Hi,
I was diagnosed with primary thrombocythemia in 2000, at the age of 41. I was very sick and my count was never even up to a million. I start to feel very bad any time they even go over 600m. I have been on hydroxyurea twice. Both times it was effective in bringing down my counts, but the side effects were horrible. It IS chemotherapy. I didn't lose all my hair, but it became very thin and dull. I had bad ulcers in my mouth and nose that were painful. I was SO tired all the time. Both times after about 4 months I told the docs I had to get off it. For the past 4 years I've been on anegrelide only. I've had good results with it and feel much more "normal" physically. I have had to keep increasing dosages though because it seems like after a while, the body adjusts to it and needs more to work properly. I think you are right about stress affecting your counts. It definitely affects mine. I am frustrated that there are no other good therapies out there for us!