Maximum hematocrit recommended with positive calcium score

[haynewp]

Is there a reduction in the maximum recommended hematocrit value as a function of coronary calcium score? I currently have a 52.8 hematocrit with a past CAC score of 153.

 

[Vince]

A CAC score of 153 I wouldn't consider it bad. As long as your VO2 max is good. I wouldn't be concerned. Just stop the growth of plaque and you'll be good.

Your arteries can reshape themselves and stay open even with a high CT score which I would not consider yours high.

 

[haynewp]

A CAC score of 153 I wouldn't consider it bad. As long as your VO2 max is good. I wouldn't be concerned. Just stop the growth of plaque and you'll be good.

Your arteries can reshape themselves and stay open even with a high CT score which I would not consider yours high.

Thanks. The CAC was from about 5 years ago but I’ve been on 40 mg rosuvastatin since then and passed a stress test in the last 2 years. I wasn’t on TRT back then though so my hematocrit wasn’t high.

 

[madman]

Is there a reduction in the maximum recommended hematocrit value as a function of coronary calcium score? I currently have a 52.8 hematocrit with a past CAC score of 153.

I currently have a 52.8 hematocrit with a past CAC score of 153.


Still struggling with elevated hematocrit a year later I see.

You already know why your hematocrit is high as I stated in my reply from one of your previous threads running too high a trough/steady-state FT is a surefire way to drive up your hematocrit!

Unfortunately you were jacked up on T from the get-go.

You could have and can easily address this.

Hope you are still not caught up on that more T is better mentality.

What is your current protocol (dose T/injection frequency) and where does your trough TT and more importantly FT sit?




CAC score 153 (moderate)

The CAC was from about 5 years ago but I’ve been on 40 mg rosuvastatin since then and passed a stress test in the last 2 years. I wasn’t on TRT back then though so my hematocrit wasn’t high.


At least you have taken some measures to address this but as you would know your overall lifestyle will have the biggest impact.

As long as you stay on top of your diet, and keep your blood pressure, lipids, inflammatory markers in check and get enough exercise/maintain a healthy weight this will have a big impact on improving your endothelial/vascular health in the long run.

I would also throw in use of a daily PDE5 inhibitor (tadalafil) to boot!

Also need to keep in mind as long as one has no underlying health conditions (OSA, COPD, smoker) which could predispose to or exacerbate the rise in hematocrit making it harder to control let alone is not experiencing any negative effects most in the know specializing in testosterone therapy would not fret if the patient's hematocrit falls within 50-54%.

Yes some will be more cautious and take measures once hematocrit hits 52%.

Some endos are sticklers and hesitate once your hematocrit gets over the top end and prefer to keep patients levels no higher than 50%.

Youn are right on the doorstep here with an HCT 52.8%.


*The Endocrine Society uses a hematocrit threshold of >50% as a relative contraindication to initiating TT and >54% as an indication to discontinue treatment [1]. The European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines on hypogonadism also state that the hematocrit should not exceed 54%, while recent Canadian guidelines cite 55% as the safe upper limit [15, 40]. The AUA guidelines on testosterone deficiency define polycythemia as a hematocrit of 52% and recommend stopping or reducing treatment if the hematocrit reaches 54% [14]

H

Thread 'Injection frequency and labs'

Mar 24, 2024

I am new to TRT and started 10 weeks ago. I’m 50 yrs old and my labs from last week are attached. I think I was dehydrated, or the blood hemolyzed, for the initial labs in January because I redid them at my primary doctor 10 days later and the markers were much improved.

I go back to the TRT clinic tomorrow and they will likely want me to donate blood to get the hematocrit down. They have me on 200 mg cypionate once per week plus anastrozole 1mg per week. They also put gonadorellin in all their TRT shots there.

Should I ask about splitting the dose to take it twice per week to help...

• haynewp
• frequency trt
• Replies: 19
• Forum: Testosterone Basics & Questions

 

[Systemlord]

Is there a reduction in the maximum recommended hematocrit value as a function of coronary calcium score? I currently have a 52.8 hematocrit with a past CAC score of 153.

If you want to significantly lower or desire zero CAC scores, look no further than the carnivore diet. If you're worried about cholesterol, get this out of you're head! Sugar damages the endothelial walls of the arteries and LDL gets stuck to the arteries.

Sugar attaches to proteins and lipids in the blood, which can cause LDL particles to become damaged. The glycated LDL particles are more readily taken up by macrophages, a type of immune cell, forming foam cells that contribute to artery clogging plaque.


People on Carnivore typically report much lower CAC scores, while some see 0's across the board.

 

[haynewp]

My hematocrit was 49.5 in May. I was on 44 mg every other day subcutaneus. I was still getting the painful lumps so I tried switching to IM into the delt with 27 gauge right after the May labs. I think this, plus increasing the dose to 48 mg EOD caused the increase, unless I was a lot better hydrated in May than I was about 2 weeks ago. I may have accidentally taken the dose on back to back days a couple of times also, but I’ve since made calendar remiders set to EOD.

I plan on stopping TRT for 3 weeks. I had just started HCG of 250 IU twice a week. I may continue it in the meantime, then I plan on going back to SUBQ and lower to 40 mg EOD at 3 weeks from now. I’ve been doing every other day since last year.

I take 20 mg of tadalafil a day but will likely lower it soon because of heartburn. I am going to ask my Dr about adding talmasartan for blood pressure.

 

[Vince]

My hematocrit was 49.5 in May. I was on 44 mg every other day subcutaneus. I was still getting the painful lumps so I tried switching to IM into the delt with 27 gauge right after the May labs. I think this, plus increasing the dose to 48 mg EOD caused the increase, unless I was a lot better hydrated in May than I was about 2 weeks ago. I may have accidentally taken the dose on back to back days a couple of times also, but I’ve since made calendar remiders set to EOD.

I plan on stopping TRT for 3 weeks. I had just started HCG of 250 IU twice a week. I may continue it in the meantime, then I plan on going back to SUBQ and lower to 40 mg EOD at 3 weeks from now. I’ve been doing every other day since last year.

I take 20 mg of tadalafil a day but will likely lower it soon because of heartburn. I am going to ask my Dr about adding talmasartan for blood pressure.

I feel much better with higher levels of testosterone. My estrogen levels are perfect, so maybe that's why I feel so good. I agree. Stay hydrated and try to keep a good VO2 max. It's not that hard to reshape your arteries as long as you keep your plaque growth to 10% or less a year. At that rate you should never have a stroke or heart attack.

 

[haynewp]

I think I felt best when mine was between 700 and 800. It was like 1190 this last time but I may have messed up the shots the weeks before. I think I feel best at 40 to 44 mg EOD and that kept my hematocrit down some along with going SubQ.

My clinic doesn’t require me to get SHBG or free test so I usually don’t pay for it. I got Lipo A this time which was reported as less than 8.4. I also follow Dr. Chris Bronson and he says SHBG and free testosterone don’t matter when you are on TRT. I know some other clinics check for this.

 

[haynewp]

If you want to significantly lower or desire zero CAC scores, look no further than the carnivore diet. If you're worried about cholesterol, get this out of you're head! Sugar damages the endothelial walls of the arteries and LDL gets stuck to the arteries.

Sugar attaches to proteins and lipids in the blood, which can cause LDL particles to become damaged. The glycated LDL particles are more readily taken up by macrophages, a type of immune cell, forming foam cells that contribute to artery clogging plaque.


People on Carnivore typically report much lower CAC scores, while some see 0's across the board.

I’ve seen a lot of debate on this but my cardiologist wants me on a Mediterranean style diet.