Overweight TRT Considerations

[woundcarping]

Well, got my partial 6-week blood results back, and the blood is indeed thickening:
View attachment 27360

It's possible that it's an elevated level from dehydration. I have such a hard time with it on these GLP1s. This is on 120mg test cyp split shots, 4x 30mg per week. Yet to see what the hormone side looks like, but wanted to see what success folks have had lowering hematocrit without donating. I really don't want to get into that rebound cycle.

EDIT: Hematocrit was 46.6 previously, for context.

My hematocrit was fine at 120mg, but when I went to 180mg it went up to 56% in 8 weeks. I dropped my dose to 150mg and donated, dropping it to 52%. This coming week or the week after I'll test again as my 3-4 week post donation hematocrit checkup. TRT labs again in July for my ~8 weeks on the 150mg dose.


There's not a lot of practical and consistent ways to control hematocrit when on TRT aside from dose adjustments. Hydration is important but that's more of a baseline requirement.

 

[quicksilver80]

I hear it will hurt more than help if the underlying issues arent the right ones. Primary or secondary hypogonadism. Gotta find that out first. Then you can potentially avoid trt and doing something like enclo instead.

 

[Airborne Daddy]

My hematocrit was fine at 120mg, but when I went to 180mg it went up to 56% in 8 weeks. I dropped my dose to 150mg and donated, dropping it to 52%. This coming week or the week after I'll test again as my 3-4 week post donation hematocrit checkup. TRT labs again in July for my ~8 weeks on the 150mg dose.


There's not a lot of practical and consistent ways to control hematocrit when on TRT aside from dose adjustments. Hydration is important but that's more of a baseline requirement.

Hydration, vasodilator (5 or 10mg cialis will work) and an appt for donating power reds (double reds) is the way.

 

[Such1943]

Cialis can definitely get you pumps in the gym taken an hour before, personally for me it was a huge difference compared to just watting enough carbs before my work out and the day before, also straight water to drink during work out with dextrose put in. I felt did more for me then Cialis.

I've implemented 5mg Cialis a day a few weeks back for vascularity and blood pressure. I'm going to keep it in the rotation.

 

[woundcarping]

... an appt for donating power reds (double reds) is the way.

Gotta meet their requirements, which I don't.

 

[jsc1980]

Gotta meet their requirements, which I don't.

Feel ya on that but you can always donate whole blood, just have to do it twice as often. I monitor my hct and generally only need to donate whole blood maybe 2 to 3 times per year (you can donate whole blood about 6 times per year, if needed).

 

[rmhla]

Feel ya on that but you can always donate whole blood, just have to do it twice as often. I monitor my hct and generally only need to donate whole blood maybe 2 to 3 times per year (you can donate whole blood about 6 times per year, if needed).

Its great we can. In Canada if your hematocrit is to high they turn you away. Its crazy so then your stick going to your Dr to ask for a phlebotomy (basically they just discard your blood) which to me is crazy because its proven you can still use that blood for plasma.

 

[jsc1980]

Its great we can. In Canada if your hematocrit is to high they turn you away. Its crazy so then your stick going to your Dr to ask for a phlebotomy (basically they just discard your blood) which to me is crazy because its proven you can still use that blood for plasma.

They do in the US too (they base it on hemo), but it's gotta be super high. I think for the Red Cross it's has to be lower than 20. With the rule of 3, that would put your hct at close to 60. Hopefully you've taken care of it before it gets to that point.

 

[rmhla]

They do in the US too (they base it on hemo), but it's gotta be super high. I think for the Red Cross it's has to be lower than 20. With the rule of 3, that would put your hct at close to 60. Hopefully you've taken care of it before it gets to that point.

Personally used to be 54.. im fine now using Red Cross. Also weight is proper and eatting health plays big role.

They know me well now also where I visit so its not a big hassle.
You really just need answer yes/no to all the onslot of questions or you very quickly get turned away.

Anyways I personally think you should be able to donate blood even of your hematocrit is high. Why? Well going through a Dr for example on Canada takes 3 to 6 months get an appointment each time... unless using a walk in clinic but never had any luck there.
Family Dr takes forever for appointments

 

[jsc1980]

Personally used to be 54.. im fine now using Red Cross. Also weight is proper and eatting health plays big role.

They know me well now also where I visit so its not a big hassle.
You really just need answer yes/no to all the onslot of questions or you very quickly get turned away.

Anyways I personally think you should be able to donate blood even of your hematocrit is high. Why? Well going through a Dr for example on Canada takes 3 to 6 months get an appointment each time... unless using a walk in clinic but never had any luck there.
Family Dr takes forever for appointments

Don't disagree, but there could be a concern that something is wrong if your hct is too high and donating can stress the body which could be exasperated if your body is already working harder to push thicker blood. There could also be a concern that it could harm a recipient depending on the underlying cause.

While your high hct may be from trt, if someone had polycythemia vera it could be dangerous to recipients, so its safer to just not allow it. I have an at-home hemo meter so I can monitor my levels and schedule donations if I get a few higher readings before it gets too high.