Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) guys that Donate Blood Regularly Need more Iron?

[Alpin]

TRT guys that Donate Blood Regularly Need more Iron?

If a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) guy is donating blood every 2 months...won't that lower Ferritin or Iron levels?
I'm sure it is of benefit to lower HCT and Hemoglobin...
Would someone on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) need to increase their daily intake of Iron?
I'm not sure how the two are inter related(Ferritin & HCT)
Anyone have a something to say on this?

 

[71Avido]

Here ya go, straight from the bloodsuckers themselves:
http://www.redcrossblood.org/iron/frequent-donors

 

[Alpin]

Here ya go, straight from the bloodsuckers themselves:
Iron Info for Frequent Donors | American Red Cross

lol..."blood suckers"..
That's a good web page bro. They are basically saying to supplement the diet with generous amounts of supplemental Iron if you are a frequent donor. Some other sites say: "diet is plenty"....not really the case.

 

[Alpin]

You lose about 220-250 mg of iron when you donate a unit of blood. A double red cell donation contains about twice as much (about 470 mg of iron). It can take 8 weeks or more for your body to replace the iron lost with blood donation, even with an iron-rich diet.

 

[Alpin]

When you do a "Double RBC" donation...what does this mean?
is it 2 pints of whole blood?

 

[Alpin]

There is a limit to how much iron your body can absorb each day (about 2-4 mg/day). The goal is to replace the iron lost from blood donation over 6 weeks to 3 months. Taking larger doses of iron for a shorter period of time may not replace the iron you need - and could result in more side effects

 

[wtgrantham]

I have problems controlling RBC on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) so I go as often as they let me and a few times more times than they know. I had a ferritin test and was pretty low so started taking iron pills all it did was increase the rate at which Hemo would rise. If you have problems controlling hemoglobin I wouldn't recommend supplementing.

 

[Alpin]

I have problems controlling RBC on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) so I go as often as they let me and a few times more times than they know. I had a ferritin test and was pretty low so started taking iron pills all it did was increase the rate at which Hemo would rise. If you have problems controlling hemoglobin I wouldn't recommend supplementing.

Interesting!
Your RBC and Hemoglobin elevate while on TRT...but Ferritin is low?
How is your Iron levels and TIBC(Iron binding capacity) ?
what dose are you on?
How are you able to get around the 56 day wait period to donate more blood?
How long you been on TRT?
Do you notice it take energy out of you after donation?
Do they let you donate 2 pints at once?

 

[wtgrantham]

Interesting!
Your RBC and Hemoglobin elevate while on TRT...but Ferritin is low?
How is your Iron levels and TIBC(Iron binding capacity) ?
what dose are you on?
How are you able to get around the 56 day wait period to donate more blood?
How long you been on TRT?
Do you notice it take energy out of you after donation?
Do they let you donate 2 pints at once?

Yes. Ferritin is basically iron storage, I think when u overproduce RBCs it uses up your ferritin

Not sure never tested

100mg per week

Go to another donation center out of town

1 1/2 years

No, feel fine

No they only want certain blood types for double RBC and I don't have it

 

[Alpin]

Yes. Ferritin is basically iron storage, I think when u overproduce RBCs it uses up your ferritin

Not sure never tested

100mg per week

Go to another donation center out of town

1 1/2 years

No, feel fine

No they only want certain blood types for double RBC and I don't have it

This explains a lot....thanks for sharing.
After 10 months on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), (3 years ago) I noticed my Ferritin come down to half it's level on blood work.
I thought it was a lab error...
My Iron, TIBC came down too to LOW levels...
Family doc was giggling and asking: "you don't eat red meat" ?
He's too stupid to understand what testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is.
My Hemoglobin went to 16.5 and HCT was 48 % after 10 months on 160 mg/week...
The increase in Hemo and HCT while on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) drains Ferritin. No other way to explain it.

 

[Alpin]

WtGrantham

Where is your Hemo and HCT now?
how much does it increase before each donation?
Over here we can't donate to private labs...it's all on a national registry.

 

[wtgrantham]

WtGrantham

Where is your Hemo and HCT now?
how much does it increase before each donation?
Over here we can't donate to private labs...it's all on a national registry.

At one point during my testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) my HCT was above 19 and Hemo was above 56 that was at the point I felt it was out of control so I went off testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Now I just go on and off of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to help keep it under control. I know that runs counter to opinion of how to run testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) but it works for me and I don,t really feel bad when off.
When Hemo is out of control for me it can climb 4 points or more in a month

 

[Alpin]

At one point during my testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) my HCT was above 19 and Hemo was above 56 that was at the point I felt it was out of control so I went off testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Now I just go on and off of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to help keep it under control. I know that runs counter to opinion of how to run testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) but it works for me and I don,t really feel bad when off.
When Hemo is out of control for me it can climb 4 points or more in a month

Sounds like you are very sensitive. May I ask how old you are ?
Maybe take some Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) or Clomid on it's own if you go off...or some Aromasin
Just so you are not left with totally low T levels.
Thanks for sharing your experience in this thread.

 

[Alpin]

What blood types do these donation places want for those who want to donate double RBC's?

 

[wtgrantham]

Sounds like you are very sensitive. May I ask how old you are ?
Maybe take some Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) or Clomid on it's own if you go off...or some Aromasin
Just so you are not left with totally low T levels.
Thanks for sharing your experience in this thread.

I think I am pretty sensitive, I've done some experimenting and it was at its worse when I was taking a 200 mg dose once per week and another time it was really bad I was taking 60 mg twice per week SQ and supplementing iron.
Seems better at 100 mg once per week
I am 50 years old
I do take Clomid and Nolva as pct when I come off

 

[wtgrantham]

Red Cross wants type O A neg or B neg for double red

 

[Alpin]

Bad deal bro. How long did that 200 mg/week take you to max out for HCT and Hemo?
I think they turn you away from donatio if you have 49% HCT

 

[Alpin]

Red Cross wants type O A neg or B neg for double red

I have O+

 

[Austin1]

Blood donors don't need anything unless a deficiency occurs, which is extremely rare. Any effects from donating blood are temporary and will be replenished quickly. Developing a deficiency would indicate a lack of diversity with your diet.

 

[wtgrantham]

No, not Red Cross once my hemoglobin couldn't be read by the machine (meaning it was over 19) she said "let's go get some of that iron out of you!"