How to lower Red Blood cell count????
- Thread starter Soybean70
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Mprtz
New member
No good way that I know of.
There's a phenomenon that affects runners called "footstrike hemolysis", where the repeated impact on the soles while running leads to the destruction of red blood cells.
You could take up running, barefoot is probably most effective. I'm about 68% joking about this.
I'm sorry you had a bad experience donating blood, was it psychological or did something go wrong with the phlebotomy?
There's a phenomenon that affects runners called "footstrike hemolysis", where the repeated impact on the soles while running leads to the destruction of red blood cells.
You could take up running, barefoot is probably most effective. I'm about 68% joking about this.
I'm sorry you had a bad experience donating blood, was it psychological or did something go wrong with the phlebotomy?
Blood pressure dropped and out went the lights. I did finish though. My hemocrit was 17.8.
Mprtz
New member
Did they defer you from future donations? 17.8 is pretty high, depending on how long it took you to ramp up to that value, waiting another 8 weeks to donate again might not be enough. You could look into platlet apheresis, or might have to consider therapeutic phlebotomy.
They never said I couldn't donate again. I've been on trt for 11 months. That was my first donation. Is there any way to donate a smaller amount? I was ok til the very last part of it. I feel like I could do half a pint with no problems
My iron was at the high end of being acceptable. I will cut back on those supplements u mentioned. THANKS
Mprtz
New member
OP, maybe if the loss of fluids is the issue you could try donating platelets? At my blood center you can donate platelets 7 days after donating whole blood.
I did a triple platelet donation 10 days ago. On intake my HCT was 51
Yesterday, I donated whole blood. My HCT measured on the same equipment was 46
If anything, I was better hydrated the first time. Granted, there is probably some error to the desktop readers, but it's still a good indication that plateletpheresis is effective at lowering HCT.
I did a triple platelet donation 10 days ago. On intake my HCT was 51
Yesterday, I donated whole blood. My HCT measured on the same equipment was 46
If anything, I was better hydrated the first time. Granted, there is probably some error to the desktop readers, but it's still a good indication that plateletpheresis is effective at lowering HCT.
Gbrad
Member
I would agree with this. Also I make sure to be very hydrated and have eaten a good meal prior to donating. Blood donation is the only way I know of to lower hematocrit. Some platelet donation machines do help lower HCt by way of RBCs being destroyed but it is not always a Big Bang for the buck so to speak. My local Red Cross has a unit that is pretty efficient at returning red blood cells so I only saw a 1 point drop in HCt over a 2 hr plus donation. Not a great return on investment of time for my taste.
Try to warm up to the idea of systematic donation and you will be able to manage HCt and help others. A win win!
What about the double red cell donation?
Hemoglobin 17.8.
Gbrad
Member
Yeah it lowers about double what a whole blood does as we would figure based on what they do. I was just kinda lumping it in the same category as giving blood. May be a good fit if OP doesn't wanna go as often. Can only donate every 16 weeks.
Alpin
New member
If it was your first time, You had a panic attack most likely.
Did you eat well going into the donation?
Should have something solid in your system 4 hours before donation.
When the previous poster said watch Iron intake it doesnt mean the "iron level" the blood centre ppl refer to when measuring your Hemo/Hct....they mean watch iron intake that will increase ferritin levels.
Did you eat well going into the donation?
Should have something solid in your system 4 hours before donation.
When the previous poster said watch Iron intake it doesnt mean the "iron level" the blood centre ppl refer to when measuring your Hemo/Hct....they mean watch iron intake that will increase ferritin levels.
Alpin
New member
I had the same experience after my first donation. Right at the end you get syncope type feelings.
You will be fine on subsequent donations.
Alpin
New member
Those things they use to measure hemo/hct are screwy.
A week before going in for donation I was 15.1 Hemo & 46% HCT on a blood test. Going in for the donation and getting the finger prick at the centre they told me my Hemo was 17.3 with HCT 50%
I was very well hydrated no way was blood that high.
Freaked me out cause I had my T shot earlier that day before the donation and I was unsure what caided the spike. Who knows it might be right and Hemo/HCT spikes on days when T is taken after all T/E has direct influence on Hemo/HCT.
Mprtz
New member
Published accuracy of the ultrasound-based readers like the Ultracrit is better than 0.5% hct. Maybe there room for operator error somehow. I admit that a 5% drop seems almost improbably high.
I don't see how hct can spike with T or T/E ratio. Spike suggests a rapid rise and subsequent fall. Not even blood loss will cause a rapid drop in hct, until plasma volume is restored. Why do you say that T/E ratio influences hct?
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I have not tried double red cell donation. It takes about 30 minute more than a whole blood donation. They can take twice as many red blood cells, but then you have to wait twice as long between donations. So you kinda end up at the same place.
There is supposedly an advantage. According to the Red Cross web site "With all of your platelets and plasma returned to you along with some saline, you don't lose the liquid portion of your blood and may feel more hydrated after your donation."
So if you think this would help you, try a double red cell. I don't seem to notice the missing plasma and platelets ... the body replaces the plasma in like one day so it's no big deal (for me at least).
Perhaps someone can clarify ... for a double red cell donation - do they need to insert more than one needle (one for the blood and a "return" line for the plasma). This is not a deal breaker, but I try to minimize those vein punctures.
Mprtz
New member
Based on the equipment at my blood center, the same machine is used for all apheresis processes. A single needle is used for withdrawal and return (which alternate every 20 seconds or so), but the needle has two openings in it. I haven't taken a close look at the size of the needle, but it has never cause a problem for me.
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