A related discussion, what is et, medicines was started.

I have a high platelet count and after 2 bone marrow test it came back with ET,  essential thrombocythemia, I am now on hydroxyurea, its not so bad, my belly likes to flip and i do do alot of burpping, and sleeply but over all not bad, after starting it my platelets went up the first week then two weeks later they went down alittle will find out next week what will happen again. they adjust it as needed, and I just play the game and smile,I do have other issue  like fibromyalgia, positive ANA and RNP, and I do have a growth on my kidney and behind my knee and I did have one on one of my tubes which was removed ( at that point my girly parts were removed at the same time because they found bleeding that was unexplained). Hydro might have the risk of leukemia but because it so low, its better then being a higher risk of a stroke and or heart attack in my eyes. I am losing some of my eyebrows, my hair is dull looking, and has change in texture, and if I loss it oh well, it will come back. I wish you all the luck and just keep smiling,

Hello,

Thrombocytosis is the presence of high platelet counts in the blood. High platelet levels do not necessarily signal any clinical problems and do not show much symptoms.It can occur in myloproliferative disorders, inflammation ,surgery (which leads to an inflammatory state),hyposplenism (decreased breakdown due to decreased function of the spleen) and hemorrhage and/or iron deficiency.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrombocytosis

Treatment is by aspirin,hydroxyurea and anagrelide (Agrylin). However, recent studies show that anegrilide is not significantly more effective than traditionally used hydroxyurea.

Side effects of hydroxyurea are drowsiness, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, constipation, mucositis, anorexia, bone marrow toxicity, alopecia (hair loss), skin changes, abnormal liver enzymes, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen.Although hydroxyurea itself carries a leukemia risk, but large studies have shown that the risk is either absent or very small.
Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing

I have essential thrombocytosis it was discovered by chance about ten years ago and I had over a million platelets - at first they treated me with HYDREA for about 8 years and then two years ago put me onto XAGRID (ANGAGRELIDE) when I asked why the doctor said that prolonged treatment with HYDREA can cause LEUCEMIA - eyebrows raised I asked him why on earth he had given it to me in the first place - did he think I wasnt going to live that long! - in typical doctor fashion he danced around the answer - the XAGRID is keeping my platelet count down if I take it correctly - but has caused several side effects - water retention and weight gain - somewhat alleviated by taking half a diuretic pill . it has also given me bleeding gums so that every time i clean my teeth it looks as if i have had a session with dracula - the doc. took me off the baby aspirin when i told him but after clearing up for a while the bleeding has restarted - what can I tell you - take life as it comes - dont smoke ( I gave up two or three years ago and feel a million times better) do a little excercise and dont worry too much - carpe diem