High rbc hemocrit how do you feel?

[GFA]

Been on test cyp for 6 weeks and quite honestly don't feel any different. I'm curious if my high rbc can make me feel this way (tired, lethargic).

I was expecting feeling the youth and vigor others have spoken about.

[Vettester]

Did you get a chance to run your six week blood labs to see how it all look? Sorry if you posted it on another thread and I overlooked it.

Testosterone is only one variable out of many that can effect your well being. If you have a full range of labs that we can nibble on, it would help us to provide some suggestions.

[GFA]

Ya it's in my main thread. I read some of the symptoms of high rbc can be fatigue along with other things similar to low test.

My levels dont appear to be really high though just slightly above range but then again just in range testosterone is bad for general well being.

[Vettester]

OK, I'll go looking for it. Sometimes too many threads makes it hard to follow.

I would plan on donating blood on a regular basis. That will keep your RBC's in check.

[APIs]

I started donating at the Red Cross every two months as my doctor suggested. I do actually feel better after donating. Give it a try...

[Nofinshline]

Been on test cyp for 6 weeks and quite honestly don't feel any different. I'm curious if my high rbc can make me feel this way (tired, lethargic).

I was expecting feeling the youth and vigor others have spoken about.

Not in my case, I typically have my hct at 50-51, hgb 17 and erythrocytes 6.1 which in my lab's ranges are borderline high and I feel very good, I don't weight train but I compete in triathlons for fun, and let me tell you that I feel the difference between my pre-trt values ( hct 45 hgb 15 ert 5) and now... much more endurance due to better oxygen transport.

[Logonzo]

I can tell I feel much better when giving blood on a reg basis. I weight lift a lot, but I can't seem to tell a difference with high or average. I just know when mine is high, I don't feel all that well.

[GFA]

Here was my BW last week.

WBC 6.6 (4.0-10.5)
RBC 6.21 (4.1-5.6) - PRETRT 5.83
Hemoglobin 17.9 (12.5-17.0) PRETRT 17.1
Hematocrit 50.9 (36.0-50.0)

Not too high but still over range. Saw the hematologist yesterday, he said I don't have to worry about my hematocrit unless it was over 55 for my age, weight. Recommended I donate blood, which I plan on saturday and will post an update.

In 2 weeks he will check my blood again and if its still high, he will write a script for therapeutic phlebotomy stating I have poly vera (blood disorder that causes high RBC). Said he will want them to get my hematocrit to 45 or less.

I plan on donating as frequently as possible.

Thanks again guys!

[ecdysone]

Saw the hematologist yesterday, he said I don't have to worry about my hematocrit unless it was over 55 for my age, weight. Recommended I donate blood, which I plan on saturday and will post an update.

Boy, 55 would be really pushing the envelope, I think most docs would say low 50's. OTOH, your 51 isn't so bad.

I believe the usual rule for polycythemia vera is that there are no symptoms unless the cause is an underlying disease. Maybe a little joint pain, but that's for the more extreme cases.

As far as the "youth and vigor," well look at the timelines posted above, it would not be unusual for many of the effects to take 12+ weeks, others might take most of the year. Although I have no science to support this, it does seem like the greatest outward improvement is greatest for guys who were are the low end for test levels (<250) and less so for those with low, normal values.

[GFA]

I went to the blood drive and gave a whole blood (pint). I didnt know my blood type so they wouldnt do the double. I asked my dad and he thinks I am O. Red cross will be calling me every week if that is the case! Ill find out soon.


Next week I will have a follow up with the hematologist to get an RBC. At least I know my iron is in range, they tell you on the spot when you donate.

Have to say some of the questions were quite interesting.

All in all a good experience. I also got a $10 gift card out of it

[HRTstudent]

Do you feel any different after donating?

[bass]

I went to the blood drive and gave a whole blood (pint). I didnt know my blood type so they wouldnt do the double. I asked my dad and he thinks I am O. Red cross will be calling me every week if that is the case! Ill find out soon.


Next week I will have a follow up with the hematologist to get an RBC. At least I know my iron is in range, they tell you on the spot when you donate.

Have to say some of the questions were quite interesting.

All in all a good experience. I also got a $10 gift card out of it

yea i got a t-shirt form them last time, also some movie tickets. win-win situation!

[GFA]

Do you feel any different after donating?

Hard to say. I did have more energy yesterday (day after donating) but it was a long weekend and I actually got some sleep.

Today I felt much stronger in the gym and did more weight on my squats.

Ill give it more time and see. My waist keeps going down, my strength is going up so the test is having some impact on my body composition if nothing else.

I do plan on donating as frequently as possible.

I might pick up a cholesterol at home testing kit today too. I was at 200 total test pre TRT, no idea what it is now.

[bass]

eat dark chocolate to help with your cholesterol, its working great for me. also lower BP! make sure you get at least 80% cocoa. eat about 30 grams a day.

[jamotech]

eat dark chocolate to help with your cholesterol, its working great for me. also lower BP! make sure you get at least 80% cocoa. eat about 30 grams a day.

Ive followed this advice daily since my last BW, trying to bing up HDL, BW next week will show the results!

[bass]

Ive followed this advice daily since my last BW, trying to bing up HDL, BW next week will show the results!

please keep us posted, i like to know if it works the same for everyone. friend of mine lives on chocolate, he's 62 and his cholesterol is like a 20 year old and his BP is always below 120/80.

[Vettester]

Ive followed this advice daily since my last BW, trying to bing up HDL, BW next week will show the results!

Subscribed, I'm quite curious to see the results as well ...

[GFA]

eat dark chocolate to help with your cholesterol, its working great for me. also lower BP! make sure you get at least 80% cocoa. eat about 30 grams a day.

Interesting. Ill try some in my protein shakes. I read the home test kits are inaccurate. Anyone know of a decent one or do they all suck for accuracy?

[bass]

Interesting. Ill try some in my protein shakes. I read the home test kits are inaccurate. Anyone know of a decent one or do they all suck for accuracy?

unfortunately i haven't found any. i have one of those CardioChek systems that cost me around $250.00 not to mention the cost of the strips, and its worthless. the numbers vary by 50% between tests.

[Nofinshline]

I've been thinking of buying a ZIPOCRIT portable hematocrit tester. . I've read good reviews of it.

[jamotech]

please keep us posted, i like to know if it works the same for everyone. friend of mine lives on chocolate, he's 62 and his cholesterol is like a 20 year old and his BP is always below 120/80.

I should be a good tester on this one, I cut out all chocolate about 2 years ago, since last BW everyday I have dark chocolate 72%.

[jamotech]

Went from 35 to 38, still low. I figured between adding cardio, dark chocolate, and more omega's since the last test, there would be a greater increase. Ill just keep at it for another 2 months, maybe it hasent been long enough.

[HRTstudent]

Where do you guys find places to donate blood that give you money/perks? lol... rather not just give it away if I can get movie tix!

[bass]

Went from 35 to 38, still low. I figured between adding cardio, dark chocolate, and more omega's since the last test, there would be a greater increase. Ill just keep at it for another 2 months, maybe it hasent been long enough.

thanks for the update J! please keep us poted.

[GFA]

Where do you guys find places to donate blood that give you money/perks? lol... rather not just give it away if I can get movie tix!

I went to a blood drive for the red cross in NJ. The one I did was held at an Elks lodge. Maybe try finding a blood drive held at a lodge

[AnabolicBoy1981]

Well, its certainly possible. Tho, some ppl just wont have this problem. Not saying i recomend this or that im proud of it...but one time i stayed on for 8 months at between 400-600mg, half that time with an aromatase inhibitor. Hemocrit, hemoglobin, rbcs in the norm.
But the key is testing. I use health check usa. You can order your own BW. What do you guys use for BW?

[bass]

Well, its certainly possible. Tho, some ppl just wont have this problem. Not saying i recomend this or that im proud of it...but one time i stayed on for 8 months at between 400-600mg, half that time with an aromatase inhibitor. Hemocrit, hemoglobin, rbcs in the norm.
But the key is testing. I use health check usa. You can order your own BW. What do you guys use for BW?

i use either the clinic or order it from online.

[ecdysone]

I've been thinking of buying a ZIPOCRIT portable hematocrit tester. . I've read good reviews of it.

I've seen those on sale for $220 which includes the capillary tubes. Amazon has tubes and readers for next to nothing, so it could be doable.

[swllce]

For some reason there is next to no info on the web about the op
question.
Plenty on Anemia but little on high rbc symptoms