I Have Polycythemia But Doctor Does Not Want to Order Phlebotomy

[Pringle]

I have hemochromatosis and have to give a liter of blood every 4-6 weeks to keep my numbers in check. My doc sends me to a local oncology clinic for my phlebotomy. With my condition the blood cannot be reused either.

 

[Saul]

I have hemochromatosis and have to give a liter of blood every 4-6 weeks to keep my numbers in check. My doc sends me to a local oncology clinic for my phlebotomy. With my condition the blood cannot be reused either.

Your blood is fine. I have HH too. Blood is not a storage locker for excess iron. A protein Transferrin is a transport mechanism that carries iron in the blood between organs and the bone marrow and from the digestive trac. Your red blood cells also contain iron, but that is a good thing. In the big picture, transferrin stores very little iron in the blood and your red blood cells are generally normal (although maybe slightly larger). Iron gets bound to ferritin and is stored in the organs, not the blood, and thus the organs can be damaged. Your blood is pretty much the same as other people. Most other countries accept blood donations from people with HH but the US is backwards in this regard. If anything, your blood would be great for other people, such as people who are anemic, because it is not low iron blood and you have the adequate iron rich red blood cells - just what they need for oxygen transport. What people don't need is blood that is anemic, i.e. has low red blood cell counts. I have done the same thing, given blood at an oncology center (sobering experience) and they just toss it, and then I get an email saying how we are in short supply of blood in the US and I should donate. Good luck with your HH.

 

[Ripped one]

Here's the hemoglobin and hematocrit

It would be nice if you post your levels.

Unless a local blood bank is willing to help, some physicians may need to write a letter of medical necessity for phlebotomy if requested by insurance companies.

How to Manage Increased Blood Thickness (Hematocrit) Caused by Testosterone Replacement Therapy

https://www.excelmale.com/forum/sho...t)-Caused-by-Testosterone-Replacement-Therapy

 

[Vince]

Here's the hemoglobin and hematocrit

Well at least your levels are good.

 

[buggies100]

So 16 hgb and 48 hct is not high. I run over 50 hct everyday of my life even before T injections. So that is one reason why hema dr did not do phlebotomy. I am not saying to not pay attention to it. It would depend on other bllpf factors, lile platlet count, white blood cells, mcv..... but at your number there is no need to be worried. My urologist and two hematologists both are happy if i stay under 54 hct. I show no systems, such as shortness of breath with exertion. Call defy medical, they specialoze in mens's health. They are out of florida, but do telemed. Alot of guys here use them and are very happy.

 

[Vince]

So 16 hgb and 48 hct is not high. I run over 50 hct everyday of my life even before T injections. So that is one reason why hema dr did not do phlebotomy. I am not saying to not pay attention to it. It would depend on other bllpf factors, lile platlet count, white blood cells, mcv..... but at your number there is no need to be worried. My urologist and two hematologists both are happy if i stay under 54 hct. I show no systems, such as shortness of breath with exertion. Call defy medical, they specialoze in mens's health. They are out of florida, but do telemed. Alot of guys here use them and are very happy.

Blood Viscosity, drink water also make your blood slippery by supplementing with fish oil and taking aspiring.

Fish oil will not lower the hematocrit measurement itself, but it does help reduce the viscosity of the blood...which is one of the concerns with higher hematocrit.

 

[buggies100]

Absolutely on all of those Vince. I have had seceral kidney stones! That makes one drink water, if only out of fear! LOL

 

[Ripped one]

i don't understand. The urologist sent me to the heme Dr. because he was concerned that it was high.
The Hemoglobin is above 15, which is the top of the high range.
The Hematocrit is 48% and the highest range is $9%
???

Here's the hemoglobin and hematocrit

 

[ratbag]

Most TRT MD's do not do anything if your HCT is above range. This is a fact. I'm in a similar situation. My HCT went up to 61 at one point and my hematologist stated that I did not have polycemia and to stop worrying over it. So I learned that he was looking at my platelets and not my hct and based his decision on that. I feel fine. So my understanding is just because you have high hct doesn't mean you have polycemia. A lot of MD's and people believe high hct automatically means polycemia. Those who live in high altitudes have high hct but they don't have polycemia. Quite a few TRT users cannot donate blood due to low iron and I'm also in that category.

 

[Vince Carter]

There is a line of thought that its the platelets and not Hematocrit but usually when its brought up it gets shot down fairly quick.

 

[Ripped one]

How do guys who do High doses of Testosterone ir other drugs deal with Polycythemia? I'm only doing a TRT dose.

 

[RussG.]

I have Polycythemia and want to get on TRT, will I be able to do this or will it cause more issues? I have a Doctors appointment next month for a physical.

 

[Vince]

Yes will cause more issues. You could try clomiphene.

Clomid causes less polycythemia than TRT

CLOMIPHENE CITRATE RESULTS IN A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER INCIDENCE OF POLYCYTHEMIA COMPARED TO EXOGENOUS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT IN HYPOGONADAL MEN. INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES It is established that exogenous testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) may be detrimental to a man's fertility...

www.excelmale.com

 

[Nelson Vergel]

I have Polycythemia and want to get on TRT, will I be able to do this or will it cause more issues? I have a Doctors appointment next month for a physical.

Read this :

Search "hematocrit"

www.discountedlabs.com

Make sure you do not smoke, use high T doses, and have no sleep apnea:

Sleep Apnea and Testosterone

What does apnea have to do with testosterone? Everything! Your precious shuteye is responsible for a host of all-important physiological functions, including rebuilding your testosterone and neurotr

www.discountedlabs.com