The HU should help to bring down the high platelet level to a more normal level. Your hematologist will moniter your blood work carefully to see if it’s working for you. The reason I asked about infections is that can sometimes cause a temporary elevation of platelets. When you mentioned your numbers were found on a routine blood test, my concern is that your primary care physican was prescribing the HU. Having a hematologist on board is important. ☺️

We have quite a few members who take HU and have for years. Most people seem to tolerate it very well with many side effects. Here’s a link to a current discussion with other ET members and their experiences. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/jac2mutation/?commentsorder=newest&pg=1#chv4-comment-stream-header

It can be helpful to find the underlying cause of the elevation though. ET (essential thrombocythemia) is one of a group of blood disorders (myeloprolific neoplasms) that can be caused by an acquired mutation to a gene which controls production of blood cells, such as JAK2. Did you have any genetic testing done?