Hello everyone,a little about myself..I am 60 yrs old,5ft tall, around 200 lbs..I have Hypothyroidism and just went to the free clinic (no health insurance) to see the Dr,hadn't been in months(long story),Dr had my Hemoglobin tested right away and found it was high,something like 17. something..I am going to have my blood tested for my thyroid and he ordered a CBC,CMP,and TSH,and put on the paper that I have to give the lab I have Hypothyroidism and Polycythemia,which he said is too much red blood cells,and said something to do with the bone marrow.He put me on Lasix for water retention wants me to take a baby aspirin 81 MG,and I guess the blood work will tell why I have what he calls Polycythemia..Does anyone know what causes it,and what the symptoms are,and what can be done for it?

Hello, there are lots of reasons for polycythemia, if you are a heavy smoker,sleep problems, apnea especially, dehydration ect... the main treatment is having blood drawn off on a regular basis. if you do smoke,cut back or quit, drink plenty of fluids to keep hydrated and get your hemoglobin rechecked which the doctor will do.some people have no symptoms, while some have headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath ect...i wouldnt worry untill the new test come back. good luck

Hi, my brother is 48 years old, and was diagnosed with polycythemia about 15 years ago. His was dianosed by pure chance after having a blood pressure reading takenwhich turned out to be dangerously high! if they hadn't of found out about the disease when they did, he was told he would of eventually had a stroke! The symptoms he was having at the time (which before diagnosis he had put down to other factors ie stress, tiredness etc) were severe headaches, very red face, feet, red watery eyes, and when I say red, I mean very very red!

Polycythemia, for the little that I personally know, is basically the opposite to blood cancer, it is when you are making far to many red blood cells! the blood then gets thicker and thicker and stickier! my brother started his treatment by having pints of blood removed ever so many weeks to thin the blood, as well as blood thinners! when he got the disease he was given about 12 years, but he is doing fine. Current research shows that with proper care people with this disease are now expected to live a normal lifespan, probably dieing from other causes.

As far as why you have this disease, it is an auto immune disease, not something you would catch.

My brother drinks green tea which is full of antioxidants (sorry if spelt wrong) which is supposed to be great for people that suffer this disease.

I also know that this disease is very rare. I hope I have been of some help.

Regards