My wife has today received her letter from NHS ENGLAND as on of the high risk category people. Also ben told to stay in for 12 weeks by haematology team.
I understand shielding to the best as I understand it, but does this mean that I am also in a position that I cannot go out and get essential shopping needs,bread, milk, medicines etc. I also have a high risk 87 year old mother who lives very close by and alone, I have been to her with essential supplies but I am not sure I should be doing this. I even called NHS 111 and they did not know the answer to my query and there is absolutely nothing relating to this on the website. 111 advised to stay in but there is no clarity. Dont get me wrong, the last thing I want is to compromise my wifes risk, but if I take extreme care with social separation and wear gloves whilst shopping, which will only be very very rare, is this still wrong???
Hi again Jackie......"not enough information available to give conclusive advise on how a post SCT patient will react if they get the virus" I was told.
She also said ”……. like any virus you are at risk but this one we don’t know how your new immune system will react - at the moment it is working hard keeping you rather well, you are in remission so is your new immune system keeping any sleeping cancer cells under control - let’s be safe and not sorry”
Fulhamboy, it's a very difficult line to walk with having to get the basics in and an elderly parent to look out for. I am forgetting who I say what to but I had a call from my GP last night to make sure I was "behaving myself?"
"what do you mean behaving myself?" I asked.
She said "....... based on my years of treatments, being 4 1/2 years out from my second SCT, having Asbestosis and have had various chest infections over the last 3 winters but basically clear this winter you are in High Risk Group and follow all the Government Advice but she felt that I fell short of complete 'Shielding' in the house as there is only my wife - but she has to be very carful when she is out and about....."
I asked about letters and texts (Scotland). Her reply was simple..... "we are working through our patient records and phoning people direct and when we can - we will follow up with letters and or texts"
We have managed to get a few Click and Collect slots and our daughter and friends are happy to pick stuff up and drop it in at the door. We are going in to the first for a good hour for fresh air and anyone we see are observing the 2 m rule very very well.
I know my GP very very well and she trusts me to do the right things...... or should I say - not to do the wrong things 
In reality I am over 4 1/2 years post SCT and my immune system has been in training over the past number of winters so we agreed that on the balance of probability as long as I ere on being as safe as possible and not taking any unnecessary risks it would be good to get some exercise and the fresh air would do us good and as there are a lot of hills in our forest it will exercise my lungs as this is my weak point.
Having survived a total of 18-20 months doing this exact things we are now being asked to do I have come to understand what to do and the limitations.
Even although my wife is out on a few occasions her contact with people is more or less none...... until we are completely locked down I am at ease with what we are doing.
Stay safe my friend.
