Low T & High Hemoglobin - I need to fix

[RonM69]

I am a 51 y/o disabled man who like to weight train but not into competition. I do not drink alcohol or smoke.
I was diagnosed with low Test levels a few years ago. My Total Test level was 144, Free was in low but normal range. My Hemoglobin was 15. I felt like crap and had problems with concentration and other physical (erection) problems.
I now get HRT of 75 mg of Testosterone cypionate once a week injected at the VA hospital. My T level is 307 my sex life is good, I have no depression. However, my Hemoglobin is 18.4. At that range, I cannot even donate blood to lower. Last time I tested this high they lowered my weekly shot to 50mg and I felt like crap again and could not achieve an erection. However, it lowered my Test level to 240 and Hemoglobin to 17.2.
I want to live and enjoy a normal life ,I enjoy sex, and working out, but with my Hemoglobin at 18.4 my MD will cut the dosage again.
Any suggestions on what I can do to lower my Hemoglobin enough to either give blood somewhere else or
just plain lower it for health reasons.

[rebelstate]

your doc is gonna have to write you a script to donate blood to lower it.my hemo is 19 and i have started my blood donations,i must give once a week (1-pint or 1-unit as some call it) and doc said it will take between 12 to 15 donations to put at 15 hemo at which time he said my body would recailbrate production of rbc/hemo and would stay stable for the most most part after all blood letting...there is no other way to lower it and it is building up in you liver......Therapeutic PhlebotomyWhat is Therapeutic Phlebotomy?
A therapeutic phlebotomy is a prescribed amount of blood withdrawn for medical reasons.

What diseases are treated with Therapeutic Phlebotomy?
The three most common reasons for phlebotomy are:

•Hemochromatosis – a disorder of the way the body uses iron. The body absorbs too much of the iron found in the foods we eat. This extra iron is stored in the body, mainly in the liver, pancreas and skin, which leads to cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, enlarged heart with congestive heart failure, irregular heart beat and increased skin pigmentation.
•Polycythemia – an increase in the number of circulating red blood cells and total blood volume.
•Porphyries – metabolic disorders associated with hepatosplenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen and liver), photosensitivity (sensitivity to light), pigmentation and distinct red color in the urine

[RonM69]

Thank you for responding, you had some great information.

The VA Doc will not prescribe it I tried before, and Blood donations centers will not do without doctor order. The VA Doc just lowers dosage to 50mg and my T level drops so low I cannot function. The Doc’s do not care if a 51 y/o man has sex or wants to feel normal, they just want to cover their ass, by reducing dosages.

My plan now is just to not get my weekly injection for 2 weeks and then go for my follow-up blood test, however, if I am still high on Hemoglobin, I will be in trouble.

That is why I am here looking for more ideas.

[rebelstate]

go to your urologist! he will write one i can bet on that..its the only way loose the iron..it is probally the cause of your loss of sex drive..your gonna start herting in your joints like i do..blood donating will fix you up.your body want get rid of iron..it is a sex killer..read up! find another doc...http://thebloodconnection.org/produc...tic-phlebotomy

[RonM69]

Again, thank you for the information but it is not that easy.

I have endocrinologist, “she” does not believe in that or thinks at man at my age should worry about sex-drive. I am stuck in the Veterans system. And yes I do have joint pain.

However, her only treatment is lowering my injection amount to 50mg from 75mg (not much but makes a difference in my life), not blood donation, I have requested that before.

That is why I was going outside of the VA to donate blood before my follow-up blood work. However at 18.4 they will not do it.

But, like I wrote I cannot function with a T level only in the 200’s, I need to be in the 300’s to feel close to normal. That is why I am looking for more ideas, if any are available?

[zaggahamma]

Again, thank you for the information but it is not that easy.

I have endocrinologist, “she” does not believe in that or thinks at man at my age should worry about sex-drive. I am stuck in the Veterans system. And yes I do have joint pain.

However, her only treatment is lowering my injection amount to 50mg from 75mg (not much but makes a difference in my life), not blood donation, I have requested that before.

That is why I was going outside of the VA to donate blood before my follow-up blood work. However at 18.4 they will not do it.

But, like I wrote I cannot function with a T level only in the 200’s, I need to be in the 300’s to feel close to normal. That is why I am looking for more ideas, if any are available?

wut a fvcking cvnt...i wish her the worse...i'm so fn angry about this shiat...

i was going to post a new thread about doctors ignorance, corruptness, etc....anybody ever hear of a specialist requiring a referral? WHETHER YOUR PAYING CASH OR IF YOURE INSURANCE DOESNT REQUIRE??????? JUST THEIR FVCKING POLICY????????????????? WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????????????????

[PPC]

Wow - they refused your blood at that level. My husband donated blood at the Red Cross with HGB as high as yours. Did they mention their guidlines about cut off levels to you?

At 307 your total T does not get very high. Once you have your HGB in order, you need more T plus HCG because your own production of T gets turned off once you introduce shots or cream. The 75 mg shot is not giving you much more.

You'll work your way though all the garbage. Many here have to try different doctors and approaches, be very vocal and forthright about their wants and needs before finding real hormonal relief.

[Vettester]

Ron, why can't you just go to the Red Cross and donate? I'm a carrier for hemochromatosis so I know all too well about high ferritin and iron levels.

[RonM69]

Wow - they refused your blood at that level. My husband donated blood at the Red Cross with HGB as high as yours. Did they mention their guidlines about cut off levels to you?

At 307 your total T does not get very high. Once you have your HGB in order, you need more T plus HCG because your own production of T gets turned off once you introduce shots or cream. The 75 mg shot is not giving you much more.

You'll work your way though all the garbage. Many here have to try different doctors and approaches, be very vocal and forthright about their wants and needs before finding real hormonal relief.

18.3 is the cut off, I was 18.4

Yes, a T-level of 307 is low but the VA say it is in range, personally I would like to be in the 500’s.

Yes the 75mg is not much. However, my natural T-level is just 144, I was injured many years ago, and they suspect that my injuries and the medications I was on and currently on has reduced my natural levels.

When I was in Mexico (in April) I gave myself an extra 75mg injection, I do not know what it raised my T-level too but I felt Great with the extra boost.

I just need a way to try and lower my Hemo-levels before I can try the Red Cross, as they have a cutoff of 18.0.

Like I stated my doc will just cut my dosage and hence ruin my life.

[flatscat]

You have to find a way to donate. Find another doc, find another donation center - something. You can't keep going at that level forever. Also your doc ought to know that reducing your t from 75 to 50 will not make that much of a difference in your blood count - and certainly not in a short period of time.

[39+1]

I am a 51 y/o disabled man who like to weight train but not into competition. I do not drink alcohol or smoke.
I was diagnosed with low Test levels a few years ago. My Total Test level was 144, Free was in low but normal range. My Hemoglobin was 15. I felt like crap and had problems with concentration and other physical (erection) problems.
I now get HRT of 75 mg of Testosterone cypionate once a week injected at the VA hospital. My T level is 307 my sex life is good, I have no depression. However, my Hemoglobin is 18.4. At that range, I cannot even donate blood to lower. Last time I tested this high they lowered my weekly shot to 50mg and I felt like crap again and could not achieve an erection. However, it lowered my Test level to 240 and Hemoglobin to 17.2.
I want to live and enjoy a normal life ,I enjoy sex, and working out, but with my Hemoglobin at 18.4 my MD will cut the dosage again.
Any suggestions on what I can do to lower my Hemoglobin enough to either give blood somewhere else or
just plain lower it for health reasons.

You have secondary polycithemia it an easy fix and your gonna have unload some blood until youget you hem right or you'll end up with other complications