Hi Everyone.....Wishing you all the warmest, family filled holidays. Since my platelet count has dropped back into the normal range, for the time being, my oncologist has me on hold at 4 hydroxyurea 500 mg a week. That part seems to be working......Getting this diagnosis of ET Jak2, was alarming..... What is new, is the intense areas of itching, that although I scratch a lot, I have never abraded my skin....I scratch through my clothes. What I do have is very big bruises after a couple of days. In addition to that, I have developed positional vertigo......very disconcerting. I just have to remember not to turn my head too fast....my eyes move back and forth as they try to focus...just rolling over in bed can cause this. I frequently am dizzy without the vertigo feeling.....more light headed type of feeling. I guess I need to get used to this as it is part (possibly) of the side effects for some of us who are taking the hydroxyurea. At least my platelet count is normal, so I am not looking at clot or stroke possibilities. I am so grateful! Blessings to all of you during this holiday season, and thank you for this very informative and helpful website. Ginger