Yeah, I only did 2 before I had my clot and almost died. I don't know if its a coincidence or not, I am willing to take a leap and say yes though. I have been getting a phlebotomy done once a month for the past 5 yrs and never had an issue, but that's done professionally. Comparing my method though to what they do at the office, nothing really different.
I tell you though that you should have it done professionally because there is a very small chance that it might have brought mine on, I wouldn't gamble on that. You also need to get a cbc done regularly and that will happen when you either donate or go to the doc. Now you can buy a hemoglobin meter like I did, I was using it when I did my own. I would trust the machine at the docs office though more than the meters you can buy.
Really no reason to do your own other than to hide it from your doctor and keep it a secret, off your health insurance.