I have read so many posts and heard from so many people who are bored during lockdown complaining they are only able to go out for an hour each day. Well stop complaining, buck up and spare a thought for those of us with rare or chronic conditions.
Firstly most of us have received letters telling us we are either vulnerable or extremely vulnerable to getting a serious illness/dying from getting Covid 19. These are the underlying health conditions that you hear mentioned in so many news programmes. So we have been told to “shield”. This is of course each persons own decision but we are not meant to leave the house at all, not collect prescriptions or go to the shop for food so we rely on friends/family and online deliveries.
No going outside for an hour, no going on walks in the countryside, confined to the house and garden 24/7 except for when we have to make a necessary trip to the hospital.
Secondly the biggest side effect for many rare/chronic conditions is fatigue so even when the world is not on lockdown we are in our own way. We often don’t have the energy to leave the house. Personally I have been known to work out how long I can make my drugs last without having to go to the pharmacy as I’ve been too tired to go there, or to work out what else I can cook with so I don’t need to go to the supermarket to replenish stock (always have pasta and bacon available).
I am in a lot of ataxia facebook groups where a lot of affected people have joked that lockdown has had no effect on them as they were already locked down. Everyone underestimates the effort it takes for those with neurodegenerative and other chronic conditions to leave the house.
I am of course grateful to so many people who have helped me so far including my neighbours, friends, family (especially my sister and brother in law) however making jokes about how we are having to ask for their help are really not appreciated especially for those of us who find it difficult asking for help and have really had to change during this time.
Tonight the prime minister speaks again but for those of us shielding it makes no difference how much lockdown changes for others as we are still to stay indoors.
How Rare? 