Suzie W, 46 years old.
I was diagnosed with ET in 2012 while serving in the RAF. Although my platelets remain at around 1200, I am lucky to be classed as low risk, and I only really suffer with fatigue and itchy ‘burny’ skin.
I managed to stay healthy and keep myself from being medically discharged until January 2021, so I completed my 22 years service, and am now working for the police.
I took part in the Invictus trials in swimming and won a bronze medal in breaststroke. I also took up a new sport, powerlifting, and loved it. I joined a gym and go every week, and am also an avid horse rider. I wear a Fitbit all the time to monitor my sleep to see if my tiredness is lack of sleep or ET, and sometimes I do have to have a “go away world day” to chill and reset, but I find keeping active really helps.
On occasions I’m down because I can’t do the things I wish I could, but I do think I’m lucky in some respects and that life could have been a lot worse.
