What is the ideal hematocrit/hemaglobin range?

[Evom1]

I know there is the standard range given on blood work, but I'm interested to hear from some of the experts here what the ideal range for these two values would be for a bodybuilder using AAS

For instance these are my most recent readings
16.5 hemaglobin
49% hematocrit

 

[Demondosage]

The hemoglobin is pretty much where mine runs also, standard range is about 14-17% , 18% is high and 20% is the cutoff for what Red Cross will take or turn u away for.

So I donate double reds every 112 days, but I was told that whole bloods every 56 days will keep it lower than double reds every 112 days. But I stay in range doing doubles so whatever, maybe if it creeps up over 17% one day I'll begin doing whole instead. I just prefer to get it out of the way once every 4 months rather than every other month.

Not sure on hematocrit % but thats my hemoglobin input anyways

 

[Havah]

Im no expert

But im afraid youre doing the common mistake of focusing on a number, the same way people chase E2 number or monitor liver transaminases, or go awhol when prolactine is 2 UI above "normal" range

AAS are thrombogenic
Reports at that european clinic has it that 7% of user had polycythemia (iirc) upon admission
The thrombogenic effect of steroid abuse goes by multiple pathways, and cannot be restricted to one blood value
Healthy people dont go around and do blood clot with high hemoglobine, bar extem values you need a lot of stuff to go wrong to start having acute thrombotic events
Lowering your RBC is only adjusting one of several variables that are heading toward an acute cardiovascular event, and iirc donating blood isnt even that effective at reducing the cardiovascular risk among BBers because its only ONE of the thing that goes wrong, and you cant do jackshit about the rest

There is no number you need to chase and I will go as far as saying chasing numbers like this just give a false sense of security

I ve seen bloodwork where everything but hematocrit is fine (and you need some other values to make sure it isnt just concentration which usually arent there) and people lose their shit

And you got other peeps where everything is slowly starting to go south, increases plaquelets, CRP going up, liver strain, HC going up, where people should just stop right now and they go on adding bluberry extract or some shit

What i m trying to say is you cant narrow it down to a single number, it is a LOT more complicated than that

Take care

 

[eryximachus]

I had a significant incident with hemoglobin and hematocrit at just below the maximum. I felt fine until I was on top of a mountain in the Rockies ready to go skiing and felt like I couldn't breath. Got down to the ski lodge, I was fine. Every single run was like that.

Went to the ER, got all the tests - a day of of tests really. Spent the night. Said I was fine. Gave me some ativan saying it was anxiety.

I was living in Manhattan at the time, and I gave double red blood cells to 4 different organizations in a week. I felt a lot better.

I never did tren again (did a TON in the year leading up to that event) and take a lot of time off. Most cycles since then have been primo.

Bottom line, even in my case - the tests were fine and the doctors did nothing. We don't fully know how AAS drugs affect us. We got a clue, but at the end of the day, keep doses low and taking time off is the key. I think HIIT is good as well, as they helps you see if you're having genuine health problems. You will know it and feel it.

 

[Evom1]

@eryximachus what were your values

 

[T-Bagger]

Acceptable hematocrit levels are no lower than 38 I believe and no higher than 54. Off cycle, I stay around the 44-47 range.