Hematocrit (HCT) and time taken to reduce it

[GuerillaPete]

I never donate. Telmisartan keeps my hct low. One of the lesser known effects of ARBs.

Enalapril is also good at lowering hematocrit.

 

[Reverso007]

Even with my test levels on TRT as low as mid 500's, my hct climbs to 59. It's 57 as of two days ago and that's less than 12 weeks after donating. Doesn't matter if t level is 500's, 800's, 1100's, 1800's. Same HCT

The other mystery is why my t levels have been cut in half on TRT.

Damn that sucks heaps.

How many months have you had it above 55 at?

And when you climbed to 59 then performed a blood donation, what did it drop down to?

 

[Deezznutzz]

I used to donate a lot. Now I take 80mg telmasaran and only donate 4x a year. Double reds mostly. Hematocrit stays 52-54 ish and a blast 16 week cycles twice a year. Oncea got off the telmasaran to try losartan and it shot up to 58 Hematocrit. Dropped back to 51 after starting telmasaran again for a month and doing a power red. That was after a 4 month blast too.

 

[Iron_Yuppie]

Even with my test levels on TRT as low as mid 500's, my hct climbs to 59. It's 57 as of two days ago and that's less than 12 weeks after donating. Doesn't matter if t level is 500's, 800's, 1100's, 1800's. Same HCT

Went through the same thing for years. The solution is one that you very much do not want to entertain but it is extremely obvious.

 

[OnTRT]

Damn that sucks heaps.

How many months have you had it above 55 at?

And when you climbed to 59 then performed a blood donation, what did it drop down to?

Shiiieet it was above 55 for like a year lol. It went to 59 after my first donation last year. It usually drops to 54.5 after donation and starts climbing back up slowly

 

[OnTRT]

Went through the same thing for years. The solution is one that you very much do not want to entertain but it is extremely obvious.

Which is?

Also, went to hematologist to rule out polycythemia Vera, but he blew it off because I'm on t. I said well.....here's YEARS of blood work before going on that shows high 40's to 49.9 to 50 to 51 to 52. Probably isnt that because it's super rare but it's odd

 

[Reverso007]

Shiiieet it was above 55 for like a year lol. It went to 59 after my first donation last year. It usually drops to 54.5 after donation and starts climbing back up slowly

Damn 54, that seems huge.

Ever had clots / PE / stroke?


Just checked up my old bloods. I went from 46 to 50 HCT in 6 weeks on 500mg test.

Wonder if 54 hematocrit year round is fine

 

[OnTRT]

Damn 54, that seems huge.

Ever had clots / PE / stroke?


Just checked up my old bloods. I went from 46 to 50 HCT in 6 weeks on 500mg test.

Wonder if 54 hematocrit year round is fine

I went to 55.4 within a few months at my first bloods when I went on in 2021. No clots, or or stroke, hoping to keep it that way. My head was hurting bad and I was doubled over in pain before my last donation a few months ago. I turned crazy red and our GM thought I was going down. I will get painful head pressure here and there once it goes over 57. I also realize it's 107 outside so there's probably times of dehydration when it's higher than 57 or even 59.

It is generally lower when I check it later in the day but still mid 50's. I was hydrated to the gills for the morning test and still 57 and some change

 

[Reverso007]

I went to 55.4 within a few months at my first bloods when I went on in 2021. No clots, or or stroke, hoping to keep it that way. My head was hurting bad and I was doubled over in pain before my last donation a few months ago. I turned crazy red and our GM thought I was going down. I will get painful head pressure here and there once it goes over 57. I also realize it's 107 outside so there's probably times of dehydration when it's higher than 57 or even 59.

It is generally lower when I check it later in the day but still mid 50's. I was hydrated to the gills for the morning test and still 57 and some change

Damn man, sound rough.

Well, we all hoping you stay clot free my guy.

Been going through these forums and seems like a lot of people here run 50+ hematocrit year round even after donations.

Makes me feel at ease. If mine is back down to 50 mid next week, then I'll go ahead with my blast and donate again 3 weeks from next week.

 

[OnTRT]

Damn man, sound rough.

Well, we all hoping you stay clot free my guy.

Been going through these forums and seems like a lot of people here run 50+ hematocrit year round even after donations.

Makes me feel at ease. If mine is back down to 50 mid next week, then I'll go ahead with my blast and donate again 3 weeks from next week.

I did a failed 350mg blast last year and my hematocrit was 59.6 when I stopped, it had been that high on 140mg and was that high later when I went back to 140mg. I've had it get as low as 52 after the first time I donated but it came flying back up after that one

 

[Iron_Yuppie]

Which is?

Stop doing the thing that’s causing the problem. Lots of people work very hard to find a way around that answer, but it’s the one with the highest rate of success.

 

[OnTRT]

Stop doing the thing that’s causing the problem. Lots of people work very hard to find a way around that answer, but it’s the one with the highest rate of success.

If I look at my blood work pre TRT and see that there is a climb over time and then while on it there is a climb over time, who's to say it would not have kept climbing. IE: it's not actually the cause, but an aggravator

 

[Iron_Yuppie]

If I look at my blood work pre TRT and see that there is a climb over time and then while on it there is a climb over time, who's to say it would not have kept climbing. IE: it's not actually the cause, but an aggravator

Do you have untreated sleep apnea?

 

[OnTRT]

Do you have untreated sleep apnea?

According to my home study in 2019 which was really cheesy, and an in lab study in 2021 (that I paid out of pocket for), not only do I not, but I had below the normal threshold for any apnea events. I did have other very weird things that confused a board certified in sleep neuro, but that's another story.

I would like to do another one, or at least another home study just to really confirm though, but I do not come close to fitting the mold for sleep apnea. Test can do weird things to people though.

 

[Iron_Yuppie]

According to my home study in 2019 which was really cheesy, and an in lab study in 2021 (that I paid out of pocket for), not only do I not, but I had below the normal threshold for any apnea events. I did have other very weird things that confused a board certified in sleep neuro, but that's another story.

I would like to do another one, or at least another home study just to really confirm though, but I do not come close to fitting the mold for sleep apnea. Test can do weird things to people though.

I’m just trying to figure out why you had issues even before trt, and without polycythemia vera as the underlying condition. Sleep apnea was the most likely cause, but cross that off the list I guess.

 

[OnTRT]

I’m just trying to figure out why you had issues even before trt, and without polycythemia vera as the underlying condition. Sleep apnea was the most likely cause, but cross that off the list I guess.

Have never had Jak2 test or born marrow biopsy, however spleen is slightly enlarged depending on who's diagnostic criteria you use, but finding an MPN specialist in my area is not a thing. Run of the mill hematologist sees TRT and wants nothing to do with you