Powered By
My hematocrit was about .54 or .55 by the time I saw the hematologist and they arranged phlebotomy. My first session took 45 minutes because my visually thick blood was constantly clogging the line! For about 18 months I had almost monthly phlebotomy. My hemo’s goal was .44 and I was rarely able to get that low. We added more HU in the Fall and I’m having fewer phlebotomies. I’ve gone as low as .43 so down to every other month. Thank goodness. They take about 10 minutes now 🙂
I hope your next treatment goes well!
I go April 6 for the third treatment. My hemachorit was 54 then after the two treatments it’s 53 she wants that down to 48.
Thank you Suzann. I had two DVT in 1992. Runs in my mom family. I was dignosed in March of 2025. With Polycthemia. On my Dr orders to do the phlebotomy treatment every four months. There are two kinds of Polycthemia. Just Polycthemia and PV she put PV.
How were you diagnosed? Did you have a genetic test? A bone marrow biopsy is the gold standard, definitive test. Presence of the JAK2V617F mutation in a genetic test plus several symptoms is also considered adequate to diagnose PV. I had a positive genetic test, unprovoked clots in my leg (DVT) plus increasing hematocrit (above normal range). That was enough for a diagnosis and I’m high risk because I’ve had clots.
We all come to our diagnoses in a variety of ways for a variety of reasons and a wide range of conditions from just a diagnosis, no treatment needed to some pretty serious stuff.
Can polycythemia develop into polycythemia vera?
Polycythemia vera (PV) is a specific type of myeloproliferative neoplasm that causes the bone marrow to make too many red blood cells. It's not something that general polycythemia "turns into" - rather, PV is a distinct condition with its own genetic cause.
PV is almost Show Full Answer
Continue with Facebook
Continue with Email
Join
Your Privacy Choices
