As the UK moves out of lockdown, shielding will come to an end in the next few weeks. I often talk about other people’s health experiences as part of my job, but never talk about my own. Let’s change that. THREAD about #shielding and #shielders. /1

I am immunosuppressed because of ongoing health treatment and the last time I left my house was in March and it was icy outside. It’s been a while. People I’ve spoken to have been surprised at the intensity of the shielding guidelines, so allow me to share some. /2

Beyond staying at home, it advised eating & washing separately from other household members and using separate cutlery, crockery, and hand towels. This stretches to using different bathrooms, bedrooms & living areas if possible (a luxury few people have) /3

Volunteers delivered my prescriptions, I ran the gauntlet of online shopping slots and made heavy use of a bike turbo trainer (I am a regular cycle commuter and gym-goer who worried about deconditioning and becoming less able to fend off COVID19). /4

I’m very fortunate to have been spared some of the more extreme steps like staying 2m away from people inside your household as my spouse has made sacrifices to protect me and has been very well supported to work from home. Without that, I was in for a very isolated 4 months. /5

I’m also lucky to have an amazing line manager and a job that I can do from home. Others in my situation have still needed to work in person and in potentially high risk jobs. I see my privilege and I worry for those who have different circumstances. /6

But people are out and about now, visiting and going to pubs and parties and all sorts of things that I’m weeks or months away from yet. By the time shielding fully ends, this will have become routine for everyone else while we are taking our first steps into this new world. /7

I am surprised by the meta-anxiety I am feeling – already feeling anxious about whether I’ll be anxious when out and about. On the other side of the coin, I am desperate to make my world a little bit bigger and be able to walk or cycle outside regularly. /8

My major messages are be patient, wear a mask and maintain social distancing. You should for everyone, but some of the people you interact with will be people like me. We might not always be immediately obvious as shielders, but the lives you save could well be ours. /thread