posted Wed, 09/17/2025 - 02:31
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Hematocrit/ hemoglobin concerns on TRT +
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So I’m on 160 mg a week test C. Started in March. I donated at the blood drive at work. According to different sources 17.4 is too high, while some say it’s in range and 17.7 is the top end. How concerning is this #? Im about to add in T BOL 40 mg split 2x daily, run 4 weeks (first time on anything other than TRT alone). I’ve switched to Sub q since then because TRY Facebook groups say they will lower hemoglobin. Any other suggestions or ideas? What’s that number look like on cycle, and about how long would it take to come down after an oral cycle?
I dont mind injecting another compound if that’s safer. I’m really just trying to make my smart scale weight go down, but keep the 140 ish pounds of muscle it says I have.
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notcasper17.4 isn’t crazy high — a lot of labs flag anything over 17.5–18 as “out of range,” but it really depends on the reference range your lab uses. On TRT it’s super common for H/H to creep up, especially once you’ve been on consistently for a few months. Donating blood was a good move.
SubQ can help a little with keeping levels steadier, but it’s not guaranteed to lower hemoglobin. Things that actually help: staying well hydrated, donating regularly if your doc is okay with it, lowering your dose if it keeps climbing, or splitting injections smaller/more frequent.
As for adding Tbol — keep in mind orals can also raise hematocrit and stress the liver, so don’t be surprised if your number bumps up more on cycle. It usually comes back down within a few weeks after stopping, but everyone’s different. If your main goal is leaning out while holding muscle, diet/cardio are going to move the needle way more than swapping compounds.
Personally, I’d just keep an eye on your labs, donate when you need to, and don’t chase too many compounds at once, especially for a first blast.
Hemoglobin should try to keep it around 15. Anything above 18, its not good.
I had mine at 21 a year ago. I was having pressure headaches, fatigue, sleepless. I was at heart attack, stroke status....scared me to death. In 2 weeks I lowered my Hemoglobin down to 17, a week later more to 15. I did dump whole blood too. My formula was simple to drink tons of water, eat clean ,greens, salmon, also adding in Magnesium/Zinc plus Nattokinase twice a day. You can get it on Amazon, very affordable. I actually recommend taking it daily consistently. All of my side affects ceased, felt better. Its not necessary to dump blood all the time, the above keeps me filtered and the blood thin.
Seconding Nattokinase. I stack it with serrapeptase, lumbrokinase, and bromelain. Since being consistent with it my HCT stays right at 48 even after running high dose EQ for 20 weeks. This is on top off all the basics of staying hydrated, cardio, sleep quality, etc.
If you can get test in a longer ester and in a thicker oil like castor oil and inject that shit sub-q in smaller amounts more often like 3x a week that will help a lot.
My TRT doc says the max limit before cut off is 18.5. He says the worry of surpassing that number is not clotting but rather heart enlargement.
Some people have different reactions to different androgens in terms of blood volume. You won't know until you try. Test seems the worse one to me.
I’m not a physician, but educated. From my knowledge and conversations I’ve had, including emergency medicine doctors, is many of these parameters are guidelines. You’re going to get conflicting information from an emergency room doc and your PCP as they work in two different genres. You have to keep in mind that many PCPs want you medicated, if everyone is in outstanding health they’re out of business. Generally speaking, as long as you’re around healthy limits on either side you’re fine. As stated, sleep apnea, diet, hydration is big, even the elevation where you live will play a factor. You’re fine, and you need your blood, you can easily make yourself anemic with too many donations along with other concerns. Blood sugar is the same thing, if your glucose is 125 and the doc suggests drug therapy, find a new doctor. BP is another, you’re on drugs, a slight elevation is to be expected. In a nutshell, you’re healthier than probably 90% of the U.S. population and have nothing to worry about.
You Need hematocrit and red blood count numbers too to get a good point of view.
First of fall, cardio is a BIG factor, you need to do your cardio especially when you’re prone to high hematocrit, this helped me enormously.
Next one is to cut red meat and high iron foods to not accelerate the RBC production even more on top of the Test.
Also sleep apnea can cause to these levels to raise, any problems with snoring at night ?
I can recommend IP6 supplement, inositol hexaphosphate, this will bind to iron and hinder it from being absorbed and thus can lower hematocrit, but take away from any food since it also binds to some minerals and vitamins.
Generally anything that aids blood flow will be your friend, since high hematocrit will make your blood thicker.
Highly advise you to also take Nattokinase, a natural blood thinner, 2000 FU morning and night, during cycle I even go up to 4000 FU morning and night.
I wouldn’t overdo it with the blood donations since it will only make it worse in the long run because your body will compensate by producing RBC even faster. Also you will most likely become iron deficient if donating too much.
Agreed. A CBC would give a better picture. I do basic quarterly panels, man. I too have to keep my HCT in check. They're dirt cheap. CBC, CMP, & Lipid Panel for $65.
https://synergisticlabs.net/products/metabolic-panel
Becareful with donating paired with ip6. My ferritin was down to 25 with zero donating and only 6 weeks of ip6, and in return, did absolutely nothing to lower my hematocrit. So yes ip6 is extremely effective at killing off iron absorption, but may or may not do something for your hematocrit. My hematocrit off gear is 50%, trt 53% and 58% during blasts. I have zero sides of high hematocrit that high and feel great; slightly red face, great BP, no headaches, no lethargy. But I also do live at high altitude that naturally makes hct higher.