A post-diagnosis reflection....

[Bohus]

Hi everyone out there! And thank you for sharing all this info. It's been a life saver for me in my first two months post-diagnosis. My reaction to my diagnosis has been nothing like I would have expected. I am feeling a sense of relief and acceptance. I have been feeling crappy since I was 31, now being 42 I feel like I know what's wrong and that it's not just a matter of working to much or being a hypocondriac. Maybe it was my ET all along.....

[Wyebird]

I felt exactly the same as you. Unfortunately for you. you started suffering at a young age. I was 60.

I do hope you continue to be positive and I wish you well

[JackLina]

Hi Bohus. I'm sure I'm not alone in finding what you say rather familiar. I have had these symptoms for many years and possibly from the early 90s before I was diagnosed in January last year. Relief? Yes! Fear? Yes! Feeling better with the world? I am now but it takes a long time to adjust.

I hope all goes well with you and you continue to be so positive. ATB Penelope

[lebowski42]

So how about we start insisting that polythecemia Vera does cause pain. It is never listed in the symptoms but we all know it causes chronic pain.

[Bohus]

And I guess it's down to my personality but the hardest thing to me is talking about my diagnosis. I feel like I've let my wife and kids down sort of. I am supposed to be their support and I want to be strong and healthy and I never want them to worry about me. And all of a sudden I am not that person, I am vulnerable and sometimes sad. So I have a lot of mixed emotions...