High blood Hematocrit of 51%... what to do? Iron overload?
Question:
What do I do?
Answers:
Actually you are still in the normal range for males (38 - 52%) When your doctor gave you these levels, why didn't he discuss it with you?
No blood thinners do not reduce rbc's, they prevent your blood from clotting.
Was your ferritin level checked? Assuming you aren't dehydrated, there are a few conditions which cause a high hematocrit. Often this is hereditary. One treatment is to get frequent phlebotomies. A phlebotomy is where a large needle is inserted into your arm and a unit of blood is drained off. Some people have these weekly until their levels are down to normal and then have them done on a maintenance basis. One doctor I work with also recommends drinking black tea; it helps to block iron absorption. I would consult a hematologist. This condition can be very hard on your internal organs. Also, blood thinners don't reduce red blood cells. In simple terms, they make your platelets slippery so they don't stick to one another.
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