high hemoglobin

[highpsi]

Figured mine was still high since I still get the beating heart and pressure feeling. I drank a ton of water in case I was dehydrated. I came in at 18.7 and was turned away for donating, cut off is 18.6. Anyways I was at 120mg a week test, dropping to 90-100, would this get me that point down in one week if I tried to go again?

[Bonaparte]

Nope. The average life of a RBC is 120 days. So it takes a few months for your h&h to change on its own. But you could stick an 18g needle in your arm and bleed off a few hundred ml. That would put you in range.

[Beethoven]

Get a script for a therapeutic phlebotomy.

[highpsi]

Lol crap. No way I'm doing that, I have issues just injecting test. I'm probably still running high from 8 weeks ago when I was at 180mg, not sure why they said do you want to try again tomorrow and called me the next day also.

[Bonaparte]

Since you're only a tad too high, you should be able to drop your values within range just by diluting your blood (high sodium intake and lots of water).

[LT75]

Was your level tested with the finger poke method? One time mine came back high, 18.6 with the finger test. Still I passed and was able to donate. The lady said she was going to draw a extra tube to really test it in the machine. It came back at 16.5. So that finger test is not accurate at all. The lady even said that test is off most of the time.

[highpsi]

Yup it was the machine. I hydrated like crazy for 2 day prior and up'd the sodium, it got worse at a 19.2, highest she'd ever seen and of course turned away. I did call my doctor but he is booked until the 26th. There is a slight possibility I have Hemochromatosis but I've never had this issue till trt. Really thinking about quitting if 100mg is going to cause this.

How much danger am I in walking around at this level? I do not have the bumping heart at the moment.

[theseus]

High Hb and HCT mean you are at risk of stroke and blood clots. not something you want at all.

it doesn't cause palpitation

get a therapeutic venesection. take daily 75mg aspirin for now till it is sorted. (only if you are not allergic to aspirin, asthmatic or has history of stomach ulcer).

or to be referred to haemtologist asap

[Bonaparte]

High Hb and HCT mean you are at risk of stroke and blood clots. not something you want at all.

it doesn't cause palpitation

get a therapeutic venesection. take daily 75mg aspirin for now till it is sorted. (only if you are not allergic to aspirin, asthmatic or has history of stomach ulcer).

or to be referred to haemtologist asap

It may not technically be considered palpitations, but elevated H&H will often cause a fast and/or heavier heart beat, since the heart must work harder to overcome the increased blood viscosity and pressure.

[theseus]

Actually, elevated H&H will often cause a fast and/or heavier heart beat, since the heart must work harder to overcome the increased blood viscosity.

The medical term is polycythaemia (UK) polycythemia (US), and below is some facts you can easily verify online

The signs and symptoms of polycythaemia include:

Headaches, dizziness, and weakness
Shortness of breath and problems breathing while lying down
Feelings of pressure or fullness on the left side of the abdomen due to an enlarged spleen (an organ in the abdomen)
Double or blurred vision and blind spots
Itching all over (especially after a warm bath), reddened face, and a burning feeling on your skin (especially your hands and feet)
Bleeding from your gums and heavy bleeding from small cuts
Unexplained weight loss
Fatigue (tiredness)
Excessive sweating


Complications:

If you have polycythaemia, the thickness of your blood and the slowed blood flow can cause serious health problems.

Blood clots are the most serious complication of Polycythaemia. Blood clots can cause a heart attack or stroke. They also can cause your liver and spleen to enlarge. Blood clots in the liver and spleen can cause sudden, intense pain.

Slowed blood flow also prevents enough oxygen-rich blood from reaching your organs. This can lead to angina (chest pain or discomfort) and heart failure.

[highpsi]

Thankfully I don't have symptoms at the moment. I did call my doctor office and got a appointment with the first available doctor for the 10th. The nurse I talked to said they would not drain any blood there, but that they'd do a few tests and refer me to a hematologist.

[Bonaparte]

The medical term is polycythaemia (UK) polycythemia (US), and below is some facts you can easily verify online

The signs and symptoms of polycythaemia include:

Headaches, dizziness, and weakness
Shortness of breath and problems breathing while lying down
Feelings of pressure or fullness on the left side of the abdomen due to an enlarged spleen (an organ in the abdomen)
Double or blurred vision and blind spots
Itching all over (especially after a warm bath), reddened face, and a burning feeling on your skin (especially your hands and feet)
Bleeding from your gums and heavy bleeding from small cuts
Unexplained weight loss
Fatigue (tiredness)
Excessive sweating


Complications:

If you have polycythaemia, the thickness of your blood and the slowed blood flow can cause serious health problems.

Blood clots are the most serious complication of Polycythaemia. Blood clots can cause a heart attack or stroke. They also can cause your liver and spleen to enlarge. Blood clots in the liver and spleen can cause sudden, intense pain.

Slowed blood flow also prevents enough oxygen-rich blood from reaching your organs. This can lead to angina (chest pain or discomfort) and heart failure.

Thank you, doctor. I'm well aware of these facts (not that they contradict anything I said).

[theseus]

Thank you, doctor. I'm well aware of these facts (not that they contradict anything I said).

my bad actually, thought you said it will cause fast heart rate but not stroke...apology

we are talking about the same thing...definitely the same team we are!!

[theseus]

Thank you, doctor. I'm well aware of these facts (not that they contradict anything I said).

my bad actually, thought you said it will cause fast heart rate but not stroke...apology

we are talking about the same thing...definitely the same team we are!!

[Bonaparte]

Glad we got that sorted

[Rusty11]

Yup it was the machine. I hydrated like crazy for 2 day prior and up'd the sodium, it got worse at a 19.2, highest she'd ever seen and of course turned away. I did call my doctor but he is booked until the 26th. There is a slight possibility I have Hemochromatosis but I've never had this issue till trt. Really thinking about quitting if 100mg is going to cause this.

How much danger am I in walking around at this level? I do not have the bumping heart at the moment.

Interesting how states differ. I'm in central CA. My first donation finger poke showed hgb@ 19.3. The guy didn't bat an eye. I'm now holding steady in the mid 15s. And, as was already stated, those portable machines may not be very accurate.

[bigt405]

The cut off in Alabama is 19.0

[vinny t]

have been on trt for the last 3 years , i have regular blood tests i got some back last week ;

Haemoglobin 19.8 (13-18 g/L)

Packed cell volume which is Hematocrit 0.605 (0.40-0.50)

Was urgently referred to see a haematolgist (blood specialist) , i went to see one privately he told me my blood was very thick and i was at high risk of having a stroke had to give a pint of blood there and then and have to go back in 10 days to give some more, i was prescribed asprin and told to stop trt .

Had blood test done straight after giving blood got the results back in 10 mins haemaglobin dropped to 18.3 hematocrit dropped to 0.51 still above range but got to go back in 10 days give more and see where we are at .
Always have blood tests done on trt or any cycles .

[vinny t]

I am now under the care of a haematologist i have been taken off TRT ,i have to go to the hospital every week now and have a pint of blood drawn , i have to do this every week untill my hematocrit levels are down to 0.47 then monitored to keep them at that level.

I will then see an endocrinologist with the option of going back on trt then put back with probably a different application method and i will be continuosly monitored with blood tests and and having venesections (blood drawn) to keep hematocrit levels at 0.48. The haematologist has said nobody on trt should let there levels go above range as it is dangerous .