I was diagnosed with thrombocythemia in 1978. My platelet count was over 4 million. I went to Cleveland Clinic and was put on hydria, which is very aggressive in that it kills red and white cells along with the platelets. After several months of treatments, it was decided to quit the hydria and use aspirin as a preventative of strokes or clots. The platelets slowly crept back up. What I considered strange, was that in 1981, I became pregnant with my daughter and my platelets dropped to 500,000, very close to normal. After delivery, they went right back up. I am now being treated with 1 mg. of agyrlin each day. My platelets are around 400,00, the lowest ever. I have had terrible problems with the medication. It is believed that the medication caused my conjestive heart failure. I have swelling, redness and rash in the lower legs. I, also have sharp shooting pains. I have numbness in my limbs which doctors contribute to raynauds syndrome. I am not so sure. I believe all my medical problems stem from the thrombocythemia.