High Hematocrit with Low Ferritin Levels

[Please note that full labs are at the end of this lengthy introduction]

First of all, thanks to everyone here for the tremendous amount of information regarding HRT. The stickies

were of invaluable help to get me on the right path.

I do have an issue that I would like to get some comments on regarding low ferritin levels with high

hematocrit levels.

I have been on HRT for almost a year now and started with compounded cream. After switching last fall from

compounded creams to 100 mg/week of Test Cyp my hematocrit shot up and my ferritin levels (always on the low

side) dropped significantly.

The cream at 30mg/day was not increasing my T levels. The compounding pharmacy was claiming an absorption

rate of 50% but I sure was not seeing results and they decided I was a non-absorber. I started Test Cyp

injections of 100mg/week divided into two 50mg SubQ injections along with 0.25mg of Anastrozole EOD in

September 2013. I use a 0.5 inch 30 gauge insulin syringe.

The lab tests immediately prior to switching from the 30mg/day of compounded cream to the 100mg/week Test Cyp

were Total T 325 ng/dl, Free T 6.1 pg/ml, Iron Serum 103 ug/dl, RBC 5.43, Hematocrit 45.7% and Ferritin 81

ng/ml.

My blood test in December 2013 (three months after starting the Test Cyp injections) showed Total T (1361

ng/dl), Free T (34.3 pg/ml), Hematocrit (51.4%), Iron Serum (171 ug/dl) & RBC (6.09) all high out of range.

Ferritin was low out of range at 23 ng/ml.

The doctor lowered my Test Cyp to 80mg/week (twice a week SubQ at 40mg each) and sent me to donate blood.

Subsequent blood tests since donating blood (shown below) show that ferritin is still low out of range and

hematocrit is creeping back up.

I do not want to stop HRT with the Test Cyp as I am feeling better than I have for twenty years or more. The

cream was just not working for me. I feel very good on the current protocol with my Free and Total

Testosterone in the upper third of the range and E2 at 20.

It appears that I am on a path to donating blood every month or so in order to keep my hematocrit levels

within range. The Test Cyp seems to be driving my iron levels up in my blood.

However, how do I keep donating blood and still maintain my ferritin levels at an acceptable level? My

ferritin levels are now low out of range and how do I build my iron stores while donating blood?

It may be difficult to balance the two competing constraints as donating one pint of blood dropped my

ferritin from 23 ng/ml (30-400) to 14 ng/ml.

I am meeting with my doctor next week to discuss, but one way forward that comes to mind is to start iron

supplementation to see if I can get my ferritin levels stabilized within range while monitoring hemoglobin

with a home tester and going in for a phlebotomy every time its above 17 or so.

The only way other than a blood donation to decrease hematocrit that I found was a suggestion to eat a

grapefruit a day. I am not sure how credible that is but I have started to eat a whole grapefruit daily.

Looking back over the last five years of labs, my ferritin has always been in the 50 to 90 ng/ml range. All of

the other iron markers have been in the mid ranges. I do eat red meat and eggs daily. My total cholesterol

has always been in the 130 to 150 mg/dl range all of my life no matter what I eat. The first thing my current

doctor told me was to get my cholesterol levels up.

I had a colonoscopy three years ago with nothing found. Fecal blood test was negative. Doctor thinks that I

may have a leaky gut and placed me on a Paleo diet with no dairy or wheat.

Body temperatures consistently get close to 98.6 Fahrenheit in the afternoon.

Background:

After years of feeling tired and my doctor saying my testosterone levels were in range (as low as 2.83

ng/ml [range of 2.80-8.0] at age 44), I finally found an experienced hormonal doctor in December 2012.

After spending 30 minutes reviewing my last ten years of lab results, the new doctor offered to start me on

HRT immediately. The doctor said that my cholesterol was too low and was concerned about a high Free T3 test

from November 2009 (5.08 pg/mL range 1.5-4.1).

She told me to eat a Paleo type diet with no dairy. I eat eggs/bacon 6 days a week and meat daily. My

cholesterol has ranged between 130 to 160 no matter what I eat. My blood pressure is almost always 118 over 68.

She was also concerned about potential adrenal fatigue, referred me to Wilsons book and added a cortisol

test to the labs.

I do wish that I had read this site prior to starting HRT and skipped the cream trials.

I use iodized salt on everything and crave salt constantly. There is no iodine in my multi vitamins, but I do

take 1mg of Iodine daily.

Oral temperatures are consistently near 98.5 Fahrenheit in the afternoon.

After reading some of the threads, I am now concerned about a couple of car accidents. I had one severe

accident back when I was 23 (knocked unconscious). Within 3 months of the accident I started putting on

weight going from 140lbs to 185lbs, mainly around my abdomen. It was like someone threw a switch on my

metabolism, going from eating 4 meals a day to maintain 140lbs to having a hard time keeping my weight under

170lbs. Coincidental? I am able now to maintain a body weight of 160lbs by cutting out all wheat products

and sugar sweetened drinks. I did check my prolactin in my December 2013 labs and it came back 7.8 ng/ml

(4.0-15.2). My doctor was not concerned but Iâ??m thinking about getting an MRI of my pituitary. Immediately

prior to the car accident and weight gain I also spent time in Africa and Southeast Asia.

-age: 54, white male
-height: 5 feet 8 inches
-waist: 39 inches
-weight: 160lbs
-describe body and facial hair: Thick, full head of hair. Fairly hairy body; can easily grow beard
-describe where you carry fat and how changed: Fat carried primarily in abdomen. Pot belly that just wonâ??t go

away.
-health conditions, symptoms [history]: fatigued and feeling somewhat blue for last 8 years. My skin is

very dry and has been for years. This has changed for the better since starting the Test Cyp injections.
-Rx and OTC drugs, any hair loss drugs or prostate drugs ever - No hair loss or prostate drugs ever.
Current Daily Supplements: 50mg DHEA, Dr. Wilsonâ??s Super Adrenal Stress Formula multivitamin (no iodine),

Natural Creations Nutriplenish GL multivitamin. (no iodine), D3 oil caps (5,000 iu), ZMA, fish oil (1,200mg),

time released melatonin (3mg), Vitamin C (1,000mg) and Iodine (1mg). I also have a multi-year use history

of triamcinolone acetonide cream (.1%).

I totally wrecked my sleep with 17 years of rotating shiftwork (shiftwork ending 1997) and the melatonin

seems to be very helpful in maintaining good sleep patterns.

-describe diet [some create substantial damage with starvation diets]: Paleo for last year. I eat eggs and

bacon 6 days per week. I have craved salt as far back as I can remember. Gave up bread and wheat in 2012.
-describe training [some ruin their hormones by over training]: bicycle and some weights.
-testes ache, ever, with a fever? - No
-how have morning wood and nocturnal erections changed: Same

Lab prior to starting HRT and all labs after starting injections of Test Cyp are below in reverse

chronological order.

Result Order: Lab Test, Units, out of range if applicable, range

Labcorp labs taken March 19, 2014 (8 weeks after blood donation)

HRT protocol: 80mg/week Test C divided into two 40mg injections Monday & Wednesday, blood draw was 48 hours

after Test C injection, 0.25mg Anastrozole EOD

Comments: Ferritin still low out of range, one point higher from previous lab; Bun/Creatinine ratio low out

of range; RBC high out of range; Hematocrit and Hemoglobin increasing from prior labs

LDH 180 IU/L 0-225
Alkaline Phosphatase, S 51 IU/L (39-117)
Bilirubin, Total 0.4 mg/dL (0.0-1.2)
A/G Ratio 1.9 (1.1-2.5)
Globulin, Total 2.5 g/dL (1.5-4.5)
Albumin, Serum 4.7 g/dL (3.5-5.5)
Protein, Total, Serum 7.2 g/dL (6.0-8.5)
Phosphorus, Serum 3.1 mg/dL (2.5-4.5)
Calcium, Serum 9.6 mg/dL (8.7-10.2)
Carbon Dioxide, Total 26 mmol/L (19-28)
Chloride, Serum 102 mmol/L (97-108)
Potassium, Serum 4.9 mmol/L (3.5-5.2)
Sodium, Serum 139 mmol/L (134-144)
BUN/Creatinine Ratio 8 Low (9-20)
eGFR If Africn Am 86 mL/min/1.73 (>59)
eGFR If NonAfricn Am 74 mL/min/1.73 (>59)
Creatinine, Serum 1.12 mg/dL (0.76-1.27)
BUN 9 mg/dL (6-24)
Uric Acid, Serum 5.4 mg/dL (3.7-8.6)
Glucose, Serum 86 mg/dL (65-99)
Immature Granulocytes 0 % (0-2)
Baso (Absolute) 0.0 x10E3/uL (0.0-0.2)
Eos (Absolute) 0.3 x10E3/uL (0.0-0.4)
Monocytes (Absolute) 0.5 x10E3/uL (0.1-0.9)
Lymphs (Absolute) 2.1 x10E3/uL (0.7-3.1)
Neutrophils (Absolute) 2.7 x10E3/uL (1.4-7.0)
Basos 1 % (0-3)
Eos 4 % (0-5)
Monocytes 9 % (4-12)
Lymphs 38 % (14-46)
Neutrophils 48 % (40-74)
Platelets 375 x10E3/uL (155-379)
RDW 14.8 % (12.3-15.4)
MCHC 34.4 g/dL (31.5-35.7)
MCH 28.6 pg (26.6-33.0)
MCV 83 fL (79-97)
Hematocrit 50.0 % (37.5-51.0)
Hemoglobin 17.2 g/dL (12.6-17.7)
RBC 6.01 High x10E6/uL (4.14-5.80)
WBC 5.6 x10E3/uL (3.4-10.8)
Estimated CHD Risk < 0.5 times avg. (0.0-1.0)
T. Chol/HDL Ratio 3.1 ratio units 0.0-5.0
LDL Cholesterol Calc 94 mg/dL (0-99)
VLDL Cholesterol Cal 15 mg/dL (5-40)
HDL Cholesterol 51 mg/dL (>39)
Triglycerides 76 mg/dL (0-149)
Cholesterol, Total 160 mg/dL (100-199)
Iron, Serum 69 ug/dL (40-155)
AST (SGOT) 21 IU/L (0-40)
ALT (SGPT) 20 IU/L (0-44)
Prostate Specific Ag, Serum 0.9 ng/mL (0.0-4.0)
Estradiol 20.6 pg/mL (7.6-42.6)
DHEA-Sulfate 212.2 ug/dL (71.6-375.4)
Free Testosterone (Direct) 17.9 pg/mL (7.2-24.0)
Testosterone, Serum 859 ng/dL (348-1197)
Folate (Folic Acid), Serum 17.7 ng/mL (>3.0)
Vitamin B12 629 pg/mL (211-946) 78-61068-0
Iron Saturation 17 % (15-55)
UIBC 333 ug/dL (150-375)
Iron Bind.Cap. (TIBC) 402 ug/dL (250-450) -60068-0
Immature Grans (Abs) 0.0 x10E3/uL (0.0-0.1)
Ferritin, Serum 15 Low ng/mL (30-400)
Reticulocyte Count 1.0 % (0.6-2.6)

Labcorp labs taken February 6, 2014 (3 weeks after blood donation)

HRT protocol: Test C decreased on Jan 6th from 100mg total per week to 80mg/week Test C divided into two

40mg injections Monday & Wednesday, blood draw was 48 hours after Test C injection, 0.25mg Anastrozole EOD

Comments: Bun/Creatinine ratio low out of range; Ferritin low out of range; LDL cholesterol high out of

range; Hematocrit, Hemoglobin & RBC decreased from prior labs

LDH 173 IU/L (0-225)
Alkaline Phosphatase, S 55 IU/L (39-117)
Bilirubin, Total 0.6 mg/dL (0.0-1.2)
A/G Ratio 1.9 (1.1-2.5)
Globulin, Total 2.4 g/dL (1.5-4.5)
Albumin, Serum 4.5 g/dL (3.5-5.5)
Protein, Total, Serum 6.9 g/dL (6.0-8.5)
Phosphorus, Serum 3.2 mg/dL (2.5-4.5)
Calcium, Serum 9.2 mg/dL (8.7-10.2)
Carbon Dioxide, Total 24 mmol/L (19-28)
Chloride, Serum 100 mmol/L (97-108)
Potassium, Serum 4.6 mmol/L (3.5-5.2)
Sodium, Serum 140 mmol/L (134-144)
BUN/Creatinine Ratio 5 Low (9-20)
eGFR If Africn Am 88 mL/min/1.73 (>59)
eGFR If NonAfricn Am 76 mL/min/1.73 (>59)
Creatinine, Serum 1.10 mg/dL (0.76-1.27)
BUN 6 mg/dL (6-24)
Uric Acid, Serum 5.8 mg/dL (3.7-8.6)
Glucose, Serum 81 mg/dL (65-99)
Estimated CHD Risk < 0.5 times avg. (0.0-1.0)
T. Chol/HDL Ratio 3.1 ratio units (0.0-5.0)
LDL Cholesterol Calc 101 High mg/dL (0-99)
VLDL Cholesterol Cal 14 mg/dL (5-40)
HDL Cholesterol 56 mg/dL (>39)
Triglycerides 71 mg/dL (0-149)
Cholesterol, Total 171 mg/dL (100-199)
Iron, Serum 94 ug/dL (40-155)
ALT (SGPT) 24 IU/L (0-44)
AST (SGOT) 25 IU/L (0-40)
Immature Granulocytes 0 % (0-2)
Baso (Absolute) 0.0 x10E3/uL (0.0-0.2)
Eos (Absolute) 0.2 x10E3/uL (0.0-0.4)
Monocytes (Absolute) 0.5 x10E3/uL (0.1-0.9)
Lymphs (Absolute) 2.2 x10E3/uL (0.7-3.1)
Neutrophils (Absolute) 3.3 x10E3/uL (1.4-7.0)
Basos 0 % (0-3)
Eos 3 % (0-5)
Monocytes 8 % (4-12)
Lymphs 36 % (14-46)
Neutrophils 53 % (40-74)
Platelets 333 x10E3/uL (155-379)
RDW 14.0 % (12.3-15.4)
MCHC 34.1 g/dL (31.5-35.7)
MCH 28.6 pg (26.6-33.0)
MCV 84 fL (79-97)
Hematocrit 47.8 % (37.5-51.0)
Hemoglobin 16.3 g/dL (12.6-17.7)
RBC 5.70 x10E6/uL (4.14-5.80)
WBC 6.3 x10E3/uL (3.4-10.8)
Reticulocyte Count 0.9 % (0.6-2.6)
Ferritin, Serum 14 Low ng/mL (30-400)
Folate (Folic Acid), Serum 18.5 ng/mL (>3.0)
Vitamin B12 659 pg/mL (211-946)
Iron Saturation 24 % (15-55)
UIBC 301 ug/dL (150-375)
Iron Bind.Cap. (TIBC) 395 ug/dL (250-450)
Immature Grans (Abs) 0.0 x10E3/uL (0.0-0.1)

Labcorp labs taken December 11, 2013 (3 months after switch from 30mg/day of compounded cream to 100mg/week

of Test Cyp)

HRT protocol: 100mg/week Test C divided into two 50mg injections Monday & Wednesday, blood draw 48 hours

after Test C injection, 0.25mg Anastrozole EOD

Comments: Total T, Free T, Hematocrit, Iron Serum & RBC all high out of range. Ferritin low out of range.

Doctor decreased Test C to 80mg per week total and sent me to blood donation.

LDH 172 IU/L (0-225)
Alkaline Phosphatase, S 58 IU/L (39-117)
Bilirubin, Total 0.6 mg/dL (0.0-1.2)
A/G Ratio 1.5 (1.1-2.5)
Globulin, Total 2.8 g/dL (1.5-4.5)
Albumin, Serum 4.3 g/dL (3.5-5.5)
Protein, Total, Serum 7.1 g/dL (6.0-8.5)
Phosphorus, Serum 3.6 mg/dL (2.5-4.5)
Calcium, Serum 9.5 mg/dL (8.7-10.2)
Carbon Dioxide, Total 25 mmol/L (19-28)
Chloride, Serum 101 mmol/L (97-108)
Potassium, Serum 4.7 mmol/L (3.5-5.2)
Sodium, Serum 138 mmol/L (134-144)
BUN/Creatinine Ratio 9 (9-20)
eGFR If Africn Am 88 mL/min/1.73 (>59)
eGFR If NonAfricn Am 76 mL/min/1.73 (>59)
Creatinine, Serum 1.10 mg/dL (0.76-1.27)
BUN 10 mg/dL (6-24)
Uric Acid, Serum 6.5 mg/dL (3.7-8.6)
Glucose, Serum 74 mg/dL (65-99)
Immature Granulocytes 0 % (0-2)
Baso (Absolute) 0.0 x10E3/uL (0.0-0.2)
Eos (Absolute) 0.3 x10E3/uL (0.0-0.4)
Monocytes (Absolute) 0.5 x10E3/uL (0.1-0.9)
Lymphs (Absolute) 2.1 x10E3/uL (0.7-3.1)
Neutrophils (Absolute) 3.6 x10E3/uL (1.4-7.0)
Basos 1 % (0-3)
Eos 4 % (0-5)
Monocytes 8 % (4-12)
Lymphs 32 % (14-46)
Neutrophils 55 % (40-74)
Platelets 367 x10E3/uL (155-379)
RDW 13.5 % (12.3-15.4)
MCHC 34.0 g/dL (31.5-35.7)
MCH 28.7 pg (26.6-33.0)
MCV 84 fL (79-97)
Hematocrit 51.4 High % (37.5-51.0)
Hemoglobin 17.5 g/dL (12.6-17.7)
RBC 6.09 High x10E6/uL (4.14-5.80)
WBC 6.6 x10E3/uL (3.4-10.8)
Estimated CHD Risk 0.5 times avg. (0.0-1.0)
T. Chol/HDL Ratio 3.4 ratio units (0.0-5.0)
LDL Cholesterol Calc 97 mg/dL (0-99)
VLDL Cholesterol Cal 18 mg/dL (5-40)
HDL Cholesterol 47 mg/dL (>39)
Triglycerides 90 mg/dL (0-149)
Cholesterol, Total 162 mg/dL (100-199)
Iron, Serum 171 High ug/dL (40-155)
ALT (SGPT) 25 IU/L (0-44)
AST (SGOT) 27 IU/L (0-40)

Triiodothyronine, Free, Serum 4.1 pg/mL (2.0-4.4)
Ferritin, Serum 23 Low ng/mL (30-400)
Prostate Specific Ag, Serum 0.9 ng/mL (0.0-4.0)
Estradiol 28.9 pg/mL (7.6-42.6)
Prolactin 7.8 ng/mL (4.0-15.2)
TSH 1.830 uIU/mL (0.450-4.500)
DHEA-Sulfate 243.9 ug/dL (71.6-375.4)
Hemoglobin A1c 5.3 % (4.8-5.6)
Dihydrotestosterone 77 ng/dL (30 â?? 85)
Pregnenolone, MS 14 ng/dL (<151)
Free Testosterone (Direct) 34.3 High pg/mL (7.2-24.0)
Testosterone, Serum 1361 High ng/dL (348-1197)
Immature Grans (Abs) 0.0 x10E3/uL (0.0-0.1)

Quest labs (blood) and Diagnos-Tech (saliva) taken January 1, 2013 (most immediate labs prior to beginning

HRT in February 2013)

HRT protocol: None

Comments: After these results my Doctor started me on 20mg/day compounded Test cream, multi-vitamin, vitamin

C, vitamin D, b12 and 50mg/day of DHEA

Total Testosterone 357 ng/dl (250-1100)
Free Testosterone 53 pg/ml (35-155)
FSH 4.8 mIU/ml (1.6-8.0)
LH 1.9 mIU/ml (1.5-9.3)
Estradiol 20 pg/ml (<39)
Vitamin D, 25-OH, Total 57 ng/ml (30-100)
Vitamin B12 622 pg/ml (200-1100)
DHEA-S 100 mcg/dl (25-240)
Thyroglobulin Antibodies <20 IU/ml (<20)
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies 10 IU/ml (<35)
Free T3 3.5 pg/ml (2.3-4.2)
Free T4 1.2 ng/ml (0.8-1.8)
Ferritin 65 ng/ml (20-380)
Cortisol 8am 24 nM (13-24)
Cortisol Noon 3 nM (3.0-8.0)
Cortisol 10pm 2 nM (1.0-4.0)
Cortisol Load 38 nM (22-46)
Milk Ab. SigA negative
Soy Ab. SigA negative
Egg Ab. SigA negative
Gliadin Ab. SigA 7-negative U/ml (>15)
Total Salivary SigA 6-depressed mg/dl (25-60)

I’ve seen similar posts in the past.
I don’t have a lot to add, but guys with low ferritin are usually
directed to supplement with Ferrous Sulfate.

You will want to speak to your Dr. about it before you begin.

Good Luck.

Interesting case for study. Low ferritin could have been attributed to hypothyroidism, vitamin C deficiency, or celiac disease but your thyroid numbers look ok and you’re supplementing with vitamin C. No celiac (gluten intolerance) disease? Celiacs will cause the microvilli of the intestine flatten and reduce the absorption rate of certain products.

The bloodwork doesn’t show evidence of anemia. RBC and Hct is high, and MCV indicates good overall tissue perfusion.

What I would stress to you is that iron is normally recycled by your system and there isn’t a lot of it to start with. By donating blood regularly (and I hope they aren’t actually using it for patients) you’re going to become iron deficient. I would stop the phlebotomy practice and if necessary reduce the dose of testosterone until you have a good balance.

When you supplement with iron don’t use the “more is better” approach and you may want to include a bowel supplement like docusate to prevent constipation from the excess iron (localized in the intestinal lumen). Your stools may appear darker and firmer during supplementation. You may also want to eat more food rich in iron such as liver if you like that sort of thing. The liver is were transferrin drops excess iron for storage in the liver by ferritin. By eating a portion of liver you can receive a rich iron source that comes packaged nicely in a buffered form for less GI stress.

I appreciate the feedback guys. I do not think that I have any celiac type issues. My blood will not enter into the supply as I tested positive for the Hep B antibodies, but negative for any active virus. I will get results of a full hepatitis B panel later in the week.

I met with my doctor today to discuss the low ferritin issue. She is consulting with another doctor on the best way to proceed, but she is refocusing on a potential thyroid issue as a cause for non absorption of iron. It looks like the original panel from a year ago did not include the reverse T3 test and we are redoing a full thyroid panel at the end of the week when I get back to town. She has seen a high reverse T3 cause iron issues in the past. I will post the results of the panel when it comes in.

For now she bumped up my vitamin C to four grams per day and has added 250 IU of HCG twice a week to my HRT protocol. The remainder of the HRT protocol remains the same with T Cyp at 80mg total per week divided into two 40mg doses and 0.25mg Anastrozole EOD. No iron supplement until she completes her consultation with the other doctor.

The doctor will review the thyroid panel results next week and will discuss with me options going forward. In the meantime, I am on a monthly CBC and ferritin testing schedule. I also plan to check the accuracy of my thermometer when I get back at the end of the week and will redo my temperature readings.

I am in the same situation with high hematocrit and very low ferritin. Once I started donating blood on a regular basis I only have to give blood about every 2 months to keep hematocrit under 48% but ferritin is really low. Wish I had an answer.

Just got my thyroid tests in from LEF. Haven’t had a chance to discuss yet with my doctor, but it appears my Reverse T3 is high out of range. My doctor was thinking this might be an issue at my last visit and discussed ways to clear RT3 if was indeed high. TSH is elevated also. I did find out that my thermometer was not accurate. My temps are not getting above 98.0 F with the new thermometer (accuracy checked on other people at 98.6) and I have been supplementing iodine at 1 mg per day, perhaps its time to up the iodine.

Triiodothyronine,Free,Serum 3.3 pg/mL (2.0-4.4)

Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) Ab <6 IU/mL (0-34)

Thyroxine (T4) 7.1 ug/dL (4.5-12.0)

Reverse T3, Serum 26.0 High ng/dL (9.2-24.1)

Thyroglobulin, Antibody <1.0 IU/mL (0.0-0.9)

TSH 2.910 uIU/mL (0.450-4.50)

T4,Free(Direct) 1.19 ng/dL (0.82-1.77)

Good news I think regarding the Hepatitis B tests. Looks like I was exposed to the virus in the past, but the positive surface antibody test shows that I successfully cleared it and am now immune. Still have not gotten with the doctor yet to discuss the previous thyroid tests with the high RT3 due to travel.

Quest Labs
test, result, (range)

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen W/REFL Confirm Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, Non-Reactive, (Non-reactive)

Hepatitis B Surface Antibody QL, Reactive, (Non-reactive)

The three tests below were for Hepatitis B Virus DNA, QN Real Time PCR
Hepatitis B Virus DNA, <20, (<20 IU/mL)

Hepatitis B Virus DNA, <116, (<116 copies/mL)

HBV DNA Not Detected

Next step is to find an accurate mercury thermometer to verify body temperatures and get with the doctor to discuss the thyroid results and discuss the low ferritin and high hematocrit issue. Still eating a grapefruit a day and am curious if that will actually impact the hematocrit.

Hematocrit lvls will be high due to the htr. Test will increase you bodys producton of red blood cells (hematocrit). That is why you need to bleed out once a while. If you dont you increase you risk of stroke.
Your low ferritin lvls could be caused by intestinal issues that cause low absorbation of iron. Crohns disease is one cause.

@Greg_Iowa update? Would like to know what’s happened since regarding your low ferritin, high hematocrit, high rT3 as I’m in a similar situation. Thanks!

I go and give blood every couple months. Not sure what my ferritin levels are. I’m trying to eat liver a few times a week and taking some high quality desicated liver. I can’t take iron supplements as it makes me feel awful.

1 Like

Sorry, I missed all of this because of travel.

The best way to lower rT3 is too:

  • look for the stressors that contribute
  • take time release* T3 meds to reduce TSH and T4, thus reducing fT4–>rT3
  • only a compounded pharmacy product

This thyroid issue probable reason that transdermal T did not work.

Get an occult blood test done. If that is -ve, the problem is the blood removal and/or man-absorption. If the later, could be multiple mineral absorption issues.

I would like to direct you to these stickies found here: About the T Replacement Category - #2 by KSman

  • advice for new guys
  • things that damage your hormones
  • protocol for injections
  • thyroid basics

Has your blood been examined under a microscope?
Ever had malaria?
Liver enlarged?

Have fatty liver.
Too soon to tell results yet. Tests come next week