Donated Blood Today...........

[Alpin]

Went for donation today. 2 months since last donation. Last week I had a lab and Hemo was 151 G/L and HCT was normal as per the secretary over the phone.
Judging by past labs I think HCT was around 46 %.
Today I went in and the nurse taking my blood said Hemoglobin is 171 G/L and HCT 50 %....
I did my shot of 60 mg T earlier today before blood test. What I wanted to know is, If taking the shot the same day, does it naturally increase Hemo/HCT that day ?
I was very well hydrated all day.

 

[Mprtz]

No, I wouldn't think the shot made it go up that quickly.
Most likely, it's the equipment. At the blood bank they use a small desktop instrument that works either by laser (opacity) or ultrasound.
I don't think either is as accurate as the lab test.

 

[Alpin]

I've never had problems with their machine other times. It was usually dead on. Baseline HCT was always 43% pre donation and Baseline Hemo was 148 G/L prior to TRT.
Last weeks lab (9 days ago) Hemo was 151 G/L...
today there machine says HCT is 50 % and Hemo 171 G/L
I thought they would turn me away at 50 %...
looks like I'm gonna have issues.
I'm only on 60 mg E3D....
TT: 831 ng/dl 2 days from shot.

 

[Alpin]

I don't even feel worn out or tired. I could go workout now.
I'm thinking RBC's are elevated a bit from the usual.

 

[Mprtz]

At my blood center they don't turn you away until about 55%, 50% isn't that bad.
Can you give platelets?

 

[Alpin]

At my blood center they don't turn you away until about 55%, 50% isn't that bad.
Can you give platelets?

I've never given platelets...
I think you have to wait a while before going in after a whole blood donation when giving platelets.
What does giving platelets do for us on TRT ?

 

[Mprtz]

I've never given platelets...
I think you have to wait a while before going in after a whole blood donation when giving platelets.
What does giving platelets do for us on TRT ?

Depends on the blood center, but at mine you only have to wait 3 days after whole blood to donate platelets, and you can donate platelets every 7 days.
A platelet donation drops my HCT at least as much as a whole blood donation. 2 to 3 percent.

By alternating whole blood and platelet apheresis, I can easily keep up with my HCT climbing on 200mg/week, while just doing whole blood every 8 weeks might not be enough.

Takes a while, but those platelets are badly needed too.

 

[STAUNCHED427]

I thought platelets and plasma both involve a return line of blood back into your body?

Otherwise I would go down it every chance I get considering you can do it every 2 weeks, but I was under the impression it doesn't lower HCT.

 

[Mprtz]

I thought platelets and plasma both involve a return line of blood back into your body?

Otherwise I would go down it every chance I get considering you can do it every 2 weeks, but I was under the impression it doesn't lower HCT.

There have been some long threads on this, maybe I can dig them up.

The upshot is that platelet apheresis THEORETICALLY returns all your RBCs to you, but a lot of these fragile cells get damaged in the process and result in an HCT drop of 2% or 3%.

The blood banks, however, set the donation interval as if the process were perfect. You can use that to your advantage.

Halfwit first told me about this and I was a bit skeptical, but there are research papers that back this up and I verified it myself, lowering my HCT from 53% to 46% in 2 weeks by doing 1 whole blood and 2 platelet donations.

 

[Alpin]

Is the blood that returns back into your body in a platelet donation by disposable tubing ?
the blood doesn't come in contact with the machine or any of its parts at all ?

 

[Mprtz]

Is the blood that returns back into your body in a platelet donation by disposable tubing ?
the blood doesn't come in contact with the machine or any of its parts at all ?

Correct, there is a kit of tubing and fittings that is used for each procedure and discarded. Apparently each kit costs several hundred dollars. Roller wheels pump the blood by "massaging" the tubing, but there must also be some kind of internal centrifuge that separates blood components.

 

[Alpin]

Correct, there is a kit of tubing and fittings that is used for each procedure and discarded. Apparently each kit costs several hundred dollars. Roller wheels pump the blood by "massaging" the tubing, but there must also be some kind of internal centrifuge that separates blood components.

if it costs several 100 $$$ per kit one must be skeptical of cost cutting measures comin into play...

 

[Alpin]

a little cut and paste for you:

Once I start donating platelets, can I still donate blood?

If you wish to donate blood after donating platelets, then you will need to wait 56 days before donating blood. If you wish to donate platelets after donating blood, then you will need to wait 56 days before donating platelets. C. Blood Services recommends staying committed to one or the other.

 

[Mprtz]

if it costs several 100 $$$ per kit one must be skeptical of cost cutting measures comin into play...

Not sure what you mean, but I see them unpack a sealed kit and install it at the beginning of every procedure. You could bail on the procedure after 5 minutes and they would discard the kit without batting an eye.

 

[Alpin]

There have been some long threads on this, maybe I can dig them up.

The upshot is that platelet apheresis THEORETICALLY returns all your RBCs to you, but a lot of these fragile cells get damaged in the process and result in an HCT drop of 2% or 3%.

The blood banks, however, set the donation interval as if the process were perfect. You can use that to your advantage.

Halfwit first told me about this and I was a bit skeptical, but there are research papers that back this up and I verified it myself, lowering my HCT from 53% to 46% in 2 weeks by doing 1 whole blood and 2 platelet donations.

Do they tell you you must wait 56 days between each platelet and whole blood donation ?
I don't think it would be allowed anywere to do a blood donation and ten wait for 2 weeks to do a platelet donation.
Either way there are platelets in blood donations as well.

 

[Mprtz]

a little cut and paste for you:

Once I start donating platelets, can I still donate blood?

If you wish to donate blood after donating platelets, then you will need to wait 56 days before donating blood. If you wish to donate platelets after donating blood, then you will need to wait 56 days before donating platelets. C. Blood Services recommends staying committed to one or the other.

Like I said, organizations set their own rules, unfortunately it looks like what I described will not work in Canada.

 

[Alpin]

Not sure what you mean, but I see them unpack a sealed kit and install it at the beginning of every procedure. You could bail on the procedure after 5 minutes and they would discard the kit without batting an eye.

that kit is then attached to a harpoon like needle ?
never seen one done. Either way it will be a few days before you can do arms in the gym after having a needle in your arm for 100 minutes..
takes a few days to a week to heal after whole blood donations before doing arms....

 

[Mprtz]

that kit is then attached to a harpoon like needle ?
never seen one done. Either way it will be a few days before you can do arms in the gym after having a needle in your arm for 100 minutes..
takes a few days to a week to heal after whole blood donations before doing arms....

It's a single needle, though it may have 2 openings. The machine alternates between withdrawing blood and returning it. I won't say it's fun and usually I'm quite ready to get out of that chair and be able to move my arm again by the end of it.

I don't feel any after-effects an hour later, but everyone's different.

 

[Alpin]

It's a single needle, though it may have 2 openings. The machine alternates between withdrawing blood and returning it. I won't say it's fun and usually I'm quite ready to get out of that chair and be able to move my arm again by the end of it.

I don't feel any after-effects an hour later, but everyone's different.

sounds like it's not for me....lol
you need at least a 75- 100 minute session for platelets donation so it would lower HCT enough for a TRT patient.
In the chair with a harpoon in your arm for 100 minutes....
good luck healing to go to the gym.
whole blood donation = 8 mins. max in the chair and I'm gone.
If I ever have problems I'll just donate 2 pints....

 

[Mprtz]

sounds like it's not for me....lol
you need at least a 75- 100 minute session for platelets donation so it would lower HCT enough for a TRT patient.
In the chair with a harpoon in your arm for 100 minutes....
good luck healing to go to the gym.
whole blood donation = 8 mins. max in the chair and I'm gone.
If I ever have problems I'll just donate 2 pints....

Healing hasn't been an issue for me, I can't see or feel puncture site the next day.

You have the option to donate multiple pints? In that case you have no problem. Why did you write you were going to have issues with rising hct?