I wish I could have it, as it could reduce platelets, of which I have four or five times normal because of Polycythemia Vera. But the hematologist says that's for emergencies. I feel like I'm an emergency, or almost one, because I have to go to Mayo Clinic and have radiation to suppress bone marrow and thus reduce platelets, or else I am thought to be heading for a stroke. My pcp and cardiologist want me to go to Mayo again, and the Mayo hematologist recommends the radiation with P32 (radioactive phosphorus). But my local hematologist thinks it might put me into the "end stage" of my disease, with too few platelets. In the meanwhile I have to have phlebotomies, which reduce red cells but does nothing for platelets. And the phlebs reduce my iron stores to nearly zero, which then causes me to have very bad cramps and spasticity in my lower leg, ankle, and foot.

Sometimes these last couple of months the foot gets stuck in an awful position--not the usual "claw" of foot spasm, but pushed back up toward the leg, or at an askew angle to the ankle. I have never even heard of someone having this strange form of spasticity and I have not had it myself until recently. It may have a different cause, maybe even MS itself or Porphyria neuropathy, but low ferritin is known to cause leg and foot problems. It's mostly in the left leg, and mostly at night. It's scary not knowing if it will become permanent. That would consign me to permanent acute pain.