How Donating Blood effects RBC?

[Conan21]

I started to giving blood last spring to Reduce my RBC and am a bit confused by the results.

bood tests from March were as follows.

RBC 5.8 ref range (4.10 - 5.6)
Hemogloblin 17.4 ref range (12.5 - 17.0)
hematocrit 50.6 ref range (36.0 - 50.0)

New Results

RBC 6.08 ref range (4.10 - 5.6)
Hemogloblin 15.5 ref range (12.5 - 17.0)
hematocrit 46.3 ref range (36.0 - 50.0)


I am confused on how My RBC went UP but my Hemoglobin and Hematocrit went DOWN?

 

[testforlife]

I'am interested as well. If donating blood does'nt work what other
methods is there to take?

 

[thebrick]

This is my take:

Red blood cells can vary in size somewhat. So even though the number of red cells cells has increased slightly, the total volume occupied by RBC's in your blood has decreased significantly (as measured by your hematocrit). So it sounds to me that the actual red blood cell size has decreased making your blood have a lower and safer viscosity. The hematocrit is the important level to monitor here.

Yes, donating blood is the only way to decrease hematocrit other than an extended time off from AAS. Staying well hydrated also decreases hematocrit if you are dehydrated.

 

[Paul Bunyan]

This is my take:

Red blood cells can vary in size somewhat. So even though the number of red cells cells has increased slightly, the total volume occupied by RBC's in your blood has decreased significantly (as measured by your hematocrit). So it sounds to me that the actual red blood cell size has decreased making your blood have a lower and safer viscosity. The hematocrit is the important level to monitor here.

Yes, donating blood is the only way to decrease hematocrit other than an extended time off from AAS. Staying well hydrated also decreases hematocrit if you are dehydrated.

Bingo! And keeping your hemoglobin level in the normal range is a big plus too.

PB

 

[dragonfire101]

I asked my hematologist about donating blood to keep RBC down and he laughed at me. He reported in theory it would work, but you would have to do it every other day. He said after 48 hrs the RBC would be back up especially if you have sleep apnea that it would not work.

He also explained RBC is destroyed in the body and every 120 days you will have all new RBC and if you get rid of some, your body would just replace it with new RBC at that time since it was going to do it anyways within 120 days.

 

[buselmo]

trust me, even if your RBC is within range, it is a good idea to donate blood if you are on anabolics.
I haven't donated blood since... well, i never did in the past... but after donating blood a year ago with a friend of mine, his blood looked normal as it was coming out and he finished the hole process 5 minutes before i did, and he started 5 minutes after i did... my blood was thick and much darker in color. The next time i donated, it was normal. Freaked me out to see how viscous and dark my blood was. Plus, my RBC was in range in all my blood tests before donating.

 

[mindstar]

does donating blood while on affect to recipient at all? I'm down to give blood, but not if I'm going to harm someone.

 

[Test_Eagles]

I think the recipients generally have bigger problems.

 

[Athlete]

OK, I have to ask this.... I thought you couldn't donate blood while on AAS?
At least where I live, the rules say:
"You cannot donate blood if:
<...>
* Used narcotics, anabolic steroids, growth hormone, or any other drug, unless prescribed by a MD."

 

[gordo14]

There concern.......

OK, I have to ask this.... I thought you couldn't donate blood while on AAS?
At least where I live, the rules say:
"You cannot donate blood if:
<...>
* Used narcotics, anabolic steroids, growth hormone, or any other drug, unless prescribed by a MD."

is the use of dirty needles. Its okay if the Doc prescribed it, but not if your self medicating? Kind of contradicting if i may say so. If its doc perscribed and you donate and it does no harm. Then if its self medicated, and sterile practices are followed it will do no harm................

 

[gten79]

NOT TO HIJACK

Ok here are my results that I just received today. PHIL, Massive, Dante, Brick please advise.

I'm only going to list what was out of range.

Direct HDLC = 34(L)
Desireable >60
Higher Risk <40

Hemoglobin = 17.7 (H) ref range 13.8-17.2
Hematocrit = 50.8 (H) ref range 41.0-50.0
MPV = 6.9 (L) ref range 7.8 -11.0

AST = 66 ref range 14-59
ALT = 90 ref range 9-72

 

[Liphted]

I see this topic discussed so much with so much misinformation it's scary.
Yes blood letting (which is essentially what you're doing) will reduce your
RBC count as well as the amount of hemoglobin in your blood. This is
why these values are lower in women than in men due to their menstrual
cycle.

This is my take:

Red blood cells can vary in size somewhat. So even though the number of red cells cells has increased slightly, the total volume occupied by RBC's in your blood has decreased significantly (as measured by your hematocrit). So it sounds to me that the actual red blood cell size has decreased making your blood have a lower and safer viscosity. The hematocrit is the important level to monitor here.

So are you saying that when he donated blood only the larger RBC's were
removed?

Yes, donating blood is the only way to decrease hematocrit other than an extended time off from AAS.

This is very untrue.

I haven't donated blood since... well, i never did in the past... but after donating blood a year ago with a friend of mine, his blood looked normal as it was coming out and he finished the hole process 5 minutes before i did, and he started 5 minutes after i did... my blood was thick and much darker in color. The next time i donated, it was normal. Freaked me out to see how viscous and dark my blood was. Plus, my RBC was in range in all my blood tests before donating.

There are so many factors at play here that I would be very hesitant to
attribute what you are describing to donating blood once.



The hematocrit is the total number of RBC's in relation to the total volume
of blood. The answer to Conan21 question lies within the above sentence.
To further expand, in an individual who trains (i.e. Conan21) a common
physiological response is an increase in RBC's as well as an
increase in blood plasma levels. If the increase in plasma levels
is greater than the increase in RBC's the percentage of HCT is decreased,
thus leaving the individual with an greater number of RBC's but
with a lower crit.


@Conan21
So this all could very well be attributed to the proximity of your training schedule and your
blood letting schedule. If you think it's something more than that see an
M.D. - please.

 

[Big Bapper]

OK, I have to ask this.... I thought you couldn't donate blood while on AAS?
At least where I live, the rules say:
"You cannot donate blood if:
<...>
* Used narcotics, anabolic steroids, growth hormone, or any other drug, unless prescribed by a MD."

Thats there problem not yours, all the blood is screened so if you are on gear it would be not used.

 

[Athlete]

This is very untrue.

So you are saying that there are other effective ways of lowering hematocrit than donating blood or go off AAS?
Others on this board seem to disagree, so please: enlighten me?

 

[Liphted]

So you are saying that there are other effective ways of lowering hematocrit than donating blood or go off AAS?
Others on this board seem to disagree, so please: enlighten me?

Honestly I don't give a shit if others disagree, I'm not trying to convince anyone
of anything here, just to point out inaccuracies.
Effective ways? No. Safe ways? No. But again that wasn't my point. It was simply to point out there are other ways, none of which are healthy and I would recommend, but it is possible.

Phlebotomy is by far the most effective, easiest, and safest way.