I’m 5 weeks into a mini-cycle running 75 mg of Test C every other day (roughly 265 mg a week) just to see how my body handles a step up from TRT. I just got some results back and my hematocrit hit 55.3 with hemoglobin at 17.7. Everything else looks fine - RBC is 5.81 and platelets are actually on the lower side at 179. I live at 5,200 feet which I know plays a role, and my blood pressure is solid at 105/60.
These were fasted AM labs. I chugged about 30oz of water 45 minutes before the draw, but looking at my history, there is a weird trend. My AM pulls are always high (54.5, 52.4) while my PM pulls are much lower (46.1, 47.4). It feels like I'm still dehydrated in the mornings no matter how much water I drink right before the needle hits.
I haven't donated in about 15 years and it's a bit of a headache right now since I just started Accutane. Given the altitude and the hydration factor, what’s the move here? Should I be rushing to get a phlebotomy, or is this manageable by just slamming more water and ramping up the cardio?
55.3 is definitely getting up there but honestly living at 5,200 feet is the real culprit here. your body just needs more red cells to carry oxygen at that altitude. if your BP is 105/60 i wouldnt be panicking at all - that is actually really good for being on a blast.
dude 105/60 blood pressure is elite lol. if your heart isnt working hard to pump the thicker blood then you're probably fine for now. just keep an eye on it. maybe add some nattokinase if you're worried about the stickiness?
the am vs pm difference is wild but it makes sense. you lose a ton of water just breathing while you sleep. try drinking a liter of water with some electrolytes right before bed and see if that fixes the morning spike on your next labs.
since you're on accutane you gotta be careful with the donations anyway since they might not even take your blood. honestly with those BP numbers i'd just stay the course and maybe add in some extra LISS cardio. helps with the blood viscosity anyway.
if your rbc and platelets are chill i wouldnt overthink the hematocrit too much. its usually the combination of high bp and high hct that causes the real issues. you're sitting pretty at 105/60 so you're good for a mini cycle.
classic altitude problems man. i live in denver and mine is always 53-54 even on trt doses. hydrate like its your job and maybe grab some grapefruit seed extract - sounds like bro science but it actually helps some guys drop a point or two.
5 weeks in is still early. i'd just keep hammering the water and maybe do some baby aspirin if you're really stressed about it? but yeah - 17.7 hemoglobin isnt "emergency" territory yet. just don't let it climb much higher.
dude at 5,200 feet that 55% is basically "normal" for someone on gear. since your BP is actually super low (105/60 is amazing lol) i wouldn't stress it too much. that morning vs evening difference is huge though- definitely sounds like you're just chronically dry in the AM. try adding some electrolytes to your water before bed and see if it helps.
honestly with you being on accutane id be careful about rushing to donate anyway- sometimes it makes the dryness/fatigue way worse. if your blood pressure is that good i'd just keep an eye on it and ramp up the steady state cardio. cardio is basically a natural blood thinner for us anyway. i wouldnt panic just yet.
55 isn't great but it's not "ER trip" territory either. especially with your platelets being on the lower side- the risk of clots is way lower when those aren't high too. id just stay the course and maybe dial back the dose a tiny bit if it keeps climbing. the altitude is definitely fighting against you though!
man i have the same issue with labs. if i do them at 8am i look like i have sludge for blood but if i go at 2pm im totally fine. 30oz of water right before doesn't really hydrate the cells that fast. maybe try a "gallon a day" challenge for a week and see if those numbers start to dip.
for real dont donate just yet if you can avoid it. it can tank your ferritin and then you'll feel like a zombie for months. since you cant donate easily on accutane anyway just focus on staying hydrated and maybe add some fish oil and baby aspirin if you're worried about the thickness. but seriously your BP is so low i wouldnt lose sleep over it.
