question on hematocrit, blood donation and timing

[bartman314]

i've been on TRT for ~1.25 years and did one blast (~5/1-7/15 last year: 250 mg test/w and 300 mg deca /week). my hematocrit and blood donation history is as follows:

3/4/13: 42%
10/1/13: start TRT (200 mg/w)
1/17/14: 47%
3/12/14: 50%
11/24/14: donate 1 pt blood
12/4/14: 50%
12/30/14: 49%

my questions are:

what is a typical change in hematocrit value after a 1 pint blood donation?

what is the timescale that hematocrit increases back to baseline level after a 1 pint blood donation?

thanks!

[Lifted1]

1 pint of whole blood usually lowers your hematocrit 1%.

production of red blood cells differs from person to person and hematocrit increase is usually dose dependent (the higher the T dosage, the quicker crit rises). you should just plan on donating every 2 months.

[ironbeck]

probably 4-6 weeks

[OingoBoingo]

I heard that that the reason Red Cross gives iron pills is because it raises Hematocrit faster.

Maybe if one wants to cool their Hematocrit they could watch their iron intake. Drinking a lot of water also helps.

[Bio-Active]

You do not need to be concerned unless your hematocrit jumps up over 50 just do your normal donations and or a double red blood cell donation if they let you. Then you don't have to donate as often

[Beethoven]

My hematocrit drops 1 to 2 points after a donation. It usually takes me about two or three months to rise again. Just donate every two months and you should be fine.

[Bonaparte]

It should drop by around 3% for a 1 pint donation (less if you're bigger, since it represents a smaller portion of your blood volume).
Mind you, this is after you rehydrate.

Correlation of transfusion volume to change in hematocrit - Elzik - 2006 - American Journal of Hematology - Wiley Online Library

[Iceberg]

Question. As hematocrit rises does it cause pumps while working out so bad you can't continue? And slight headaches? Thanks guys.

[bartman314]

i've been in the range of 48-50 since beginning trt, and i haven't experienced any painful pumps or increase in headache frequency/intensity.

also, i seem to have stumbled onto a (the only?) benefit of high hematocrit. i just completed a hip replacement and lost 3 pints in the process. i experienced no lightheadedness or low blood pressure, which is the risk with loss of a lot of blood. according the the medical staff i asked, theoretically (and maybe?!? in my case), higher hematocrit is a benefit with high blood loss.

[Bonaparte]

Question. As hematocrit rises does it cause pumps while working out so bad you can't continue? And slight headaches? Thanks guys.

Pumps? Not really.
It can cause hypertension headaches, but you'd need to confirm that your BP is particularly high.

[Iceberg]

Pumps? Not really. It can cause hypertension headaches, but you'd need to confirm that your BP is particularly high.

The lower back pumps are insane. BP isn't super high 138/82 today, but it is coming down slowly. I'm chalking it up to stress and bad died and too much drinking in December. Before TRT BP was around 120/80 ish. Going for bloodwork in 3 weeks also.

[Bonaparte]

What are you using?

[Iceberg]

What are you using?

200mg (100mg 2x week cyp)
.25 eod ai
200 iu hcg 2x week

[Bonaparte]

Where does that put your test levels?
Any idea what your hematocrit is?

[Iceberg]

Where does that put your test levels? Any idea what your hematocrit is?

Hematocrit was 43 on scale of 38-54 before I started 5 weeks ago. I'm getting new bloods soon. But I did try to give blood and hemoglobin before TRT was 14.3 and is now 15.8. I'm getting bloods in 2-3 weeks.

[Bonaparte]

Your hematocrit didn't rise too high in just 5 weeks.
Try some bulk taurine for the pumps.

[Iceberg]

Your hematocrit didn't rise too high in just 5 weeks. Try some bulk taurine for the pumps.

Thanks for the advice and time.