High hematocrit again

[bloathog21]

Hey all I’ve been looking over this forum and impressed with the information. I’ve been having an issue with hematocrit going up to 56. First week of October I went and donated it was 56. They drained a pint then I went and drained another on my own. Got CBC done and it was 48 same as I had when natural. Then couple of months later it’s back up to 56. But problem is I have high BP, headaches, light headed. Does my response to androgens in this way decrease over time or do I need to just drain myself every couple weeks and pop iron pills?

 

[Gman86]

Do you have sleep apnea?

Using testosterone cream could be an option. Seems guys have lower HCT levels on the cream. Mine just came back and was at 51. Total T was 1680. My HCT is usually a couple points above that with when my total T is around 1600, if I remember correctly.

 

[bloathog21]

Do you have sleep apnea?

Using testosterone cream could be an option. Seems guys have lower HCT levels on the cream. Mine just came back and was at 51. Total T was 1680. My HCT is usually a couple points above that with when my total T is around 1600, if I remember correctly.

Never been diagnosed with it but my fitness watch says I have apnea occurrences occasionally (However accurate that is). Guess I could try the cream. I have a huge supply of test e.

 

[Gman86]

Never been diagnosed with it but my fitness watch says I have apnea occurrences occasionally (However accurate that is). Guess I could try the cream. I have a huge supply of test e.

Luckily the test E will last a long time when stored properly. So if u do try the cream, don’t like it and go back to the test E, it should be just fine to use

 

[Vince Carter]

the only thing we've gotten any inkling of HCT leveling out is long term dose stability, year(s) of stability.

 

[Vince]

I agree with Vince Carter, longevity of trt. It can help lower or stabilize HCT. After my first two years of trt, I was able to stop donating blood. Now for the last 3 years my HCT has held steady at 48%. Some members use grapefruit, to lower their HCT. It can affect some meds, so if you're on any meds, make sure grapefruit won't interfere.

 

[Vince]

Can Losartan decrease high hematocrit caused by testosterone replacement?

 

[HealthMan]

For me lowering my dose was the only thing that worked.

 

[Stanfoo]

For me lowering my dose was the only thing that worked.

How long did it take after reducing dose to see any changes in hematocrit?

 

[HealthMan]

How long did it take after reducing dose to see any changes in hematocrit?

2-3 months. Google red blood cells lifespan.

 

[madman]

Hey all I’ve been looking over this forum and impressed with the information. I’ve been having an issue with hematocrit going up to 56. First week of October I went and donated it was 56. They drained a pint then I went and drained another on my own. Got CBC done and it was 48 same as I had when natural. Then couple of months later it’s back up to 56. But problem is I have high BP, headaches, light headed. Does my response to androgens in this way decrease over time or do I need to just drain myself every couple weeks and pop iron pills?

What is your protocol (T dose/injection frequency) and where does your TT/FT levels sit?


Does my response to androgens in this way decrease over time?

Increased hemoglobin/hematocrit/rbc's is common when using exogenous testosterone and levels will increase within the first 1-3 months and can take up to 9-12 months to reach peak levels.

Direct and indirect effects related to supraphysiologic T levels are believed to mediate the effects on erythrocytosis.

or do I need to just drain myself every couple weeks and pop iron pills?

Doing such would surely result in crashing your iron/ferritin.

Donating too frequently as in every 2-3 months would increase the chances of crashing your ferritin even when taking in enough iron through diet or supplementation as it takes time for levels to replenish.

 

[blinkyvx]

i went to daily dosing , hct on 200mg/week split daily was 45% Hct on 100mg/week split 2x a week was 54%

 

[Stanfoo]

i went to daily dosing , hct on 200mg/week split daily was 45% Hct on 100mg/week split 2x a week was 54%

Is there a typo somewhere?

From the way you worded it, you were on 200mg/wk with hct 45% and then you halved the dose and hct increased 9%.

Or you were on 100mg/wk then increased it to 200mg/wk and saw a 9% hct decrease.

Either way, doesn't make sense.

 

[blinkyvx]

yes once 200mg/week split daily HCT went to 45%, 100mg a week i was doing two 50mg shots a week and HCT was 54% at next lab draw, believe it spikes hct.

 

[Stanfoo]

I knew more frequent injections are better for controlling hct but who would have thought it'd be that effective. 9% less hct while being on double the dose, simply from switching to daily.

 

[Vince Carter]

I knew more frequent injections are better for controlling hct but who would have thought it'd be that effective. 9% less hct while being on double the dose, simply from switching to daily.

You would be and this would be the exception to the rule, based on this forum's experience.

 

[bloathog21]

yes once 200mg/week split daily HCT went to 45%, 100mg a week i was doing two 50mg shots a week and HCT was 54% at next lab draw, believe it spikes hct.

That’s awesome! You use insulin pins?

 

[blinkyvx]

yep

 

[bloathog21]

Got the results back from labs... Its odd that the donation center said it was 56 last Friday and now it's 44.9. Maybe their meter is messed up. Idk what else could be causing high Systolic BP, headaches, and brain fog. I will be pulling some labs once they appear again. Frustrating to say the least!

 

[blinkyvx]

discountedlabs.com Hct test was like 15$.Unless they did ablood drawiwouldnt trust their hgb/hct gizmo. Hydration also plays a role caffiene etc