Its a fairly new diagnosis. I take 500 mg of HU twice a day. It has lowered the count from 1100 to 700.
I also am anemic , and have to get blood and iron transfusions.
I can simply prick my finger sometimes and it bleeds a lot.
Im td i most likely have a hidden GI bleed and thats why my hemoglobin drops so quickly.
Headache and fatigue are the two most reported symptoms of ET. I have a headache almost all the time.
Please be aware that treating our headaches gets a bit complicated. You can't just pop NSAIDs, because they interfere with aspirin's very important effect on our blood.
You may get some relief by using topicals with menthol or lidocaine -- sprays, ointment, patches -- on the back of your neck. Topicals work through the skin, and do not interfere with aspirin.
There will be times will more pain relief will be needed. So please ask your oncologist about what NSAID will be best for you.
And if you do take an NSAID, wait a couple of hours after taking either HU or aspirin.
Headaches are definitely a side effect. I got them when I first started taking HU 500 mg twice a day, 7 days a week. My Heme/Onc started decreasing my dosage as my platelet numbers came down and now, with my platelet count around 200, I take it twice a day, four days a week. As the dosage decreased, the headaches did too and now I don't get them at all. Mine were sudden and severe, but of very short duration - less than 30 seconds. They occurred only when I stood up suddenly and would literally stop me in my tracks.
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Its a fairly new diagnosis. I take 500 mg of HU twice a day. It has lowered the count from 1100 to 700.
I also am anemic , and have to get blood and iron transfusions.
I can simply prick my finger sometimes and it bleeds a lot.
Im td i most likely have a hidden GI bleed and thats why my hemoglobin drops so quickly.
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1 ReactionCongratulations on bringing down your platelets!
Headache and fatigue are the two most reported symptoms of ET. I have a headache almost all the time.
Please be aware that treating our headaches gets a bit complicated. You can't just pop NSAIDs, because they interfere with aspirin's very important effect on our blood.
You may get some relief by using topicals with menthol or lidocaine -- sprays, ointment, patches -- on the back of your neck. Topicals work through the skin, and do not interfere with aspirin.
There will be times will more pain relief will be needed. So please ask your oncologist about what NSAID will be best for you.
And if you do take an NSAID, wait a couple of hours after taking either HU or aspirin.
I get pretty much daily headache, mostly minor.
However, if under stress they are usually more intense
Eileen
Headaches are definitely a side effect. I got them when I first started taking HU 500 mg twice a day, 7 days a week. My Heme/Onc started decreasing my dosage as my platelet numbers came down and now, with my platelet count around 200, I take it twice a day, four days a week. As the dosage decreased, the headaches did too and now I don't get them at all. Mine were sudden and severe, but of very short duration - less than 30 seconds. They occurred only when I stood up suddenly and would literally stop me in my tracks.
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