My name is Annette and I am 62 year old. Fourteen years ago I was feeling ever so tired so my GP decided to have blood tests done for this and the results kept coming back with a rather high platelet count. ‘Don’t worry’ he said. But three tests later I was diagnosed with a…
ET was discovered when I went for a routine blood test and a cholesterol check. The results showed that I had high blood platelets. I didn’t really know what blood platelets were and found out more information at a follow up appointment with my doctor who had referred me to see a haematologist. At that…
Hi, I’m Chris, 58 years old reasonably fit as I like to run and kayak, and the am the fittest of my friends and family in my generation. In April 2010 I was on post Christmas diet and was feeling how slim I was when I noticed a lump below my rib cage that didn‘t…
October 2013 I was the fittest I had ever been, 10K’s under my belt along with a half marathon and the GreatSouth Run. I felt a little poorly the morning of my last run however I put it down to nerves. I started the race well, set out fast pushing myself harder than I had…
I was diagnosed with polycythaemia ruba vera and essential thrombocythaemia five years ago. This was due to a blood test for something totally different and a complete fluke. A number of friends said I had looked very red and not well and I also had some health issues which I didn’t associate with the condition.…
Diagnosed in 2009 at the age of 35, Louise, now 40 shares: I will never forget the day that finally a GP had said the word “polycythaemia” and I asked him to write down, went back to work and googled it. For years I had been battling with migraines amongst other symptoms yet no one,…
Hello my name is Gloria After a routine blood test in February 2010 I was diagnosed with essential thrombocythaemia. I was 68 Years old. My platelet count was 700 and I had a bone marrow aspiration to confirm the diagnosis. I was shocked to say the least as I thought of myself as very healthy.…
Steve was diagnosed at 42 and shares: I’m now 46 years old and was diagnosed with polycythaemia rubra vera (prv) just over 4 years ago. People used to say to me you have a nice tanned complexion. 4 years on I now know it wasn’t a tan but it was my red blood count which…
Uncertain about the future Will, a 62 year old self-employed architect lives in Somerset. I was diagnosed with PV in 2010 when a swelling came up on my arm which was recognised by my GP as a haematoma or internal bleeding. A blood test showed that my haematocrit level was 50% higher than it should…
I am 40 with two small children. I was diagnosed in autumn 2013 after a portal vein thrombosis, which in itself was scary. After referral to a haematologist and a bone marrow biopsy, I was told that I had essential thrombocythaemia and was JAK 2 positive. At the time, it was TRULY AWFUL!. Your mortality…