Polycythemia and latest labs

[1cc]

Is there any way to avoid Polycythemia when doing TRT? I know that injections are more prone to causing this. I recently switched from shots and am currently doing 25mg T cream and 100iu HCG every day, but I am still getting elevated hematocrit and RBC. These labs were done 2 hours after applying T cream and taking HCG shot.

RBC 5.77 4.20-5.50
Hemoglobin 16.9 13.0-17.0
Hematocrit 53.3 37.5-50.7

Ferritin 39 20-345
Estradiol 24 13-54
Total T 469 241-827
Free T 149 34-194
Free and weakly bound T 312 84-402
SHBG 16 13-71
DHT pending

One month ago I donated blood at the red cross while I was still on shots and at the time my levels were:

RBC 5.83 4.20-5.50
Hemoglobin 17.6 13.0-17.0
Hematocrit 54.2 37.5-50.7

It looks like I might need to do a therapeutic phlebotomy twice in the next month for my numbers to come back within the normal range. Is there anything to be concerned about with doing frequent phlebotomies?

[pcgizzmo]

I have been told that if you have a problem w/polycythemia then you probably need to stop TRT. That theraputic phlembotomy is not the way to manage it. I asked SWALE this as well as my current TRT Doc. My current Doc told me it was bad medicine and SWALE said not to do it as well. I don't have it but, have been borderline and wondered what to do it TRT moved me past the limits. Good luck w/what you decide to do.

Paul

[jawbone]

My doc said that if you are on androgen therapy long enough MOST will develop increased Hmg/hct. Mine was 53 and just had 500 ml removed from me. The interesting thing is that they would not take my blood for donor use since they are worried that I might have a mylogenous leukemia or ? even though we know what is causing it. Face it, the only way to manage it is by removing whole blood until HCT is normalized and them removing a unit every 2-3 months. I was never told to DC treatment but certainly that would treat it too. I will have a follow up with my doc next week. I will ask him this though. Dont get dehydrated until you can get some removed. Usually a HCT up to 55 does not have a high incidence of a thrombic event but we should be cautious never the less.

[pcgizzmo]

Whats funny is in Europe, they will take your blood if you have polycythemia or hemochromacytosis but here in the US they won't. Why they will take it and we won't I don't know.

Paul

[mranak]

Originally Posted by pcgizzmo

Whats funny is in Europe, they will take your blood if you have polycythemia or hemochromacytosis but here in the US they won't. Why they will take it and we won't I don't know.

Paul

Just go and give blood without even mentioning anything about this. They'll take it and put it to good use.

[mranak]

Hemoglobin ceiling is 18.0. Not sure about hematocrit.

When is the last time you gave blood?

[HeadDoc]

give blood thru American Red Cross or United Blood Service and they will be calling you at least once per month.

[1cc]

I gave blood about 4 weeks ago at the red cross. The Red Cross will only accept another donation after 8 weeks, and not sooner. I wonder if United Blood Service will accept it.

[HeadDoc]

Originally Posted by 1cc

I gave blood about 4 weeks ago at the red cross. The Red Cross will only accept another donation after 8 weeks, and not sooner. I wonder if United Blood Service will accept it.

I didn't mean to imply that each would call you that often. Since I gave to both, they both call at different intervals.

[1cc]

For a therapeutic phlebotomy at a hospital, does my doctor only have to provide me with a script which I take to the hospital, or does he have to call and make arrangements with the hospital.

[marianco]

Originally Posted by 1cc

Is there any way to avoid Polycythemia when doing TRT?

One of the reasons men usually have more red blood cells than women is the presence of testosterone. Testosterone increase the production of red blood cells.

One of the dangers of TRT is polycythemia. It can lead to congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure is how some professional bicyclists who use erythropoietin (which stimulates red blood cell production) die. Thus one has to be careful with this condition.

Therapeutic phlebotomy, blood donation, reducing TRT are some of the options to address this problem. But reduction of TRT should be seriously considered.

[jboldman]

so the red cross does not care if you are taking exo test?

jb

Originally Posted by mranak

Just go and give blood without even mentioning anything about this. They'll take it and put it to good use.

[HeadDoc]

Originally Posted by jboldman

so the red cross does not care if you are taking exo test?

jb

as stated above, they do their test and clear you or not.

[jawbone]

my experience is if your hmg or hct is too high they will not take the blood because they are not sure why it is high. Remember they do a screen before the donation to chk Hct and a Hmg screen too. If either is out of whack then no go.
They dont care about the exo test or deca or stan or var or ari or hcg BUT they do care about 5AR.

[1cc]

Originally Posted by 1cc

For a therapeutic phlebotomy at a hospital, does my doctor only have to provide me with a script which I take to the hospital, or does he have to call and make arrangements with the hospital.

bump