High hemoglobin and hematocrit levels?

bigt405

bigt405

Member
Has anyone else had issues with these levels being high and if so what was the answer for keeping them normal? For back ground I am on test cyp @ 100 ew. My hemoglobin was 18.1 and hematocrit was 56.1.
 
I've reduced hematocrit by 5 points with grapefruit. One whole per day dropped mine from 54 to 49 in the course of about a month.

Hemoglobin...sorry, I've got nothin there.
 
As bad as I hate grapefruit it looks like I will have to give that a try because the only plan my doctor has is getting off the test.....
 
bigt405 said:
Has anyone else had issues with these levels being high and if so what was the answer for keeping them normal? For back ground I am on test cyp @ 100 ew. My hemoglobin was 18.1 and hematocrit was 56.1.
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If you and your Doc are happy where your T levels are but this is your only problem, you might want to look at donating blood. You don't want these getting too far out of range....
 
H&H values:
Hematocrit:
Normal Adult Male Range 41 - 53 percent
Hemoglobin:
Normal Adult Male Range: 13.5 - 17.5 g/dL
 
Matthersby said:
If you and your Doc are happy where your T levels are but this is your only problem, you might want to look at donating blood. You don't want these getting too far out of range....
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Yep. These are the only issues. The t levels are good and I feel great. I will give blood and eat the grapefruit and get my levels checked again. Thanks for the replies...
 
bigt405 said:
Yep. These are the only issues. The t levels are good and I feel great. I will give blood and eat the grapefruit and get my levels checked again. Thanks for the replies...
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They aren't too bad yet. But your doctor is unfortunately justified in wanting to take you off. If a person's hematocrit remains elevated above a certain level for a period of time, he or she may be at high risk of blood clots, heart disease, or stroke. So do whatever you have to in order to stay "on" but keeping yourself out of harms way is #1.....
 
Your levels aren't that bad, mine were MUCH higher. 20.5 and 62. I decreased mine by lowering dose and injecting more frequently.

The problem w trying to donate blood is that most places do a quick H&H before allowing you to donate. If H&H is too high, they won't let you donate.

Happened to me...
 
napalm said:
Your levels aren't that bad, mine were MUCH higher. 20.5 and 62. I decreased mine by lowering dose and injecting more frequently.

The problem w trying to donate blood is that most places do a quick H&H before allowing you to donate. If H&H is too high, they won't let you donate.

Happened to me...
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So lowering my dose and splitting dose up into two shots a week could help....definitely going to try this . Just as a reference what is your dosage and what days do you pin on?
 
bigt405 said:
So lowering my dose and splitting dose up into two shots a week could help....definitely going to try this . Just as a reference what is your dosage and what days do you pin on?
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Yes, it COULD help. I'm currently pinning 60 twice a week. Labs have all came together at this dose.

You typically need less than you think pinning twice a week. For example, if you're on 150/week. I'd start at 50 twice a week, get labs done, reevaluate...
 
From a health benefit point of view I think donating blood offers several advantages.

Also, try avoiding supplemental iron and if you for some reason are taking dessicated liver tabs (an old school BBing supplement so I doubt you are) I would avoid those completely.
 
napalm said:
Calcium channel blockers are one type of BP med. I'm pretty sure you're taking one of those. Best to double check broseph...
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I'm a beta blocker guy. CCBs are a no-go for CHF/cardiomyopathy.

Nursewife clears my interactions.
 
Let me know how it goes. I'm currently having the same problem. My levels are just slightly elevated but the doctor wants them decreased. I'm going to try to donate blood and see if that helps.
 
Donated blood today. They commented on two things
1. On how high my iron levels were...
2. On how thick my blood was because it took longer than normal...

I started drinking 8 oz of grapefruit juice daily two days ago so I might wait past next week to see if it helps
 
bigt405 said:
Donated blood today. They commented on two things
1. On how high my iron levels were...
2. On how thick my blood was because it took longer than normal...

I started drinking 8 oz of grapefruit juice daily two days ago so I might wait past next week to see if it helps
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Glad you were able to. You taking baby aspirin daily?
 
bigt405 said:
Well my hematocrit dropped from 56.1 to 53......still a little on the high side but much better.
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How much did you donate? I expected a greater drop, like mid 40's. Just continue to donate every three months and you should be able to keep your level under control.
 
bigt405 said:
I am trying to up my water intake to see if that helps.....How much water should a 280 lb person drink to be well hydrated?
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I weigh 240, and get about 1.5 gallons per day. I'd say you would be good with around 2 gallons.
 
lexmuscle said:
How much did you donate? I expected a greater drop, like mid 40's. Just continue to donate every three months and you should be able to keep your level under control.
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Whatever the standard donation amount at the red cross is....I think it is a pint.
 
Just as an update I gave blood one more time and got my bloodwork back today .......the hematocrit number dropped all the way down to 48.5 this time :) So for me at least it looks like giving blood regularly is the answer.
 
bigt405 said:
Just as an update I gave blood one more time and got my bloodwork back today .......the hematocrit number dropped all the way down to 48.5 this time :) So for me at least it looks like giving blood regularly is the answer.
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Awesome to hear man, hematocrit in the mid-low 40's should keep you feeling great
 
Matthersby said:
If you and your Doc are happy where your T levels are but this is your only problem, you might want to look at donating blood. You don't want these getting too far out of range....
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Aaahhheeeemmmm!! Someone got in here quick and gave some bomb advice!
 
bigt405 said:
I am trying to up my water intake to see if that helps.....How much water should a 280 lb person drink to be well hydrated?
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Sorry - I know this is an older thread.

To answer your question, there are 2 different rules of thumb I use to determine water needs:

1. Weight in lbs/2 = ounces of water. At 280, that means 140 ounces of water.
2. More recently - weight in lbs multiplied by 0.65. At 280, that means 182 ounces of water.

In every case, the amount is driven by body weight.

And most people are dehydrated, at least to some extent.
 
Beau said:
Sorry - I know this is an older thread.

To answer your question, there are 2 different rules of thumb I use to determine water needs:

1. Weight in lbs/2 = ounces of water. At 280, that means 140 ounces of water.
2. More recently - weight in lbs multiplied by 0.65. At 280, that means 182 ounces of water.

In every case, the amount is driven by body weight.

And most people are dehydrated, at least to some extent.
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Thanks for the response no matter how late.....that is a lot of water!
 
Of course the answer to your original question as has been said is to donate blood. I donate every two months unless my levels get too low then I increase the time between donations.
 
BJE said:
Of course the answer to your original question as has been said is to donate blood. I donate every two months unless my levels get too low then I increase the time between donations.
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This totally correct and I am learning the hard way that it is not optional :( I let some things keep getting in the way of me donating and now I am actually over19 on my hemoglobin this time. I have cut my dosage in half to 50 mg a week. When I get this under control every 56 days just like a doctors appointment I will be donating hell or high water!
 
bigt405 said:
This totally correct and I am learning the hard way that it is not optional :( I let some things keep getting in the way of me donating and now I am actually over19 on my hemoglobin this time. I have cut my dosage in half to 50 mg a week. When I get this under control every 56 days just like a doctors appointment I will be donating hell or high water!
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It may have already been said, but your doctor could prescribe therepudic phlebotomy to get your level down faster.
 
BJE said:
It may have already been said, but your doctor could prescribe therepudic phlebotomy to get your level down faster.
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That would be my advice as well, but with a Dr. wanting to take a patient doing well off of test completely because his h and h are elevated may be hard to convince to do this. We have to deal with a lot of incompetence in getting male hrt in many cases.
 
Vj63 said:
That would be my advice as well, but with a Dr. wanting to take a patient doing well off of test completely because his h and h are elevated may be hard to convince to do this. We have to deal with a lot of incompetence in getting male hrt in many cases.
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I have a friend that goes to the same doctor for trt too. Luckily he does not have an issue with his hemoglobin or hematocrit. He went to him this week and the doctor made a big deal about the study that just came out, but told him he was good since his levels stayed normal. It probably will not be good for me to go in with elevated levels. That's the reason I have cut my trt dose in half and will try to stay hydrated. I am hoping it will come down enough to donate. I am trying to put off going back to him as long as I can, but in a few weeks I will just have to bite the bullet if it does not come down. Worst case is he will not give me another prescription. Best case is he will prescribe a therapeutic draw and tell me to never miss a donation again. We will see.......
 
bigt405 said:
I have a friend that goes to the same doctor for trt too. Luckily he does not have an issue with his hemoglobin or hematocrit. He went to him this week and the doctor made a big deal about the study that just came out, but told him he was good since his levels stayed normal. It probably will not be good for me to go in with elevated levels. That's the reason I have cut my trt dose in half and will try to stay hydrated. I am hoping it will come down enough to donate. I am trying to put off going back to him as long as I can, but in a few weeks I will just have to bite the bullet if it does not come down. Worst case is he will not give me another prescription. Best case is he will prescribe a therapeutic draw and tell me to never miss a donation again. We will see.......
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I understand exactly what you are dealing with. Drs., to be supposedly educated people, seem to have a hard time understanding what constitutes a valid well designed that may not even apply in a patients particular case. There are several well thought out rebuttals to that study that you could gather and present to your Dr. If they aren't willing to listen, you should try to move on(which starts the process all over again LOL). Good luck. BTW, What part of Al are you in?
 
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