Venesection

[Kelly2]

Hi after my last test which showed platelets 273 but haematocrit 48,9 and RBC 7,03 (2pills daily) my haem. ordered that I stop Hydro and have a venesection! I started in October. Isn't that too soon to see results?? First time venesection and my iron is 32 (40-140). Not so sure what made him do that as I previously reached even 51 haematocrit. Anybody else with stubborn haematocrit?

[jeffc4365]

Kelly

My Hematocrit also runs high, usually between 45 and 48. I have blood work done every 2 weeks if it is over 45 I have phlebotomy/venesection. I have been taking the Hydrea for 2 months now. Im only taking 1 500mg pill per day. Im just waiting for my Dr to up it to twice a day. My platelets were at 260 last week

[Kelly2 in reply to jeffc4365]

We are about the same. But do you stop Hydrea to have the venesection?

[jeffc4365 in reply to Kelly2]

No I dont.

[Kelly2 in reply to jeffc4365]

I don't know what caused that decision because my doctors did not prescribe phlebotomy up to now as I have low iron. I have sent him photos of my ears that have taken a dark colour recently and told him that I am worried and I don't want to take more than two pills should he want to augment the dose. I took antibiotics recently for my cough and still taking Lonarid N for this as the antibiotics did no good. I don't know the cause for the dark colour. Maybe this alerted him? On Monday I will ask again

[Kelly2 in reply to jeffc4365]

Hi again. Is your doctor hoping to drop your haematocrit by prescribing 2 pills per day?

[ChattyPanda]

Hard to know without asking your doctor for his/her reasons... but I suspect bc your platelets are low? And about the hematocrit, both of my hematologist/oncologist say research shows that with PV, having a hematocrit over 42 for women and 45 for men increases risk of clots. So, my hematocrit was 43.4 last week and I had a phlebotomy, but it’s been 3.5 months since I’ve needed one... I think the HU I started in Oct. is slowing the blood cell production. My platelets range around 600-900. They aren’t so concerned about those numbers as they are my hematocrit. They WANT me to stay borderline anemic... but that borderline thing can be precarious... so take care of yourself and continue to ask your doctor questions and to check any thing or part of your body that concerns you.

[Kelly2 in reply to ChattyPanda]

Thank you. I would be happy to have 43,4 haematocrit and I would do nothing about it. I started Hydro with 680 platelets and in 20 days I dropped them to 280. So I responded well to the pill. The other counts seem immovable!