High hematocrit , low ferritin . What to treat first ?

[Mfurches]

Hematocrit is 53 , ferritin is 32 on a range of 38-380. I feel terrible like my heart is trying to push butter through my veins. What do I treat first ??

 

[xcpatr922]

There's a thread by FDV how to increase ferritin after blood donation.

 

[Deleted member 16042]

You haven't said what kind of T dose you are taking. It is possible the most important step is to lower your dose.

 

[Mfurches]

I’m taking 100 mg 1x a week

 

[Mfurches]

There's a thread by FDV how to increase ferritin after blood donation.

I did a quick search but nothing came up. Any idea what section it is in?

 

[xcpatr922]

Iron Supplementation Protocol to Raise Ferritin FAST While on TRT

Hi all, I started TRT in 2001 and have been giving blood over the years and have always had issues with recovering my ferritin. Long story short, I got tired of waiting for others to do the research, so I did it myself, created a protocol, hired a hematologist in May 2021 who thought it could...

www.excelmale.com

 

[Mfurches]

Anyone know what I should fix first ? Should I try to get my ferritin up before donating more blood ?

 

[xcpatr922]

hematocrit. Raising ferritin is easy.

 

[Mfurches]

Do you have a protocol ? I am reading the one that was suggested in an earlier reply .

 

[xcpatr922]

yes for three days after blood donation, take 60mg of Iron byg. at 9am,3pm and 9pm. It works for me. No longer having Ferritin issue.

 

[Mfurches]

Does it have to be iron byg? Will ferrous sulfate work ? I believe it is non heme iron .

 

[xcpatr922]

that's why it's recommended to read all his explanations in his blogs why using iron byg. Basically the byg. version is 100% absorbed.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Read post 6.

 

[Systemlord]

Hematocrit is 53 , ferritin is 32 on a range of 38-380.

You may need to donate blood while on TRT and keep an eye on your ferritin. I just donated blood 3 days ago due to my hematocrit being 57% and hemoglobin 19.2. A single phlebotomy dropped hematocrit to 51.2 and hemoglobin to 17.5 g/dL.

I have sleep apnea which can increase the hemoglobin and hematocrit through multiple methods. I also have to take iron supplements while on TRT. Typically when one has sleep apnea the hematocrit will be much higher in relation to the hemoglobin.

My endo seems more concerned with the hemoglobin and less concerned about the hematocrit.

It is advised not to take the ferrous sulfate which isn't well absorbed and has more side effects. The glycinate or ferrous fumarate is absorbed much better and has less side effects.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Search results for: 'blog high hematocrit caused by trt how to lower it'

www.discountedlabs.com

Consistent high hematocrit, low ferritin

www.excelmale.com

Solution to infamous high HCT low ferritin dilemma

www.excelmale.com

How much reduction in hematocrit would be expected with a blood donation???

www.excelmale.com

 

[Gman86]

You may need to donate blood while on TRT and keep an eye on your ferritin. I just donated blood 3 days ago due to my hematocrit being 57% and hemoglobin 19.2. A single phlebotomy dropped hematocrit to 51.2 and hemoglobin to 17.5 g/dL.

I have sleep apnea which can increase the hemoglobin and hematocrit through multiple methods. I also have to take iron supplements while on TRT. Typically when one has sleep apnea the hematocrit will be much higher in relation to the hemoglobin.

My endo seems more concerned with the hemoglobin and less concerned about the hematocrit.

It is advised not to take the ferrous sulfate which isn't well absorbed and has more side effects. The glycinate or ferrous fumarate is absorbed much better and has less side effects.

You had that much of a drop in HCT off of just a regular donation, or a double/ power red donation?

 

[Systemlord]

A double power red.

 

[Gman86]

A double power red.

Oh ok, that makes more sense. Thanks

 

[JimGainz]

I would lower Testosterone to 75-80 mg /week in a 2-3 day per week dosing schedule (eg 25 mg eod, or 40 mg 2x per week) to lower HCT while you build up ferritin. I am in the same boat as you except my ferritin levels were in the single digits in a month after giving blood. I tried the ferritin raising protocol listed in this forum as well as lowering my testosterone dose and I am getting bloods done January 7 – so that would be a full six weeks on the new protocol – to determine how things are going

 

[drkelp]

Stay hydrated!