15/06/2026
โจ ๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ โ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด โ๐ก๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐นโ
โDoc, bakit parang buwan-buwan na lang ang phlebotomy ko this year?โ
That was my question today.
My last phlebotomy was May 2 with an HCT of 0.49. (Normal hematocrit (hct) value is until .43)
The procedure was smooth. The usual weakness and dizziness after. Then life went on.
Fast forward to June 15.
Almost 1ยฝ months later, my HCT climbed to 0.51.
What surprised me even more was the blood itself.
After removing 500cc, the blood was still dark, almost blackish-red. Usually, after several syringes, I notice the color becomes brighter. This time, it stayed dark all throughout.
The procedure took almost an hour.
Even Doc joked that her hand was already hurting from the length of the procedure.
And then came the instruction I wasnโt expecting:
โBalik ka after 7 days.โ
Seven days.
Not one month.
Not six weeks.
Seven days.
So I asked my doctor:
โBakit parang mas madalas ang phlebotomy ko ngayon?โ
Her answer was simple:
โItโs your bodyโs reaction. Same intervention naman tayo.โ
And that made me reflect.
Maybe the answer wasnโt entirely in my body.
Maybe part of it was in my choices.
This May and June, I started feeling โnormal.โ
I became a little complacent.
A few glasses of wine.
Some brandy.
A little vodka.
Nothing excessive.
But perhaps enough to make me forget that although I may feel normalโฆ
Polycythemia Vera is still there.
And thatโs the tricky part about chronic illness.
Sometimes the danger isnโt when youโre sick.
Sometimes the danger is when youโre feeling well.
Because feeling better can fool you into thinking youโre already okay.
โธป
๐ฟ ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐บ๐ฒ
Living with Polycythemia Vera is not just about taking medicines or undergoing phlebotomy.
Itโs about consistency.
To myself,
Hydration when youโre busy.
Sleep when you want to work.
Rest when you think you can still push.
Discipline even when youโre feeling good.
Because PV doesnโt care whether Iโm on vacation, celebrating, stressed, or busy.
My blood simply reacts.
And todayโs numbers reminded me of that.
โธป
So here I am.
Another phlebotomy.
Another lesson.
Another reminder.
Not to be afraid.
But to stay aware.
Because with PV, the goal is not just to live.
The goal is to live well enough that my blood never gets the chance to surprise me again.
See you again in 7 days, Doc. ๐
๐
๐ ๐๐ป๐ผ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐
After coming home, I started reviewing what had changed in the past few weeks.
Aside from becoming a little complacent with my diet and occasional alcohol intake, I realized there was another change that my doctor didnโt know about yet.
I started Tirzepatide injections on May 14 and have already completed 3 injections.
Am I saying Tirzepatide caused my HCT to increase?
No. I honestly donโt know.
But as someone living with Polycythemia Vera, Iโve learned that every change mattersโwhether itโs medication, supplements, lifestyle, stress levels, sleep patterns, hydration, or even weight loss.
This is definitely something I will discuss with my doctor during my next visit.
One thing PV has taught me is to become a student of my own body.
Observe.
Document.
Ask questions.
Learn.
Because sometimes the clues are hidden in the small changes we barely notice.
