I've been on TRT for about 3 years now. I've been taking 140mg of Test Cyp (weekly) for a very long time. I was donating blood rather consistently during those 3 years. Oddly enough during my last blood donation around October 2021 I haven't recovered. Both Iron and Ferritin sit exactly at 2 points from critically low. But are in the Low Normal range. While I was injecting 140mg of Test Cyp (weekly) from November 2021 to February 2022... you'd figure the Hematocrit and Hemoglobin would be astronomically high? For some reason the opposite was occurring.. The blood work in February 2022 showed 46% and 16.7. Rather normal. In fact, it was the lowest ever while being on TRT. Testosterone levels were around 1200 and High Free Testosterone. What exactly was going on?? I asked the same question.
My Hematologist couldn't believe the lab reports. He quickly said you have to be bleeding internally somewhere. He said do you have bloody stools? I said no. Even though the labs were very odd... he said... well I'll leave everything up to your Endocrinologist. See me in 6 months. I said really? Wow. Like, that's all you're going to do?
As the months have gone by... I never figured out why my RBC was normal without donating?? Like... it was very low. Some people have told me... it's because your Iron is low. That's why you aren't gaining RBC's like you normally would. Again... I don't know what to believe?
I had my August 2022 lab tests... and my Hematocrit and Hemoglobin are HIGH again... this time with Low Iron and Low Ferritin. I automatically reduced my injection amount to 90mg a week. My Testosterone Level is around 720. To be honest with you... I'm slower in my decision making. Not quick witted with ideas... just a fraction of a second off with a lot of things. I don't like this feeling. It's not normal for me.
So, what is my next step? I can't donate blood because I simply won't be well enough to recover from the donation with low iron. I can't really go any lower with my Test Cyp injections. I'm already barely functioning My body simply won't gain iron anymore. My Endocrinologist keeps telling me to DONATE!!! I said I can't donate... I don't even feel well right now... but you want me to donate???
Has anyone ever been in this situation? Is there any other way to maintain Testosterone levels while having low iron... without increasing Hematocrit and Hemoglobin levels?
My Hematologist couldn't believe the lab reports. He quickly said you have to be bleeding internally somewhere. He said do you have bloody stools? I said no. Even though the labs were very odd... he said... well I'll leave everything up to your Endocrinologist. See me in 6 months. I said really? Wow. Like, that's all you're going to do?
As the months have gone by... I never figured out why my RBC was normal without donating?? Like... it was very low. Some people have told me... it's because your Iron is low. That's why you aren't gaining RBC's like you normally would. Again... I don't know what to believe?
I had my August 2022 lab tests... and my Hematocrit and Hemoglobin are HIGH again... this time with Low Iron and Low Ferritin. I automatically reduced my injection amount to 90mg a week. My Testosterone Level is around 720. To be honest with you... I'm slower in my decision making. Not quick witted with ideas... just a fraction of a second off with a lot of things. I don't like this feeling. It's not normal for me.
So, what is my next step? I can't donate blood because I simply won't be well enough to recover from the donation with low iron. I can't really go any lower with my Test Cyp injections. I'm already barely functioning My body simply won't gain iron anymore. My Endocrinologist keeps telling me to DONATE!!! I said I can't donate... I don't even feel well right now... but you want me to donate???
Has anyone ever been in this situation? Is there any other way to maintain Testosterone levels while having low iron... without increasing Hematocrit and Hemoglobin levels?