What are most common side effects when starting HU (Hydroxyurea)?

You ask an interesting question--why would we want to poison ourselves with some blue and green dye? I have not started taking my Hydroxyurea yet, and did not look at the medication yet. I did not start my meds yet because I too am a bit concerned about the side effects, and also, I have never had anything 'wrong' with me, and never even take an aspirin, so this diagnosis plus the drugs to take for treatment are a bit of a shock. I am very health conscious and never consume anything that has a dye in it. I'm wondering why you cannot have it compounded or put in a different capsule at a compounding pharmacy. I would love to know if and how you resolve this.

I am not sure who had the intial question about bone marrow biopsy. I had disabling trauma from my bone marrow biopsy and when I changed Drs. she said she would not have done it, that it was not needed for the diagnosis. They pounded a spike into me a couple times at the hospital. I had asked for it to be done on my right side because I have had a lot of lumbar issues and pain on my left side. They said whichever side was easier to get to, so they ended up doing my bad left side. I could not walk without sciatic pain for a year or more and it still can bother me when I walk. I went to many Drs. and no real answers. I did my own research and found out that especially for women it can cause periformis syndrome. I had a hip mri and it noted that where my periformis passed the sciatic nerve, with the inflammation it could cause something like that. I did see one sports medicine Dr. that did sonogram down that left side and saw little tears in many places. I was sorry I did it. Blood tests can often show leukemia now, at least some types. I wish I had waited in case it is needed if it progresses. I guess it depends what your blood readings say.

That's good information. Good question to ask: Will the test change anything.
I know what you mean. Shocking to hear the diagnosis. I too am never sick, did not even have an aspirin in the house!, nothing, because I do not take or need to take any medicines. I am eating largely organic, and very health focused, cooking meals daily with fresh non-processed not even frozen ingredients. Everything from scratch. No additives, no food coloring. The whole prospect of a medicine for life, with dyes at that, and maybe even no control over whether to eliminate the coloring, a toxin in my mind -- shocking. I am diagnosed with ET, possibly changing into PV.