Polycythemia (too high rbc) a risk with prolonged cycle?

**snowfox** · 07-08-2010, 03:02 PM

I was wondering if long and heavy cycles of testosterone could result in polycythemia (too many red blood cells). Could 500mg of test e a week for 4 months result in this condition?

Of course this is not a heavy cycle. This is just a hypothetic topic.

**snowfox** · 07-09-2010, 12:02 AM

Anyone?

**marcus300** · 07-09-2010, 01:46 AM

Ive had polycythemia from running long cycles, i had to have some blood taken out because they were at a dangerous level, I can't say your dose and cycle length would or wouldnt but of course its a possibility.

**snowfox** · 07-09-2010, 06:57 AM

Does it occur often among people using AAS? The only way to find out is to have a blood test or donate blood where they check your rbc'.

**Swifto** · 07-09-2010, 07:03 AM

I cant remember my RBC reading on Test 500mg/wk for 14 weeks, but it was high. It wasnt enough to warrent giving blood, but it was ceratily significantly elevated.

**stevey_6t9** · 07-09-2010, 07:42 AM

16 months on test e id say you shud be fine, though mine were high after a 12 wk cycle as well.

if you added in EQ and combined it with dehydration for a show i would say be very careful.

**Jumbo18** · 07-10-2010, 06:43 PM

How do you know if you have it and if you do would you stop cycle immediately or how often would blood need to be drawn?

**snowfox** · 07-10-2010, 07:26 PM

First signs are usually a red complexion and fatigue if it's very high. But the only way to confirm it and rule out anything else is to have a red blood cell count. And that means having your blood tested. I went to a blood donation center here in Holland.

The procedure is straight forward. They take a tiny amount of blood and put it in a device which scans your blood type and RBC. They do that to see that you have enough red blood cells to warrant donating blood. It took like 5 min for the results. Mine was perfect for donating blood...but of course I was on steroids and this was years ago.

If you have polycythemia, only your doctor and regular blood tests will tell you when drawing/donating blood is neccesary. But of course they will find out about you being on AAS.

**Jumbo18** · 07-10-2010, 07:40 PM

what is the usual treatment? lets say cycle is 20 weeks long and you get it on the 15th week, would you stop cycle immediately or having blood drawn once is enough?

**snowfox** · 07-10-2010, 09:40 PM

I assume you live in the U.S. right? I don't know about America. But to my knowledge you can just walk into a blood donation clinic and say you'd like to become a blood donor. Having an RBC test is the ONLY way to tell!

Every individual is responds differently to AAS. Depending on what you're on and how long won't tell you anything. High risk factors are of course EPO and EQ used in high dosages and for long periods. But like I said before...The only way to find out is an RBC test!

And stopping your cycle won't make it go away instantly. RBC will still be high for quite a while.

**Regular guy** · 07-10-2010, 10:07 PM

Any donation clinic you walk in to to give a donation to is only looking at hemocrit, the ratio of formed particals (sp?) to liquid of blood. There are a few different diseases that can effect hemocrit, (there is a very nice write up on blood values recently posted on the board). Some diseases that will mess with the red blood cell formation and levels.

But if the raise in red blood cells is only related to AAS than the biggest concern is hydration as you are more likely to suffer from dehydration more so than some one with a normal "crit." So if you are a water fountain sipper you wrong... Monitor your urine try to keep it clear, the darker the color the worse off your hydration level is. If it is almost orange you are in trouble. If it looks like "cola" you need medical attention.