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Before my first phlebotomy I was experiencing a lot of dizziness for about a year. After that first draw, which took 45 minutes and the nurse had to continually flush the line after about 250 ml it was so thick and clotting in the line, my dizziness went away. I was so relieved! And I realized that PV was affecting me in ways I didn’t understand. It’s one reason this group is so helpful 🙂 We help each other work through what is happening. I still get dizzy but not like before and I’m understanding and learning to cope with it by reading others responses and the articles available. I hope it resolves for you.
Hi Annette,
Your question is interesting to me because I haven’t heard it asked for a long time. Have you ever heard the old adage, “pumping honey through a straw?” Well, that’s what is happening in all likelihood. The fullness you feel is due to hyperviscosity—your blood is too thick because your red cell count is most likely too high. This makes it difficult for the blood to flow quickly through the small vessels in your head, leading to congestion and that feeling of pressure. By lowering your hematocrit with phlebotomy, the blood is thinned and the pressure is relieved. I didn’t look back on your previous posts to see if PV is your main problem, or ET. Hope this clarifies a little.
Does controlling platelet count help with head fullness in essential thrombocythemia?
Yes, head fullness can improve when platelet counts are better controlled in ET. This symptom is related to how platelets interact with blood vessels, causing what doctors call microvascular symptoms.
Common microvascular symptoms that Show Full Answer
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