High Platelets

Great post. I'm 67 and recently diagnosed with ET and Jak2 mutation. My Hemo Dr started me on weekly injections of Pegasys 1/4th vial. I went from 951 to 900 in one month. May need to increase my dose as they wanted to see more movement. Will wait to see next month's number. I seem to tolerate this dose so far ok. A little sleep disruption, but not as fatigued. Main hope is that it stop the progression. And yes, tier 5 medication...yikes $. Blessings to all on your recovery journey!

Bone marrow felt like a quick bee sting for me. Over in 10 minutes. I would have gone back to work, but they gave me Ativan.

Bone marrow biopsy confirms diagnosis and measures any fibrosis in the bone marrow. Gives the doc an idea of your overall marrow health.

Some ET patients (24 percent or fewer?) progress to a more serious disease, myelofibrosis. As I understand it, interferon/Pegasys is the only treatment that researchers think MAY stop progression in some patients.

However, Peg is prohibitively expensive for a lot of people, and it seems to be less well tolerated by older patients. My doc said she would not prescribe it as a first-line drug for anybody over 60 because it causes acute depression.

But I hear from some older patients that they feel fine and that doctors are dosing at lower levels to alleviate side effects.

Worth discussing with your hemo?

I was DX: CALR platelets rose to 915. Still taking .81 aspirin 1000 mg/day of Hydrea added the past 4 weeks blood work every 2 weeks. Platelets down to 685. I’m no longer nauseous, or headache still a little fatigued. Thankful treatment has begun

I was told it was a painful procedure. I was pleasantly surprised.

Thanks, I didn't know that....

My bone marrow biopsy was also painless.

From my experience I found the bone marrow biopsy to be a simple procedure. I had it with only topical numbing, It is a quick, conclusive test.

I just turned 80 and have been on Hydroxyurea and low dose aspirin for 12 years. It was discovered though a blood test and a bone marrow test. I go for a blood test now every month that is sent to my hematologist 60 miles away. I was on one low dose aspirin, one 500mg Hydroxyurea, then a second one every other day. Last summer I was cut back to one a day and two .5mg Anagrelide. I don’t recognize side effects except tiredness. I don’t sleep well and take 7.5mg Zopiclone.May just be my age.

I was 65 years old and was diagnosed with ET/Jak2 mutation. My platelet count was
1 million 300 thousand. I am now almost 70 and am taking 1000mg per day. Mine was confirmed by a bone marrow biopsy. I take 81mg aspirin daily. Really had no symptoms. I feel good.

My 72 yr. old husband platelet's were: 508, 705, 892, 678 over 4 week period then back to normal. The doctors didn't seem to think much of it and it went down on it's own. Do some more research because, I know nothing about it, but it seems to me that a bone marrow biopsy is overkill. Maybe, get a second opinion...good luck !