Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and high hematocrit

[wtgrantham]

Zinc is crucial. 30% of everyone on earth have a deficiency. Something is wrong with OP's protocol to require monthly donations. Your doctor needs to help you get this under control. Not sure why he would let this go on this long. I never have issues on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) doses, when I cycle it shoots through the roof and I just drain myself. Aspirin does nothing to hematocrit levels.

I've tried several adjustments to protocol including 100mg once per week and twice per week sub Q. I've decided to come off for awhile (have been off for almost 3 months now) to get my RBCs to a nice low "normal" level. Then I intend to start testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) back up and will tweak protocol some more to see if I can control it better. If Testosterone causes blood thickening then what protocol changes do you theorize could help slow down the process?

 

[Megatron28]

I've tried several adjustments to protocol including 100mg once per week and twice per week sub Q. I've decided to come off for awhile (have been off for almost 3 months now) to get my RBCs to a nice low "normal" level. Then I intend to start testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) back up and will tweak protocol some more to see if I can control it better. If Testosterone causes blood thickening then what protocol changes do you theorize could help slow down the process?

You have to do regular blood donations to stay on top if it.

 

[Austinite]

I've tried several adjustments to protocol including 100mg once per week and twice per week sub Q. I've decided to come off for awhile (have been off for almost 3 months now) to get my RBCs to a nice low "normal" level. Then I intend to start testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) back up and will tweak protocol some more to see if I can control it better. If Testosterone causes blood thickening then what protocol changes do you theorize could help slow down the process?

Well, stopping testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) will not lower your RBC's. It will stop further development, but your RBC's aren't going to disappear. You may need to be a gel user. You're responding very well (too well) to injections. I would tell your doctor that monthly blood donation is unacceptable to you. Might consider lowering your dose.

 

[LittleJohnny]

Well, stopping testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) will not lower your RBC's. It will stop further development, but your RBC's aren't going to disappear. You may need to be a gel user. You're responding very well (too well) to injections. I would tell your doctor that monthly blood donation is unacceptable to you. Might consider lowering your dose.

I disagree completely with this. If you stop testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) your RBC will definitely come down. RBC's die off and are replaced all the time. If you're not on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) your RBC will be replaced at a lower rate.

wtgrantham....you need to give blood more often to get back to a lower level. Then switch to a maintenance schedule. This is simple shit that doesn't need to be over analyzed.

 

[Austinite]

I disagree completely with this. If you stop testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) your RBC will definitely come down. RBC's die off and are replaced all the time. If you're not on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) your RBC will be replaced at a lower rate.

wtgrantham....you need to give blood more often to get back to a lower level. Then switch to a maintenance schedule. This is simple shit that doesn't need to be over analyzed.

You make it sound like RBC's have nothing to do with HCT. Why bother donating if we can come just off and lower everything.....

 

[1693]

What was your TT with 100mg per week?

Maybe you should try 40mg q 3.5 days.

Just do a bleed and get going again.

 

[wtgrantham]

You make it sound like RBC's have nothing to do with HCT. Why bother donating if we can come just off and lower everything.....

RBCs die off with a life span of about 120 days so your count will naturally lower over time. I'm not just waiting it out though I am donating blood a couple of times to speed the lowering process. I came off testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for awhile because I felt I was on a "frantic" pace to donate blood and not keeping up. When I started testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) I waited to long (6 months or so) before starting donations and couldn't get control after that.
I like the idea of coming off testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) occasionally just to let the body reestablish all systems and remind myself that I am not completely dependent. Sure hurts motivation in gym and libido but I can trudge through it for a few months.

 

[Megatron28]

You make it sound like RBC's have nothing to do with HCT. Why bother donating if we can come just off and lower everything.....

Why would you want to come off testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and feel like shit again -- worse than before you started testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) because now you have literally zero natty T -- when you could just perform a simple blood donation? To borrow Halfwit's analogy, would you advise a guy with normal natty T and high hematocrit to cut off his ball sack off and put them in the freezer for a few months to let his hematocrit drop? And then sew it back on once things are normal again?

 

[bigben34]

Why would you want to come off testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and feel like shit again -- worse than before you started testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) because now you have literally zero natty T -- when you could just perform a simple blood donation? To borrow Halfwit's analogy, would you advise a guy with normal natty T and high hematocrit to cut off his ball sack off and put them in the freezer for a few months to let his hematocrit drop? And then sew it back on once things are normal again?

Agree...Personally, you'd have to cut my arms off to get me to stop TRT..and even then, i'd just have my wife do my shots ....I tend to think that when people stop testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), there's probably something that isn't dialed in. When I'm dialed in and in my sweetspot, there's no better than that feeling of wellbeing and I just can't imagine stopping..

 

[wtgrantham]

Why would you want to come off testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and feel like shit again -- worse than before you started testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) because now you have literally zero natty T -- when you could just perform a simple blood donation? To borrow Halfwit's analogy, would you advise a guy with normal natty T and high hematocrit to cut off his ball sack off and put them in the freezer for a few months to let his hematocrit drop? And then sew it back on once things are normal again?

I really didn't feel bad before testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) just not much "umph" in the gym or libido and really don't feel bad now, I did run a strong 30 day post cycle therapy (pct) with Clomid and Nolva when I came off to recover my natty as quick as possible. I was a little up and down while on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) some days felt great others not so much, so I can visualize a scenario of going on and off as necessary to keep Hemoglobin at bay.

 

[bigben34]

I really didn't feel bad before testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) just not much "umph" in the gym or libido and really don't feel bad now, I did run a strong 30 day post cycle therapy (pct) with Clomid and Nolva when I came off to recover my natty as quick as possible. I was a little up and down while on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) some days felt great others not so much, so I can visualize a scenario of going on and off as necessary to keep Hemoglobin at bay.

Did you do any blood work after your post cycle therapy (pct)? Just curious to see what your natty levels went to...

 

[Megatron28]

I really didn't feel bad before testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) just not much "umph" in the gym or libido and really don't feel bad now, I did run a strong 30 day post cycle therapy (pct) with Clomid and Nolva when I came off to recover my natty as quick as possible. I was a little up and down while on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) some days felt great others not so much, so I can visualize a scenario of going on and off as necessary to keep Hemoglobin at bay.

You may be an exception. Most guys get on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) because they feel like shit all the time and they finally figure out that they natty T is in the 100-300 range which is way below normal for their given age. Most guys would never want to go back to living like that after having testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) give them their life back.

 

[Austinite]

Why would you want to come off testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and feel like shit again -- worse than before you started testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) because now you have literally zero natty T -- when you could just perform a simple blood donation? To borrow Halfwit's analogy, would you advise a guy with normal natty T and high hematocrit to cut off his ball sack off and put them in the freezer for a few months to let his hematocrit drop? And then sew it back on once things are normal again?

That was never my point, at all...

My point was if you are donating monthly, then your testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) protocol needs to be reevaluated.

 

[IMT staff]

I can visualize a scenario of going on and off as necessary to keep Hemoglobin at bay.

There is nothing wrong with coming off every 12 - 18 months if it helps to avoid polycythemia, so I agree

 

[wtgrantham]

Did you do any blood work after your PCT? Just curious to see what your natty levels went to...

Ran some blood work while in pct and my test was around 330 up from my original baseline of 250 before starting testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Thinking ill test again soon to see where I settled in.

Not to be a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) poo pooer but I find it hard to believe low testosterone levels make guys feel That bad, older guys have been living with low testosterone since the dawn of time and living healthy fruitful existences . I have not felt worse with lower lower testosterone just less motivated to lift and have sex! Maybe that is just me and some guys really do feel worse.
Nice to have some time off to let the hemo drop (I donated today and dropped 1 point naturally over the last 6 weeks) also nice to stop that damn body hair from growing for awhile!

 

[IMT staff]

Not to be a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) poo pooer but I find it hard to believe low testosterone levels make guys feel That bad, older guys have been living with low testosterone since the dawn of time and living healthy fruitful existences .

This may be true, but the chemicals in our food and things like non-acloholic fatty liver disease have only been around for 30 years or so, the amount of infertile men has increased rapidly just over the last century.

Obesity rates are 10x what they were just 50 years ago. Thats like comparing apples to oranges.

 

[LittleJohnny]

You make it sound like RBC's have nothing to do with HCT. Why bother donating if we can come just off and lower everything.....

RBC, Hematocrit, Hemoglobin, and Bilirubin (basically dead RBC) are all tied together. Why bother donating? Because no one wants to go on a roller coaster ride by going on and off testosterone when giving blood accomplishes the same goal.

 

[Austinite]

RBC, Hematocrit, Hemoglobin, and Bilirubin (basically dead RBC) are all tied together. Why bother donating? Because no one wants to go on a roller coaster ride by going on and off testosterone when giving blood accomplishes the same goal.

That is not my point. Please read the conversation from the start.

 

[wtgrantham]

RBC, Hematocrit, Hemoglobin, and Bilirubin (basically dead RBC) are all tied together. Why bother donating? Because no one wants to go on a roller coaster ride by going on and off testosterone when giving blood accomplishes the same goal.

Right, but what I am saying is it really does not seem to be a roller coaster for me or I wouldn't consider doing it regularly

 

[1693]

I think some feel a proper testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) protocol is one where the hematocrit stays in check without donating and it's in check mainly because they are not injecting more test than their body can deal with and still keep the hematocrit in check.....