Question about RBC, hematocrit, and hemoglobin levels.

[Drocc1125]

I've been on testosterone therapy for almost two years. I just donated blood on October 26th, my hematocrit level after donating was 46. My hematocrit was previously at 50.5 before the donation on 10/26. Before that, I donated on 7/1. My next labs are in the middle of January. I'm just worried that between now and the middle of January that it will rise to high levels before my labs. Before going on testosterone, my level was around 44. I'm unable to donate now due to two false positive tests for HTLV.

Will I be ok until then? How long does it take to go up?

[Mr Tick]

Whats your hemoglobin and red blood cell numbers?
You can get a doctors order to give blood and they have to take it. You should talk to your doc about that. It might be something where you need to give every 8 weeks to help keep your numbers down. If your only giving blood once every 3 months it will probably be slightly over the upper limit when you go back.

What’s your TRT dose and how often are you doing it?

That hematocrit level is in the normal range.

[Drocc1125]

I was previously at 200mg every 10 days but the doctor moved it to every 2 weeks after my first labs.

[Drocc1125]

RBC was 5.43, hemoglobin was 15.8 and my hematocrit was 46.3, all within normal range. Before my donation they were 50.5 for hematocrit, 18.0 for hemoglobin, and 5.89 for RBC. After finding out about my second false positive HTLV, I talked to my primary about therapeutic donations. I think he is going to wait for my February 1st appointment and see how my levels are then. The last time I donated before my last donation on 10/26 was on 7/1. Do you think I'll be ok until my next appointment? I don't want my levels to get too high before my next appointment on 2/1.

[Mr Tick]

Your doc doesn't understand the half-life of testosterone. You will have highs and lows doing shots that far apart. Instead, you should be doing your shots every 5 days but at a lower dose. I would recommend something like 100mg every 5 days. 200mg for 2 weeks seems low but if you do 100mg every 5 days you will run out of your Test before your next office visit. I would really recommend that you start to do some reading and research on what you're taking so you can fully understand what you're putting in your body and how it will affect you. Another option is to try and find a better doc that understands how the hormones he is prescribing actually works. No offense but if my doc told me to take my shot every 2 weeks I would tell him he's retarded, has no clue about the medicine he's prescribing and go find a new one.


As far as the hematocrit and hemoglobin levels, I wouldn't be as concerned about those as I would be about the highs and lows you will be experiencing with shots every 2 weeks. If you don't have high blood pressure currently then I personally think you are ok until your next office visit.

Read here on the educational forums and also check out Dr. Crisler, he has some good information.


Also, you got some great advice in your other thread. Go re-read it. There is no need to make another thread asking the same questions. http://forums.steroid.com/hormone-re...in-levels.html

[kelkel]

Your doc doesn't understand the half-life of testosterone. You will have highs and lows doing shots that far apart. Instead, you should be doing your shots every 5 days but at a lower dose. I would recommend something like 100mg every 5 days. 200mg for 2 weeks seems low but if you do 100mg every 5 days you will run out of your Test before your next office visit. I would really recommend that you start to do some reading and research on what you're taking so you can fully understand what you're putting in your body and how it will affect you. Another option is to try and find a better doc that understands how the hormones he is prescribing actually works. No offense but if my doc told me to take my shot every 2 weeks I would tell him he's retarded, has no clue about the medicine he's prescribing and go find a new one.


As far as the hematocrit and hemoglobin levels, I wouldn't be as concerned about those as I would be about the highs and lows you will be experiencing with shots every 2 weeks. If you don't have high blood pressure currently then I personally think you are ok until your next office visit.

GREAT on-point answer from Mr. Tick! Above in bold is crucial.