Blood Donation and hematocrit

carrierdome · Apr 15, 2012

If I ask will they give me my hematocrit numbers when I donate?

zolte · Apr 15, 2012

Hemoglobin? Yes.

discohornet · Apr 15, 2012

and hematocrit is roughly 3 times the hemoglobin number.

mike036 · Apr 15, 2012

it is part of the protocol-some places give hematocrit and some hemoglobin and yes as discohornet said hematocrit is roughly 3 times the hemoglobin number

Pumped1 · Apr 15, 2012

yes they do, this is one of the main reasons i donate !

milkhouse · Apr 15, 2012

How long do you guys wait after being off to donate.

mike036 · Apr 15, 2012

i donate every 2-3 months-it doesnt matter if you are on or off but dont tell them you use steroids or syringes because they will ban you for life

ajdonutz · Apr 15, 2012

do you guys just donate and tell then you're on nothing ans simply walk out? Lol. I haven't donated before but think I may start..

pillar3792 · Apr 15, 2012

ajordana said:
do you guys just donate and tell then you're on nothing ans simply walk out? Lol. I haven't donated before but think I may start..

That's why I donate. I get my bloodwork done, and rbc and hemocrit are high. Donate.

ajdonutz · Apr 15, 2012

pillar3792 said:
That's why I donate. I get my bloodwork done, and rbc and hemocrit are high. Donate.

I know, I was asking if you guys just walk into the donation place and give blood and walk out. As in tell them you aren't on anything and they don't say anything when your levels are skyrocketed

saps · Apr 15, 2012

ajordana said:
I know, I was asking if you guys just walk into the donation place and give blood and walk out. As in tell them you aren't on anything and they don't say anything when your levels are skyrocketed

Yes, although they never say anything and with consistent donation you can and will bring your numbers closer to normal

ajdonutz · Apr 15, 2012

saps said:
Yes, although they never say anything and with consistent donation you can and will bring your numbers closer to normal

Awesome thanks. Im not sure how elevated mine are. I do take aspirin daily and blood pressure is always spot on so I don't think im way off. But im sure donating is always a good idea. now I need to find a place

milkhouse · Apr 15, 2012

mike036 said:
i donate every 2-3 months-it doesnt matter if you are on or off but dont tell them you use steroids or syringes because they will ban you for life

Lol. That's why I haven't donated yet. Good to know though. Thanks

BigDaddyBone · Apr 16, 2012

I found a phlebotomist who is willing to give me phlebotomies on the side for free...if I'm running a moderate dose of EQ would monthly phlebotomies be overkill? What's the risk of doing it too often, anemia/low energy?

turbobusa · Apr 16, 2012

I'm about to donate. My ma needed blood A+ . Thought I was then found out AB+. Oh well. So anyway my hemoglobin was at just a tick under 20. Now being off 6mo is at 16.5. That is the high end of normal. I am going to be much more cautious about that level. Thanks, T

carrierdome · Apr 16, 2012

Ok good. I will ask then. They want double platelets from me. Happy to do it and only drawback is it takes like 90 minutes but I guess it is worth it as there is a shelf life on this stuff and accident victims need a lot.

Stewie · Apr 16, 2012

BigDaddyBone said:
I found a phlebotomist who is willing to give me phlebotomies on the side for free...if I'm running a moderate dose of EQ would monthly phlebotomies be overkill? What's the risk of doing it too often, anemia/low energy?

Yes monthly phlebotomies can have detrimental effects on the endocrine system,low ferritin levels will effect your thyroid function( hypothyroidism),as well low Iron levels can lower Cortisol secretion, sub clinic Hypoadrenia.

saps · Apr 16, 2012

ajordana said:
Awesome thanks. Im not sure how elevated mine are. I do take aspirin daily and blood pressure is always spot on so I don't think im way off. But im sure donating is always a good idea. now I need to find a place

I also take a baby aspirin daily and have brought my BP to near ideal numbers but remember also that bloodletting still remains the only real way to bring down those high rbc, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. The more and longer you are on aas the more donation is needed.

BigDaddyBone said:
I found a phlebotomist who is willing to give me phlebotomies on the side for free...if I'm running a moderate dose of EQ would monthly phlebotomies be overkill? What's the risk of doing it too often, anemia/low energy?

It all lies in the numbers. I no longer use EQ precisely because it causes a greater increase in my rbc et al levels than any other compound. So rather than spectulating if he is going to do it have him test your numbers and let them guide your decision to bloodlet each month or not. If you are very high then yes perhaps a few consecutive months might bring you down into normal range. Its highly unlikely you would need indefinite monthly sessions though unless you ran that EQ at moderate dose year round.

carrierdome said:
Ok good. I will ask then. They want double platelets from me. Happy to do it and only drawback is it takes like 90 minutes but I guess it is worth it as there is a shelf life on this stuff and accident victims need a lot.

They ask everyone for double reds. Doesn't mean you have to. I prefer single pint myself as I think its better for me overall to get whole blood out every 2 months than merely double reds every 4.