I’m hoping you can help me out. I can’t seem to get my red blood count under control. Everything else is coming back in good range but Red blood is high.
They told me to donate blood (which I HATE doing) so I did and it brought it down into high safe range then it just climbs right back up.
I’m at 150mg of test and 120 units of HCG a week, an AI and T3/T4. Test is around 800 and Free T at 26. Not sure what to do. They told me drink more, take fish oil, take Bromalin, and donate more blood but it doesn’t seem to work and doesn’t get to the root of the cause.
I go to Defy Medical and that’s all they seem to know what to do. You wait for a month to have a consult then they come up with the same story = give more blood.
You have to get in front of hemoglobin. Imo everyone should donate before beginning trt, a “double red” dose if heavy enough. Then give regularly, right on schedule.
Once you’re outside the lines, you’ll flirt with the high end of safe/low danger zone pretty much forever otherwise.
Your best bet at this point is finding a clinic who will do a therapeutic phlebotomy, then also donating at another clinic a week or so later. As long as your labs support that much of a blood draw.
Not a bad idea to get on an iron supplement if you go this route.
Then just schedule regular donations. You should fluctuate between mid-normal to high normal now. Go back to the clinic willing to perform therapeutic phlebotomies as needed should you get off track.
How has your blood pressure been? Defy has been pretty chill about my levels since blood pressure has remained unchanged compared to my pre-TRT numbers.
Is there no way of getting to the bottom of the problem though? I didn’t know if there’s any other answer to the problem other than bandaiding it by giving blood every 4 months.
Reducing your dose as others have mentioned. Also, pellets have shown a lower, or at least slower manifestation of polycythemia and may be worth looking in to.
But giving blood generates health benefits of its own, and you’re helping people in need. If your dose feels right aside from blood management, what is the big concern over donating?