Well, yes, I do take an 81 mg baby aspirin every night. The reason he wants to change my medication is that he is concerned about the effect it is having on my red and white cells. Hydrea not only works to reduce the platelets which I have too many of, ( and they keep multiplying without the Hydrea (and they keep multiplying without treatment) but they also reduce the red and white cells, which I do not need reduced. It is a balance for sure that is hard to watch and keep. Because of this, as I understand it, there is a small chance that the Thrombocythemia can morph into another blood disorder. I won't get into it but you can look it up on this website about possible side effects of medications, etc,. Hydrea has worked well for me and I will ask him not to change it, but I understand that we have to watch for other effects on the white and red cells. Anemia, for one, but there are other possible complications that are rare. Other conditions that I have require occasional treatment with steroids which we who have this disease do not need. But with lung problems, and hip problems, as well as back problems, steroid injections are the only thing I can take for inflammation. I do not get or take them often, as I have learned the adverse effects. The Anagrelida he wants to put me on, is a lot more expensive and has a lot of possible unwanted side effects, which I already have problems with. (other conditions) However, it only reduces the platelets, not the red and white blood cells.

Hope this answered your questions.
I'm glad we can share here and be more informed for our future health.
Thanks for asking.
EsperanzaM in Texas.