Hi Sharon,

Thanks for your note! I updated my bio..I live in Apex, NC, near the Research Triangle Park area. It's a heavy area for medical research, and my hematologist seems quite skilled, and is part of a larger group, the "Cancer Centers of North Carolina."

When I first saw her, I pressed the case of not needing meds. I'm blessed with such excellent health for my age, exercise a great deal and have a very good diet, and have no symptoms, I kept saying, "I just have a hard time coming here under these circumstances." Her reply was "this isn't the kind of thing you want to end up coming here for only after you have a symptom. (Symptoms being stroke, etc.)" Her professionalism, competecy, knowledge and generally calming nature made me trust her implicitly pretty quickly.

But as time goes by, I again begin to doubt. I even found one research paper on the web which said, "The controversy continues on the need to treat asymptomatic ET patients..." I thought "huh? What controversy?" There was never any indication from her that there was any question whatsoever that I must start meds immediately. Furthermore, I now have the evidence of the members of this board. (I wish there were a "directory" section where you could see everyone's profile compiled together: number of those on meds and not on meds, their count, etc.)

So I think when I see her again in 3 weeks, or perhaps I'll make an earlier appt just to discuss this, I'll compile together all the data I have and really press her to see if there truly is no question that I need to be on meds.

I don't like taking pills of any kind (except for vitamins!), but then again, I also don't want to roll the dice and end up with a stroke in a year or two because I was just plain stubborn.

Regarding your aspirin concern: Do you know about Enteric Coated aspirin? It doesn't bother your stomach. At the time she told me to also start aspirin I had mentioned some stomach pain but she told me to just use enteric coated (such as St. Joseph's brand) and I'd have no problem. And I haven't yet.

Peace,
Mark