Levels After 4 Weeks of EPO--Questions

[JollyMolly]

Next week I will be participating in an ultra-endurance event. I started a course of EPO 4 weeks ago since my hematocrit was a miserable 36, and my doc (after being hounded for months for help) would do nothing about it.

After following the protocol for 4 weeks and blood testing regularly, my hematocrit just jumped to 46.7. Red blood cells are 15.8 (up from 12). I feel much better, and feel as though I can actually complete this event after months and months of training.
My questions are these

1. The high end of the hematocrit range for women is 46 or 47. The event will take place in a warm climate, where I will be sweating quite a bit. Do you think I'll be all right if I keep hydrated? Should I donate some blood to be on the safe side? (Note--I did this recent blood test after a long swim, so I may have been a little dehydrated at the time. I know being a bit dehydrated can present a higher hematocrit. I hope I didn't screw myself up here.)


2. My last injection was Sunday, 10/22. Do you think that will raise the hematocit above the 47 mark? (I will check it, but I was wondering what you all think.)

I have one injection left, and now I also need to decide whether to continue a maintenance routine, or come off it until next season. And yes, I have been doing the whole protocol of iron, folic acid, b vitamins, etc.

Thank you for any input. And, BTW, is it OK for women to post here?????

[Ironman06]

Your questions can't be answered without more information. How much do you weigh? Exactly how many iu have you been taking and with what frequency? Theoretically you would have to loose 2 pints of water to raise your HCT to a reportedly lethal 70% if you start the day off around 50%. If you loose that much I doubt the HCT would be your only concern. After a course you should know exactly how your body responds, EPO should never involve guess work. Please be careful and say hydrated.

[JollyMolly]

Thank you for your reply.

I have done a lot of research and have tested regularly, but just had a big jump, so I got concerned. This is a knowledgable place to ask these kinds of questions, I have come to think.

I weigh 123 pounds (56kg). My husband figured out the proper dosage ratio for me based on the recommended 4000 iu 3x/week. He's a scientist, so I know he knows how to do the math. (I don't have the exact iu because I am on a business trip and don't have my paperwork here.)

So I did the proper dosage for 3.5 weeks, testing all along. The rises were very minimal for weeks, then the big jump. Now I will continue to take the recommended vitamins, but will no longer use the EPO.

I have been testing my BP regularly too, and it is low as it always is. 110/70 or 100/60. My resting pulse in the morning has stayed at about 48-50.

However, I do have to check the effect, if any, of that last shot on 10/22. That's what has me concerned. I hope it doesn't push it up too much more.

I KNOW I have to stay hydrated for sure, and will. But I just wanted an opinion or three about starting out at a hematocrit of 47. Thanks again.

[Ironman06]

Your HCT will continue to rise for 2 weeks after your last shot at a rate rougly equivolent to 1/3 of a point HCT per 4000iu depending on the quality of the EPO. The EPO doesn't produce the RBC it stimulates the progenetor cells which "grow" the RBC and then release them into the bloodstream at maturity, hence the lag time between injection and effect. So however much you've taken since your last test will determine what your final HCT will be. Keep testing until your race. I would guess <50HCT is safe to start a race with as that is the limit imposed by the pro cycling organizations for riders at the start of a race and the Belgians that kicked it were supposedly nearing HCT 70 when they all died. 50 seems safe and that is my personal goal.