You’re in the right place. There is a lot of good information here. Many of us are living normal lives while taking our daily Hydrea dose with little or no side effects. I turned 70 this year and I’m still quite active. Fatigue is the biggest problem, but is that because I’m 70? It doesn’t stop me from playing ice hockey 3 times a week and finishing the inside of a cabin.
Work with your doctor, follow your numbers and be your best advocate! You got this.

Hello to you, with hugs.

"Afraid and mad" is where this weird, weird diagnosis leaves us.

Who even knew you could have too many platelets?

It's really scary. And unfortunately no one you know, probably not even your doctor, can help much.

Certainly there's suspicion that covid shots may be a factor.

But ET was identified more than 100 years ago. And people had it long before it was identified. There were no covid shots back then.

Sadly, no one yet knows what causes ET.

But others on this forum have lived with it for decades! It is NOT a death sentence.

It's also not a walk in the park. That's why taking HU (hydroxyurea) is important. For most of us, HU brings our platelet levels down.

This restores our energy and (some of the time!) relieves the terrible headaches ET can give us.

What will be your initial dosage? I hope you'll be started off with a low dose, then get careful monitoring (with blood draws) to see how HU is helping you.

Most of us like to take HU with food. We also find that drinking lots of water is good.

You have a million question, and this is where you'll find answers.

You're among friends, and we're all ET aliens together.

Wishing you all the best your story is quite similar to mine. When my doctor asked me what I did different in 2021 when my blood started going wonky the only thing I could think of was the Covid shot. I am on the hydroxyurea and so far not too many side effects. I cannot deal with however it is a chemo, and I hate the thought of having to take it for a long time. Best wishes.

Life is still good! 72 yo female, diagnosed about 2 years ago now. Platelets run mid-high 600’s on one baby aspirin every morning. Reached over 700 once, my doc talked about HU, but then we decided to wait as long as I exercised at least a couple times a week. Each of us is a little different, so work with your doc.

We still travel a lot, Europe almost every year. Took 3 weeks in Italy and Slovenia this year. My Heme doc says 2 aspirin/ day when we fly. Works for me 😊

Btw: I still work PT, and take it easy when I’m tired. Mostly my life has not changed. Read others posts and you’ll find yourself in good company. Blessings on all your days ahead.

I thought so too at first, but my platelets have been climbing before 2021. It's genetic, or age. I popped my first pill today, with shaky hand. Believe me, this is hard to process.

Hello- Being afraid and mad is ok. I went down the same path about 6 years ago. My Hemotologist was exceptional and I refused drugs until the Covid virus vaccine kicked my platelet count to 1600. The doctor put me on Hydroxy 500 mg and the count came down to 600 and has been stable as long as I take the pills. We travel widely and I work part time Jan to April. I hope my experience helps assuage your concerns. We feel blessed to have an active life at 77 for me and 75 for my lovely wife of 51 years. Please private message me if I can help.
Merry Christmas,
Dave L