think there's likely a lot of asymptomatic people about as you say DD - my friend who was tested works in Chester hospital. 22 were tested on his ward - 18 staff came back positive for anti-bodies, a third of which were shocked as they hadn't had any symptoms.

CitizenErased

Thanks all.

I do think I've become a bit complacent maybe - I play golf with two other lads albeit, one of them has definitely had it (front line worker who has anti-body test) and the other is convinced he had as he was badly ill with it at the end of March with all the typical symptoms. We still maintain our distance at least but I am comfortable that the risk is massively reduced.

Added layer of complexity as my wife and I move to Dublin in August - still, Ireland has dealt with it better than the UK it would seem.

I think I need to cop on to myself a bit - there's a surprise party being organised at the end of July for a friend that a few (not huge amounts) are attending that maybe I should miss! That being said, the wife and I are heading for a couple of nights away in a couple of weeks as well - need to escape the house from time to time.

I think there's likely a lot of asymptomatic people about as you say DD - my friend who was tested works in Chester hospital. 22 were tested on his ward - 18 staff came back positive for anti-bodies, a third of which were shocked as they hadn't had any symptoms.