Interesting visit with the doc today... anyone on TRT should read

A

animal-inside

Well-known member
Trusted Member
I went to a new doctor today. I know he's an incredible doctor as he's well known in the area.

I told him I would like him to take over my testoterone precription because mine's almost out. He had no isses at all with this, but I told him my endo lowered my dose from 100 to 80 a week and wanted me to do blood work before getting next scipt because my RBC and iron were high.. He told me "you need to donate blood every 3 months at the minium if your on testosterone so you keep your RBC down to aovid clots, strokes etc"..

I have known about donating to keep the levels better, but when a doctor tells me everyone on TRT should be donating it was a eye opener..
 
animal-inside said:
I went to a new doctor today. I know he's an incredible doctor as he's well known in the area.

I told him I would like him to take over my testoterone precription because mine's almost out. He had no isses at all with this, but I told him my endo lowered my dose from 100 to 80 a week and wanted me to do blood work before getting next scipt because my RBC and iron were high.. He told me "you need to donate blood every 3 months at the minium if your on testosterone so you keep your RBC down to aovid clots, strokes etc"..

I have known about donating to keep the levels better, but when a doctor tells me everyone on TRT should be donating it was a eye opener..
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Ya my TRT dr insists all clients donate 3-4 times per year


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Is it dependent on bloodwork at all? My rbc was still within range after a 16 week cycle.
 
Cheapshot said:
Is it dependent on bloodwork at all? My rbc was still within range after a 16 week cycle.
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A cycle is much different then life time TRT.

During a cycle I can see a lot of benefits to donating. Your RBC's go up when you inject testosterone, so on a cycle makes sense as well.
 
Oldguyjiujitsu said:
Ya my TRT dr insists all clients donate 3-4 times per year


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Funny because my endo (not this doctor) made me go down from 100mg a week to 80 mg because my RBC's were on the high end. He never mentioned donating to keep things in the right range.
 
Cheapshot said:
I am on TRT
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I'd donate for peace of mind if I was you. This doctor listed off all the possible side effects of TRT on your blood and told me just donate to avoid them.

I asked "do they just toss my blood because of the hormone theray?".. He said "no.. they will test it first and if its within range they will absolutely love your blood because it's completely jammed full of what someone would need if they need blood".

So that tells me that even though my blood might be within range, he's telling me to keep donating anyways to avoid any issues
 
animal-inside said:
I'd donate for peace of mind if I was you. This doctor listed off all the possible side effects of TRT on your blood and told me just donate to avoid them.

I asked "do they just toss my blood because of the hormone theray?".. He said "no.. they will test it first and if its within range they will absolutely love your blood because it's completely jammed full of what someone would need if they need blood".

So that tells me that even though my blood might be within range, he's telling me to keep donating anyways to avoid any issues
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I am on TRT as well and have been donating 3-4 times a year for the last couple of years....keeping my hematocrit & hemoglobin in perfect range but my ferritin is now low & taking too long to recover, still just below low normal 3 months after my last donation. I eat tons of red meat & get plenty of iron so be aware of that issue as well.
 
I've been on HRT for 3.5 years and no doc has ever told me about this! My last labs had my hematocrit at 0.45 and my RBC at 5.3. Both are on the higher end of the reference range. I should probably get on a regular donation schedule right?
 
DeviousD said:
I am on TRT as well and have been donating 3-4 times a year for the last couple of years....keeping my hematocrit & hemoglobin in perfect range but my ferritin is now low & taking too long to recover, still just below low normal 3 months after my last donation. I eat tons of red meat & get plenty of iron so be aware of that issue as well.
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my iron levels are very high, so I could spare some..
 
animal-inside said:
my iron levels are very high, so I could spare some..
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Absolutely, that can be an issue as well. They actually don't check ferritin prior to a donation but they do check your hemoglobin & blood pressure prior to any donation & I have never been denied donating because of low iron.
My iron level is right near the high end of normal & my total iron binding capacity along with iron saturation is normal but yet my ferritin is low and I actually suffered iron deficiency symptoms. I have yet to go back to the gastro & ask what exactly is causing the issue, if it is just from donating too often or what? Maybe someone like @Bagua, @gondar1, or @Peter Akara or anyone else might have some medical insights.
My wife's side of the family is on the other side of the spectrum & has a history of hemochromatosis, a couple of her relatives need scheduled phlebotomy services because of iron overload.
 
Bagua said:
Are your kidneys fine?
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Yes, my creatinine, GFR, urea, & all electrolytes tests are all coming in mid range.

It seems that there is limited research or answers available to us on the internet as to why one would have low ferritin but high end of normal range iron levels. I have been searching but not coming up with too much at all, was hoping that you had something available to you Bags.
 
DeviousD said:
Yes, my creatinine, GFR, urea, & all electrolytes tests are all coming in mid range.

It seems that there is limited research or answers available to us on the internet as to why one would have low ferritin but high end of normal range iron levels. I have been searching but not coming up with too much at all, was hoping that you had something available to you Bags.
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I may be able to dig something up. I have never thought much about it because I have chronically low Transferrin, TIBC, but my Transferrin Saturation and Ferritin are in the normal range but at the lower end of normal.
Check this out and see if it provides you with any answers. https://www.medscape.com/answers/20...ng-in-the-diagnosis-of-iron-deficiency-anemia
 
Good post @animal-inside , certainly something we should all be aware of.

For the record I donate as often as possible. Not because I have ever had a problem with any levels but partly just to keep the systems working and have a higher level of "new" blood in my system as possible. Now that might not be totally scientifically correct but something about it appeals to me, it just feels right. The other part is moral or whatever, there is a need for blood out there, I've received gallons of it myself.

vancitybb said:
I've been on HRT for 3.5 years and no doc has ever told me about this! My last labs had my hematocrit at 0.45 and my RBC at 5.3. Both are on the higher end of the reference range. I should probably get on a regular donation schedule right?
Click to expand...

Different Docs will have different approaches to this. Animal's Doc may feel strongly about it and say you "need" to do it while others may think it unnecessary if your within lab ranges. Should you do it? I would. Levels would logically influence the urgency but note I do it regardless of that.
 
DeviousD said:
Absolutely, that can be an issue as well. They actually don't check ferritin prior to a donation but they do check your hemoglobin & blood pressure prior to any donation & I have never been denied donating because of low iron.
My iron level is right near the high end of normal & my total iron binding capacity along with iron saturation is normal but yet my ferritin is low and I actually suffered iron deficiency symptoms. I have yet to go back to the gastro & ask what exactly is causing the issue, if it is just from donating too often or what? Maybe someone like @Bagua, @gondar1, or @Peter Akara or anyone else might have some medical insights.
My wife's side of the family is on the other side of the spectrum & has a history of hemochromatosis, a couple of her relatives need scheduled phlebotomy services because of iron overload.
Click to expand...

This stuff is beyond me discussing much intelligently. Sure I've looked at it but at a very basic level. There is one thing on the subject that sticks out to me that I will mention, I stand to be corrected or educated on it please.

As I understand it the level of iron present in your blood and revealed on the regular test is inaccurate or misleading as a major portion of the iron in your system is held captive in some cells rather than in your bloodstream.

That's all I got.
 
gondar1 said:
Good post @animal-inside , certainly something we should all be aware of.

For the record I donate as often as possible. Not because I have ever had a problem with any levels but partly just to keep the systems working and have a higher level of "new" blood in my system as possible. Now that might not be totally scientifically correct but something about it appeals to me, it just feels right. The other part is moral or whatever, there is a need for blood out there, I've received gallons of it myself.



Different Docs will have different approaches to this. Animal's Doc may feel strongly about it and say you "need" to do it while others may think it unnecessary if your within lab ranges. Should you do it? I would. Levels would logically influence the urgency but note I do it regardless of that.
Click to expand...
Now that you mention it, this whole having new blood in the system does sound appealing. Like an oil change for the car 🤓
 
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