Guest guest Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 > Hey Guys, > > I just wanted to let you about a problem that can come up with my > HRT. I have been on T replacement for over 8 years. I started with > injections every 2 weeks then went to the patches, then injections > again, then gel, and back to injections every week. I had plenty of > energy, not depressed any longer, not much libido, but felt pretty > good. My doctor was usually only concerned with the PSA, and usual > hormone blood tests. I had surgery in 2001 and the surgeon told me > my hemoglobin was a little high but it was probably due to being a > smoker at the time. The only other health problem I have is neck and > back problems so I haven't had any blood tests other than the PSA and > hormone tests. > > I am being treated with pain medication for the neck and back problem > and the pain doc thought I might need to see an endo for my > hypogonadism. I have not been really happy with the treatment I have > been getting from my uro, so I agreed. > > I saw the endo and she ran every kind of test you can imagine. Her > office called me to come in a week early for my follow-up, which > concerned me a little. The doctor changed my diagnosis from primary > to secondary and informed me that I had polycythemia and made me an > appointment with a hemotoligist. I started doing some research and > found that it can be caused the HRT among other things (cancer, bone > marrow problems, heart problems, lung problems). It can cause > strokes, major blood clots, and other things. I went to the > hemotoligist and he ran his own tests, his results show that it is > probably being caused by the testosterone. So now my T has been > reduced and we are waiting for the next round of tests in September. > > I always tried to keep my T at or around 800 and rarely did it go > over 1000. Now I am afraid I will have to stop completely. The > doctors have decided that for the time being that I shoud use a 2.5mg > Androderm patch which hasn't helped much at all. I am really tired, > moody, and you guys know the rest. > > I guess what I am saying is make sure your doc is running regular CBC > and liver function tests. > > You know maybe there is a lower level that will do the trick. High > may not always be better. I hope so. Higher isn't always better. Of course the 2.5 patches aren't enough. You won't have to be off forever. I have read in several places that testosterone administration in a manner that produces high peaks causes more polycythemia than more even levels. I don't know whether this is true or not. Since I prefer steadier levels anyway, I would either choose a transdermal product or use small, frequent injections in hopes of avoiding polycythemia. The article at this link offers a formula for computing the volume of blood to be withdrawn in a course of therapeutic phlebotomy. http://www.powerhealthreview.com/show.php?id=27 Brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 Hi, Trying to understand. This is too many red corpuscles, right? Sounds simplistic but heard a fix for this is giving blood to the Red Cross every time you can. This would allow you to continue TRT. I get tested for my red oorpuscles or hematocrit if I remember right, every 4 months when I get some more pellets. It must be necessary or they wouldn't waste their time doing it. ernestnolan > Hey Guys, > > I just wanted to let you about a problem that can come up with my > HRT. I have been on T replacement for over 8 years. I started with > injections every 2 weeks then went to the patches, then injections > again, then gel, and back to injections every week. I had plenty of > energy, not depressed any longer, not much libido, but felt pretty > good. My doctor was usually only concerned with the PSA, and usual > hormone blood tests. I had surgery in 2001 and the surgeon told me > my hemoglobin was a little high but it was probably due to being a > smoker at the time. The only other health problem I have is neck and > back problems so I haven't had any blood tests other than the PSA and > hormone tests. > > I am being treated with pain medication for the neck and back problem > and the pain doc thought I might need to see an endo for my > hypogonadism. I have not been really happy with the treatment I have > been getting from my uro, so I agreed. > > I saw the endo and she ran every kind of test you can imagine. Her > office called me to come in a week early for my follow-up, which > concerned me a little. The doctor changed my diagnosis from primary > to secondary and informed me that I had polycythemia and made me an > appointment with a hemotoligist. I started doing some research and > found that it can be caused the HRT among other things (cancer, bone > marrow problems, heart problems, lung problems). It can cause > strokes, major blood clots, and other things. I went to the > hemotoligist and he ran his own tests, his results show that it is > probably being caused by the testosterone. So now my T has been > reduced and we are waiting for the next round of tests in September. > > I always tried to keep my T at or around 800 and rarely did it go > over 1000. Now I am afraid I will have to stop completely. The > doctors have decided that for the time being that I shoud use a 2.5mg > Androderm patch which hasn't helped much at all. I am really tired, > moody, and you guys know the rest. > > I guess what I am saying is make sure your doc is running regular CBC > and liver function tests. > > You know maybe there is a lower level that will do the trick. High > may not always be better. I hope so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 28, 2005 Report Share Posted October 28, 2005 About all one could do is try it and see. Not sure if Bihari has had anyone with this disorder come to him. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Polycythemia vera http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000589.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 28, 2005 Report Share Posted October 28, 2005 Do you know if he has an email to reach him? [low dose naltrexone] Re: polycythemia > About all one could do is try it and see. Not sure if Bihari has had > anyone with this disorder come to him. > > MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Polycythemia vera > http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000589.htm > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 28, 2005 Report Share Posted October 28, 2005 --- In low dose naltrexone , " Marilyn Sawyer " <marilyn1972@s...> wrote: > > Do you know if he has an email to reach him? > > > > > > [low dose naltrexone] Re: polycythemia > > > > About all one could do is try it and see. Not sure if Bihari has had > > anyone with this disorder come to him. > > > > MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Polycythemia vera > > http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000589.htm ======== Write an email to the Gluck's who run the LDN website. They may know this info. Go to the LDN website and click Contact Us for the email address. Dr. Gluck used to work with Bihari with the LDN. http://www.low dose naltrexone.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 28, 2005 Report Share Posted October 28, 2005 --- In low dose naltrexone , " Marilyn Sawyer " <marilyn1972@s...> wrote: > > Do you know if he has an email to reach him? > > > > > > [low dose naltrexone] Re: polycythemia > > > > About all one could do is try it and see. Not sure if Bihari has had > > anyone with this disorder come to him. > > > > MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Polycythemia vera > > http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000589.htm ======== Write an email to the Gluck's who run the LDN website. They may know this info. Go to the LDN website and click Contact Us for the email address. Dr. Gluck used to work with Bihari with the LDN. http://www.low dose naltrexone.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2009 Report Share Posted October 21, 2009 I would think the weekly injections would help. I do biweekly injections but still give blood at the Red Cross every two months. My RBC was right at the top of the range. ________________________________ From: k0cm <Randy@...> Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 7:14:42 PM Subject: Polycythemia I've been on testosterone injections for about 2 years. In September I found I had polycythemia. That is, high red blood cell count, high hemoglobin and hematocrit. RDW (Red cell distribution width)was also high. These numbers were not astronomically high, but outside the normal range. The most obvious cause is my use of Testosterone. The immediate treatment was bloodletting, and they drained me of 20 oz of blood. The next month, the labs were better ( halfway back to normal range )but they drained off another 20 oz of blood. I go back in another month. I have benefited greatly from the HRT, but really don't like the idea of bloodletting every month. My plan is to go from the 1 mL, 200 mg injection every two weeks to .5 mL, 100 mg every week and then decrease the weekly amount very slowly, and see what happens. Do any of you know any treatment for polycythemia other than bloodletting and decreasing the amount of testosterone. Randy Hoops Springfield, MO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2009 Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 It's a good idea too to be taking a baby aspirin every day. This thins the blood slightly and reduces the risk of stroke, clots and heart attacks. On Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:14:42 -0000, you wrote: >I've been on testosterone injections for about 2 years. > >In September I found I had polycythemia. That is, high red blood cell count, high hemoglobin and hematocrit. RDW (Red cell distribution width)was also high. > >These numbers were not astronomically high, but outside the normal range. > >The most obvious cause is my use of Testosterone. The immediate treatment was bloodletting, and they drained me of 20 oz of blood. > >The next month, the labs were better ( halfway back to normal range )but they drained off another 20 oz of blood. I go back in another month. > >I have benefited greatly from the HRT, but really don't like the idea of bloodletting every month. > >My plan is to go from the 1 mL, 200 mg injection every two weeks to .5 mL, 100 mg every week and then decrease the weekly amount very slowly, and see what happens. > >Do any of you know any treatment for polycythemia other than bloodletting and decreasing the amount of testosterone. > >Randy Hoops >Springfield, MO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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