Red blood count.......for my DAD....NEED HELP

[MattyFSU]

Need some help from the community.....

my dad is anemic. had it all his life. dr says kindeys is giving off creatine higher than normal. he has a slightly elevated blood preesure and is on finasteride 5mg per day. he is also taking on allopurinol 300mg a day for gout. that is the only meds he is on. he is 61 years old and he is 6'2...375 abt 75 to 100 pounds over weight but not obese at all. has always been a big guy his whole life. was a freak in high school and college. has a clean diet and does not drink alcohol at all or smokes. he currently exercises but not enough. his low blood count keeps him tired.

my question for everyone here is he is looking for a way to raise his RBC. whether it be through meds or natural. he asked me abt EPO and i told him NO way. to risky!

any input or advice would be apperciated...

 

[bhumik]

you need to go to a doctor to figure out whats causing the anemia. then it should be easy to fix. have u done that allready?

 

[MattyFSU]

it is genetic. he has had it since he was a kid. nothing is really causing it from what the docs have told him.

 

[machola]

whether he is a good candidate for EPO is going to have to be up to the doctor. EPO is produced by the kidneys to stimulate the red marrow of bones to produce red blood cells. If his kidneys are not producing enough EPO than i would think he would benefit from it. Again, doctors will know best. I'm just telling you what i know about it. This is just my opinion but i don't think you should just tell your father not to take EPO because you've heard some horror stories. if you're concerned about the health risks of EPO you should go with your father to see the doctor. He will disclose all the risks and benefits to you and then you can make an educated decision. best of luck to your father.

 

[maldorf]

I do know that hematocrit will be raised by taking androgens such as testosterone. Many times this side effect is a problem for some. I wonder how his natural test levels are.