Mom23boys's picture
Mom23boys
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+ 2 TRT and thick blood.

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My husband is almost 41 and been on TRT for awhile. The problem is the dr doesn’t want to raise his does even though his levels are low because his blood is to thick. He hasn’t done any actual cycles in almost a year. The only thing I know of is giving blood but that doesn’t seem to cut it. Any suggestions on another way to thin your blood?

BroadwayBulk's picture

Thick blood will affect BP, and the poutcome can be quite scary...

TrueLife44's picture

Absolutely agree with burgs60....That's a scary game to play... Obviously, they could also prescribe blood thinners, however, I am guessing they don't consider the need for Testosterone to outweigh the risks of adding other medications to counter its effects..good luck..

burgs60's picture

Donate regularly and baby aspirin plus lots of water. it is either that or Phlebotomy once a week.

gainz1's picture

I realize I’m replying to an PLD post here but I have been dealing with this issue myself for over 10 years. My blood gets super thick. Almost to the point of where I can’t donate. I believe last time around was 17.3. In my state you have to wait 3 mos to donate again & as I understand it, we can only lower the count by something along the lines of .5 per donation ?

I’ve currently just started another blast cycle so I’m a bit concerned. I’ve done some research & heard that extreme doses of vitamin E can be an alternative to baby aspirin. Anyone have any experience using vitamin E as a blood thinner ?

Current cycle is
Test C 600 mg p week
Test P 250 mg p week
Mast P 300 mg p week
Anavar 50 mg ED

Supplements

Animal cuts

I pin 3x a week. Drink tons of waters. Getting labs done Monday. Looking forward to the results as I have finally, for the most part given up my terrible cigarette habit. Hoping that by quitting smoking it further thins my blood some.,

crom88's picture

garlic
baby aspirin daily
HYDRATE

WILDCARD1's picture

I HAD THE SAME ISSUE I GIVE BLOOD TWICE A MONTH AND STAY DRINKING WATER ALL DAY EVRY NOW AND AGIAN ILL EVEN STOP BY DOCTORS OFFICE AND SHE WILL DRAW A FEW EXTRA VIALS OF BLOOD JUST TO KEEP MY NUMBERS DOWN ALSO LOW DOSE ASPRIN EVERY DAY
BUT I WOULD SAY WATER I FEEL IS THE BEST FOR ME I DONT DO SODA NO SUGER DRINKS JUST WATER!!!!

Owes a Review × 4
Makwa's picture

How are you able to donate 2x/month. Most blood donations I go to you have to wait like a minimum of 6 wks before they will let you donate again.

Castaway's picture

I am dealing with a similar concern as I am just starting TRT at 52 yrs old. My doctor noticed my hematocrit levels elevated with thicker blood long before I was prescribed Testosterone. I first started to notice that two or three times daily I would get dizzy. It lasted for maybe 5 seconds each time but did worry me.

I had never taken any anabolic substances so I was really confused as to why me blood was so thick. Doctor figured out I was not moving oxygen efficient enough and tracked it down to chronic dehydration and also sleep apnea. I never thought I had apnea as I am fit and not overweight and do sleep all night. Problem was that I was sleeping yes however not sleeping well. CPAP machine totally cured the random dizzy feeling and I am working on the hydration.

Perhaps your husband could have a sleep study simply as a precaution. It really did wonders for me. Sleep apnea and dehydration are usually the source of problems for people who are otherwise pretty fit.

MountainCoyy's picture

I definitely agree with you on the hydration. If you look at "science" on how properly hydrating affects your blood its pretty significant. It may be worth noting that if you ever really feel the effects of "thick blood", an advil as low as 100 (half pill) will significantly help you feel better in about 20 minutes. Not necessarily a long term solution but its definitely a short term solution.

Jamie1975's picture

I've had the same issue for years and after much experimenting the only real solution that genuinely works is donating blood regularly. Sometimes if iron levels are too high or haemoglobin levels are high the UK blood transfusion service wont let you donate and you might need to find a private blood letting facility or phlebotomy / venesection service. Has he been checked for polycythaemia just in case it's not gear related? Definitely agree with the guys below that hydration is key. I have to drink litres to get mine low enough to be able to even donate.

ErieToPitt's picture

I'll second this. I had the same problem, now I donate blood on a regular occasion and no more problems. Just think you're helping yourself out, and some other person. They may even get a little physical boost. Smile

Halsey's picture

Fish oil and proper hydration helps thin my blood. More testosterone is not always the answer to the problem.

Syxxspdz's picture

I give whole blood twice a year.

Boogerdaddy's picture

I drink at least a gallon of water daily, and do a power red donation every three months. Hasn’t been a problem for me, and I’m currently on blast. I’m not on dr prescribed trt, just a cruiser.

Cjs001972's picture

My doctor has me take a baby aspirin once a day. I’ve been on self prescribed “trt” for awhile now at 250mg of test enthanate with cycles in between. My test levels at this dose stays around 950. I’m planning on cutting this dose down by half at some point. I know it can’t be good long term. High RBC and high estrogen are tough things to constantly battle.

TRTdude's picture

You might wanna try to pin more frequently, this keeps usually your E2 levels in check.
Some even prefer to microdose 0.2ml everyOday, could even with a painless 29g slin needle.

Halsey's picture

This is true on ai and estrogen control. Which can actually allow the patient to reduce their overall testosterone injections with better numbers. Basically it's a more efficient way for the body to use the exogenous testosterone injected.

massa's picture

I found DHEA helpfull for that. It worked for me.
I was taking 25mg twice a day.
Blood donation, best you can do but problem is that when you do it once, twice... you need to prepare that you will need to do it systematically.

Achak's picture

Your husband needs to do a double red blood cell donation or donate blood more frequently. He is a heart attack in the making if he doesn't get the RBC down.

Greg's picture

He would not have thick blood if he was staying within normal range as TRT is supposed to do.

He is bumping up his dose, staying on a "mini cycle" and coming off soon enough to have low levels when he gets his blood tested.

His doctor's not an idiot. He knows what your husband is doing. I'm with the doc on this.

Any suggestions on another way to thin your blood?

Donate followed by, following the doctors scripted orders without abuse.

clarkster's picture

I've had the same problem. I try to donate blood 3-4 times a year. Maybe it's just me, but I notice pressure building up and pain in my head when my levels are getting up there and advil won't make the pain go away.

Atlas53's picture

Donating blood best way with problem of thick blood.
Do it every 2 months if it is possible for you.

Darkhorse777's picture

This is why cardiologist are against trt...thick blood can cause excessive blood clotting ie stroke or heart attack...at least thats what mine told me

lxxRICHxxl's picture

I was concerned my blood was getting too thick. I booked a time to give blood (with COVID it took me 2 weeks to find an appointment with Red Cross). I read an asprin a day will thin blood as well. So I started taking one 325mg asprin per day with my vitamins and supplements. When I went to my appointment to give blood I got turned away because my hemoglobin level was at 12.1g/dl. Minimum requirement to give blood is 13.0g/dl. They said usually it's due to low iron. I think it's the asprin making my level too low. My hemoglobin was at 13.9 g/dl before I started TRT. Anyone else run into this situation? Any pointers?

Eagles 2013's picture

Years back I tried self administering TRT, went way too high (250 mg/wk test-C), didn't get blood work done and ended up having 3 seizures due to secondary polycythemia that was caused by my blood becoming way too thick due to the RBC increases from running that much test for so long.

I had to have monthly phlebotomies for six months to get much RBC and hematrocrit back withing range and the doctor advised that I take one BABY ASPRIN daily. I believe the dose for baby Asprin is 72 mg (if not dead on 72 its close). Point being, you are taking about 4x as much Asprin as you should and that will cause kidney damage and other issues over time. Dial it back to one baby Asprin daily, see a doctor,get a full blood panel done and take your doctors advice.

If your blood is too thick they can't give it to those who need it and it will get tossed anyway.

BJ's picture

That happened to a friend of mine on his first cycle! He started having seizures for the first time in his life. He was put on meds but was still having seizures and on one of his seizures he actually suffocated! First cycle... Didn’t get bloods, didn’t donate blood, & died!

lxxRICHxxl's picture

First cycle? Died? Wow dude. That’s horrible. I am glad for this forum so I can learn from others tragic mistakes and not make those same mistakes. I’m not adverse to giving blood at all. I have another appointment to get mine done. Also, I’m getting a full lab panel done this week. I’m looking forward to seeing how my levels are.

lxxRICHxxl's picture

Thank you for sharing your story. I have made this adjustment.

Greg's picture

yeah... cut down on the aspirin, see a doctor and stop calling what you're doing TRT.

...and, for your iron, eat more red meat and dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach. Do not take iron supplements.

lxxRICHxxl's picture

Yeah thanks. I'm on more than TRT now but when I last did my labs was before my TRT had started. Love the spinach. I've been eating almost all chicken. Got burned out on red meat for a bit.

Bonedriven's picture

My doctor told me it's a good idea to get a couple oil changes every year if doing TRT. I really do think it makes a difference. Plus donating blood is a good thing.

Eagles 2013's picture

Yes, and take it from me the occasional needle jab in the arm is a lot less painful than having a seizure and biting through your tongue!

Eagles 2013's picture

My RBC/hematocrit counts got WAY too high a few years ago due to heavy cycling and self administered TRT without regular blood work monitoring. I ended up having to have a phlebotomy done once a month for 6 months to get them back in range. It's inconvenient, but other than that as long as your insurance will cover them it's not that bad. Your husband's doctor would have to arrange them though, so you might want to run it by him/her next time.

ashop's picture

What is his current testosterone levels (ng/dl) and how much testosterone is he using?

Verysleepy's picture

Be vary wary of grapefruit and extract (naringin).

I have used AI low dose with my trt for months with bloods...

I noticed my HCT rising and smoke, so in attempts to reduce without donating blood, I consumed a grapefruit a day for 4 days and grapefruit extract pills on other days.

Within 2-3 days my E2 crashed like a mother fucker. I've had 9 E2 before and slight neck ache but for the last 2 weeks my entire neck shoulders upper back is agony and joints all click like hell.

Everytime I've dropped adex for 2-5 days, boom, all gone. Then I'd take adex again and next day headaches and joints again.

Literally happened right as I added grapefruit.

Now all studies show grapefruit interacts badly with arimidex. Making its half life slower so the dosage lasts longer and is more effective.

Use with caution.

I am recovering but I am stopping adex for 6 days to allow E2 to get decently higher so my normal tried dose doesn't crash it.

Feel free to try it but this is what happened to me. Literally wasted 15 GBP on naringin pills.

Looks like it just amplified my adex, zero crashed me, and everytime it's rising and joint pain goes, I take my normal dose which slightly crashes again.

I'd recover this way eventually but the joint pain isn't worth it so laying off for a bit til E2 has a buffer for my normal dose to not crash

skinnyTRTdude's picture

Depending on where you live I donate blood. The blood donating organization I use asks nothing about TRT and has never refused me. I've been donating blood the day of, but before I inject.

Mom23boys's picture

Alright thanks everybody for the help. It seems to be drinking water and cut down on red meat. We will try this thanks again!

johnmarshall12's picture

Good advice below, hydration, cut down on red meats.

photronicals's picture

Hydration is an absolute must. Body/blood temperature can affect the viscosity of the blood flow as well as dehydration.

I have referenced a study below and included the source links, I hope this helps.

Effect of temperature on blood viscosity.
- When blood temperature decreases from 36.5° to 22°C, blood viscosity increases 26.13%.
- If temperature increases from 36.5° to 39.5°C, blood viscosity decreases 10.38%.

References for the above study: https://academic.oup.com/ajh/article/14/5/433/205476

References for the above study put into a simple graph:
https://oup.silverchair-cdn.com/oup/backfile/Content_public/Journal/ajh/...(00)01260-7/2/ajh.433.f3.jpeg?Expires=1578623018&Signature=z~Ag4R7hMrLkb~nPEk8hVVcL5VnduspsMC2BZOizjRJ7UcHZcg5u2~HfgjpHc45v--kHZzbmtzs~RK6JS020kYIuL940usjbFPyzSFtBkacnoEanlA2RPO4~BJssttBsajOLZdin~iLYQrZTHAIXRUS2Q46C8EEUBlLrFqFKIhnk88Ra8E8TsLXBaTJl2Bj8E5z2oy8Vvob7bN9UUtCaB8-JiKrxaMHL0tH9pbmIL~~6~Ex6xu6K91ayHS~OT-uZjaR~DP2B0a~WXZPhIflYz7mDWcTjYJ8A9GiQqzLqXifVe2UedG1KoSS5DsP1Lx7wiOEyuBz64psW9rvb7rxEkg__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAIE5G5CRDK6RD3PGA

photronicals's picture

Temperature conversions from Celsius to Fahrenheit are as followed:

36.5 Celsius = 97.70 Fahrenheit
22.0 Celsius = 71.60 Fahrenheit

36.5 Celsius = 97.70 Fahrenheit
39.5 Celsius = 103.1 Fahrenheit