My platelet and red cell counts and hematocrit showed an increase last April on my annual physical. Monthly monitoring showed them continuing to increase. I was diagnosed with polycythemia vera in February after having a bone marrow biopsy and aspiration in January. Positive for Jak2. Having a laboratory background is helpful when all the lab results come back!

Currently on 1000 mg hydroxyurea daily, along with 81 mg aspirin. Platelets had started to decrease within the first few weeks of taking HU. Red cells/hct just started to drop with my last blood draw Monday. My oncologist is happy and says no therapeutic phlebotomy needed at the present. She will continue to monitor with blood work and may adjust the dosage.

Working in hospital laboratories all my career, Mayo Clinical Laboratory was often used as our reference lab. I have actually toured their wonderful facilities in connection to my job. My bone marrow testing was sent to Mayo. Being on the hospital patient portal, I was able to view my results as they were released. I have used Mayo’s lab site as a resource when I worked in the hospital laboratory and knew them to be an excellent source of information. Exploring the Mayo Clinic site for disease related information led me to Connect.