Elevated hemoglobin/hematocrit, iron supplements?

[Systemlord]

Depending on your body size, 1 unit may drop hematocrit by 2-3 points.

Decided to donate blood do to hematocrit being 50% (hemoglobin 18.6 g/dL) to be proactive, but by how much does hemoglobin decrease after blood donation? Also does is rise back to the previous level before 8 weeks?

I'm concerned about getting anywhere near 20 g/dL.

Thanks...

 

[Vince Carter]

I haven't seen that specific thing HGB decrease discussed, only a ~3% reduction in HCT with 1pint.

 

[Systemlord]

I haven't seen that specific thing HGB decrease discussed, only a ~3% reduction in HCT with 1pint.

Also I'm not sure how accurate those finger pick tests are at blood donation centers can be because April 15th I had a blood test showing HGB at 17.0 g/dL and 3 weeks later it's 18.6 g/dL.

 

[Vince Carter]

I agree...at my last donation ~3 weeks ago my HGB was much lower than it should have been/expected to be...16.4. In the rough approximation HCT X 3 = 49.2, much lower than it should have been.

But then I've been cutting my cumulative weekly dose from 196 - 112 in the last few months could account for that. One can hope...