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?
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?
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)
Ok. Sounds like I am going to have to give my doctor a call......
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
Last edited by jomamma007; 12-25-2013 at 01:15 PM.
Without CBC results, all that indicates is that you need to stop eating so much iron.
A few days won't make a difference. Your body doesn't utilize or excrete iron (a mineral) like it does water-soluble vitamins.
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.
Yesterday, I will go back and try to donate again next week.
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.
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.
I was rejected by Red Cross at 18.7 hemo. each state is different I guess!
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?????
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.
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!
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