Hemaglobin too high

ManOnMission · Mar 7, 2019

So.. Ive been on TRT for 8 years. Over the past 2 years, my Dr and I tried to follow an article from a particular Dr which said I had erythrocytosis not polycythemia and to follow platelet count vs. hemaglobin/hematocrit levels and not donate blood. So for 2 years I did that and my levels ranged from 18-20 for hemaglobin. Never going above 20 and my platelet count always in the middle of the range.

My doctor recently passed away and I went to a new Endo.
12/1 was at 18.1.
12/5 I gave blood for the first time in 2 years.
2/24 I was at 18.6 and stopped taking testosterone per Dr order and ordered me to see hematologist on 3/24
3/7 (today) I donated blood again and It was at 19 prior to the draw.

I was sick with upper respiratory (the cough) from Decmer 4th til about 2 weeks ago and haave been taking Vitamin C 1000 mg per day.

Any thoughts here? Im wondering if the Vitamin C could be elevating my hemaglobin? I would have thought being off Testosterone for 2 weeks and giving 2 blood draws my hemaglobin would have been down.

Vince · Mar 7, 2019

Vitamin C may help to increase the amount of iron your body absorbs.

The role of vitamin C in iron absorption. - PubMed - NCBI

ManOnMission · Mar 7, 2019

would increased iron also increase hemaglobin?

Vince Carter · Mar 7, 2019

It could, yes.

I concur with the platelets though I'm not sure that I'm going to get by with that as my Dr hasn't adopted that viewpoint as of now.

TorontoTRT · Mar 20, 2019

Following this thread. Wouldn’t having high hemoglobin, Rbc and hematocrit cause some sort of symptoms? Mine are hg 18.2, hct 55 and Rbc 6.70. I feel great and my blood pressure averages 100/70.

TorontoTRT · Mar 20, 2019

So what to keep an eye on?

Vince Carter · Mar 21, 2019

If you feel fine and your BP is fine then it's rather debatable why some one would be forced in to a phlebotomy to treat what is essentially a benign Erythorcytosis, and misdiagnosed PCV/PolyCythemiaVera.