Polythemia vera

[Tracey123]

Hello, I'm 48 and recently been diagnosed with PV. I've been taking low dose aspirin and 1000mg of hydroxycarbamide daily. The side effects from the medication is dreadful such as headaches, nausea etc.. does anyone have any suggestions what to eat when taking meds to ease the feeling of nausea. Thank you 😊

[bruddery]

I always found that to keep well hydrated actually helped, so I went from someone who hated drinking water to at least two litres a day. I always have my hydroxy with my breakfast - usually porridge I also remember that if I had a venesection it seemed to relieve the pressures. But that's up to your medics. Hope you get through the initial gritty stages. Good luck. Bruddery.

[Tracey123]

I have been drinking water- but I need to drink more I think. I will try taking the meds with my breakfast and see if this will help. I'm due to have another venesection next week and hopefully this will ease the headaches! The PV symptoms are driving me mad.. but hopefully this will improve. Thank you for responding... I don't feel so alone now dealing with this awful disorder 😊

[Karen1970]

Hello.

Drinking plenty helped my symptoms. I take my meds at night so don't have any nausea feelings and then I'm not so tired during the day. I do suffer headaches but the are a lot better once venesected.

[Tracey123]

Thanks Karen I will take this advice on board.. I do need to drink more water. I hope the meds will work and the symptoms improve as my current levels are over a million. If you don't mind me asking when were you diagnosed with PV .. Thank you

[lizzziep]

I've been on HU for ET for over 2 years. I did have quite a few side effects at first, but gradually they faded. I still get tired by the end of the day, however as I am retired it doesn't affect work! I am trying to drink more fluids. I take the HU at night after my evening meal, on recommendation from the consultant, and aspirin in the morning. I also take Lansparzole (spelling??) first thing in a morning to combat stomach acid/indigestion etc. I often get heartburn by the end of the day though.

Best Wishes

Lizzie

[Tracey123]

I only started the medication on the 8th January so I know it's early days.. It's a bit trial an error at the moment. I too take aspirin in the morning and get the dreaded heartburn! I'm currently not in work.. Symptoms have been dreadful so not able to do my job at the moment- which makes me sad as I just want to get my life back to some sort of normality. Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post it's very much appreciated.

Warm wishes

Tracey 😊

[mickey64 in reply to Tracey123]

Try eating yogurt, someone told me it helps with chemo burn in the stomach. I eat half of it, then take my pill, then eat the other half. Seems to help a great deal especially with the indigestion and I take my pills in the evening. Some take morning and don't get any side effects. Just depends.

Mickey

[Headinthesand]

My husband takes his aspirin after breakfast and his hydroxy after his evening meal. He says if he takes it without food it makes him feel sick. We were told by doc to take it in the evening as side effects are then absorbed by sleeptime