High Hematocrit after years on TRT

[roadglide]

Labs came back at 54.4 so I went off TRT for two weeks retested and results were 49.4 before donating blood. I reduced my Testosterone and will be doing more labs this monday and donating blood. Looks like my Hematocrit had been creeping up over a few lab cycles, but the Doc was not concerned. Then it shot up four points in six months. Is this unusual?

 

[Vince]

Any chance you have sleep apnea?

 

[roadglide]

Any chance you have sleep apnea?

I do and have for many years. Does that mean anything?

 

[Systemlord]

I do and have for many years. Does that mean anything?

You’re basically suffering from hypoxia, you’re holding your breath. I’m not breathing properly while sleeping. Your body is trying to keep you alive is increasing your red blood cell count.

Untreated sleep apnea will shorten your lifespan. I had a friend recently died in his sleep and for years he had horrible sleep apnea which triggered a heart attack in his sleep.

When they told me he died in his sleep, I knew exactly what happened. He used to make god-awful noises, holding his breath for minutes at a time, and he would wake up in a frantic effort to start breathing again.

Treating the sleep apnea with a CPAP machine should see the hematocrit decline.

 

[Vince]

I do and have for many years. Does that mean anything?

Yes, it raises your Hematocrit.

 

[roadglide]

You’re basically suffering from hypoxia, you’re holding your breath. I’m not breathing properly while sleeping. Your body is trying to keep you alive is increasing your red blood cell count.

Untreated sleep apnea will shorten your lifespan. I had a friend recently died in his sleep and for years he had horrible sleep apnea which triggered a heart attack in his sleep.

When they told me he died in his sleep, I knew exactly what happened. He used to make god-awful noises, holding his breath for minutes at a time, and he would wake up in a frantic effort to start breathing again.

Treating the sleep apnea with a CPAP machine should see the hematocrit decline.

It must be something else because I use a CPAP very successfully. What about alcohol consumption or dehydration? We drink more after retiring.

 

[roadglide]

Yes, it raises your Hematocrit.

I use my CPAP and they monitor my data via a modem. It does the job. What about alcohol consumption or dehydration?

 

[Systemlord]

It must be something else because I use a CPAP very successfully. What about alcohol consumption or dehydration? We drink more after retiring.

Alcohol can easily dehydrate you. Back when I was on TRT one morning I had dehydration from diarrhea, my HCT was 54% and 4 to 5 hours later after rehydration HCT decreased to 51%.

 

[Vince]

I use my CPAP and they monitor my data via a modem. It does the job. What about alcohol consumption or dehydration?

Yep, stay Hydrated. Drink lots of water.

 

[Fernando Almaguer]

You’re basically suffering from hypoxia, you’re holding your breath. I’m not breathing properly while sleeping. Your body is trying to keep you alive is increasing your red blood cell count.

Untreated sleep apnea will shorten your lifespan. I had a friend recently died in his sleep and for years he had horrible sleep apnea which triggered a heart attack in his sleep.

When they told me he died in his sleep, I knew exactly what happened. He used to make god-awful noises, holding his breath for minutes at a time, and he would wake up in a frantic effort to start breathing again.

Treating the sleep apnea with a CPAP machine should see the hematocrit decline.

dID HE not wear a sleep mask ?

 

[Systemlord]

dID HE not wear a sleep mask ?

No, he refused to wear a CPAP mask. Very stubborn guy. He was a smoker.

 

[WhiteMale]

Your HCT did not drop 5 points in two weeks going off Test. Even with a 1 pint whole blood donation you can't drop 5 points.