Why is my Hemotocrit high?

[Spunkey71]

I started TRT about 4 months ago and based on Recommendations from this board I decided to be proactive and start donating blood. When I donated the first time my Hemotocrit was at 50%, not high but at the top end of the scale so it was good that I was taking on a proactive approach. 56 days later I went back and did a platlets with red blood cell donation which was two weeks ago and at the time my Hematocrit was at 51%. I had blood work done on Friday for my upcoming knee surgery and my Hemotocrit is up to 52%, you would think that two weeks after to a platelets with red blood cell donation my Hematocrit would have gone done some.

Any ideas?

 

[3J]

are you taking anything other then test??

 

[Spunkey71]

160mg a week Test Cyp & 600 IU's HCG, that is it

 

[3J]

you should try to give blood more often.. maybe eom

 

[Harot]

If you give blood more often don't you have to consider iron levels? Just a question, I know nothing...LOL

 

[Spunkey71]

I guess my question is how can my Hemotocrit go from 51% to 52% two weeks after donating? I have donated as often as they will allow, every 56 days.

 

[Megatron28]

Live at a crazy high altitude?

Are you going off an actual hematocrit lab result or using their rapid RBC test result? Is it the same lab each time?

Primary or secondary polycythemia? Was this ever a problem before TRT began?

 

[Spunkey71]

Live at a crazy high altitude?

Are you going off an actual hematocrit lab result or using their rapid RBC test result? Is it the same lab each time?

I am going by the rapid RBC test result as that was done for the CBC panel, different lab, they ran a CBC in preperation for my surgery on Wednesday.

6.37 4.70-6.10 M/CMM

 

[Megatron28]

I would get an actual hematocrit lab result. Who knows how accurate those rapid testers are. Maybe they are the same - maybe not.

 

[Spunkey71]

I just had bllod work done by my TRT doc a week ago but he did not run the Hemotocrit which I am upset about so I can't compare the two. I have decided that it is time that I find a new doctor so after the first of the year I am going to schedule appointments with some new doctors.

My TT is 560 and my Free T is 18, my doctor told me today that they go more by Free T than TT and that they can't increase my dosage any higher because that would put my Free T over 20 and they will not go over 20. This means that I am stuck with a 560 TT, yes I feel better than before treatment but I don't feel great, maybe I am wrong to question the doctor but I want to feel great not good.

 

[DreDay187]

Remember, hydration can also affect the reading slightly. It won't make or break your results but could be a causative factor for why you're getting such readings.

 

[Daniel_IMT_Staff]

Hematocrit can rise during TRT, especially if a lot of zinc/iron is included in your diet. At you blood donation facility they will measure your "iron levels" which is your hematocrit. You can times that number by 3 to get a clue of where your Hematocrit is.

Are you suffering from any symptoms associated with polycythemia?

 

[methos0123]

You should avoid iron supplements, as iron is used in the making of blood cells. I think you have stated that donating platelets decreases your HCT more because you can donate more often, but that is not getting the blood cells out, so it won't lower it any more than just donating whole blood every 56 days. Also, it's the hemaglobin that is times by 3 to get an ~ HCT value. This is referred to the rule of 3 in hematology...if the hematocrit or the hemaglobin is outside of the rule of 3 +/- 1 then it is flagged and needed to rerun or take other measures to resolve. I don't see why zinc would increase the bodies ability to make blood cells though. My doctor isn't concerned unless it gets to 54 or above, if that helps you.

 

[halfwit]

1. New doctor time. You know this, but any fool that thinks having someone inject to enjoy mediocrity doesn't deserve business.
2. You're likely like me and just have crazy red marrow reacting to that exogenous testosterone. Sounds like you get to join me in the cool kid's club known as platelet apheresis. The needles are smaller, but I bet you'll be done in an hour or so. The upside is you get to watch dvd's while there if it's the Red Cross too.

It just takes a few times to drop that HCT down as I tend to drop 3%+ every time I donate, and it can be done every 5-7 days depending on your counts. I currently am sitting at 42% HCT and have zero issues with this setup.

Hope this helps.

 

[Mprtz]

You should avoid iron supplements, as iron is used in the making of blood cells. I think you have stated that donating platelets decreases your HCT more because you can donate more often, but that is not getting the blood cells out, so it won't lower it any more than just donating whole blood every 56 days. Also, it's the hemaglobin that is times by 3 to get an ~ HCT value. This is referred to the rule of 3 in hematology...if the hematocrit or the hemaglobin is outside of the rule of 3 +/- 1 then it is flagged and needed to rerun or take other measures to resolve. I don't see why zinc would increase the bodies ability to make blood cells though. My doctor isn't concerned unless it gets to 54 or above, if that helps you.

In theory, platelets donation shouldn't lower HCT much at all because platelets are only a very small fraction of blood solids. However, the equipment and the process destroys a lot more blood cells than is reflected by the donation schedule. In short, they let you donate platelets every week because they assume the process is perfect, but it isn't. You can use that to your advantage and donate platelets about every week and lower HCT about 3% each time.

I personally confirmed that this works and brought my HCT from 53% to about 44% in the space of two weeks (Whole blood, platelets 1 and 2 weeks later).

 

[methos0123]

Well, it's not "supposed" to get rid of the RBC's because they are returned to you during the process. However, I won't dispute you all's experiences with it, and lab works.

 

[Spunkey71]

I was told at my donation center that if I donate whole blood I have to wait 56 days before being allowed to donate platelets but can donate platelets every 7 days. I will go in this weekend for another platelets donation and see what they tell me my Hematocrit level is.

And yes Halfwit I will be finding a new doctor, already have a list of possible replacements.

 

[Daniel_IMT_Staff]

To my knowledge, donating platelets shouldn't have an effect in on RBCs. Donate whole blood! 450-500ml blood should decrease it as stated about 3%.

Just avoid zinc/iron and you should be fine!

 

[Mprtz]

To my knowledge, donating platelets shouldn't have an effect in on RBCs. Donate whole blood! 450-500ml blood should decrease it as stated about 3%.

Just avoid zinc/iron and you should be fine!

It shouldn't, but it does. I said the same thing and halfwit pointed me to some great research papers analyzing the hemolytic effects of platelet apheresis. Pumping blood through tubing with those rollers and repeatedly forcing it through a relatively small needle destroys a significant percentage of RBCs.

Here's Halfwit's link recopied:

Pre- and post- donation haematological values in healthy donors undergoing plateletpheresis with five different systems

 

[Black Beard]

Make sure you are hydrated. That throws off blood tests. I've seen it at the hospital.

They won't go over 20? That's sad. They don't want you too become too "manly" ya know