Hi, @cmchesh. Welcome to Connect. I understand your line of thought, thinking maybe your husband’s PV diagnosis had something to do with moving to a location in lower altitude. From my understanding, higher altitudes can actually have the body calling for the production of more red blood cells. So moving to Florida and sea level conditions shouldn’t contribute to his higher red blood cell production. The timing on his diagnosis is likely coincidental.

There are two forms of PV. One is secondary PV caused by conditions that lead to increased levels of erythropoietin which stimulates red blood cell production. Conditions such as sleep apnea, living in higher altitudes, COPD or heart disease can trigger a response for higher cell production.

Primary PV is caused by an acquired mutation in one of the genes that, basically, control the ‘off’ switch. If your husband has been diagnosed with primary PV, you may see on his labs notes of a JAK2 mutation.

The hydroxyurea (HU) your husband is taking is a frontline medication to help control the over-production of the red blood cells. His doctor could have been a little more diplomatic than calling it a poison. Many of our medications are rather toxic but they can also be effective and keep us pretty healthy for a long time. There are many members in Connect who have been using HU for decades and are living full and happy lives. So try not to let the moniker of ‘poison’ bias you against the drug.

How has he been feeling? Has the HU been effective in reducing his hemoglobin and hematocrit counts?

@cmchesh Hello. Welcome. I’m 77 (until next week and it counts!) and was diagnosed with JAK2/PV about five years ago. My GP of over 40 years told me to see a hematologist asap (I had just moved from CA to AZ. My GP said absolutely nothing to suggest it was life threatening or cancer! He told me the treatment was phlebotomy? My first clue was “Cancer Center” on the sign at the hematologist office! And, the hematologist never mentioned the HU was chemo. When I read the warnings on the label I called it my “poison pill”!
But, the HU and phlebotomies have got it under control.
All things considered, there are worse drugs.

@cmchesh I can identify in some ways to your thought process. Though the "science" says otherwise, I too think that warm climates and heat increase my RBCs. I can go all winter and spring with no phlebotomies, then as mid-summer and early fall arrive, I need one or two. That and getting acupuncture. That seems to stimulate production for me.

I've lived in FL for 20+ years and only got diagnosed with PV 2 year ago. I don't think it was to do with FL or FL would have a huge % of cases lol.

But I do think, not scientific but a spiritual perspective, that humans evolved for their climate zones. Many of my fellow Caucasian friends with issues say how much better they feel when they travel far North! It's a funny thing to think about if anything.