Hey guys!

I'm roughly around 19 months on testosterone and got my blood work done a little while ago. The doctor called and told me she was setting up an appointment to see a hematologist to take a look at my blood work. The hematologist tells me I've got a slightly high red blood cell count, slightly too much iron, and slightly high thyroid reading. I was pretty shocked to hear it since I bike an hour a day, stay hydrated and work out frequently.

We just recently increased my dosage and the Hematologist wasn't all too worried about it. She says a high RBC is very common when it comes to testosterone and I might need to do some therapeutic phlebotomy every 2 - 3 months if it gets bad. I live in Colorado so she also suggested sleeping with an oxygen tank if I snore since the lack of oxygen can cause the body to make more blood cells to compensate. I feel fine. I'm never fatigued or feeling ill. I don't show any symptoms of even having a hyper active thyroid either :^(. I don't want to stop therapy. That's the last thing I'd ever want to do!!! Apparently my blood work was fine in December.

Anyone else ever been in this position?

I used to be a hypogonadic male, and took testosterone for several years.

I had the problem of high hemoglobin and RBC count.  I ultimately ended up going to the local blood center and donating blood several times a year.  Eventually I found I could do a pheresis donation where they would take "double red" cells and return the plasma.  With the double red, I found twice a year was sufficient.

They measure you hemoglobin and as long as it is under 18 you can donate. With a doctors prescription most blood centers will take your blood even if hemoglobin is over 18, but they throw it away.  With regular donations you can keep the hemoglobin in the 14-17 range.






 

Yes, this has happened to me.  I address the issue by donating blood every 3-4 months.  Since I have been a somewhat regular donor for many years, it is not such a big deal for me.  I do NOT like that fact that T has changed my blood chemistry, since I am already predisposed to genetic circulatory problems that make me worry about stroke and heart blockage, but I feel it is my best option right now.  I am nearly 5 years on T, and the RBC/hemoglobin started creeping up after about 3 years.