Since being on HRT for 4 years now I have high RBC so I give blood every four weeks. Is giving blood monthly good for your body? I know that your body makes more blood and that’s why its high but will it wear out over time, making of the blood???
Thanks…G
I don’t think it will wear out. Just make sure to stay hydrated 
My Hematocrit is high too and I am having a bear of a time just getting a script for a theraputic phlebotomy. I am unable to give blood via the normal route because I was in the military in Germany in the 80’s and could have been exposed to Mad Cow.
Do you feel better after you give blood? How high are your counts? I’m at 53% and my Doc says it isn’t enough to worry about. Do you notice any change in Blood pressure after you give?
[quote]jrm850 wrote:
My Hematocrit is high too and I am having a bear of a time just getting a script for a theraputic phlebotomy. I am unable to give blood via the normal route because I was in the military in Germany in the 80’s and could have been exposed to Mad Cow.
Do you feel better after you give blood? How high are your counts? I’m at 53% and my Doc says it isn’t enough to worry about. Do you notice any change in Blood pressure after you give? [/quote]
This is something that has worked for me along with proper hydration (note drinking to much water can dehydrate you by eliminating essential minerals).
My RBC on 3/15 @ 1:04 pm was @ 6.04
Hematocrit 54%
Hemoglobin 17.6
On 3/16 for breakfast ate ½ grapefruit along with my usual rye/oatmeal 4egg whites 1 whole egg with a little extra iodized salt for a hydration support.
I repeated this protocol for one week and had another blood draw on 3/23 @ 9:06 am my RBC were
RBC 5.80
Hematocrit 50%
Hemoglobin 17.1
I’m also on TRT, for the last four years.
Yes my BP dropped as my HR did also
Here’s a link on grapefruit and lowering hematocrit
[quote]KYinchampaign wrote:
[quote]jrm850 wrote:
My Hematocrit is high too and I am having a bear of a time just getting a script for a theraputic phlebotomy. I am unable to give blood via the normal route because I was in the military in Germany in the 80’s and could have been exposed to Mad Cow.
Do you feel better after you give blood? How high are your counts? I’m at 53% and my Doc says it isn’t enough to worry about. Do you notice any change in Blood pressure after you give? [/quote]
This is something that has worked for me along with proper hydration (note drinking to much water can dehydrate you by eliminating essential minerals).
My RBC on 3/15 @ 1:04 pm was @ 6.04
Hematocrit 54%
Hemoglobin 17.6
On 3/16 for breakfast ate �½ grapefruit along with my usual rye/oatmeal 4egg whites 1 whole egg with a little extra iodized salt for a hydration support.
I repeated this protocol for one week and had another blood draw on 3/23 @ 9:06 am my RBC were
RBC 5.80
Hematocrit 50%
Hemoglobin 17.1
I’m also on TRT, for the last four years.
Yes my BP dropped as my HR did also
Here’s a link on grapefruit and lowering hematocrit
That sounds so much better than giving blood I don’t like grapefruit, but we are about to become aquainted. Thanks for the tip.
This is a decent paper covering the effects of High Hematocrit on BP:
http://www.martilinstruments.com/files/Scientific%20Publications,%20Clinical%20Relevance%20of%20Blood%20Viscosity/11%20Blood%20viscosity%20and%20hemodynamic%20consequences/bloodviscosity(hematocrit)andbloodpressure.pdf
Yea I’m not real fond of blood Lettings and the harpoons used, I’ve had 4 letting in the previous months before my grapefruit approach,So I’m batting 1 for 1, I’ll see next week on my next blood draw if this protocol works as well as the first time?
Yea I’m not real fond of blood Lettings and the harpoons used, I’ve had 4 letting in the previous months before my grapefruit approach,So I’m batting 1 for 1, I’ll see next week on my next blood draw if this protocol works as well as the first time?
UWAcop, you might be loosing some minerals, could tip the balance to iodine deficiency if your intake is marginal. Do you have any thyroid lab data?
I don’t feel any different after giving blood. If I don’t go past the 4 week mark my hemoglobin is around 17 but if I go after 5 weeks it gets up around 19.0 to 19.6. My BP is ok because I am BP meds and I run around 3 miles a day
Ksman my thyroid is off because I take 100mcg of synthroid a day, but all in all I feel great. My body is beat up right now and I have a few injures, rotator cuff, and knee so I’m taking a break from the iron and doing the Insanity program. I am liking it and it has some great stretching in it