Solo59
05-09-2013, 10:23 PM
Hi Praetorian. Your advice helped me out last year when I recovered from having a tumour removed. No new cancer cells were detected & I've been back on a very productive cycle.
But a high RBC count of 181 g/L has caused me to be very short-winded and generally fatigued, making the old ticker work too hard. I tried to work through this but it's too hard and too dangerous. Perhaps you or someone who can read these numbers will inform just how badly I have polycythemia, high RBC. I'll only list the numbers that were flagged; everything else was in range:
CHEM
•ALP SERPL - CCNC Result: 45 U/L Ref Range: 48-138
HEM/BC
•HCT FR BLD AUTO Result: 0.54 Ref Range: 0.38-0.50
•HGB BLD-MCNC Result: 181 g/L Ref Range: 133-165
•LYMPHOCYTES # BLD AUTO Result: 0.9 Ref Range: 1.0-4.0
•RBC # BLD AUTO Result: 6.02 tera/L Ref Range: 4.20-5.40
I just had another CBC this week, but have not got back result yet. Obviously, I have gone off all AAS (even my prescribed TRT of 100 mg/wk) for about three weeks now. But I'm told it will take at least 120 days natural to see the red blood cell count go down. THEN if I go back on TRT (not even to mention a full cycle), it will surely rise again. I've arranged to donate blood and can do so once again before Xmas (when I'm planning a beach vacation in Mexico with my young lady), but blood donations only help short term, I'm told. Still, it helps.
Seems the only choice for a die-hard like me is therapeutic phlebotomy (about a pint a month at first, then once every 3 months later), but my urologist just rolled his eyes when I mentioned it, calling it "medieval". So my question delves into the realm of the extreme (and may cause you to roll your eyes, too). Is there any way a skilled steady-handed person with an assistant can perform self-phlebotomies at home? Has anyone you know ever done this? I know various sorts of kits can be obtained from the U.S., but I doubt it would be easy in Canada.
Thing is, I am not ready to quit my identity, my life-style (including just TRT but I hope to cycle before Xmas) yet and just become Mr Magoo, but, clearly, with my polycythemia, I cannot to do so without regular blood-letting. Damned if I do and damned if I don't. Any edgy advice, Praetorian? Do I need to find a vampire GF who will promise to take only the occasional pint?
Respects,
Solo
But a high RBC count of 181 g/L has caused me to be very short-winded and generally fatigued, making the old ticker work too hard. I tried to work through this but it's too hard and too dangerous. Perhaps you or someone who can read these numbers will inform just how badly I have polycythemia, high RBC. I'll only list the numbers that were flagged; everything else was in range:
CHEM
•ALP SERPL - CCNC Result: 45 U/L Ref Range: 48-138
HEM/BC
•HCT FR BLD AUTO Result: 0.54 Ref Range: 0.38-0.50
•HGB BLD-MCNC Result: 181 g/L Ref Range: 133-165
•LYMPHOCYTES # BLD AUTO Result: 0.9 Ref Range: 1.0-4.0
•RBC # BLD AUTO Result: 6.02 tera/L Ref Range: 4.20-5.40
I just had another CBC this week, but have not got back result yet. Obviously, I have gone off all AAS (even my prescribed TRT of 100 mg/wk) for about three weeks now. But I'm told it will take at least 120 days natural to see the red blood cell count go down. THEN if I go back on TRT (not even to mention a full cycle), it will surely rise again. I've arranged to donate blood and can do so once again before Xmas (when I'm planning a beach vacation in Mexico with my young lady), but blood donations only help short term, I'm told. Still, it helps.
Seems the only choice for a die-hard like me is therapeutic phlebotomy (about a pint a month at first, then once every 3 months later), but my urologist just rolled his eyes when I mentioned it, calling it "medieval". So my question delves into the realm of the extreme (and may cause you to roll your eyes, too). Is there any way a skilled steady-handed person with an assistant can perform self-phlebotomies at home? Has anyone you know ever done this? I know various sorts of kits can be obtained from the U.S., but I doubt it would be easy in Canada.
Thing is, I am not ready to quit my identity, my life-style (including just TRT but I hope to cycle before Xmas) yet and just become Mr Magoo, but, clearly, with my polycythemia, I cannot to do so without regular blood-letting. Damned if I do and damned if I don't. Any edgy advice, Praetorian? Do I need to find a vampire GF who will promise to take only the occasional pint?
Respects,
Solo