Hi @GardenerGran, I like your ‘sanity and safety’, a good way of putting it.
With your name I am glad you have got to a garden centre and started seeing family and friends taking precautions, they are priceless aren’t they.
Unfortunately research takes time which doesn’t help us now, yes, Blood Cancer UK does need funds to make sure the research can be targeted where needed.
I look forward to hearing about your garden and how therapeutic it is.
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I feel very reassured reading comments of like minded people. I haven’t had anyone including family in my house or been in a one else’s house, family included for months. I spent Christmas and Easter alone. My confidence has taken a tremendous knock and I have no desire to mix indoors. I know I have to overcome this but just don’t know how. Good luck everyone.
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I totally agree with you. I feel just the same. X
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How @Belinda a great big welcome to our forum and you are now not alone and you know others feel the same as you.
It must have been really tough spending Christmas and Easter alone and I am not surprised that your confidence has taken a tremendous knock.
Shielding has become you new, sort of safe, normal.
I have had a few GP appointments locally lately and it has helped me a bit. I think as the weather warms up outside, carefully, outside will feel more appealing, I do feel better getting some fresh air.
I think we will all regain our confidence, but it will take a long while, and we will have to use caution and baby steps.
If you would like to talk to someone you can contact the Support Services Team on 0808 2080 888 (Mondays: 10am-7pm, Tuesdays-Fridays: 10am-4pm, Saturday, Sundays and Bank Holidays: 10am-1pm) or via email at support@bloodcancer.org.uk and please keep posting I would like to hear more about you. Take care.
I totally agree. Baby steps and caution. We have to be our own advocates as we are not in the forefront of other people’s minds. Safe for one and safe for all appears to be the norm so we must do what we feel comfortable with. I’m sticking to outdoors and socially distanced even with family for now, unpleasant though that can be with the beautiful weather we have been having. I believe we will get there…just not sure when. 
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Haematologist just this morning told me to be very careful so I’m sure mixing with anyone unnecessarily would be foolish for the moment and masks with social distancing with everyone coninues …I really don’t think its a matter of confidence but medical safety …I havent seen some of my grandchildren for 18 months now sadly
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Hi. I was told that the test will only show antibodies after having had Covid and not after the vaccine.
You might have T cells which are just as important in the fight against Covid xx
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Good advice from you and your Haematologist @Annie78.
It must be so tough not seeing your grandchildren for so long.
I was forced to do a home visit yesterday, as I couldn’t get a colleague to do it. It has been the most stressful thing so far since shielding ended.
Yes, I keep as safe as I can at work (masks, 2 meter rule, washing hands) but at the back of my mind I am constantly nervous because my medical team hasn’t been helpful in terms of giving guidance or advice. I have a chronic leukaemia affecting t-cells and constantly trying to shake off any little cold or infection symptoms… but I don’t have any other option but to work, bills etc needs paying, any other social life is gone. - And yes, I completely agree with ITV news item last night that we have been forgotten as “the normal” life around us continue.
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That must have been a really hard thing to do @MoMo. Does your workplace know how much this affected you. Just wondering about risk assessments etc. I think it can sometimes be really hard for others to understand can’t it. How did you feel afterwards. Sending lots of love x
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Oh @MoMo yes, that really does sound scary and as you say you obviously need your job.
I thought that Tania said it so clearly on the ITV news item last night, really good publicity.
I hate not being in control of my external environment.
I realised that the outside world obviously only hear the government announcements whereas we are listening to the medical experts and Blood Cancer UK and that is why family, friends and work cannot understand my feelings.
As @Nichola75 says do your employers really understand your thoughts and feelings?
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I risked going to my daughters on Christmas day and very pleased I did. It was lovely seeing my 5 grandchildren opening their presents. I squirted first defense up my nose . I figured if if to works against colds it might give some protection. We always use jt when flying.
I also wore 2 masks which I kept on throughout the visit.
I came to no harm.
We can’t go on like this not seeing people. It’s not living its just existing.
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Hi @ilivesunshine. I’m so glad you had such a lovely time seeing your grandchildren, and you’re right, things have to get back to normality at some point. I’m back to work but would be
lying if I said that wasn’t causing me anxiety. Also, not to keen on the indoor thing at the moment. Think I need to acclimatise myself to socialising again, which I’m sure I will in time.
I think it’s important for each person to take it at their own pace and so what’s feels right for them 
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Thanks @Erica @Nichola75 yes it was the most scariest thing so far. It’s really difficult situation as I am in charge of my own risk assessments in my line of work. I have very understanding colleague/s but I am basically working on my own with one other full time colleague and I couldn’t sacrifice his day off when we already work 6 days a week. Perhaps the hardest thing for me is that my medical team is just not helpful at all and that causes anxiety too.
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@MoMo it’s sounds as if you are in a very difficult situation, please let us know how things go for you and take care.
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A very difficult situation that you are in - especially if you are not supported by your team. Have you discussed how you feel with your team or clinical nurse? Please take care of yourself and let us know how things are going X
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