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Sorry for yet another Covid19 thread but I'm getting rather confused about what to do.
I work as a cleaner at a school that will now be closed and was intending to carry on working. However, I had a heart attack last October and over the last month have been experiencing chest pain & shortness of breath (with a tightening of the throat and jaw pain - classic cardiac), at seemingly random times, (angina has been suggested, GTN spray helps and it's currently under investigation, although I assume this is likely to be delayed due to the virus).
There seem to be a variety of advice resources (NHS, Gov.uk, Public England) that don't always concur full. My heart attack/heart failure clearly puts me in the vulnerable category, I was also offered a flu jab (which ticks another box) & the BHF list angina/GTN spray use as also placing you in the vulnerable category.
The problem is I'm not sure what the 'definitive' advice is. The mighty Boris advised 12 weeks of self isolation but [url= https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults ]Public Health England[/url] seems only to suggest vigorous social distancing (working alone in a practically empty school seems okay here). The NHS on the other hand state:-
If you're at high risk
The NHS will contact you from Monday 23 March 2020 if you are at particularly high risk of getting seriously ill with coronavirus. You'll be given specific advice about what to do.[u]Do not contact your GP or healthcare team at this stage – wait to be contacted.[/u]
although I'd imagine it'll take an age to get around to everyone and this might only apply to ultra-high risk patients (organ transplant, chemo. etc.).
I've know idea whether I'd get any wages or sick pay if I decide to stay off work (no sick note and, currently, no specific advice from a healthcare professional) & 12 weeks without pay wouldn't be good.
My Wife is very afraid and pushing me to stay off work; my elderly and vulnerable parents have gone into self-isolation and I'm getting regular calls from my Mum also advising that I stay away (other family member has mentioned this too). I'm not someone who likes to let work down but equally I have responsibilities to my Wife and people my age (52) with underlying health conditions have died. I do feel somewhat vulnerable.
Any thoughts?
Isolate as much as you can I think. I would not go for full on lock down as you are not ( unless you have symptoms) likely to spread to others but you are at risk if you get it. so what you need to be doing is reduce your chances of catching it. Time to stay home.
Ask your GP for advice?
Are you on the payroll at the school? I guess you could ask them but they may also be waiting for formal govt advice. School may not be quite as empty as you think
This is guidance our organisation was/is working to although I do know some of it has now changed.
The following groups are those that are deemed as being at increased risk from coronavirus (covid-19) and who will need to be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures:-
Aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)
Under 70 with an underlying health condition below (ie anyone instructed to get a flu job as an adult on medical grounds)
Chronic (long term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic constructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
Chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic liver disease such as hepatitis
Chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) a learning disability or cerebral palsy
Diabetes
Problems with your spleen – eg sickle cell disease of if you have had your spleen removed
A weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS or medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
Being seriously overweight (a body mass index index of 40 or above)
Those who are pregnant
PJay, doesn't your wife have a high temperature and continuous coughing today. I'm pretty sure she does. Given that you are obliged to take 14 days off.
Coincidentally, you'll probably have the answer to your question during that time.
I've no symptoms fortunately.
I am on the payroll at work and I had thought about contacting them.
School may not be quite as empty as you think
True, it's a boarding school so there may well be a lot of foreign pupils unable to return home in addition to the children of key workers.
@outofbreath, I hadn't thought about that, she's still working too which makes it difficult to fully isolate anyway.
I'd like to ask the GP for advice but the NHS website is clear not too (although our local surgery's web site doesn't).
I was feeling fairly resilient following the heart attack (no real issues and even starting to cycle again) but the sudden, recent onset of angina/cardiac symptoms has knocked me back.
Phone the Gp surgery and ask for a non urgent call back - maybe wait until monday
You’re vulnerable so need to be in social isolation I’d call work with your concerns, ring 111 one for advice.
As well as gp / NHS, the BHF will be able to help. Heart helpline will be open on Monday
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/support/heart-helpline
You don't need to self isolate but you are in the adults who get the flu vaccine group who should social distance as much as possible. Discuss with your employer - you won't be the only person who work for them presenting this problem, every diabetic, asthmatic, etc is in this boat - don't assume they know about your condition. All sensible employers are asking "how can we help this person minimise their risk". I've spent much of this week helping people have rational discussions about this. Its surprising how flexible other people will be if you just discuss it. The announcement on Friday that the government will cover 80% of salary costs for those unable to work suddenly makes for an easier discussion if the conclusion is, that person cannot work safely on-site and cannot work at home. You don't need to talk to your GP or 111 - let them deal with sick people.
Jason Leitch has a simple picture here - its Scottish but same rules as rest of UK: https://twitter.com/jasonleitch/status/1241041321567162369/photo/1
(If you are actually in the V.High Risk Group you should know by Monday)
I'm none the wiser if I'm honest. Most of the time I feel reasonably well but I'm starting to get more frequent and, seemingly, random attacks of chest tightness/pain (often at rest) which are starting to spook me (angina has been mentioned but not officially diagnosed). I've been prescribed Isotard but I've not noticed any benefits yet.
I had a Dobutamine stress echo just over a week ago which showed nothing untoward (beyond the expected damage from the heart attack) and possibly even a slight improvement over the echocardiogram I had the day after the heart attack.
I'll certainly talk to work on Monday but I'm not sure whether a call to the GP will be considered 'appropriate' (they're probably going to be swamped).
Listening to the news today. I think it's the immuno suppressed that are at the top top priority and really need to shut themselves off more than anything else. For other at risk groups it's a case of taking social distancing very seriously. Ie get deliveries in and wfh if possible. I'd imagine if your work means you are in contact with alot of people it then makes social distancing very difficult. In that case I'd be thinking about time off work myself.
I think you really need to consider the amount of people you'll be in contact with through your normal day and just think right how to I properly social distance here and if you run into bottle necks, you'll need to take more extreme action like time off work.
I'd think someone like yourself. It would be perfectly reasonable to be asking for a conversation with your doc.