Can'r give blood, they said my iron was too high

[jasondd1]

Went to give blood they did the finger prick and checked my iron right there and they said it was too high. They couldn't take anything over 18 and i was 19.2. 19.2 isn't a iron number i even know. None of my blood work has any iron numbers in this range. They say i have to check with my doctor and make sure everything is ok first. I have been taking iron supplement because my iron was low, am i taking too much?

[TestingMe]

you multiple that number x 3 to determine your Hematocrit levels.

[jasondd1]

you multiple that number x 3 to determine your Hematocrit levels.

And hence the reason i am giving blood in the first place. The lady said to check with my Doctor and make sure there wasn't underlying reasons why it was high. She said i didn't need a note or anything to just check. So I could probably just go back in and say all is good? Obviously this didn't have anything to do with iron supplements correct?

[EverettCD]

Where I donate blood they check your iron level every time you donate. You may need to have your Dr. send you somewhere for blood letting with a script, I'm not 100% sure on this, I have not had an issue & donate every quarter.

[TestingMe]

And hence the reason i am giving blood in the first place. The lady said to check with my Doctor and make sure there wasn't underlying reasons why it was high. She said i didn't need a note or anything to just check. So I could probably just go back in and say all is good? Obviously this didn't have anything to do with iron supplements correct?

I understand them asking and they should ask...I got the same treatment from the nurse practitioner at my cardiologist's office..."If you donate blood and the levels drop too fast we would have to check to make sure you don't have internal bleeding or Adrenal Cancer"...

Yeah, I guess..but in my case, I think it was a pretty safe bet it's from my way too high dosing.

I wouldn't assume anything but why are you taking Iron and has a doctor been checking these and other levels..WHat else are you taking..

Here I am giving advice..I'm like the guy who stopped smoking and can't stand others smoking..haha

j/k and glad you are on it now!

Different clinics have slightly different protocols...My experience has been they are a bunch of vampires and happy to get iron rich blood...

Last time I was there a guy working at Red Cross was literally yelling (in a joking way) WE NEED DOUBLE DONATIONS..

He was joking but one of the women there told me he literally will harass donors to donate double red cells or something..

Cracked me up and if I had known he could have had all he wanted of mine!

[bass]

This is exactly why I push the idea to donate while you're still in range for donating. Don't go to new blood drive companies because you'll get rejected, and once they put an x next to your name they'll never take you. Trust me on this one.

Here is what you need to do. Get a script for your doc for blood letting and get it done, 4 weeks later go to a new blood drive and donate. This should put you in normal range. Check your blood in 2 months and see if you need to donate again.

[bass]

BTW, i donate every 2 months regardless.

[TestingMe]

They check everybody's blood before each donation always. No exceptions as they have to be careful to check for anemia.

am hoping when I get my dosages and blood work straight these levels do not need to be ironed out by donating...

But it is a really good thing to do to donate blood anyway and even if I don't need to do it in the future, I will do it anyway (not every two months most likely but a couple of times a year.)

Meanwhile I am strongly considering trying another place to donate pint #3..

And no, I am not considering doing it myself...Freaking insane thought actually...

[Bonaparte]

Blood iron = Hemoglobin on a blood test.
You need to lose some blood ASAP, as your blood is way too thick.
And no, this has nothing to do with taking too many iron supps.

[Bonaparte]

They check everybody's blood before each donation always. No exceptions as they have to be careful to check for anemia.

am hoping when I get my dosages and blood work straight these levels do not need to be ironed out by donating...

But it is a really good thing to do to donate blood anyway and even if I don't need to do it in the future, I will do it anyway (not every two months most likely but a couple of times a year.)

Meanwhile I am strongly considering trying another place to donate pint #3..

And no, I am not considering doing it myself...Freaking insane thought actually...

Why? I've done it several times without issue. It beats the alternative.

[Brett N]

Stupid question. Getting ready to start doctor prescribed TRT. Is it a good idea healthwise to give blood for while on TRT?

Sorry for the thread hijack .

[bass]

Stupid question. Getting ready to start doctor prescribed TRT. Is it a good idea healthwise to give blood for while on TRT?

Sorry for the thread hijack .

no its not as long as you have sufficient iron. in fact its good to donate anyway, for you and for those who need it. donating blood helps with many things like cholesterol, blood pressure and you get brand new blood every time you donate!

[EZ E]

Bloodsource goes as high as 20 before you get perminantely banned. Make sure you ate well hydrated when you go.

[Vettester]

I had similar issues, as I am a carrier for hemochromatosis. My ferritin was also over 1,400. The bllood clinic I use actually desires my blood. The only way to control this is by donating, which I do every 6 to 8 weeks (I'm due right now). IMO, it wouldn't hurt to review your other labs like ferritin and make sure you know that you're clear of this disease. Beyond that, find another blood bank that isn't all choosey on you.

[TestingMe]

Why? I've done it several times without issue. It beats the alternative.

Dude, donating blood was a stretch for me, although it's easy once you realize that this thick blood is pretty much toxic poison...

Seriously...it was enough to do an IM injection back in the day...now you want me to blood let..I don't even want to youtube a 'how to' on it...seriously...not to mention, I wouldn't want to die that way, it would be one of those deaths everyone is sorta shaking their head..."He did what??? He always was a bit of a asshole" my ex would have a field day with it..lol

"Bloodsource goes as high as 20 before you get perminantely banned. Make sure you ate well hydrated when you go."


Where I live the max is 18-19 depending...20 is the highest I've ever heard of...

Yes def drink tons of water before and after..Also, you should have had a good meal before as well.

From all that I know now, donating blood is just a good thing to do on a lot of levels..I would much prefer to get my levels right and not have to do it to keep things in the ranges I wanted.

Iron supplements can certainly add to high levels of Hematocrit and are taken sometimes specifically to increase these levels for anemics.

In my case the unchecked levels of too much T, made my levels go from my normal 45-46 to over 57..One poster had a similar story and his went to 63...I can't imagine how that would feel.

I guess some people's normal ranges are higher and maybe some people would not feel a over 50 number..but I certainly did...although my other levels were and still probably way off.

"Stupid question. Getting ready to start doctor prescribed TRT. Is it a good idea healthwise to give blood for while on TRT?"

It's not a stupid question and from what I've learned if you are on TRT, ideally you should not have to do this..But there is research that donating blood in general is a healthy thing, particularly for men to do.

[Times Roman]

and when all else fails, you can self bleed.

Bass, wasn't that you doing that a year or so back?

[bass]

and when all else fails, you can self bleed.

Bass, wasn't that you doing that a year or so back?

Good memory TR, yes I went through hell. two blood banks put me on the blacklist because of high hemoglobin. And was forced to do self bleeding.

[jasondd1]

The blood place said they would do it but they wanted me to check with my Doc just to make sure I was ok. i asked if i needed a note from my Doc and she said no. Should i ask my Doc for a script to give blood next time i see her? Would this matter any?

[bass]

some workers really don't know all the rules, so I wouldn't take her word, trust me on this it happened to me too many times. there is a limit and obviously you passed that limit and you will get rejected if you go again or to another blood drive company. if you do it with a script it will fall under therapeutic blood letting which can raise a flag, and they may put you on the reject list. if you get a script simply go to the original blood drive company that rejected you and let them do it. this will keep your record clean with other blood drive companies.

[kelkel]

Come on Bass, re-post that classic self-bleeding video!

[bass]

http://forums.steroid.com/hormone-replacement-therapy-low-testosterone-treatment-anti-aging/509482-self-bleeding.html

[jasondd1]

That didn't look too bad but I'd still rather not do it myself if possible. I'm thinking about trying 1 grapefruit a day. At least to get me to a level were i can give blood. Any experiences on this?

[bass]

your levels won't change no matter how many grapefruits you eat, or how much aspirin you take, it will only lower the viscosity of your blood. but its a good idea to do that until you donate. your level increase everyday, so the longer you wait the higher they will get.

[Bonaparte]

Iron supplements can certainly add to high levels of Hematocrit and are taken sometimes specifically to increase these levels for anemics.

Not really. Hematocrit is the percentage of your blood occupied by RBCs.
Each RBC contains hundreds of millions of hemoglobin molecules, and each hemoglobin molecule can hold up to 4 iron atoms. So the amount of iron you can safely store in your blood (without taking into account the various iron binding proteins of lesser importance) is capped by the number of RBCs you have.
Ingesting too much iron will not boost hematocrit or hemoglobin, but poison you (and increase the risk of bacterial infection, as bacteria need free iron to thrive), once the body runs out of proteins to bind it up with.

ANd there are many causes and forms of anemia. If the problem is simple iron deficiency (where the person has insufficient iron levels to occupy all of their hemoglobin), then an iron supp would help. But if the anemia is caused by a lack of RBC production (or excessive loss of blood), then taking all the iron supps in the world would only poison them, as explained above.

Any questions? lol

[kelkel]

Not really. Hematocrit is the percentage of your blood occupied by RBCs.
Each RBC contains hundreds of millions of hemoglobin molecules, and each hemoglobin molecule can hold up to 4 iron atoms. So the amount of iron you can safely store in your blood (without taking into account the various iron binding proteins of lesser importance) is capped by the number of RBCs you have.
Ingesting too much iron will not boost hematocrit or hemoglobin, but poison you (and increase the risk of bacterial infection, as bacteria need free iron to thrive), once the body runs out of proteins to bind it up with.

ANd there are many causes and forms of anemia. If the problem is simple iron deficiency (where the person has insufficient iron levels to occupy all of their hemoglobin), then an iron supp would help. But if the anemia is caused by a lack of RBC production (or excessive loss of blood), then taking all the iron supps in the world would only poison them, as explained above.

Any questions? lol

Really great stuff Bonaparte!

[TestingMe]

Not really. Hematocrit is the percentage of your blood occupied by RBCs.
Each RBC contains hundreds of millions of hemoglobin molecules, and each hemoglobin molecule can hold up to 4 iron atoms. So the amount of iron you can safely store in your blood (without taking into account the various iron binding proteins of lesser importance) is capped by the number of RBCs you have.
Ingesting too much iron will not boost hematocrit or hemoglobin, but poison you (and increase the risk of bacterial infection, as bacteria need free iron to thrive), once the body runs out of proteins to bind it up with.

ANd there are many causes and forms of anemia. If the problem is simple iron deficiency (where the person has insufficient iron levels to occupy all of their hemoglobin), then an iron supp would help. But if the anemia is caused by a lack of RBC production (or excessive loss of blood), then taking all the iron supps in the world would only poison them, as explained above.

Any questions? lol

No, I think you covered it.

[TestingMe]

http://forums.steroid.com/hormone-replacement-therapy-low-testosterone-treatment-anti-aging/509482-self-bleeding.html

I promised myself not to watch that...but I did (most of it). Did not disappoint.

I have to try it...Makes great date conversation starters.."Sorry I'm late, I was in the bathroom draining blood into a water bottle..What are you ordering?"

[EZ E]

Lance Armstrong and company would hook up an IV bag when the drug testers came around during the Tour De France to pass the test for high hemocrit. If you are very hydrated it should help you get by.