I’ve been on TRT for a little over 1.5yrs; take 125mg/wk on a M,W,F injection (test cyp). Had my bloods done a few weeks ago and everything good with all markers other than test was just over lab range (to be expected when taking exogenous).
However, I just spent the last 24hrs in the hospital with bilateral pulmonary embolism that is being attributed to increased red blood cell and hematocrit from TRT. Dr wants me to stop all together, hematologist, not as adamant; following up with him in the next couple weeks. For now, I’m on double dose of blood thinners.
Anybody experience this?
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I had a bilateral PE before I started TRT. Stay on the blood thinners and you’ll be good. You must have a genetic predisposition like factor5 leiden. You MUST have your Dr test for genetic mutations. PE has a very high deathrate. Somewhere around coin flip. You are blessed to still be here.
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This^
Now that I’ve been released from the hospital, and have access to my computer, i can share my labs for reference.
As mentioned the GP at the hospital was adamant that testosterone was the cause and i should cease all treatment immediately, but when she talked to the hematologist, he was less adamant and i have a follow up with him in a week or two. So hopefully i can stay on TRT and add a thinner to my regime, but we will see.
Did they check INR blood test?
Did you have covid or take the vaccine? That could have caused the clot.
Your GP full of crap. Your blood isn’t thick. Hematocrit is perfectly fine. Are you on Anastrozole? That medication has been linked to clotting. You need the genetic testing. The hematologist should be digging deeper. As long as you are on the blood thinners you are good.
INR was not tested; not something my nurse practitioner typically checks for. But i am sure the hematologist will.
I am prescribed arimidex, but don’t generally take it. I have taken 1/4mg a week in the past briefly, any more than that and i get pimples and ED issued that don’t resolve with cialis
Get lab results from hospital. They must have checked that and more
Shortly after taking TRT, My blood got thicker as result I take Xarelto 20mg. every day at 10am, per my Cardiologist. My Brother takes Warfarin 4mg every day per his Hematologist. Our Dr.'s told us the potential clots will cause us a stroke or heart attack. I cannot stop the TRT due to other health issues with my Pituitary. My Brother started clotting soon after beginning TRT too. We believe its in our DNA on my Mothers side. One must get labs done regularly. Don’t cheat yourself. Both of my legs filled with clots. They are gone now since taking Xarelto…
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What lab determines clotting?
The d-dimer blood test will test how long it takes for blood to clot. If your blood is extra thick it will clot too quick. If you are on too high a dose of blood thinners it will take too long to clot. It’s not a test for genetic mutations.
Factor V lieden is a common one but there are other genetic mutations to test for. If you are heterozygous you have an elevated chance (5-6x) of developing DVT. If you are homozygous you have a much greater chance, I think about 100X. This is actually tested in 23andme. I was diagnosed with the heterozygous mutation of Factor V Lieden by the hematologist along with another mutation and then years later I did 23andme and it caught both of them.
This topic is close to my heart since I almost died from a PE about 5 years ago. Shit was crazy. I was a totally healthy male and then the next day I was laid out in the ICU for a week fighting for my life. I’m a veteran, been in warzones for several years and I never felt so mortal and out of control in my life as I did that week in the hospital.
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Factor V lieden is rough. My Mother and one of my brothers have Factor 5, its a lifetime of Warfarin with monthly PT-Inr tests. Forget the daily dose and it could be real trouble. You also have to watch what foods you eat. Some will cause you to hemorrhage. I’ve seen this happen with my Mother. I was tested 2X for Factor 5 , both came back Neg. My Mother is 94 and I take her to Quest Labs every month.
to be honest, if we didn’t have to do covid screening before going to work, which i failed due to a shortness of breath symptom. Subsequently, i had to go for covid testing. The doctor at the clinic told me i should go to the hospital to get checked out and he would call ahead to let them know i was coming.
Had it not been for those two events, i would’ve just tried to suck it up and push through it and likely would’ve been found a week later in my basement gym.
There is a lot of “don’t worry about RBC or hematocrit” talk on here, but I have not read much about the clotting risks; i consider myself very lucky
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Good advice. Your post made me book an appointment with a hematologist. Just to cover my bases. Proactive.
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Wow. That’s serendipity. Life is so crazy.
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Exactly. That’s why his GP is wrong for blaming it on hematocrit well within normal ranges
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How is this a hematocrit issue when its clearly within range? You’re all going to ignore the data to fit a reason for someones health scare, without actual evidence for the cause? Im not convinced TRT is the cause.
just to clarify, as readalot puts far more eloquently and intelligently than I could ever articulate. I don’t believe that Hct is to blame here (especially since the bloodwork was taken at 3pm after having absolutely nothing to drink all day, i’m not surprised that Hct would be artificially elevated), but I mentioned it to bring awareness, not to ignore all measurables.
To be honest, I stopped visiting this forums several months ago due to the “you’re not doing the same as me, therefore you are stupid and wrong” mentality that seems to be prevalent in the vocal minority
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Thesaurus.com, cut and paste info, along with multiple edits and you too can be an eloquent internet Scientist/Researcher. In all fairness you had a medical emergency that scared you and you want an answer as to what caused it. That is understandable, but Im with the Hematologist who is not ready to give you a real diagnosis. The tests simply dont point towards your warning. Even you know that being hydrated is key to lowering HCT throughout the day. So Im sorry you were in the hospital, I just dont believe TRT is what caused it. Did you get the J&J shot out of curiosity?
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I decided to remove my post. Its going to be a back and forth thing. Not worth it. Keep doing your thing playboy.
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