For me, ET has meant being on Hydrea for the past 20+ years, getting a cbc every 3 months or so, and checking to make sure I have no spleen enlargement. It is a strange blood disorder because I have no symptoms that I'm aware of, however if I cut back on the Hydrea, then my platelet count zooms back up. So I have had to continue taking it and probably always will. Docs all say I will have a stroke if I don't take it and that if I don't take it, it is at my own peril.