Drawing Blood!

[bass]

i need an answer ASAP. two weeks ago my blood work results showed my RBC was high, 17.2 range is 12.5-17.0

the next available blood drive is two days from now, should i be worried about this and should i draw my own blood for now or just wait until Friday? and if i should draw it myself, how do you recommend to do it? Thanks!

[sirupate]

I'd wait for the blood drive if I were you. I'd have no idea how to get a pint out of me easily on my own. A few days should not make any difference. I plan to give whenever the Red Cross is having a drive that is convenient to me and after the minimum time period for donations, but I'm not going to extra lengths to donate at the minimum 56 day mark. Your RBC is barely out of range. Might go higher if you do not donate, but it doesn't seem too high just now.

Did that make snese?

[bass]

yes!

i went to Red Cross and they refused me! they said i can't donate blood while on TRT! now what?!

[sirupate]

yes!

i went to Red Cross and they refused me! they said i can't donate blood while on TRT! now what?!

That doesn't sound right to me. They have not said anything to me (so far). There are only a few meds that disqualify you from being a Red Cross donor. Really I'm not sure what to say. I have an appointment with them to give again in 2 weeks. Maybe you can find one of those places that pay you to donate....college students do that kind of thing to make money all the time. The other option is to have your doctor "order" you to give periodically and have your lab do the drawing.

[sirupate]

Here is a Red Cross link that describes eligibility guidelines for donating:

http://www.redcrossblood.org/donatin...etical-listing

Human pituitary derived growth hormone is one med that makes you ineligible. The testosterone most of us take isn't a problem. Maybe you just asked the wrong person...

[bass]

thanks for the info, she showed it to me on the computer, i also showed high in iron, not sure if thats a factor! anyway, i am working with my doctor to see how we can do it. thanks again.

[zaggahamma]

i need an answer ASAP. two weeks ago my blood work results showed my RBC was high, 17.2 range is 12.5-17.0

the next available blood drive is two days from now, should i be worried about this and should i draw my own blood for now or just wait until Friday? and if i should draw it myself, how do you recommend to do it? Thanks!

wuts the significance of friday?

[Vettester]

Yea, there's no policy with Red Cross about not being able to give while on TRT. They will ask if you've taken steroids "without" being under a doctor's care. Whoever told you that was on a power trip or something, go back and demand them to take it. Otherwise, there's places like Lifestream who take blood.

Also, don't freak out cuz your RBC shows a little over top. You can deal with it soon enough, it's not like you're on high alert for cardio shutdown or anything.

[bass]

wuts the significance of friday?

thats was the first opening i could find near me, but i found another location 30 miles away and went there!

[bass]

Yea, there's no policy with Red Cross about not being able to give while on TRT. They will ask if you've taken steroids "without" being under a doctor's care. Whoever told you that was on a power trip or something, go back and demand them to take it. Otherwise, there's places like Lifestream who take blood.

Also, don't freak out cuz your RBC shows a little over top. You can deal with it soon enough, it's not like you're on high alert for cardio shutdown or anything.

thanks for the info V, i'll give Lifestream a call!

[bass]

finally got one pint out, it looked like mud! even the person doing the drawing had hard time getting the blood out and through the tube! anyway, no one wanted my blood due to high hemoglobin 18.7 to be exact, so i had to pay $82 to do it, either that or a stroke! my question is, is one pint enough? my family doc is trying to prescribe to get my blood drawn, should i take advantage of it and do it again?

[Vettester]

I usually try for 450cc at the bank ... Not sure where that fits with a pint.

[bass]

1 US pint = 473.176473 cc

[Vettester]

Looks like a fit to me! How bout every 6 weeks you give em more?

[bass]

you mean like two pints in stead of one? that would be great!

[Vettester]

Actually, was meaning just one pint every 6 weeks. Anymore will start making you look pretty pale.

Just a note, I give blood primarily for the purpose of lowering my ferritin levels, as I've got the carrier gene for hemochromotosis. Without donating, my ferritin levels are at 1,200+. With donating, it's down below 300. My RBC was also high due to TRT, along with other elevated CBC stats. Just doing the standard 450cc every 6 to 7 weeks has brought everything down to the lower end of the normal range.

[flatscat]

my place loves to see my coming because of my high numbers! the only question they ask me is if I am taking any injectable that is not prescribed. no questions about steriods . so much about what they have told you makes no sense, and to have to pay????????

[bass]

yea the only thing they checked was Hemoglobin, max to qualify is 18.3 mine was 18.7! hopefully once i get my levels to normal I'll go on the regular basis so i can donate without getting charged. they actually disposed of the blood i gave them, it could have saved someone's life!

[PK-V]

don't draw yourself, stupid imo you could pass out and bleed out

high iron levels? they love that

why did you tell them you were on hrt?

[PK-V]

don't draw yourself, stupid imo you could pass out and bleed out

high iron levels? they love that

why did you tell them you were on hrt?

[Black]

Funny this thread came up as I just received my bloodwork back and my hematocrit levels were high. Doctor recommended that I donate blood every 3 to 4 months. Didn't know much and this thread was very informative. Thanks.

[zaggahamma]

Funny this thread came up as I just received my bloodwork back and my hematocrit levels were high. Doctor recommended that I donate blood every 3 to 4 months. Didn't know much and this thread was very informative. Thanks.

good to hear from u bro..been a while...how else is the bloodwork

[bass]

don't draw yourself, stupid imo you could pass out and bleed out i wouldn't do it alone, besides i was thinking a friend who's a nurse can help me.

high iron levels? they love that not in California!

why did you tell them you were on hrt? being on TRT is not an issue to them, besides i want to be truthful with my answers.

responses in bold!

[Black]

good to hear from u bro..been a while...how else is the bloodwork

Thanks man. Bloodwork came back right about where I wanted it. I will be posting the results (hopefully a few days) when I get them in the mail.

[PK-V]

i wouldn't do it alone, besides i was thinking a friend who's a nurse can help me.
sounds a lot safer
not in California!
that sucks :/ why is that? isn't iron not needed big time for people who get blood to help with recovery?
being on TRT is not an issue to them, besides i want to be truthful with my answer
ok sweet forgot you were on medicaly supervised therapy

good luck sorting your blood problems

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