I got recent bloodwork and my RBC came back high I know it’s gear related. I plan on finishing out this cycle and then dropping back to my TRT dose and I’m even planning on reducing that lower than what I’m prescribed. What are some good supplements that I can add in to lower this further. This is my first time dealing with this situation. I will be increasing my daily water intake as well as increasing my aspirin from 81mg daily to 325mg daily and will increase my fish oils.
High RBC
- Thread starter MuscleMayHem
- Start date
Do you mind me asking what you are taking and how long before you plan to go back to TRT?
What is your red blood cell count number?
There are a few things you can do that may help lower but most of the reading I have done is around herbs, foods, supplements that will help thin your blood and help mitigate the issues that can arise due to high RBC's.
You may find this link interesting:
14 natural blood thinners for heart health
Various foods and supplements may help reduce the chances of developing blood clots, although they cannot replace prescription drugs. Learn more here.
www.medicalnewstoday.com
There are many more but the question is how many do you want to take and how do you know which ones are working? This was discussed recently with high hematocrit and hemoglobin and would recommend reading that thread.
The first seven items that come up in most searches that may reduce high RBC's are:
- Drink lots of water.
- Avoid coffee, soda and other diuretics.
- Quit smoking.
- Exercise.
- Don't take iron supplements.
- Don't take anabolic steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs.
- Use appropriate medical devices, such as a CPAP, if you have sleep apnea.
100% up to you, I am not aware of any contradictions with aspirin and natural blood thinners like bromelain and ginger. When I have more time I can read and see if there are warnings but I take low dose aspirin regularly and eat pineapple and ginger all the time for the bromelaine (pineapple) and taste but that is just 1 person.
When I get my kids to bed I can add to this, The emergency room doctor said a normal RBC for me would be around 140 and mine is sitting at 200 . He was informed of my AAS use.Do you mind me asking what you are taking and how long before you plan to go back to TRT?
What is your red blood cell count number?
There are a few things you can do that may help lower but most of the reading I have done is around herbs, foods, supplements that will help thin your blood and help mitigate the issues that can arise due to high RBC's.
You may find this link interesting:
14 natural blood thinners for heart health
Various foods and supplements may help reduce the chances of developing blood clots, although they cannot replace prescription drugs. Learn more here.
There are many more but the question is how many do you want to take and how do you know which ones are working? This was discussed recently with high hematocrit and hemoglobin and would recommend reading that thread.
The first seven items that come up in most searches that may reduce high RBC's are:
Keep in mind the goal with aspirin is often to avoid 'clots' and help interfere with the platelets making a clot. New evidence, and not from bleeding, is coming out showing that older people who take low dose aspirin everyday (I don't think you would qualify as an older person) can cause anemia hence it makes me wonder if aspirin does somehow reduce RBC counts. I find it hard to fathom it only impacts older people, but that is 100% opinion based, and the literature was clear it was not from bleeding but it did caution about the bleeding risks of aspirin. If I was you, albeit do what you think is right, I wouldn't increase my aspirin and would consider taking other natural blood thinners.
- Drink lots of water.
- Avoid coffee, soda and other diuretics.
- Quit smoking.
- Exercise.
- Don't take iron supplements.
- Don't take anabolic steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs.
- Use appropriate medical devices, such as a CPAP, if you have sleep apnea.
100% up to you, I am not aware of any contradictions with aspirin and natural blood thinners like bromelain and ginger. When I have more time I can read and see if there are warnings but I take low dose aspirin regularly and eat pineapple and ginger all the time for the bromelaine (pineapple) and taste but that is just 1 person.
Do you mind me asking what took you to the ER? If you don't want to discuss it, that is fine but was it symptoms related to high RBC? Asking because there are other issues that can cause high red blood cell counts other than steroids even if you are taking steroids. Logically that is the cause but I would want to know for sure and knowing what you are on will help.
What reference interval did the lab used? I am use to seeing m/UL from the lab or 4.5-6.20 and if the doc is saying 140 as normal, I would have to convert it but need to know what comes after 140. Just an opinion but when a doctor tells you something is normal, ask to see the report. If there is a L or H beside it, ask how it can be normal. You have no idea if you are headed back to homeostasis or if it is going to get work hence a follow up blood draw is needed.
Your taxes pay for that doctor and lab - I never leave an ER or a doctors without a copy of the reports and it goes in my own medical file as too many times doctors/nurses said they called or missed something obvious. Many miss anomalies and it isn't because they are lazy or stupid (in most cases) - they are overworked and our medical system is broken hence they don't have the time to spend on patients.
I went for a painful and itchy lump In my calf and I had a suspicion it was a clot, I was correct . They performed an ekg as well as bloodwork. This is when the questions started about smoking or if I had asthma , I don’t smoke but I do have asthma. Through the blood work and physical exam he confirmed it was a clot . So he treated it with blood thinners and anticoagulant medication . Then he looked back at my bloodwork and told me my RBC was high for 3 years and no other doctor told me. Literally the only numbers he told me was as I told you. It was suppose to be a 140 and is now 200 and he sent a referral to a hematologist and I have to wait to see them. But I did run a lot of gear the past 3 years too.
Were you doing any hematology test in the last few years? You should have caught it yourself.
I just got regular bloodwork from my doctor he always said everything looked fine. The only thing he said last time was my prolactin was slightly elevated but not to the point he was worried he said it would go back to range .
I don’t know where you’re from but here in BC we can register to be able to see the results online, this way you have records to review too.
I wonder how if the ER doc can see your records to know that it’s been elevated the last 3 years. If I am in your shoes I would talk to your primary doc about it and why he taught it was ok. My hematology values goes up and down since going on trt and blasting, my urologist actually stopped prescribing due to the elevation while my primary doctor isn’t phased by it, so they definitely have contradicting opinions.
Where I live , The nearest blood donation clinic is a 5hr drive to and from. The doctor said he may order a medical phlebotomy.
that is bad havin being high and no doc telling you
Morning - I also read NAC can help due to the increase in glutathione and the antioxidant protection but I have never read it lowers hematocrit, hemoglobin, or high red blood cells. Maybe doctors are stating this for the extra protection for your organs.
I read the opposite. NAC increases both by approximately 10%. It also increases red blood cell volume. Is that accurate - not sure as I never had the issue but the following links indicate NAC may cause an increase:
brlsports.com
humanclinicals.org
The numbers are shown at the bottom and it isn't a lot of people so I suspect more studies are required.
I am a fan of NAC but if I had high RBC's, hemoglobin, or hematocrit, not sure if I would take it if my numbers were high. If just on the high end of normal, there may be benefits. As usual, blood work is the only way to know for sure for each person as we all react different.
I read the opposite. NAC increases both by approximately 10%. It also increases red blood cell volume. Is that accurate - not sure as I never had the issue but the following links indicate NAC may cause an increase:
N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC)
NAC triggers the production of red blood cells and increases the respiratory drive. When the body senses low oxygen it signals the kidneys to make more red blood cells. In studies NAC was shown to significantly increase hematocrit and hemoglobin by 9% in 8 days [1]. Increased VO2max and Fatigue...
brlsports.com
NAC | Human Clinical Studies
humanclinicals.org
The numbers are shown at the bottom and it isn't a lot of people so I suspect more studies are required.
I am a fan of NAC but if I had high RBC's, hemoglobin, or hematocrit, not sure if I would take it if my numbers were high. If just on the high end of normal, there may be benefits. As usual, blood work is the only way to know for sure for each person as we all react different.
I’m scheduled for my first phlebotomy tomorrow, They said I’ll have one once per month until numbers come down. BP yesterday alarmed them 131/91
Yeah they didn’t like that , Yesterday it was 139/94. I’d did come down a bit after the phlebotomy, On a side note that phlebotomy is not a pleasant experience, That needle is huge and actually hurts its bigger than the needles we use to draw with. Yeah it sucked
That's my only option as well. It's a real pain in the ass.
Wow interesting. I'm glad your ok man ive never heard of a clot that came from high rbc. It's always a risk doctors say but never seen it and I'm usually told it's more about platelets than hematocrit. The Aspirin you were taking didn't even help. Do you do much cardio ?
Go donate blood. Problem solved