Self treating for high hematocrit/RBC

[ironmako]

Guys,If you notice hematocrit or RBC pegging high while on test, do yourself and your fellow man a favor and go donate some whole blood. There is always a need for people with strong blood iron content. Bear in mind that not all blood donations are equal, sometimes the blood banks need platelets or other blood components. Not gonna say its not good to donate those components but if you are seeing a trend towards polycythemia don't just ignore it, help yourself and someone else. DONATE!

[redhawk01]

^^^this^^^i do double reds as well.

[PAiN]

Great post bro. I agree. I give double reds every chance I get.

[Khem]

Does anyone know whether its better to give whole, or double RBC? I know if you give double RBC you are unable to give for a lot longer period of time. So what is technically better to give? More often, whole blood, or less often double blood?

[ironmako]

Khem, I posed your question to my doc and was told to juat donate a unit of whole blood as opposed to double reds so as to lower the other elevated blood products as well (hematocrit, etc.) I didn't get a lot of justification on whether the other products were detrimental if they stayed high.

[Khem]

Good to know mako, thx

[bigsam]

I donate as much as I can. I wish it was more though.