High iron levels

**bigt405** · 12-24-2013, 03:24 PM

I went to donate blood to keep my hemacrit levels down and was turned away due to high iron (20.3). Any idea on how to reduce iron levels so I can donate?

**kelkel** · 12-24-2013, 04:33 PM

Have your doc write a script for a therapeutic phlebotomy.

**Bonaparte** · 12-24-2013, 05:08 PM

Your hematocrit is WAY too high.
You need to drain off about 2 pints of blood just to get back to a healthy level. (a standard donation takes 1 pint)

**Megalodon6** · 12-24-2013, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by Bonaparte

Your hematocrit is WAY too high.
You need to drain off about 2 pints of blood just to get back to a healthy level. (a standard donation takes 1 pint)

Can he do that in one sitting?

**EasyDoesIt** · 12-24-2013, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by Megalodon6

Can he do that in one sitting?

Yup they took two pints from me because my iron was high, but now on avadart and can not donate unless you're off for 6 months. It sucks, propecia is 30 days.

**Beethoven** · 12-24-2013, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by EasyDoesIt

Yup they took two pints from me because my iron was high, but now on avadart and can not donate unless you're off for 6 months. It sucks, propecia is 30 days.

Mine wrote me a script for two blood draws a week apart. Second is Thursday.

**bigt405** · 12-24-2013, 07:49 PM

Ok. Sounds like I am going to have to give my doctor a call......

**jomamma007** · 12-25-2013, 12:57 PM

Don't mean to thread jack but with these levels should I be donating?

Iron and TIBC
Iron Bind.Cap.(TIBC) 341 250-450 ug/dL SO
UIBC 109 LOW 150-375 ug/dL SO
Iron, Serum 232 HIGH 40-155 ug/dL SO
Iron Saturation 68 HIGH 15-55 % SO

Ferritin, Serum 64 30-400 ng/mL SO

**Bonaparte** · 12-25-2013, 10:14 PM

Without CBC results, all that indicates is that you need to stop eating so much iron.

**bigt405** · 12-26-2013, 04:18 AM

Originally Posted by Bonaparte

Without CBC results, all that indicates is that you need to stop eating so much iron.

Ok. I am going to back off my iron rich foods for a few days and try to donate again.....

**Bonaparte** · 12-26-2013, 03:47 PM

A few days won't make a difference. Your body doesn't utilize or excrete iron (a mineral) like it does water-soluble vitamins.

**bass** · 12-26-2013, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by bigt405

Ok. I am going to back off my iron rich foods for a few days and try to donate again.....

in mean while take baby asprin every night to help thin your blood.

**bigt405** · 12-26-2013, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by bass

in mean while take baby asprin every night to help thin your blood.

I started this a few days ago.

**strunes** · 12-26-2013, 10:11 PM

Same thing happened to me today my level was 19.3, they even tested both left and right ring fingers to see if they had an error. They had a DR talk to me on the phone and he suggested not to eat red meat, greens and not take any vitamin c supplements. He also suggested I drink a half gallon of water before I try to donate again.

**bigt405** · 12-27-2013, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by strunes

Same thing happened to me today my level was 19.3, they even tested both left and right ring fingers to see if they had an error. They had a DR talk to me on the phone and he suggested not to eat red meat, greens and not take any vitamin c supplements. He also suggested I drink a half gallon of water before I try to donate again.

How long ago did this happen and after making those changes have you tried to donate again?

**strunes** · 12-27-2013, 12:44 PM

Yesterday, I will go back and try to donate again next week.

**Bonaparte** · 12-27-2013, 01:22 PM

With a hemoglobin of 19.2 you have a snowball's chance in hell of making the cut. Even if you do superhydrate yourself and make the cutoff (doubtful), your BP and/or HR will be a deal breaker. Just man up and drain a pint yourself, then donate frequently to avoid this again.

**Rusty11** · 12-27-2013, 02:05 PM

I guess I was lucky. Two months ago I found out my hct was 54.5 and hemoglobin 19.3. Red Cross allowed me to donate. I've since cut my t dose and cut out some iron-rich foods. It'll be two months on Monday and I will donate again. Hopefully, it's gone down.

**bass** · 12-27-2013, 02:49 PM

I was rejected by Red Cross at 18.7 hemo. each state is different I guess!

**strunes** · 12-27-2013, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by Bonaparte

With a hemoglobin of 19.2 you have a snowball's chance in hell of making the cut. Even if you do superhydrate yourself and make the cutoff (doubtful), your BP and/or HR will be a deal breaker. Just man up and drain a pint yourself, then donate frequently to avoid this again.

There is no f$%#ing way on this earth that I would drain a pint myself. My Dr has already written a script for a draw, I just feel it's a waist of blood that the blood bank needs. The Dr at the blood bank called me back and said that they are changing the policy for 2014 and that I would be able to donate in a few days anyway. As far as the BP is concerned as long as the lower number is under 100 I am good. My HR is also always under 100 so that's not an issue either. I don't understand why I failed this time, I give blood ever 56 days and have changed nothing except my diet is much healthier?????

**bigt405** · 12-27-2013, 08:27 PM

I went today and had it checked again. It was down from 20.3 to 19.7 but the cut off is 19. I am going to cut back on my testosterone some, cut back on iron rich foods and insure I am well hydrated and try again in about a month. That is what the doctor recommended. He was not too worried since my blood work in October was fine. If it is not down in a month we will have to go the prescribed draw route.

**bigt405** · 12-27-2013, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by strunes

Yesterday, I will go back and try to donate again next week.

Let me know how it goes?

**sevenleigh** · 12-28-2013, 12:17 PM

You should only drain off one unit of blood (about a pint) in one sitting. It is called a therapeutic phlebotomy. I get them weekly because I have Hemochromatosis (too much iron in the blood). It is a disease that can cause major problems with the liver and heart. If your ferritin levels are over 300 then you need a phlebotomy. Last month mine hit 2159 and now they are back down to 700's because I stopped taking hormone replacement supplement and had 3 phlebotomies.
I can not take Test or most AS anymore because of it. I actually posted a thread about Hemochromatosis yesterday but I don't know where the hell it is. I have done steroids for 10 years and never knew I had high iron until 2013. Pretty ****ing depressing because at 43 I really love a nice low 200mg/week of test to keep bf% down and lean muscle up.
Good luck!
B